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• A classic folk tale myth-element of unjust oppression/triumphant reward.

• Thousands of variants are known throughout Europe.

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The ancient Greco-Egyptian version of Cinderella where her name is Rhodopis is considered the oldest version of the story, where it was first recorded in the first century BC.

The most popular version of Cinderella was written by the French author Charles Perrault in 1697.

Another well-known version in which the girl is called Aschenputtel was recorded by the German Brothers Grimm in the 19th century.

Of course, she is one of the most popular Disney heroines.

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Sometimes portrayed as a "rags-to-riches" tale.

However, in fact, it is a "riches-to-rags-to-riches" tale; Cinderella, being the daughter of a rich merchant, is at first driven from her rightful role, and the course of the fairy tale restores her to it.

Culturally, we use “Cinderella” as an adjective to describe a come-back – making reference to the rags-to-riches aspect of the story.

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The Godmother:A godmother in the Disney version, birds in the Grimm

Brothers, make it possible for Cinderella to go to the ball.Clothes:

In the Disney version, Cinderella rushes out before her clothes turn to her shabby clothes. In the Grimm Brothers version, she rushes out to get away from the Prince so he doesn’t learn her true identity.

Stairs: In the Disney version and the Grimm Brothers, Cinderella

rushes down a flight of stairs. It is here that Cinderella loses her glass slipper (Disney) or gold slipper (Grimmer Brothers).

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Carriage:In the Disney version, Cinderella’s carriage turns

into a pumpkin. There is no carriage in the Grimm Brothers.

Gold/glass slipper:Cinderella loses her slipper, which eventually, when

the Prince sees that it fits Cinderella, brings Cinderella wealth, happiness and love.

Class:Cinderella is the daughter of the “wife of a rich

man.” Cinderella comes from money; it is her evil stepmother and stepsisters who make her live an impoverished life. Cinderella is eventually made wealthy again.

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Attitude:Cinderella is patient with her condition in the

beginning of the story.She hides from the Prince when her stepsisters

chop off toes and heels to try to fit in the slipper (Grimm Brothers). And for this patience and modesty, Cinderella is rewarded by being returned to her life of wealth and happiness.

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The Godmother:Mme. Forestier makes it possible for Mme. Loisel

to go to the ball by lending her the necklace.Clothes:

Mme. Loisel rushes out of the ball once her husband gave her the “modest garments of everyday life whose shabbiness clashed” with her gown.

Stairs:Mme. Loisel also rushes down a flight of stairs to

get away from the ball and its guests.

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Carriage:Mme. Loisel and her husband take a carriage that is

“ashamed to show [its] drabness during daylight hours.”

Gold/glass slipper:There is no slipper in “The Necklace”. Instead, Mme.

Loisel loses a glass necklace, whish she thinks is made of diamonds. This brings about Mme. Loisel’s downfall.

Class:Mme. Loisel was unfortunate to born “into a family of

clerks.” Because of a tragic error, her life becomes impoverished.

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Attitude:Mme. Loisel is impatient and possibly even

greedy. For this, she is rewarded with worse circumstances that what she started.

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Inverted ComparisonThis is when you have direct comparisons to another story (or motifs) but the meanings or

themes are inverted, or opposite of each other.

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Write a 1 ½ page essay (preferably typed) that compares/contrasts Cinderella to “The Necklace”.

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