Aladdin and Ali Baba share some similarities but also have differences. Both stories involve Arabian folktales about thieves, deserts, and discovering hidden wealth. However, Aladdin is a Disney animated movie from 1993 while Ali Baba is an older Arabian folktale. The stories also differ in how the hidden locations are accessed - Aladdin requires a magic golden beetle while Ali Baba uses the phrase "Open Sesame". While the thieves seek wealth and power, their targets differ, with Aladdin seeking a magic lamp and Ali Baba seeking gold and money. Overall the author preferred Aladdin for its humor and music.

1. Compare and Contrast Paper
By Grace Quigley #21
Aladdin and Ali Baba have many similarities and differences. Aladdin is a movie
created in 1993 by Disney, and Ali Baba is an Arabian folktale in our Elements of
Literature book that we read in our Language Arts class. Ali Baba is about a man that
finds money in a secret cave. Coincidently, Aladdin is also about a man who finds a cave
of treasures in a lion made of sand. They are both looking for power, just in different
forms.
The similarities Aladdin and Ali Baba share vary from different characters to
certain parts of the stories. For example, Aladdin and Ali Baba are both Arabian folktales
that involve thieves, deserts, and wealth.
Another similarity is that there are both thieves and caves. The thieves are both
looking for the same concept. Wealth, power, and of course, not getting caught.
The characters also have similarities such as Aladdin and Ali Baba are both
generous and kind. They take in and respect people even if they don’t know them. For
example, even though the disguised thieves in Ali Baba don’t look exactly…. Well safe,
but Ali Baba takes them in and feeds them anyway. And with Aladdin, he gives his
loaves of bread away to the starving children, even though he was on the verge of
starving himself. Another character similarity is Jefarh has the same despicable behavior
as Cassim. And finally, Morgiana and Jasmine have the same trickster minds.
Aladdin and Ali Baba have a lot of differences. Aladdin is a movie that is
animated and Ali Baba is a an old Arabian story.
Another difference is in Aladdin the cave opens with a metal golden beetle that
goes into the sand and opens a lion made of sand. The lion will only let “a chosen”
person go through his mouth to get the lamp, unlike Ali Baba who just has to say the
simple words, “ Open Sesame,” and the door will open.
Although the thieves in this story have similar goals, they are looking for different
objects of power and wealth. In Aladdin they are looking for a lamp that has a genie in it,
which will grant them any three wishes they would like. Ali Baba is all about gold and
money inside a cave.
Overall I enjoyed both stories. If I had to choose one over another I would choose
Aladdin because I enjoyed the funny and musical parts of the movie.