Folklore & Fairytales discussion

Teaching fairy tales is always fun and fascinating. Cinderella is one of my favorites to teach as the evolution of it shows our modern interpretations of it.

What are your thoughts on Cinderella, the story, and Disney?

Discussing it in depth over on my blog: http://talesofabookworm.com/cinderell...

My favorite retelling is Spell Bound, where the fairy godmother is the scary villain!

I think Cinderella is code for the goddess Ella/Hella whose regenerative fires have been reduced to cinders. The story is a prediction that humanity will eventually return to honoring this Hella as its Great Mother.

I can't confirm that Jeri, but I love you for saying it. Hela is the awesomest.

Actually, I can't take credit for the idea, Ruby. I got it from Barbara Walker's Women's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets. She says the stepmother is a symbol for the Church and the two stepsisters symbolize the clergy and landed aristocracy, if I remember right. The prince is humanity, who soon catches on that Hella, not Jehovah, is the deity to go with.

Cinderella has always been my favorite fairy tale, but that really gives it a whole new level of worth to me.

Disney's Cinderella is a very flat character, sadly, and the story itself is very light and fluffy. In the Grimms' version though, she goes to the ball without a fairy godmother helping her, and she climbs up a tree to hide when the Prince tries to follow her home.
I think of Cinderella as a very good example of humility, a young girl with the beautiful heart of a servant, even though sometimes people will be mean to her just because they can. In some versions she is more secretive and dark a character.
I'm looking forward to the movie Into the Woods, as the Cinderella there is following the Grimm's version.

Sugarplumfairy wrote: "Disney's Cinderella is a very flat character, sadly, and the story itself is very light and fluffy. In the Grimms' version though, she goes to the ball without a fairy godmother helping her, and s..."

There is a Czech version (by Bozema Nemcova) similar to the Grimm's that is also very good (the girl is actually even more proactive and self confident than in the Grimm's version). Not sure what the original Czech title is, but the German title is "Drei Haselnüsse für Aschenbrödel" (Three Hazelnuts for Cinderella) and I've not actually read the book, but watched the film (East German/Czech collaboration, very good).

Drei Haselnüsse für Aschenbrödel. (don't know the Czech original, but you might find it in this collection, Fairy Tales from Czechoslovakia).

Gundula wrote: "Sugarplumfairy wrote: "Disney's Cinderella is a very flat character, sadly, and the story itself is very light and fluffy. In the Grimms' version though, she goes to the ball without a fairy godmo..."

Oh thanks! I have seen the movie as well.

Sugarplumfairy wrote: "Gundula wrote: "Sugarplumfairy wrote: "Disney's Cinderella is a very flat character, sadly, and the story itself is very light and fluffy. In the Grimms' version though, she goes to the ball witho..."

Isn't it a great movie? Supposedly, there are a whole bunch of Czech/East German fairy tale movie collaborations, but unfortunately, I've only ever seen the Cinderella version.

Gundula wrote: "Sugarplumfairy wrote: "Gundula wrote: "Sugarplumfairy wrote: "Disney's Cinderella is a very flat character, sadly, and the story itself is very light and fluffy. In the Grimms' version though, she..."

I know, it's just so nice to watch a refreshing take on the story that's from another culture, another country. It makes it feel more... special, somehow.