seventh

There are so many treatments of the Cinderella story that a comparative study of the various versions should enable the students to exercise their critical thinking skills as they did on “Little Red Riding Hood”. “Cinderella” is, like “Little Red Riding Hood” and “Jack and the Beanstalk”, a story that all children already know so that the remedial readers can focus on more literate concerns than simple plot development. The German tale can be compared with the French. Though Grimm’s “Cinderella” with its severed toes and pecked eyes will undoubtedly be the favorite, the students can watch and compare it to the Disney version to see how Perrault’s tale has been Americanized.

Like the European version, Disney’s Cinderella has animal helpers. Yet, the vengeful doves have become sweet bluebirds of happiness. The mice which in the Perrault story were turned into horses in the space of a sentence, consume at least fifty percent of the Disney cartoon with their antics. but these are small points. In the American version the heroine is hardworking. She has a dream. She holds onto her dream. Her dream comes true. And in the best romantic tradition her dream is to find true love.

Once the idea of true love’s importance for both Cinderella and the Prince has been established, other more offbeat interpretations of this tale can be aired. one could argue that the main idea is “be beautiful and marry well”. It should not be surprising that “Cinderella” reflects the practical advice of materialistic times. The result Is a gentle social satire of a fairy tale that lays such stress on dressing for success.

To summarize, in this seventh grade fairy tale unit, the main goals—the students will read, think, write and speak critically and creatively about fairy tales—are achieved using the following strategies:

	The teacher models critical thinking by lecturing on the plot, theme and characters of Perrault's Cinderella.
	The students think critically by discussing and writing comparisons on written and video versions of “Little Red Riding Hood”, “Cinderella” and other tales.
	Inspired by the Cinderella versions they have read and remember, the students write their own modernized fairy tale.
	Students research and read fairy tales to find a tale to tell. Students tell a fairy tale before an audience.
	Students write a fairy tale In play form.
	Students perform a play based on a fairy tale.

Goal:

Students think critically by comparing three versions of the same fairy tale, “Cinderella”.

Strategies:

	Students view Walt Disney’s cartoon of Perrault’s Cinderella.
	Students view Shelly Duvall’s Fairy Tale Theater video of Cinderella.
	Students view Jerry Lewis’ comic film of Cinderfella.
	During each showing the students fill out the following questionnaire.
	Students discuss the answers to the questionnaire in learning groups and with their teacher.
	Depending upon their ability the students write a 3 to 10 paragraph essay that compares these movies.

Folk Tale Film Critique

DIRECTIONS: Answer each question as completely as you can.

1. Write the name of the film and its director.

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2. What is the technique used to present the story? Live actors, claymation, animated cartoon drawings, puppets or any combination of these techniques.

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3. Describe the Cinderella character in this film. Tell what she or he looks like and does.

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4. Describe the Prince or Princess character. Tell what he or she looks like and does.

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5. Describe Cinderella's family situation.

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6. Describe Cinderella’s friends and helpers.

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7. Describe your favorite scene and tell why you liked it.

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8. Describe the special effects. Were they any good?

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9. If music was used, name your favorite tune and tell how it was used to reinforce the story.

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10. What main idea do you get out of this film?

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References:

Yolen, Jane. Favorite Folktales from around the World. New York: Pantheon Books, 1986. This anthology is very complete, and the accompanying commentary is most helpful

Wegman, William. Cinderella. New York: Hyperion Books for Children, 1993. Cinderella has gone to the dogs. But is it art?