story of cinderella essay

The Cinderella Essay

Cinderella story summary, cinderella characters, theme of cinderella, cinderella plot, settings of the story, reference list.

Cinderella is a well-known story about a girl mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters. Despite these challenges, Cinderella finds happiness and love with the help of her godmother. The tale is a classic example of the “rags to riches” trope and has been retold in various forms throughout history. Its plot explores love, oppression, and the power of a kind heart. In the Cinderella essay, you will find the discussion of the tale, its characters, and its settings. The author also analyzes the story’s symbolism, imagery, and literary devices. Read the sample to understand how the Cinderella story is relevant to the modern world, and try to make your own conclusions.

The Cinderella story is a children’s story about a girl whose mother died, and her father remarried a proud and ill-tempered woman. The woman had two daughters of the girl’s age who were as ill-tempered as their mother.

After remarrying her father, her stepmother always gave the girl hard chores, but she never complained. On finishing her chores, she would warm herself in one of the corners of the chimney, and thus her sisters called her Cinderella. Then the two sisters got invited to a ball at the palace in honor of the prince. They left her behind.

As she wept for being left behind, her godmother came and magically showed her how to go to the palace. She also dressed Cinderella magnificently. After reaching the palace, the prince invited her to the next ball in which Cinderella lost her glass slipper. The prince vowed to marry the girl who could wear the slipper, and it emerged that Cinderella was the only one. She was thus married by the prince (“Cinderella,” n.d., p. 1”).

The characters in this story include the main character, Cinderella, whose mother dies, and she is left with her father. Cinderella is depicted as a good girl. The next character is Cinderella’s stepmother, who is depicted as ill-tempered. She has two daughters who are shown as proud and as ill-tempered as their mother.

There is also Cinderella’s godmother, who is shown as a good woman. Others include Lord High Chamberlain, heralds, six mice, a rat, and six lizards. The mice, rat, and lizards were used magically by Cinderella’s godmother to escort Cinderella to the palace (“Cinderella,” n.d., p. 1”).

The theme of the story is the importance of human values. Cinderella is very good to her stepmother even after mistreatment. She is also good to her stepsisters even when they despise her. Her goodness pays off when, in the end, she is the only one who can marry the prince. She is adored by that, and her stepsisters apologize to her. The stepsisters would like to marry the prince, but they miss the chance. This story, therefore, highlights the importance of good temperament and human values (“Cinderella,” n.d., p. 1”).

The story begins with the birth of Cinderella, which is followed by the death of her mother. Then her father remarries an ill-tempered woman with two daughters of Cinderella’s age with the same disposition. Cinderella is given hard chores, but she does not complain.

She is left behind as the two girls answer an invitation to a ball in the palace. As she weeps about being left, her godmother comes and magically shows her how to go to the palace. She goes and gets noticed by the prince, who invites her to another ball and eventually marries her (“Cinderella,” n.d., p. 1”).

The setting of the story is the capital city of a large kingdom and its environs. The introductory part of the story is set in Cinderella’s home. That is, during her birth, during the death of her mother, during the remarrying of her father, and as she is overworked and looked down upon by her sisters.

Her godmother visits her in her home. The other setting is the palace. Here Cinderella goes to a ball uninvited, but she gets invited to another ball by the prince. The prince eventually marries her (“Cinderella,” n.d., p. 1”).

Children Stories. “Cinderella.” Web.

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Bibliography

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A Summary and Analysis of the Cinderella Fairy Tale

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

‘Cinderella’ is, of course, a classic fairy story, a ‘rags to riches’ tale about a kind-hearted girl who suffers various hardships only to marry the prince of the kingdom. Why is Cinderella called Cinderella? Since she is shunned by the rest of her family (especially the stepsisters), the poor girl sits among the ashes in the chimney corner – hence her cindery name.

The ‘rags to riches’ transformation comes about when Cinders, who wishes to attend the royal ball, has her wish granted and subsequently meets the prince. Although she has to flee the ball and return home – losing one of her slippers in the process – the prince searches for and finds her, thanks to what is perhaps the most romantic shoe-fitting in all of literature. So far, so familiar.

The earliest appearance of the Cinderella story in print was in 1634 in the  Pentamerone , a collection of oral folk tales compiled by Giambattista Basile, a Neapolitan soldier, poet, and courtier. Here Cinderella is called Cenerentola.

In 1697, French writer Charles Perrault published the story of Cendrillon, a variation on the story. Perrault added several details now intrinsically associated with the story – notably the pumpkin, the fairy godmother, and the glass slipper – to Basile’s version, which already featured the wicked stepmother and the evil stepsisters, as well as the prince figure (though in Basile’s he is a king rather than a prince) who hunts for the owner of a slipper (though it isn’t glass in Basile’s version). Perrault’s version would form the basis of the hit 1950 Disney film  Cinderella , which in turn inspired Kenneth Branagh’s 2015 live-action remake.

But in fact the story is even older than these seventeenth-century versions: ‘Ye Xian’ or ‘Yeh-Shen’ is a Chinese variant of the Cinderella story that dates from the ninth century. A detailed plot summary can be found here .

But even this isn’t the oldest version of the story: a tale dating back to the 1st century BC, more than a thousand years before even the Chinese ‘Ye Xian’, is perhaps the earliest of all Cinderella narratives. The story is about a Thracian courtesan, Rhodopis, who ends up marrying the King of Egypt . It even features a royal figure searching for the owner of a shoe, suggesting that it is the progenitor of all later Cinderella stories.

In the nineteenth century, the Brothers Grimm offered a slightly different version of the tale in Aschenputtel . The Grimms’ retelling of the fairy tale is somewhat … well, grimmer than the Basile or Perrault versions.

At the end of the Grimms’ version of the story, the stepsisters’ eyes are pecked out by birds to punish the sisters for their cruelty towards their sibling – a violent conclusion you won’t find in Disney. In order to try to dupe the prince into thinking they are the wearers of the missing slipper, each of the stepsisters cuts off part of her own foot to make it fit, but the blood that fills the slipper gives the game away. Indeed, the Chinese ‘Ye Xian’ telling of the Cinderella story ends with the stepmother and ugly sisters being crushed to death in their caves by stones. In the Disney film they get off lightly, to say the least.

What’s more, in the Brothers Grimm version of the Cinderella story, the slipper is not glass, but gold. There is disagreement among scholars and commentators as to whether the glass slippers that first appear in Perrault’s version (and, subsequently, in many famous retellings and adaptations of the tale) were the result of Perrault’s mishearing  vair  (French for ‘squirrel’s fur’) for  verre (French for ‘glass’).

The majority of experts reject such a theory. The website Snopes.com states that Perrault intended the slippers to be made of glass all along, and wasn’t acting on an error, while another site suggests that the glass slipper was perhaps ‘an ironic device since it is a fragile thing’, so might be seen as a form of artistic licence.

Interestingly, the ‘error’ theory – that Perrault was not inventing an iconic literary trope but simply mishearing one word for another – appears to have been put about by the French novelist Honoré de Balzac. So, although Perrault added the glass slippers, it was most likely not down to a mishearing (especially since the word  vair was not in common use when Perrault was writing) but to creative licence.

Roald Dahl updated the fairy tale of Cinderella in 1982 in his R evolting Rhymes. The most significant Dahlian detail in his verse retelling of the tale comes near the end, when one of the stepsisters replaces the glass slipper with her own shoe. But even though the shoe subsequently fits the sister’s foot perfectly (as you’d expect), the prince declines to marry her and instead – cuts her head off.

The tyrannical prince does the same to the other stepsister, and Cinderella’s head would have been done for too, had her fairy godmother not intervened and saved her – granting Cinderella’s wish to be married to an ordinary husband rather than a prince who would, let’s face it, make Prince Joffrey look like Oliver Twist.

So that’s a happy ending, just not the one you find in traditional fairy tales.

Before the Disney film of 1950, and long before the 2015 Kenneth Branagh remake, there were many film adaptations, the first of which (from 1899) can be seen here .

If you enjoyed this post, you might find something of literary interest in our summary of the curious history of ‘Rumpelstiltskin’ ,  25 great facts about children’s books and our surprising facts about Aladdin and the Arabian Nights .

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20 thoughts on “A Summary and Analysis of the Cinderella Fairy Tale”

Reblogged this on Língua Inglesa .

I always enjoy your posts. Just the sort of facts I find fascinating. Thank you. Kris http://www.awritersden.wordpress.com

We just covered the Brothers Grimm and their grusome tales in the Romantic Period of our senior English lit section. Students are mesmerized by the cruelty and violence of the original fairy tales. One of my favorite versions is Ever After with Drew Barrymore. In the beginning of the film the glass slipper is shown and it is golden glass–which solves both theories of the famous shoe.

I love the Ever After version of this tale as well. The Brothers Grimm tend to be too grim for me. :)

Nice post! I love researching this sort of thing. One of my favorite Cinderella adaptions (shadow puppets) is from 1922 by Lotte Reiniger. You can find it on YouTube.

Interesting to see how far back the story goes. But I thought there was a version (though I can’t remember where) where the stepsisters are forced to dance on hot coals until they died?

This ending seems familiar – though I can’t remember which version it was exactly. Maybe I should reread my old fairytale books. By the way, why are so many suprised about the cruelty in the original fairytales? I’ ve grown up with them and especially the Disney version appeared always too nice in my opinion.

You might be thinking of a version of Snow White where the stepmother is forced to dance in red hot iron shoes until she died.

Reblogged this on Getting Lit Fit .

Huh. Interesting as always.

Reblogged this on your worst nightmare and commented: So gosh-darn cool.

Reblogged this on justthetraveller and commented: Well, that’s New to me.

Reblogged this on Wyldwood Books and commented: Yet another interesting and informative post from interestingliterature.com

I knew of Pentamerone from my time at university along with the Grimm version (which I thoroughly enjoyed), but knew little of the earlier versions. Great reading.

Reblogged this on Beyond The Beyond.. .

Such an intersting post. Loved it.

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Reblogged this on Be Yourself Here!:) and commented: Never Knew this before!

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The slippery genius of the Cinderella story

Cinderella has endured for hundreds of years. That’s because it gives us a way to talk about families.

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The fairy tale of Cinderella has a rep for being a bit retrograde. It’s a story about a girl whose passivity and meekness in the face of abuse is rewarded by a fairy godmother who hands her over to a man, goes the usual criticism. It’s the story of a girl who can’t even make it to a party without magical help.

But like all fairy tales, Cinderella doesn’t actually have an inherent value system or morality. It’s an obliging story that’s been told and retold so often that it doesn’t really have a stable moral anymore. Instead, it can have any moral.

In medieval Europe, Cinderella tended to triumph because she was clever and lucky. In the 19th century, the brothers Grimm, who recorded the version of the story that Americans are most likely to think of as canonical, centered Cinderella’s triumph on her kindness and her beauty. And as the story was told and retold, Cinderella moved back and forth between being the active author of her own fate and a passive, voiceless doll.

Over the past few decades, Cinderella has been repackaged over and over again as a feminist icon. Just this year, Rebecca Solnit, the feminist writer who coined the term “mansplaining,” published a children’s picture book titled Cinderella Liberator . It ends with Cinderella opening her own bakery and forming a lasting platonic friendship with the prince, who gives up his title to become a farmer.

The morality of Cinderella may not be consistent over the centuries, but the basic plot is: In every Cinderella, the heroine is a daughter who is betrayed and abused by her mother or stepmother, and she triumphs at the end because of her innate virtue. The virtue in question changes depending on who is telling the story.

That’s because what gives Cinderella its power isn’t its morality. It’s the way the story thinks about families.

Cinderella parses fundamental family questions. How do we combine two families? And how do family structures survive when children stop being children?

Early Cinderellas were tricksters

Early Cinderellas tended to be wily trickster characters who schemed their way to the top, says Jack Zipes, a professor emeritus of German and comparative literature at the University of Minnesota and one of the foremost scholars of fairy tales in the world. Zipes traces Cinderella back to ancient Egypt and China, but he says one of the earliest European versions of the story came from Giambattista Basile. Basile called his 1634 version “ The Cat Cinderella ” (“Cenerentola” in Italian, but it translates to Cat Cinderella in English), because his Cinderella was clever like a cat.

Cat Cinderella murders her first wicked stepmother after she gets tired of the abuse, and she repeatedly pokes her father with a pin until he agrees to marry her governess next. The governess eventually proves to be just as wicked as the first stepmother, and the rest of the story continues along familiar lines — except that Cinderella triumphs because she is smart enough to outwit her wicked stepsisters and scam her way to the ball, and because she is lucky enough to have fairy allies. Basile’s moral at the end, “You must be mad to oppose the stars,” nods to the importance of fate in his story.

But the central conflict here is the same one that we know and recognize in modern Cinderellas: Cat Cinderella’s mother is dead, and her father has married a new wife. (Two new wives, actually.) What happens to their family now?

In Marie-Catherine d’Aulnoy’s 1697 version, “ Finette Cendron ,” our heroine is pointedly the cleverest of three daughters. Her sisters are named Fleur d’Amour (Flower of Love) and Belle-de-Nuit (Beauty of the Night), but the Cinderella figure is named Fine-Oreille (Shrewd Listener) and nicknamed Finette, or Little Clever Girl. Finette’s adventures unspool in a story that reads like a Cinderella/Hansel and Gretel hybrid, and when she eventually triumphs over her wicked mother, her wicked sisters, and the passel of ogres who want to eat her, it’s through her exceptional cleverness.

Finette is also exceptionally kind, but the narrator of “Finette Cendron” hastens to assure us that being virtuous doesn’t make her special. Instead, Finette’s kindness is important because being kind to bad people makes those bad people hilariously angry. “Do favors for the undeserving until they weep,” the narrator advises the reader in the rhyming moral lesson. “Each benefit inflicts a wound most deep, cutting the haughty bosom to the core.” Finette, in other words, was the original troll of the pre-internet world.

Finette’s story isn’t quite the same as the Cinderella we’re most familiar with now. Her wicked mother is her biological mother, her beautiful sisters are her biological sisters, and the mother is targeting all three of the daughters because she believes the family doesn’t have enough food to feed both parents and children. But the bones of the conflict between them is one that we see repeated over and over in fairy tales, including the Cinderella we know best today: What happens when a daughter reaches puberty? How does a mother handle a daughter who might be a sexual threat?

But although the conflict in these early Cinderellas is familiar and universal, the virtues that allow Cinderella her victory aren’t. In these stories, Cinderella may or may not be kind, and she’s usually at least pretty enough to clean up well in a ball gown, but that’s not why she wins in the end. She wins because she’s smart, and because she’s lucky. The moral system in these stories is one of chaos and happenstance, where the best thing you can do is forge powerful allies and be as clever as possible.

Charles Perrault’s 1697 “ Cinderella ” is the one that seems to have influenced the Grimms’ version most strongly — and it was the first to make Cinderella’s fateful shoe a glass slipper. In Perrault’s version, Cinderella is a little more passive than Cat Cinderella or Finette were (at no point does she murder anyone or poke anyone with a pin), but she actively collaborates with her fairy godmother to come up with her scheme, and she takes pleasure in deceiving her wicked stepsisters. In the end, the narrator informs us that Cinderella is victorious because of her beauty and her kindness — and because of her courage, common sense, and good fortune in having a fairy godmother.

It was with all those literary versions of Cinderella already recorded, and plenty of folklore variations floating through the oral tradition, that Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm published their Cinderella in 1812 in their first edition of Grimm’s Fairy Tales . And then revised their stories to publish them again in 1819. And then again and again, revising more and more, until by 1864 they’d published 17 editions of Grimm’s Fairy Tales .

Over time, the old trickster Cinderella loses her voice

Scholars don’t agree on why, exactly, the Grimms kept revising their stories. There’s a general consensus on the Grimms’ tendency to turn wicked mothers into wicked stepmothers, as they did over time for “Snow White” and “Hansel and Gretel”: It seems to be a gentle bowdlerization, an attempt to keep the biological mothers in their stories models of virtue. For the Grimms, says Zipes, mothers were meant to be “nice.” (Cinderella’s wicked stepmother, though, is always a stepmother for the Grimms, and the story goes through few structural changes from one edition to the next.)

But the Grimms continued to fiddle with their stories in other ways as they republished, and the possible explanations for some of those changes are controversial.

Zipes argues strongly that most of the changes the Grimms made to their stories as they revised were in the pursuit of accuracy to the oral tradition, and that they were just editing as they found more versions of Cinderella floating through folklore. But Ruth Bottigheimer, a folklorist at Stony Brook University SUNY, has a different idea.

Bottigheimer argues that the Grimms were necessarily influenced by their position as bourgeois 19th-century Germans when they wrote down the fairy tales they had collected, and that consciously or unconsciously, they edited the stories to correspond to their own moral values. “Who tells the tales?” she asks in her 1997 book Grimms’ Bad Girls and Bold Boys . “That is, whose voice do we actually hear?”

In Grimms’ Bad Girls and Bold Boys , Bottigheimer tracks the speech across the Grimms’ editions of “Cinderella,” looking at which characters get to talk out loud (direct speech) and which characters have their sentences summarized instead (indirect speech). What she finds is a consistent pattern: “Direct speech has tended to be transferred from women to men,” she writes, “and from good to bad girls and women.” In other words, as the Grimms continue to edit the story, the “good” women — Cinderella and her dead mother — start talking less and less. The men and the “bad” women start talking more.

In the Grimms’ 1812 version of the story, Cinderella has 12 lines of direct speech, her stepmother four, and the prince four. But by 1857, Cinderella is down to six lines of direct speech. Where she protests her poor treatment in 1812, she obeys unquestioningly in 1864; where she lies to her stepmother in 1812, she is silent in 1864. Her stepmother, meanwhile, is up to 12 lines of direct speech in 1864, and the prince to 11.

Bottigheimer argues that for the Grimms, silence is both gendered and moral: Good women illustrate their virtue through their silence and passivity. Bad women show their badness by talking, which is unwomanly and hence wicked. Men, who are strong and active, should speak at will.

The Grimms may or may not have erased Cinderella’s direct speech with the intention of making her more passive, but it certainly does seem to have vanished over time. And as the Grimms’ version of the story spread, the trickster Cinderella from 200 years earlier vanished entirely. Now Cinderella wins because of her moral virtue, and part of the way we can see she’s virtuous is that she is silent.

But while the Grimms may have altered Cinderella’s personality over time, they kept her family problems fundamentally stable — and they’re the same problems that show up in the Disney version, too. Cinderella’s mother is dead, and her father’s new wife is targeting Cinderella. How can the family survive?

Cinderella endures because it helps us think about our families

Zipes has a theory about why Cinderella has lasted as long as it has, no matter how often it’s edited or rewritten to express new moral lessons. He thinks it’s helping us think about a fundamental problem.

“In our brains, there’s a place that we retain stories or narratives or things that are important to the survival of the human species,” he says, “and these stories enable us to deal with conflicts that come up time and time again that have never been resolved.”

In Cinderella, Zipes says, the conflict is: “How do you mix families?”

Since the 17th century, Cinderella stories have consistently focused on a heroine whose mother has died, and whose father’s new wife favors her biological children over her. Zipes calls the story type “The Revenge and Reward of Neglected Daughters”: The heroine loses status after the death of her mother, but in the end she rises up more powerful than she ever was before. Traditionally, the thing that makes Cinderella win — her beauty or her kindness or her cleverness — is the thing that the narrator points to as important for us to emulate in the moral of the story. But that attribute can be practically anything, and it won’t change the shape of the family story.

Zipes argues that this family story has always been enormously important. The question of how to mix families successfully was a major problem in pre-20th-century Europe, when it was common for women to die in childbirth — and it also became a giant question in a different way starting in the 20th century, he argues, because “there are so many divorces that the Cinderella story is something that we rely on in our brains.”

Cinderella is also a family story on a more universal level. It’s one of a group of fairy tales — “Look at Snow White!” says Zipes — in which the heroine reaches sexual maturity and promptly becomes the object of intense sexual jealousy from her mother figure. The father figure in these tales is either utterly ineffectual in the face of the mother’s abuse or, in a story like the Perrault fairy tale Donkeyskin — a story in the Cinderella vein, which sees its heroine fleeing from her father after he proposes marriage to her — becomes a sexual threat to his daughter.

Depending on how you look at that repeated fairy tale narrative of jealousy and danger, Cinderella is either the classic Freudian family fable or it’s the story of women competing for male attention under a patriarchal system where they know they’ll need that attention to survive. Either way, it is an extremely durable story. We’ve been telling it over and over again for centuries.

We’ve told it with a multiplicity of Cinderellas: with a silent Cinderella and the scheming Cat Cinderella and tricky Finette, with Disney’s pretty and passive Cinderella, with Solnit’s kind and rebellious Cinderella Liberator. They’re all there, and they’re all waiting to talk to us about our families. That’s what Cinderella is for.

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“Cinderella” Fairy Tale, Essay Example

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Cinderella is a celebrated classic tale representing myth-like elements such as unfair domination of evil powers resulting into glorious victory of the good ones. Nowadays there exist thousands of versions of the story celebrated all over the world. At the core of the plot invariably lies a story of a fortunate young girl living in ill-fated conditions which eventually turn into amazing luck.

The Cinderella subject matter has probably been developed from the very classical antiquity. Eventually, number of various versions of the same story appeared in the medieval One Thousand and One Nights, while some of those originated in Japan. The initial European version of modern Cinderella is “La Gatta Cenerentola” or “The Hearth Cat” which was originally included into the book “Il Pentamerone” by the Italian fairy-tale collector Giambattista Basile in 1635. It is believed that this very edition had become the one from which later versions by the French author Charles Perrault and the German Brothers Grimm were derived from.

Celebrated version by Charles Perrault written in 1697 owes its incredible popularity to the author’s innovative additions to the plot meaning the pumpkin, the fairy-godmother and the notable glass slippers. Another legendary version was written by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm in the 19th century. The original tale is named “Aschenputtel”. It differs from the one by Perrault by the absence of fairy-godmother character. Cinderella receives help from the wishing tree that grows on her mother’s grave instead. It also includes a number of rather frightening details such as Cinderella’s sisters’ cutting of parts of their feet in order to trick the prince, and their eyes being pecked out by some pigeons, which results in their being doomed to live the lives of blind beggars.

Presently the mere word “cinderella” means a lot. We usually call that way someone whose good qualities are unrecognized and not yet appreciated by others, as well as someone who all at once gets appreciation and respect, or achieves striking success after a period of insignificance and negligence. It seems like the story will never stop being popular. It keeps on having a significant impact on the modern culture worldwide. No need to mention how great a variety of media has already adopted its storyline elements, and we can only guess how many more others are going to follow.

Through the years of existence “Cinderella” fairy tale has acquired a legendary fame indeed. I do not know a single person unfamiliar with at least some versions of the Cinderella story. The creation of thousands of films, musicals, television shows and songs has been inspired by the lucky young woman’s story, as well as hundreds of books have borrowed its plot lines from the original fairy tale in order to get at least the tiniest part of the fame it has accumulated through centuries. This beautiful story, with some details being changed yet the core idea being immutable, has become an inalienable part of the popular culture. And whether we acknowledge this or not, it has had a particular impact on the formation of each human being’s personality in one or another way. Cinderella story is not as simple as it may seem, and it definitely has something worth considering when dealing with lifelike situation. Reading the fairy tale or watching one of its film adaptations has become an important part of experience we gain at the initial stages of life in order to be prepared for living  life of success rather than a life marred by the lack of appreciation and recognition.

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Essay on My Favourite Story Book Cinderella

Students are often asked to write an essay on My Favourite Story Book Cinderella in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on My Favourite Story Book Cinderella

Introduction.

Cinderella, my favourite storybook, is a classic tale of resilience and dreams coming true.

The story revolves around a kind and gentle girl, Cinderella, who lives with her wicked stepmother and stepsisters.

Cinderella, the protagonist, is a symbol of humility and kindness. The antagonists are her stepmother and stepsisters.

Life Lessons

The story teaches us that goodness always triumphs over evil, and dreams do come true.

Cinderella, with its magical and inspiring storyline, will always be my favourite storybook.

250 Words Essay on My Favourite Story Book Cinderella

Cinderella, a timeless classic, has been my favourite storybook since childhood. Its enchanting narrative, captivating characters, and underlying themes of resilience and hope have left an indelible impression on me.

The Enthralling Narrative

The story revolves around a young girl, Cinderella, subjected to harsh treatment by her stepmother and stepsisters. Despite her circumstances, she remains kindhearted and patient. The narrative’s magic lies in its transformative arc, where Cinderella’s life changes dramatically through an enchanted pumpkin, mice, and a fairy godmother.

Resilience Personified

Cinderella’s character is a testament to resilience. Her ability to maintain her kindness and optimism amidst adversity has always been inspiring. She teaches us that no matter how bleak the circumstances, one should never lose hope or compromise one’s goodness.

Symbolism and Themes

The story of Cinderella is replete with symbolism and themes that resonate even today. The glass slipper is a symbol of Cinderella’s true identity, which cannot be hidden or altered. The striking of midnight signifies the transient nature of materialistic allure. The story also underscores the themes of justice and karma, where the good is rewarded, and the wicked are punished.

Cinderella is more than just a fairy tale. It is a narrative that encourages its readers to remain hopeful and kind, even in the face of adversity. This storybook has greatly influenced my outlook towards life, making it my favourite. In essence, Cinderella is a beacon of hope, resilience, and the ultimate triumph of good over evil.

500 Words Essay on My Favourite Story Book Cinderella

“Cinderella,” a timeless classic, has been my favourite story book since childhood. The enchanting tale, brimming with hope, resilience, and magic, has been a source of inspiration, providing valuable life lessons that have shaped my perspective on various aspects of life.

“Cinderella” is not merely a fairy tale about a girl who becomes a princess. It is a profound narrative that explores themes of resilience, kindness, and the transformative power of hope. Cinderella, the protagonist, symbolizes the human spirit’s resilience in the face of adversity. Despite her harsh circumstances, she remains kind and hopeful, demonstrating that adversity should not define one’s character.

The story of Cinderella imparts crucial life lessons. It teaches us that kindness and humility are virtues that can overcome the harshest of adversities. Cinderella’s character embodies these virtues, and her story serves as a reminder that these qualities are often rewarded. The story also emphasizes the importance of hope. Cinderella’s unwavering hope, even in her dire circumstances, is a testament to the power of positive thinking and the belief in better days.

The Element of Magic

The element of magic in “Cinderella” is an essential component that adds charm and allure to the story. The fairy godmother, the magical transformation, and the iconic glass slipper serve as metaphors for the unexpected possibilities that life holds. They symbolize that magical transformations can occur in our lives when we least expect them, provided we remain hopeful and resilient.

Impact on Readers

“Cinderella” has a profound impact on its readers. It serves as a beacon of hope, teaching us to remain hopeful and resilient in the face of adversity. It encourages us to believe in the possibility of a better future, no matter how bleak the present may seem. This timeless fairy tale has the power to inspire and motivate, instilling values of kindness, humility, and resilience.

In conclusion, “Cinderella” is my favourite story book not just for its enchanting tale, but for the profound life lessons it imparts. It is a narrative of hope, resilience, and magic that continues to inspire readers of all ages. The story of Cinderella remains a timeless classic, reminding us of the transformative power of hope, the virtue of kindness, and the magic that lies in believing in oneself.

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Cinderella Story Structure

Write a story with a Cinderella story structure: try, fail, try, fail, try, fail, life-changing moment.

We’re starting our week of Story Elements prompts with a deep dive into story structure.

Ready? Let’s dive in.

Write A Story With a “Cinderella Story Structure

The Life-Changing Moment

I come to believe that short stories revolve around one life changing moment.

It doesn’t have to be literally life-changing, but it has to change something for the characters (temporarily or permanently).

If you’re writing quiet internal literary fiction, the moment is going to be something small, like realizing you can’t go on in this relationship, or this job.

If the story is a big action thriller then the life-changing moment could be anything from the moment you decide you need to take action, to the moment when you win or lose.

A Cinderella Story Structure

In the story of Cinderella our heroine wants to find happiness. She tries and fails and tries and fails. A lot.

• She tries to find it by being nice to her sisters and stepmother, but they just treat her terribly.
• She tries to find it by going to the ball, but she’s not allowed to go.
• She tries to find it from her fairy godmother. This one almost works, but there are time limits and she fails. When the love-struck prince can’t find her, all is lost.

Eventually, the life-changing moment comes at the end of the story when the prince finds her and Cinderella gets to choose her happy ending.

(In most versions she says yes and marries the prince; in every version, this choice is the first time Cinders has had any power. This is when her life changes.

So, this is where the story ends because the character’s story arc is over: She has her chance to reach her goal, at long last.

How To Write A Cinderella Story

• Let you character want something. In Cinderella’s case she wants happiness. Your character might want anything from fulfillment to a piece of chocolate cake!
• Start the story with the character in a place where they don’t have the thing they want.
• Let us see the character trying to achieve their goal once, twice, three times.
• The first failure can be pretty small. (She drops a perfect piece of chocolate cake on the floor.) The second failure should be a little more discouraging. (She goes to the shop and discovers they’re out of cake.) The third failure should seem insurmountable.(The government bans chocolate cake!)
• These failures have taught the character how much they want their goal and that the only way to achieve it is through using their unique talents. Now the climax is on. (In my story, for example, my witty and feisty heroine decides to run a political campaign and get elected to office in order to strike down this terrible anti-chocolate cake legislation. Your story could be more serious.)
• The story ends when the character realizes what needs to be done and makes the decision to pursue it or to walk away. In a short story you don’t have to show was the rest of the events. The arc, the journey, for the character is over at the moment when they see the path to pursuing their goal.
• Of course this is not the case in every story structure but in this story structure, the Cinderella story structure, the character’s journey — and the story — ends here.

22 thoughts on “Cinderella Story Structure”

Oh well. Clearly the month’s theme is on gloominess, even when bringing in Tigger. http://tidbitsbyshannon.blogspot.com/2016/09/just-one-more-bounce-please.html

Just couldn’t resist trying to turn the structure a bit on its ear as a Western. First draft but… Is the adopted Cheyenne girl Abequa or Abigail? Cheyenne Cinderella http://wp.me/p1AR9N-2QQ

Another poignant and captivating story. Thanks for sharing, Joe.

My day 8 story: https://fallonbrownwrites.wordpress.com/story-a-day-september-2016/story-a-day-september-day-8-make-peace/

This one turned out longer than expected. And is probably the end(or close to) of the novella I’m working on. So, if you don’t want to know how that ends(haha. I write Romance. That’s pretty much a given), be warned.

Well done, Fallon. Poignant and it begs the question “Why does family always hurt so much?”

Love these prompts! Had such a fun time writing this. Many thanks! 😀

https://atomicindigo.wordpress.com/2016/05/08/the-favorite-dessert/

My contribution for Day 8 – https://annieswritingchallenge.wordpress.com/may-2016-story-a-day-challenge/day-8-story-a-day-in-may-challenge-my-aunt-joe/

In a writing slump, but I will finish the month on time!

OK. I’ve been playing catch-up, and now I want to share my Cinderella story. This isn’t suitable for work, and it’s more the slicing up their feet version of the story. It’s dark. Very dark. With a light at the end of the tunnel…

https://shanjeniah.com/2016/05/18/choices-stad-kifo-project-for-may-8/

Hope you enjoy this one! https://storiesin5minutes.wordpress.com/2016/05/08/another-cinderella-story-storyaday-post/

Well, I did it. A Cinderella style story. https://theencouragingscribe.wordpress.com/2016/05/11/story-a-day-day-8/

Life sometimes has a way of slapping you in the face and that’s exactly what has happened to me this week…it slapped me good and hard. First we lost our fourteen-year-old Oriental cat, Napoleon, from diabetes and then, three days later, our precious Cavoodle, Cally, lost her sight. I shall most probably be late all this week, but I shall still try to post.

https://vickgoodwin.wordpress.com/2016/05/08/story-a-day-day-8-our-journey/

With Mother’s Day and Graduation day for UK all taking place on the same day, I was late writing my Cinderella Style Story. Following the up and down sequence was harder than the others up until now. We are only on day 8, this is going to be a great exercise in writing.

This is a tough one, especially when you’re banging out a draft in a day, but worthwhile, I think!

Hi All. Followed the Cinderella prompt for today. Created a basic draft of a story that I took from an event I had noticed going on in the neighborhood . It was a quiet mini drama happening under the radar and went on for several weeks. The story will be needing more development later, and the ending needs to be figured out, because the real ending is unknown. it’s now 9pm, so finished up on time. For me, this This was definitely a harder prompt than week one. Just what Doctor Julie ordered. 🙂

Hey, I reckon if you’re still here, you can take it! 😉

I liked this prompt and I liked my story (except for the ending, but I want to work on it): https://notwhereilive.wordpress.com/2016/05/08/story-a-day-may-day-eight/

Ugghhhsss.. this one gave me more troubles than I thought possible. I couldn’t figure out how to work so many failures into a short story without turning it into a novella. So I settled for this: https://promptlywritten.wordpress.com/2016/05/08/the-dilemma-flash-fiction/

True, I may have specified too many try/fails. Or maybe the first one needs to have happened before the story starts…

Story #8 of my Story-A-Day quest. Today’s prompt was for a Cinderella story structure. I tried, failed, tried, failed, tried, failed. I tried, I really did. But this is what eventually came out. Knew it would happen eventually. What was it old Lodge Skins says at the end of Little Big Man? “I was afraid of that. Well, sometimes the magic works. Sometimes, it doesn’t.” Today, a different magic happened. Travelogue http://wp.me/p1AR9N-2JJ

This one started out based on the prompt but then it took a turn far, far away: https://only100words.xyz/2016/05/08/what-they-didnt-tell-you-when-they-made-you-janitor-of-the-tallest-building-in-town/

This story ended up not being about what I thought it was about when I started. Love when that happens. http://susan-reads.blogspot.com/2016/05/coffee.html

This one could almost be a true story! I am sure that every writer will be able to relate this one. https://angietrafford.wordpress.com/2016/05/08/story-a-day-day-eight/

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Cinderella — A Modern Interpretation of Cinderella’s Character

A Modern Interpretation of Cinderella's Character

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Published: Jun 29, 2018

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Cinderella | Bedtime Stories For Kids

Cinderella Fairytale

Illustrated By:  Suzie Chang

Part 1: A Girl Named Cinderella

ONCE UPON A TIME a girl named Cinderella lived with her stepmother and two stepsisters.  It was Cinderella who had to wake up each morning when it was still dark and cold to start the fire.  Cinderella who cooked the meals. Cinderella who kept the fire going. The poor girl could not stay clean, from all the ashes and cinders by the fire.

“What a mess you are!” her two stepsisters laughed.  That is why they called her “Cinderella.”

One day, big news was announced in their village.  It was time for the Prince to find a bride, and the King and Queen were going to have a ball!  All of the young ladies of the land were invited to come.  The stepsisters were wild with joy. They would wear their most beautiful gowns and fix their hair in the most splendid way. No doubt they would be the one to win the favor of the Prince!

Cinderella now had extra work to do.  She had to sew two fabulous gowns for her step-sisters in the latest fashion.  

No doubt they would be the one to win the favor of the Prince!

“Faster!” shouted one stepsister.

“You call that a dress?” screamed the other.  

“Oh, dear!” said Cinderella.  “When can I–“

The stepmother marched into the room.  “When can you WHAT?”

“Well,” said the girl, “when will I have time to make my own dress for the ball?”

“You?” barked the stepmother.  “Who said YOU were going to the ball?”

“Did you hear that?” One stepsister rolled back with laughter. "Cinderella, going to the ball?" 

“Looking like THAT?"  Her stepsisters roared with laughter.  "They'd never let that mess in the front door!"  

Cinderella thought to herself, “I may look like a mess but I am not a mess, not really, And if I could, I WOULD go to the ball.”

Soon the big day came.  Poufed and pampered, the stepmother and stepsisters were ready to leave for the big night.

Part 2: The Big Party

A fine carriage arrived to pick them up. The stepmother and stepsisters hopped inside.  

“Good-bye!” called Cinderella.  “Have a good time!” But the stepmother and stepsisters did not turn to respond.  The carriage door shut and off they were, in a cloud of dust.

“Ah!” groaned Cinderella as the carriage clip-clopped down the cobblestone street.  “If only there was a way for me to go to the ball, too!”

Then - Poof!  All of a sudden, in front of her stood a fairy.

“You called?” said the Fairy.

“I did?” said Cinderella.  “Who are you?”

“Your Fairy Godmother, of course!  I know what you wish, and I have come to grant it.”

“But…” said Cinderella, “my wish is impossible.”

“Excuse me!” said the Fairy Godmother in a huff.  “Did I not just show up out of thin air?”

“I suppose you did,” said Cinderella.

“Did I not just show up out of thin air?"

“Then let me be the one to say what is possible or not!”

“Well, all right," said Cinderella.  She looked down at her dirty clothes. “But look at me.  I cannot go to the ball.”

“You do look a bit of a mess, child,” said the Fairy Godmother gently.

“Even if I had something nice to wear," said the girl, "I would have no way to get there."

“Dear me, all of that is possible,” said the Fairy. She tapped her wand on Cinderella’s head.

At once, Cinderella was perfectly clean.  What's more, she was dressed in a beautiful blue gown!  Her hair was set up high on her head in a golden band.

“This is amazing!” said Cinderella.

“Who said I was done?” said the Fairy Godmother.  She tapped her wand again. At once, a beautiful carriage came to be, with a driver and four white horses.

“Am I dreaming?” said Cinderella, looking around her in astonishment.

“It's as real as real can be,” said the Fairy Godmother.  “But there is one thing you must know.”

“What is that?”

“The magic lasts only to midnight.  At the stroke of midnight, it will be over.  Everything will go back to how it was before.”

“Then I must be sure to leave the ball before midnight,” said Cinderella.

“At the stroke of midnight, it will be over."

“Smart cookie,” said the Fairy Godmother.  She stepped back. “My work here is done.” In a puff of smoke, the Fairy Godmother was gone.

Cinderella looked around.  "Did that even happen?"  But there she was in a fine gown, with a golden band in her hair.  And there were her driver and four horses.

“Coming?” called the driver.

"I suppose it did," said Cinderella.  She stepped into the carriage, and they were off.

Part 3: The Ball

During the ball, the Prince felt despondent.  “Why do you have that sad look on your face?” the Queen said to her son.  “You would think you weren't at a royal ball your father and I are hosting just for you, so you can find a bride.”

“I know you and Father are looking out for me,” said the Prince.  Yet something was wrong. He had already met most of the young women at the ball, and after he said “Hello,” there was nothing more to say.

"Look!"  Someone pointed to the front door of the ballroom, at the top of the stairs.  

All heads turned.  Who was that lovely maiden stepping down the stairs?  She held her head tall and stepped with grace and elegance. Who was she?  No one knew.

“There is something about that young lady,” said the Prince to himself.  “I will ask her to dance.” He walked over to Cinderella.

“Have we met?” said the Prince.

“I am pleased to meet you now,” said Cinderella with a bow.

“I feel as if I know you,” said the Prince.  “But of course, that's impossible.”

“I feel as if I know you," said the Prince.

“Many things are possible,” said Cinderella, “if you wish them to be true.”

"Do you really believe that?" said the Prince.

"I know it," said Cinderella. 

The Prince felt a leap in his heart.  He and Cinderella danced. When the song was over, they danced again.  And then again. All the time they were talking and laughing.  Soon the other maidens at the ball grew jealous.  “Why is he staying dance after dance with HER?” they said. “Give someone else a chance.  How rude!”

But all the Prince wanted to do was to stay with Cinderella.   In fact, they danced so long that Cinderella did not see the clock.

Part 4: The Clock Strikes

“Dong!” struck the clock.

Cinderella looked up.  

“Dong!” rung the clock again.  

She turned to the clock.  “Oh, my!” she cried.  “It's almost midnight!”

“Dong!” called the clock.  

“Why does it matter?” said the Prince.  "The night is young."

“Dong!" called the clock.

“Dong!” rung the clock again.

“I must go!” said Cinderella.  

“Dong!” went the clock.

“But we just met!” said the Prince. 

“Dong!” rung the clock.

“I must GO!” said Cinderella.  She ran to the steps.

“Dong!” cried the clock.

“I cannot hear you,” said the Prince.  “The clock is too loud!”

“Goodbye!” said Cinderella. The ran up the stairs as fast as she could.

“Please, stop for a moment!” said the Prince.

“Oh, dear!” she said as one glass slipper fell off her foot on the stair.  But Cinderella kept running.

“Dong!” said the clock.

“Please wait a moment!” said the Prince.  

“Goodbye!” Cinderella turned one last time.  She rushed out the door.

“Dong!”  The clock was quiet. It was midnight.  

“Wait!” called the Prince.  He picked up her glass slipper and dashed out the door to follow her.  

He looked around but could not see her blue dress anywhere.  “This is all I have left from her,” he said, looking down forlornly at the glass slipper.  He noticed that it was made in a special way, to fit a foot like none other. “Somewhere that young maiden has the other glass slipper,” he said.  “I will find her, and when I do, I will ask her to be my bride!”

Part 5: The Search

From village to village, and from cottage to cottage went the Prince.  One young woman after another tried to fit her foot inside the glass slipper.  But none could fit. He asked if they had the other glass slipper.  None did. And the Prince moved on.

At last the Prince came to Cinderella’s cottage.  

“He is coming!” shrieked one stepsister as she looked out the window.

“He is here, at the door right now!” screamed the other stepsister.  

At last the Prince came to Cinderella's cottage.

“Hush!” hissed the stepmother.  “He'll hear you!  Now get ready. One of you must fit your foot in that slipper, no matter what it takes!”  The stepmother swirled around to face Cinderella.  "Get out of my sight," she glowered, "Go to your room right now and stay there!"

The Prince knocked.  The stepmother flew open the door.  “Come in!” she said in a sweet, sultry voice. “I have two lovely daughters you must see.”

The first stepsister tried to fit her foot in the glass slipper.  

As hard as she tried, her foot could not squeeze in. The second step-sister tried to fit her foot inside, but no dice.  And neither of them had the other glass slipper.

“Are there any other young women in the house?” said the Prince.

“None,” said the stepmother.

“Then I will take my leave,” said the Prince.

“Maybe there is one more,” said Cinderella, stepping into the room.

“I thought you said there were no other young women here,” said the Prince.

“None who matter!” seethed the stepmother.

“Come here,” said the Prince warmly.

Cinderella stepped up to him.  The Prince got down on one knee and tried the glass slipper on her foot.  

It fit perfectly!  "Well, I suppose I have the pair back again," said Cinderella.  And from her pocket she took out the other glass slipper!

“I knew it!” he cried.  “You are the one!”

“WHAT?” shouted a stepsister.  

“Not HER!” screamed the other stepsister.

“This cannot BE!” shrieked the stepmother.  

But it was too late.  The prince looked into her eyes.  He knew that this young woman was the very same one he had met and danced with, and loved talking to.  He did not see the cinders in her hair or the ashes on her face.

“I have found you!” he said.

“And I have found you,” said Cinderella.

And so Cinderella and the Prince were married, and they lived happily ever after.

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136 Comments

IS GOOD TO BE FAIR WITH OHTERS

Suzie Chang’s enchanting illustrations breathe life into the timeless Cinderella fairytale! Her artistic brilliance captures the magic, making every page a journey into a world of wonder. Bravo, Suzie!

Every thing is possible if you are patient.

If you act mean, nothing will get done.

That the dream that you wish will come true!!!

The Story is sooo cool!

THIS IS A RESPONSE FROM STORIES TO GROW BY. Rama, tell us–what do you think was most cool about Cinderella?

a cool story and i think this story will be my favorite

That anything is possible

My little brothers words : ‘ This platform is amazing ! I sometimes feel like i am reading an actual book with easy word meanings and and it has pictures ! if i were to rate this reading platform it would be a 10/10 ! ‘ And i completely agree with him , this is an amazing reading platform with easy vocabulary and sentences .

My brother thinks that this story teaches you that you need to treat others the way you want to be treated because you never know how they might turn out to be in the future.

It show us that is not good to be a wicked person.

This book was so fun to read I loved that she found him?✨?

Really good and simple language which has simple meaning and vocabulary also. I got it all.

Happy endings do come true for those who keep their word.

My daughter’s words: The book was awesome and I love it!!

I liked the part when it said “dong”!

Why is everyone in these comments “just learning about how you shouldn’t be rude to people”? Bruh, I learned that when I was 4.

We must not think that we’re better than others.

Don’t judge anyone and love everyone.

That is not nice to be mean

I love this story the same way I love books

This story is sóóóooooooooooó cool!!!

Really good for night time story reading if adults are too tired to read just relax and watch the words, also good that there are pictures there too my little girl loved looking at the pics.

this story was so nice and I am feeling very good for reading the story, I got some English conversation. Thank you.

I love how the godmother said it will all be gone after midnight but the slippers stayed

After growing up, I realized the prince can just recognize the girl through her appearance. He does not need to have all the girls try on the shoes.

I love the way you can read it and listen to the words that it says. ??

I learned that it is not good to do bad things to others and if you do, bad will come back to you. And to care about others, you should be kind to people and not do what you don’t want others to do to you. They are people so do not do it the end.

What I learned about today’s topic called Cinderella is that: 1. We should be nice to others because when we do bad things to others, bad will come back to us. 2. We should not make people suffer and make fun of them because at the end it will be your turn.

I like this story because it tells that if we have faith in ourselves and are patient, then even an impossible wish can come true. I like Cinderella a lot for this.

If you wish something it is possible.

It tells the reader that nothing is impossible if you believe.

IS TRYING TO BE PATIENT

Basically the moral of Cinderella is: people should always fight for what they want with a good heart and hard work. And wickedness and envy will lead to negative consequences, whereas perseverance will lead to a happy ending. And no matter what your situation is, don’t give up on your dreams.

The moral of the story : Do not be rude Nothing is impossible And bad never wins but good every time wins

Nothing is impossible.

The moral of the story is that nothing is impossible. And also to not be rude .

It tells us nothing is impossible.

It tells us nothing is impossible

The story is trying to tell you that nothing is impossible

It was good and I never heard this version before that’s one reason why it’s good another is that the stepmom and sisters got what they deserved

The story is trying tell us that nothing is impossible.

That anything is possible. If you keep walking forward with courage and hope, you’ll find what you need

i like the story Cinderella but this one is the best ever!

This story tells that nothing is impossible

Do not lose hope. No matter the difficulties you meet in life, there is still hope.

Never stop dreaming??

Hold that dream and keep dreaming it.

Your sound is beautiful

That keep on wishing on your dream and it will come true.

In one of my classes, there is a class called Discovery Aces. We are learning about Theme. To answer “Say what you think the story is trying to show you….” I think, the theme is “Don’t doubt yourself even when others doubt you.” I thought this story was a very good thing and I liked the pictures but sometimes they looked really different. Me and my teacher were having a lot of fun reading this book. We had a lot of laughs.

I loved that the speaker was reading with so much expressions, and the right ones too!

The story might be showing us that if you believe in yourself you can accomplish whatever you want.

3.The story is trying to tell us to be neat and nice.

People good evening sir/ma this is a very interesting story and I think it has a very good lesson

This is the lesson I have learned. To be kinder to my family and those who need it. It’s called kindness and respect to the people who are not nice.

Wow! Lessons well received.

Cinderella let her stepsisters be mean because she is really nice and they treated her like a slave. Cinderella changed in a really good way. She went from a slave to a princess and found her prince. The story is showing you that you can be anything you want to be. 7/10

Cinderella let her stepsisters be mean to her because she was their slave, she had no choice.

Cinderella changed because she went from being the maid to being engaged to the prince.

The story was trying to show me not to give up on your hopes because mean people boss you around.

I think this story is showing me that people have to be very kind.

Wow, this story is amazing. I can keep reading this as long as I want. I love it so much!

Wow! I like the story. It is not good to lie be jealous. it is a moral lesson

Cinderella was nice so didn’t want to be mean to the step sisters.

Cinderella found out that good things happen to good people.

That good beats bad.

cause Cinderella has no choice

It teaches me to persevere through hard time and never to be jealous…My own blessing must surely locate me in due season even if am hidden in the valley.

Be kindness and be brave is what this story tells us. If you are a servant or anything, when you do good thing you also deserve good.

Hi from Turkey! We should treat people in equal no matter who!

because she thought that if she let her step-sisters be mean to her, one day they would begin to act nice to her and treat her well.

This is trying to tell us that we should be hard working and never give up on ourselves.

What a nice and lovely story, I loved it much more than any other story.

It taught us not to treat others differently because if your life is bad it can always change in the future.

Cinderella was changed from a slave to a princess. She grew more strong by leaving her step mother and step sister and marrying the prince. She learned that she is way more than what she was.

(1) Cinderella let her stepsisters be mean to her because later on in life she will have better than her stepsisters. Also, she will know that once she meets or has someone in her life who loves her, she can get back at them because she married the prince and now her stepmother and sister can be her maids or whatever she wants to call it. Next, she got to dance with the prince and her stepsisters were jealous.

(2) I pick the stepsisters if I was them and rude to Cinderella, I would feel bad, mad and sad. Bad is for why have I been rude to her? She could grow up more than me and marry someone better and I may or may not marry someone. I would feel mad because I wouldn’t get to dance with the prince and have a better life than her. And I’d feel sad because I was rude and for other reasons.

(3) To always be nice and way more, but I have to go.

The End ,,,, by E and B TOOK 5 MINS TO WRITE THIS THANKS FOR TELLING !!!!?

I think what the story is trying to tell us is to treat others the way you want to be treated, and don’t underestimate others. ?

This story was great, it really helped me fall asleep at night when I felt sick. This was a great telling of the story.

It teaches us that you have to be nice or else the other person will get all the good and fun stuff

I think Cinderella wanted to make her stepsisters like her. So she tried to be nice, hoping they would.

This story is trying to teach us that we should treat every one equal

1. Because then she won’t have anything to eat or survive. 2. Cinderella grew and changed because she got married and was happy to be with someone that makes her happy. 3. To not let anyone judge a book by its cover because you have lessons to learn everyday and you don’t know it.

This help me a lot and it calms me down. This one was a hit to victory. I want hear more stories like this one. Question 3- I think anything is possible, and number 2 is Cinderella

It teach us not to make fun of someone ???

Why did the step sisters and step mother were mean what did she do to them so sad ????????and that’s a nice story but sad By Maria

IT TEACH US NOT TO BE MAKING JEST OF SOMEONE

This is my daughters favorite story and I love the pictures/paintings

Q1 Maybe she believed their insults. Maybe hearing the insults so often made her believe them. Or she didn’t have any support when she stood up to them. Maybe she didn’t think it would be good manners or proper to speak back.

1. Cinderella let her stepsisters be mean to her because if Cinderella says something rude about her stepsisters then her stepmother will say, “It is not the stepsisters fault, it is your fault.” 2. Cinderella changed because she doesn’t have to do the work again for her mean stepsisters and stepmother. 3. I think the story is trying to tell us that if you really really really want to win at something but you loose because the person you were mean to will win, for example if you were mean to someone and then there is a competition 1 day then you really want to win but you won’t because the person who you were mean to will win.

1. why did Cinderella let her stepsisters be mean to her? Because Cinderella didn’t want to hurt them, or she loves them.

The stepmother is being rude and hatefull

External beauty many can achieve, its the inner beauty that makes one unique.

Thanks for your hard and amazing work, my son and I are very appreciative.

Cinderella from the beginning of the story was like a maid at home and in the end of the story she became a princess and she will live at the castle. We should treat people with respect and not make fun of them.

1. Cinderella let her stepsisters be mean to her because if Cinderella says something rude about her stepsisters then her stepmother will say ” It is not the stepsisters fault, it is your fault.” 2. Cinderella changed because she doesn’t have to do the work again for her mean stepsisters and stepmother. 3. I think the story is trying to tell us that if you really really really want to win at something but you loose because the person you were mean to will win, for example if you were mean to someone and then there is a competition 1 day then you really want to win but you won’t because the person who you were mean to will win.

Say what you think the story is trying to show you.

I feel that the story is trying to say that whatever good you do, good will come back to you.

Question 3— Say what you think the story is trying to show you.

the story is trying to say that nothing is impossible

Question 1: I would imagine Cinderella realized her position. Although her step-family mistreated her greatly, they were still her family and some small part of her cared for them. Cinderella was a Baron’s daughter. She could’ve easily written to the constable about the mistreatment and fought for the rights of her title. But Cinderella had a spirit of forbearance. She was kind and had a good heart. Maybe she knew the realities of those in that era who found themselves in a pitiable state.

This is soo good to let your mind rest?

I love this story because it has a good end and the lesson is to be kind to other people no matter if they are poor or rich the thing that matters is to be kind to everyone and if we all do that we can make the world a better place and live our happily ever after life

Question 1 : Cinderella starts the story as a Housemaid to her stepmother and stepsisters while they go and boss her around. But Cinderella stills hopes to go to the ball with the Prince and continues to hope despite being bossed around by her stepmother and stepsisters. Then she eventually does meet her magic fairy after her stepmother denies her request to go to the festival. The Magic fairy dresses her up and takes her to the festival as a princess but tells her to be back before midnight. She forgets about midnight and rushes home while her prince does a kingdom-wide search. He eventually finds Cinderella and buts her magic slipper on and they get married happily ever after.

Question 2 : I think one of the themes of the story is to be hopeful, yet still try. In the story Cinderella is rugged and Dirty and has abusive parental units and sisters who are tormenting her, yet she still hopes and tries to go the the festival. She kept on hoping and eventually she did get to the ball but she didn’t get their without some help and without trying and hoping.

Beautiful story…. My lesson from the story.. Never ever think that we are better than the person who sit next to us…

Cinderella is so nice ?♥️♥️♥️♥️?❤️❤️ The message of the story is that be kind Because you don’t Know your future or what is the blessings of the day ❤️❤️❤️?????

Que 1 Cinderella is good and kind but she’s in a situation where these character traits would not normally flourish. She has to work hard at menial tasks, she’s forced to wear tattered clothing, and she is cut off from a support network and isolated in the attic. She should be miserable and lonely.

Que2 It is often said that some things get better with time, and in the case of Cinderella I would have to agree. Although I know the story and have seen multiple versions numerous times, experiencing the Nashville Children’s Theatre’s version of Cinderella presented me with ideas I had never considered in the context of the story.

Cinderella is hard worker and she deserves a break. Cinderella should marry the prince cause she’s good person. She works hard and takes care of her stepsisters and her stepmother. At the end she finally gets married to the prince and has a happy life .

Helps me to learn things i don’t know and to not do bad things.

I love this story ?? it’s so calming

THIS WAS AMAZING WHO EVER MADE IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cinderella let her stepsisters be mean to her because if she tried to fight back she would just get yelled at and pushed around even more. Cinderella thought she should go to the ball because all the young women were invited and being a woman she felt that she needed to go.

Cinderella lived with her step mother and stepsisters. She had no where else to go so she did everything they told her to do. She was always a mess and never looked clean like them.

She knew she was beautiful and not a mess. She wanted to look nice for the Prince too.

Cinderella let her stepsisters be mean to her because she had to do their jobs like her stepmother told her to. She was scared of her stepmother. She thought she should go to the ball because the prince said all young ladies should go.

So they could rest.

Because she did not feel she was a mess.

She had no way of stopping her step sister from being mean to her. If she would fight back her step mother would have been more hateful to her. She had to do what they said because she had no where else to go.

All of the women of the village were invited, Cinderella being a woman of the village felt like she should go.

Cinderella let her stepsisters be mean to her because if she would’ve said something then her stepmother would of yelled at her

Cinderella wanted to go to the ball because she thought it would make her happy

Cinderella wanted to go to the ball because it would make her happy but she didn’t want her stepmother to yell at her anymore.

Wow! Thank you! I constantly needed to write on my blog something like that. Can I take a part of your post to my blog?

Because she didn’t think she was a mess. Because she is a nice person and deserves better.

I like this story. There’s magic inside this story

answer 1 : because at last they were family. answer 2: her thoughts were different from the others.

1: she thought she was the maid

2: her step sisters got to go and she wanted to go as well

because she knew they would make life unbearable for her, if she disobeys them.and she needed them even if they were the most annoying people.

1 Cinderella let her half-sisters be wicked and cruel to her because she had asked her mother to be kind and not be cruel to others.

2 She thought if she was alone she would feel lonely, so she let her step-mother and step-sister go to the dance.

It teaches us how to respect people. It is a very touching story and it makes me feel happy anytime i read the story, the place i like most is when the fairy godmother came and transformed her from a tattered girl to a beautiful girl with a blue gown and a band on her hair and a glass shoe.

Cinderella should to the ball because it would make her happy. She did not want her stepmother to yell at her more.

1,Beacause cinderella did not want to be mean to them.

2.Beacause her stepmother and stepsisters went to the ball.

Cinderella let her stepsisters be mean to her because she promised her mother she will never be mean to people Cinderella thinks she should go to the ball because her stepsisters, and stepmom was going and she thought she should go too.

Cinderella let them be mean to her because she promise her mother at she we’ll be kind nice and never be mean to people

I think Cinderella let her step sisters be mean to her because she felt like she had no choice to listen to them

I think Cinderella thought she should go to the ball because she felt like since she lived with them and they were going to the ball she should be included to.

I learned so much from this is to not judge by its own dress or look

Wonderful ?????????

I’m not sure. Cinderella I think just wanted to please other people that she didn’t have time to think about them being mean for her. Cinderella thought she should go to the ball because, if her family got to go then why won’t she be able to?

infact i enjoy it,its lovely

I wish that i could be a cindrella

I very much like this story

wow i wish i was cendarella

lovely story I enjoyed it

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Vague Visages

Movies, tv & music • independent film criticism • soundtrack guides • forming the future • est. 2014, know the cast: ‘mother of the bride’.

The Mother of the Bride cast features Brooke Shields, Miranda Cosgrove and Benjamin Bratt. This info article contains minor spoilers and cast/character summaries for Mark Waters’ 2024 Netflix movie . Check out more streaming guides in Vague Visages’ Know the Cast category, and then browse complete soundtrack song listings in the Soundtracks of Cinema section.

Mother of the Bride explores the love lives of an American woman and her daughter. When Lana travels to Thailand for a wedding, she reunites with a former collegiate flame. The narrative follows the main protagonist as she sorts through personal issues while repairing a fractured relationship with her daughter. Here’s every actor and character in Mother of the Bride .

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘Unfrosted’

Mother of the Bride Cast: Brooke Shields as Lana

Character Profile: A world–renowned geneticist. She is a hopeless romantic who tries to relax upon reuniting with a former boyfriend in Thailand. Lana meets an ideal partner but feels drawn to her daughter’s future father-in-law.

Shields’ Resume: Violet in Pretty Baby (1978), Emmeline Lestrange in The Blue Lagoon (1980), Susan Keane in Suddenly Susan (1996-2000), Mrs. Wolverton in Freeway (1996), Sophie Brown in A Castle for Christmas (2021)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘Scoop’

Mother of the Bride Cast: Miranda Cosgrove as Emma

Character Profile: Lana’s daughter. She chooses her lifestyle brand over graduate school. Emma clashes with her mother in Thailand.

Cosgrove’s Resume: Summer Hathaway in School of Rock (2003), Megan Parker in Drake & Josh (2004-07), Carly Shay in iCarly (2007-12), Margo in the Despicable Me Movie Franchise (2010-), Rachel in North Hollywood (2021)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘The Tearsmith’

Mother of the Bride Cast: Benjamin Bratt as Will

Character Profile: Lana’s ex-boyfriend and Emma’s future father-in-law. He is a single parent who wants to feel worthy of his partner. Will tries to romance Lana in Thailand.

Bratt’s Resume: Detective Rey Curtis in Law & Order (1995-2009), Eric Matthews in Miss Congeniality  (2000), Juan Obregón in Traffic (2000), Dr. Jake Reilly in Private Practice (2011-13), Jahil Rivera in Star  (2016-18)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘Irish Wish’

Mother of the Bride Cast: Rachael Harris as Janice

Character Profile: Lana’s sister. She travels to Thailand for Emma’s wedding. Janice urges Lana to pursue a relationship with an American doctor instead of Will.

Harris’ Resume: Melissa in The Hangover (2009), Susan Heffley in Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2010), Sheila Sazs in Suits (2012-19), Linda Martin/Gertie in Lucifer (2016-21), Anna Cabana in Unfrosted (2024)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘Damsel’

Mother of the Bride Cast: Sean Teale as RJ

Character Profile: Emma’s fiancee and Will’s son. He grew up without his mother around. DJ tries to keep his wedding party happy in Thailand.

Teale’s Resume: Nick Levan in Skins (2011-12), Ben Larson in Incorporated (2016-17), Eclipse/Marcos Diaz in The Gifted (2017-19), Ethan in Little Voice (2020), Dario in Rosaline (2022)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘Spaceman’

Mother of the Bride Cast: Chad Michael Murray as Lucas

Character Profile: A doctor at the Geffen School in Los Angeles. He recognizes Lana as a “rock star” of her industry. Lucas pursues a romantic relationship with Shields’ protagonist .

Murray’s Resume: Lucas Scott in One Tree Hill (2003-12), Jake in Freaky Friday (2003), Austin in A Cinderella Story (2004), Nick in House of Wax (2005), Jack Thompson in Agent Carter

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘Through My Window: Looking at You’

The Mother of the Bride cast also includes:

• Michael McDonald as Clay
• Wilson Cruz as Scott
• Tasneem Roc as Camala
• Dalip Sondhi as Harley
• Sahajak Boonthanakit as Pastor Harit
• Sue Swallow as Katrina
• Keith Shillitoe as Maître D’
• Phukit Manowong as Wedding Dance Choreographer
• Kittiya Kanjanakom as Yoga Instructor
• Bill Heinecke as Knowing Hotel Guest

Q.V. Hough ( @QVHough ) is Vague Visages’ founding editor.

Categories: 2020s , Comedy , Drama , Film , Know the Cast , Movie Cast Guides , Movies , Netflix Originals , Romance , Streaming Originals

Tagged as: 2024 , 2024 Film , 2024 Movie , Benjamin Bratt , Bill Heinecke , Brooke Shields , Cast Guide , Cast List , Chad Michael Murray , Character List , Comedy Movie , Dalip Sondhi , Drama Movie , Film Actors , Film Actresses , Film Cast , Film Characters , Film Plot , Film Summary , Keith Shillitoe , Kittiya Kanjanakom , Mark Waters , Michael McDonald , Miranda Cosgrove , Mother of the Bride , Movie Actors , Movie Actresses , Movie Cast , Movie Characters , Movie Plot , Movie Summary , Netflix , Phukit Manowong , Q.V. Hough , Rachael Harris , Romance Movie , Sahajak Boonthanakit , Sean Teale , Streaming , Streaming on Netflix , Sue Swallow , Tasneem Roc , Wilson Cruz

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Children’s Books

Whose Folk Tale Is It Anyway?

A comics collection’s sibling narrators and a graphic novel’s hapless heroine change their stories as they go along.

From “Night Stories: Folktales From Latin America.” Credit... Liniers

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By Sabrina Orah Mark

Sabrina Orah Mark is the author, most recently, of “Happily: A Personal History, With Fairy Tales,” based on her Paris Review column.

• May 17, 2024

For the last 10 minutes, my son Noah has been walking around the house holding up a hand mirror, staring at himself, tripping over the cat, bumping into furniture. He can see only what he’s looking at, which is himself and what’s behind him. “What are you doing?” I ask. “I’m trying to feel what it would be like if I existed only in third person,” he replies. “I see,” I say. “Stay away from the stairs.”

Myth does what Noah is doing. It holds a mirror up to the first person to extract the third. Folk tales leave the first person crumpled on the ground, like an old bathrobe, and refigure its outline into allegory.

On the cover of NIGHT STORIES: Folktales From Latin America (Toon, 48 pp., $17.99, ages 7 to 9), by the Argentine cartoonist Ricardo Liniers Siri, known as Liniers, the “O” in the title is cleverly replaced by a moon with a furrowed brow. Once an open vowel, once a hole in the word “stories,” the worried moon shines on a brother and sister as they tell each other Latin American folk tales from a bunk bed set against a starry sky.

The sky shown behind them in subsequent comics sequences — whorls and loops of black ink on gray watercolor — resembles a fingerprint. But whose? Maybe it’s a folk tale fingerprint that belongs to all of us at once; a fingerprint shared by persons first and third, the storytellers and the characters inside the tales.

Depending on how scared the other sibling is, the brother and sister change the endings and twist the middles of their stories. Around these ad-libbers, Liniers draws soft, circular borders reminiscent of dream bubbles, as if the folk tales themselves are dreaming up the children retelling them. I’ve always believed we tell stories to survive, but maybe I’ve had it backward. Maybe folk tales dream us up so that they never die.

Without ever climbing out of bed, this boy and girl travel across South America, frightening each other with stories of Brazil’s Iara (a mermaid who lures young men to leave everything and live with her underwater forever); Mexico’s La Lechuza (an owl with the face of an old woman who “lost a child to cruelty” and now seeks revenge); and Argentina and Uruguay’s La Luz Mala (an evil light named Mandinga, “a demon that arose from the souls of those who were not buried properly” and spooks weary travelers on the pampas during the driest months).

Below the brim of his black bowler hat, in a panel that takes up three-quarters of a page, Mandinga’s hair shoots out in straight black lines from both sides of his head. His eyes are yellow with red pupils, his mouth and nose hidden by the high collar of a red overcoat. Underneath this panel are terror and its echo: a traumatized gaucho on the left and the brother listening to the folk tale on the right.

Now firmly lodged in the story, the brother is scared enough to ask if, “just for tonight,” the lights could be left on. Not a bad idea given that on the last page — seemingly unaware of one another and contemporized — the mermaid, the owl and Mandinga all appear on a street that could easily be right outside the window.

The book’s introduction, by David Bowles, touches on the Aztecs’ and other Nahua people’s creation myths, reminding us that sometimes it takes five tries to get a world right. And a treasure trove of back matter in turn explains the origins of Liniers’s three “night stories.”

Vera Brosgol’s underwater folk tale, PLAIN JANE AND THE MERMAID (First Second, 368 pp., $14.99, ages 10 to 14), is a cabaret of tropes and figures from many tales we know and love, spun anew. Flecks from “Alice in Wonderland,” “Hansel and Gretel,” “Cinderella,” “Little Red Riding Hood” and “Beauty and the Beast” sparkle across the pages of this graphic novel like antique glitter.

Plain Jane feels like a figure not only rescued from the imagination of Hans Christian Andersen, but ultimately relieved of the agony his protagonists often suffer. Brosgol gives Jane the chance of a “happily,” rather than only the darkening fate of an “ever after.”

One might think a world populated with a crone, selkies, zombies, evil mermaids, a water demon, an anglerfish, a lost brother, dead parents, eviction and lovesickness would leave no room for a discernible plot, but Brosgol must have drunk the same potion Jane drinks, giving her the power to breathe underwater, cohere the story and know exactly when to come up for air.

At the heart of her tale are a mermaid who keeps her youth and beauty by eating beautiful men; a mermaid-gone-crone who sacrifices her beauty because she can’t bear to eat the man she loves; and Plain Jane, whose heroic adventures in the depths of the sea enable her to finally see through herself.

Sometimes to get to our truest reflection, we must swim past the many myths that warp our mirrors to where the water is clearest.

Explore More in Books

Want to know about the best books to read and the latest news start here..

As book bans have surged in Florida, the novelist Lauren Groff has opened a bookstore called The Lynx, a hub for author readings, book club gatherings and workshops , where banned titles are prominently displayed.

Eighteen books were recognized as winners or finalists for the Pulitzer Prize, in the categories of history, memoir, poetry, general nonfiction, fiction and biography, which had two winners. Here’s a full list of the winners .

Montreal is a city as appealing for its beauty as for its shadows. Here, t he novelist Mona Awad recommends books  that are “both dreamy and uncompromising.”

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Each week, top authors and critics join the Book Review’s podcast to talk about the latest news in the literary world. Listen here .

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NALRC hosts conference to inspire African language educators

The Indiana University Hamilton Lugar School’s National African Language Resource Center (NALRC) recently hosted the 27 th annual conference of the African Language Teachers Association (ALTA), convening more than 100 attendees from across the U.S., Canada, and Africa. The event invites teachers and scholars in African Language education to share innovative and creative ways to enhance African language instruction, research, and best practices.

Support for preserving African languages and cultures and transmitting them to the next generation is vital. Personal anecdotes shared by conference presenters showed that even professional African language educators may find it challenging to pass their native language on to their children.

One of the presenters, Indiana University graduate student Ugonna Ahumibe, said that while she was living in Nigeria, she found it “ nearly impossible ” to transmit her native Igbo to her two daughters. She had limited time with her them due to the demands of work, and the language was not used at their school or by their nanny. She said, “ I felt like I didn’t have enough time with my children for them to acquire the language from me naturally. As a student of language, it was almost embarrassing to me .”

Meanwhile, another presenter, Tulane University doctoral student Adebimpe Adegbite said, “I speak Yoruba to my two-year-old son, but when some Yoruba-speaking families in the community hear us, they often say something like, ‘Don’t worry, it’s just a matter of time until he refuses to speak it anymore.’ ”

Ahumibe and Adegbite were among dozens of presenters who shared research and best practices at the two-and-a-half-day conference at Indiana University in April, based on the theme “African Languages within and beyond the Classroom: Interdisciplinary Perspectives and Multidisciplinary Collaborations.” Event attendees were affiliated with ALTA, a professional membership organization working to advance teaching and research in national languages.

Although the NALRC and ALTA are separate entities, they work closely together, said NALRC Associate Director Kazeem Sanuth , “ NALRC serves all members of ALTA. Many ALTA members attend the NALRC summer workshops and institutes, which are open to everyone in interested in the instruction of African languages.”

Sanuth said the conference was a success.

“ It brought together people from different continents – and at least six countries in Africa – to participate in academic and professional conversations related to the teaching of African languages . More papers were presented than at prior conferences, and we were able to have graduate students fully recognized at the conference for their work as wel l, ” he said.

An Interactive Children’s Dictionary for Igbo Language and Culture

Although Igbo is currently spoken by over 27,000,000 people in Nigeria, it is categorized as “threatened,” since cultural forces are causing the language to die off. Ahumibe said younger generations in Nigeria prefer foreign languages, and many people feel that the ability to speak English is superior, confers higher status, and allows one to be more creative. Despite government efforts to require business to be conducted in Igbo, things did not change.

Ahumibe, who is finishing an M.A. in Linguistics with a concentration in Computational Linguistics, says there are children’s books available in Igbo, but they are not designed with children in mind. “ They are unattractive, and the prints are carelessly done, and not colorful .” She said, “ If a child saw them against a Cinderella story, they would not choose the Igbo. ”

To kick-start her children’s language learning, Ahumibe decided to make use of the technology at hand – her phone.

She says, “ I asked my children’s grandmother and other relatives who are native speakers to record traditional folktales in Igbo. The children listen to the stories as we drive to and from school. Although in the beginning they couldn’t follow the stories, over time they began to understand and even pick up new words. ”

To enhance their language learning, Ahumibe was inspired to create an interactive Igbo-English children’s dictionary app as well. Using a classic Igbo folk story, “The Tortoise Marries the Princess,” she selected over a hundred words as a foundation for the dictionary.

Meanwhile, she is leveraging the power of software tools including Fieldworks Language Explorer (FLEx), an integrated set of open-source software tools to help manage linguistic and cultural data; SayMore, a software program designed to build language documentation sources; and MidJourney, an AI image generator. These tools allow her to create culturally relevant images to go along with the story, then integrate audio, video, and photo data. Ahumibe says that the resulting dictionary content can easily be transferred between devices, be formatted for print, etc.

The target audience for the app is children ages 6-12 living outside Igboland, and they hope it will be used by other Igbo language learners, teachers, and researchers. The app is still in the development stage, and Ahumibe and her colleague, Margaret Carpenter, are applying for funding to complete the project, which they anticipate will take another year.

Ahumibe will complete her masters in Linguistics in June and will stay at Indiana University to begin doctoral work in Literacy, Culture, and Language Education this fall. Meanwhile, she hopes to have online dictionary format available by the end of May.

Teaching Yoruba as a minority majority language

“ In Nigeria, the national language policy requires that one of the major languages, Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba, be acquired for each child for the first 6 years of primary education,” said Adegbite. “This looks like wonderful support for indigenous languages on paper, but it is not translated into reality .”

Adegbite conducted research at a school in Ile-Ife, Nigeria with an English-only policy. The participants included 51 students ages seven to thirteen years old whose parents agreed to enroll them in three months of instruction on Yoruba proverbs. Using questionnaires, ethnographic interviews, and conversations, he examined the children’s competence in and use of Yoruba, as well as the attitudes towards the language.

Most of the children (92%) spoke two or more languages, although four spoke only one language, and one child spoke five languages. The monolinguals spoke only English but could understand a bit of Yoruba. All the multilingual students spoke Yoruba and English.

At home, more of the children spoke English (65%) than spoke Yoruba (35%). At school, children reported 95% English use, and 4% Yoruba. In other settings such as markets and places of worship, they reported using 27.5% Yoruba and 72.5% English.

His study showed that within the same individual, language attitude and use varied by setting. Forty-seven percent said Yoruba would be their preferred language to speak at home, 67% would prefer to speak Yoruba at school, and only 39% would prefer to speak it in other places.

Adegbite also noted that since the study was limited to children and parents who consented to take part in three months of Yoruba proverb instruction, their attitudes toward the Yoruba language would be predicted to be positive. He asked, “ If the influence of English is still as strong in such a population, what about the overwhelming [number of] prospective participants that showed no interest?”

In conclusion, Adegbite said, “ While Yoruba is a national language with majority language status in southwest Nigeria, it has a minority language usage by students in this study .”

To preserve the Yoruba language, Adegbite says, “ In the absence of will by the government to create and/or implement language policies that favor minority (indigenous, heritage, less commonly taught) languages, language stakeholders at home (parents, children, family members), school (teachers and administrators), and other places (business owners, religious leaders, etc.) can unite to facilitate language revitalization and/or maintenance.”

Transforming Swahili Language Instruction

Mwangi shared data from the U.S. Public Interest Research Group , indicating that 63% of students skipped buying or renting textbooks, and 19% of students chose classes based on their course materials cost. As a result, he realized that access to low-cost, high-quality textbooks could be key to increasing enrollments.

Over the course of two summers, Mwangi and his colleagues developed a comprehensive end-of-sequence assessment for elementary Swahili, then designed listening and writing curricula to prepare students for the assessment. The two professional development programs that culminated in these assessment and curricula projects were offered by the University of Chicago’s Language Center through the Mellon Foundation Grant. He then made the material available as an Open Education Resource (OER). The result? “ Enrollment in Swahili courses increased. We ended up adding another section, and within two hours, it was full ,” said Mwangi.

His advice to other educators was clear. “ Having high-quality and effective LCTL Open Education Resources (OERs) based on current trends in test designs and curriculum developments can significantly enhance enrollments in our respective African languages .”

Showcasing Indiana University’s support for African Languages

Efforts to maintaining and revitalize African Language education are at the heart of the collaborations between ALTA and IU’s NALRC. Although the annual ALTA conference was part of the larger National Council of Less Commonly Taught Languages conference for decades, it has been held independently since 2021. When asked about this change, NALRC’s Sanuth said that although other less commonly taught languages share a similar vision and mission, African language programs are unique.

“Many have acute shortages of enrollment, resources, research, and training opportunities,” he said. “By holding our own conference, ALTA can localize the conversation to what is related to African languages alone, which may range from teacher training to community building to mentorship. We’re trying to create opportunities for the expansion of research on African languages and boost instruction at institutions across the country .”

Holding a separate conference has also allowed the event to take place on university campuses, instead of hotel conference centers. “ Hosting the event at the IU Hamilton Lugar School also highlighted the university’s leadership in language education, ” Sanuth said. “ It gave us an opportunity to showcase the school’s commitment to language instruction and be able to let conference attendees see the support that African language teaching gets here on IU’s campus. Everyone left with the feeling that IU has support for African languages and the NALRC.”

Linda Bollivar

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