The document presents a comparative analysis of various Cinderella stories from different cultures, highlighting their unique characters, morals, and settings. Key tales include Yeh-Shen from China, The Rough Face Girl from Native American tradition, and The Egyptian Cinderella, each with distinct cultural elements and lessons on self-worth and transformation. The presentation explores how these narratives diverge from the traditional American Cinderella story, emphasizing individual and cultural values.

1. Cinderella Tales
Through History and Cultural Space

2. By Diane L. Styma
For Reading 585
Grand Canyon
University
April 25, 2012

3. Six Cinderella Stories

Yeh Shin

China

The Rough
Face Girl

American
Indian

The Turkey
Girl

Zuni

The
Egyptian
Cinderella

Egyptian

Clay Pot
Boy

Pueblo

Smoky
Mountain
Rose

Appalachian

4. In this presentation, you will learn:
1) What were the characters' names in the stories,
and what were the settings (time and place)?
2) How was Cinderella treated in the stories?
What was her role in the family?
How was it different from the traditional American tale?
3) What were the differences in clothes and food throughout each of the
stories?
4) Was there magic involved?
5) What is the end to the story? What was the moral lesson?
6) What culturally-specific information is enmeshed into the story?

5. The Egyptian Cinderella

First told by Romans (oldest tale) approximately 40 BC
(Aldokkan, 2011). http://www.aldokkan.com/art/cinderella.htm

Setting location-Greece and Egypt

Setting time-1550 BC (Pharoah Ahmose1) (Aldokkah, 2011)
http://www.aldokkan.com/egypt/ahmose.htm

Cinderella is called “Rhodopis” / Prince is named Pharoah
Ahmose 1

Magic when God Horus transforms to a falcon

Moral is from being an orphan and a slave, hard work
transforms beautiful girl into princess

Culture includes bored prince, red-rose gold slippers, and
falcon/God Horus, pirates taking girls from Greece to Egypt,
and slavery.

6. The Rough Face Girl

Native American —Algonquin tale

Setting-N. America

Moral - believe in self and beauty is within.

Setting time-1500's?

Cinderella is called “The-Rough-Face Girl” / Prince is named
Invisible Being

Magic involving Invisible Being transforming to a man.

Moral is from being ugly, hard work transforms the beauty
inside to allow girl to see the Invisible Being in nature around
her.

Culture includes tending a fire and nature.

7. Yeh-Shen

Chinese tale

Setting-China

Moral - believe in self and beauty is within

Setting time-850 AD

Cinderella is called “Yeh-Shen” / Prince is “The King”

Magic occurs when fish bones listen to wishes of girl.

Moral is from being happy, to beautiful but mistreated, a girl
who is kind to fish can rise above and marry a king.

Culture includes magic of fish, colors, and violent killings.

8. The Turkey Girl

Zuni folktale

Setting-Southwest USA

Moral - believe in self, beauty is within, and keep promises.

Setting time – prior to 1680

Cinderella is called “The Turkey Girl” / Prince is “The King”

Magic occurs when turkeys nudge her, comb her hair, and
produce a doeskin dress from little scraps.

Moral is from being a hard dedicated worker, to beautiful, a girl
who is kind to turkeys can rise above, but must keep her
promises.

Culture includes references to the sun as a father, wild turkey
raising, far-away dances, and Southwest vocabulary such as
arroyo, pinon, and yucca-cactus.

9. The Clay Pot Boy

Pueblo Indian story

Setting-Southwest USA

Moral - Rags to riches

Setting time-1930-1988, or prior

Cinderella is called “The Clay Pot Boy” / Prince is “The
Grandfather”

Magic occurs when spring impregnates girl, clay pot boy is born
and can roll, and when clay pot boy sprouts arms and legs.

Moral is from being happy, to alive but imperfect, a boy who is
kind to others can rise above, become human.

Culture includes anthropomorphic spring, clay and dirt.

10. Smokey Mountain Rose

Appalachian story

Setting-USA (The Appalachian Mountains region)

Setting time-1900-present day

Cinderella is called “Rose” / Prince is “the rich feller across the
creek” (Schroeder, 1997)

Magic occurs when hog talks and transforms Rose.

Moral is rags to riches

Culture includes slang or mountain vocabulary,

11. Cultural Differences
Clothes

Slippers

Clothing

Rose got glass, Rodopis got
red-rose gold, Yeh Shin golden
slippers, Clay Pot-none (Hayes,
1988).

Rough-Face Girl, Rags

Yeh Shin -an ocean green gown
or azure with feathers.
Turkey Girl was gifted a white
buckskin or white dress.

Rough-Face girl wore shattered
beads and old moccasins, but
transformed them by using
nature items. Invisible Being
gives her the finest buckskin.

12. The Main Character's Role in the
Family

Rose

Rough-Face

Egyptian Princess

Clay Pot Boy

Turkey Girl

Yeh-Shen

Daughter, with step mother
Gertie and 2 obnoxious
sisters

Daughter, with 2 bossy,
spoiled and beautiful sisters

Orphan (or slave girl) no
family

Pinocchio boy created out of
nature for family

Slave like girl

Family structure changes

13. The Denouement

Clay Pot Boy

The Egyptian
Princess

Smoky Mountain
Rose

Rough-Face Girl

Turkey Girl

Yeh-Shin

Happiness when he located his
father in the spring

Happily ever after, praised for
her different looks.

Rose married the rich feller.

Rough-Face Girl married the
Invisible Man

Turkey Girl ended in sadness,
she has no friends/turkeys left.

Happily ever after.
The events following the climax of each story

14. References
The Egyptian Cinderella.(2011). Retrieved
April 21, 2012 from
http://www.aldokkan.com/art/cinderella.htm
Egypt History. (2011). Retrieved April 22,
2012 from
http://www.aldokkan.com/egypt/ahmose.htm
Hayes, J. (1988). A heart full of turquoise.
Santa Fe, New Mexico: Mariposa Publishing.
Schroeder, A. & Sneed, B. (2000). Smoky
mountain rose: An appalachian cinderella story.
USA: Penguin Group Publishing.