Cinderella Comparison and Contrast Essay

In this essay, I will be comparing and contrasting the two folk

tales ‘ Yeh-Shen’ and ‘Aschenputtel’.

These are two different versions of

Cinderella. Yeh-Shen is from China and

retold by Ai-Ling Louie while

Aschenputtel is a Germanic folk tale by

the Grimm Brothers. Both girls in the

stories are treated harshly by their

stepmother. However, through magical power they are rescued and

marry royalty. Although these are two different versions, the message

of both stories is that bad deeds will be punished.

The two folk tales, Yeh-Shen and Aschenputtel share many

similarities throughout the stories. Both beautiful girls are forbidden

from attending a festival due to their evil stepmother. They both wish

for a gorgeous dress and each receives golden slippers from their

magical animals. But, at the festival, each loses one of their slippers. In

the end, they both marry royalty while their stepsisters are punished

for their evil deeds. Even

By : Allice / 7 / P.5

though Yeh-Shen and Aschenputtel share commonalities, their

differences are what make each folk tale unique.

The differences in Aschenputtel and Yeh-Shen are that

Aschenputtel grows up in a house while Yeh-Shen lives in a cave.

Aschenputtel magically speaks to doves and a tree while Yeh-Shen

magically talks to a fish. In the end, Aschenputtel’s true love is a Prince

while Yeh-Shen’s is a King. In the Chinese version, she sees her

stepmother and sister killed by being stoned to death while

Aschenputtel sees her stepsisters punished by getting their eyes

plucked out. The motif in the folk tale Yeh-Shen is tiny feet while in

Aschenputtel it is number three.

In conclusion, both Cinderella- like stories share many similarities

and differences. What makes each of them special is the country from

where they originate. Both folk tales are violent, therefore in my

opinion both are not acceptable stories for children. Yeh-Shen’s

stepmother and sister are killed by flying stones in the end, and

Aschenputtel features eyes plucked out. They are not appropriate to

tell children, however, they might be good stories on Halloween Night.