A Cinderella Story

A Cinderella Story - The most famous of the many versions was written in 1697 by French author Charles Perrault. Disney's version was one of the most popular versions taken from this authors work.

The most famous of the many Cinderella Fairy Tale versions was written in 1697 by French author Charles Perrault. Disney's version was one of the most popular versions taken from this authors work.

Cinderella and Her Carriage

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The Characters Of A Cinderella Story

A Cinderella Story has been told and adapted in many different ways over the years, but some of the most well-known characters are as follows:

Cinderella (Ella) - The kind-hearted and gentle protagonist of the story who is mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters. Despite her circumstances, she remains optimistic and dreams of a better life.

The Stepmother - The main antagonist of the story, who treats Cinderella cruelly and forces her to do all the household chores. She favors her own daughters over Cinderella and tries to keep her from attending the royal ball.

The Prince - The charming and handsome prince who falls in love with Cinderella at the royal ball. He searches for her after she leaves the ball in a hurry, using the glass slipper she left behind as a clue to find her.

The Two Stepsisters - Cinderella's stepsisters who are also antagonists in the story. They treat Cinderella poorly and are jealous of her beauty and kindness.

The Fairy Godmother - A magical and kind character who helps Cinderella attend the royal ball by transforming her ragged clothes into a beautiful gown, turning a pumpkin into a carriage, and turning mice into horses.

The Glass Slipper - While not a character, the glass slipper plays a significant role in the story. Cinderella loses one of her glass slippers as she rushes to leave the ball before midnight. The prince uses the slipper to find her, as it fits only her foot, and they ultimately get married and live happily ever after.

Plot Summary Of A Cinderella Story

This is from one of the versions from Charles Perrault.

The story opens about a handsome man whose wife had died. They had a beautiful daughter named Ella. Ella was a girl of unparalleled goodness and sweet temper.

After some time passed the man married a widow that had two daughters. They were not at all attractive, very selfish and very jealous of Ella.

The Stepmother made Ella the maid, do the cooking and all the housework. When the girl had done her work, she was made to sit in the cinder box by the fireplace. This caused her to almost always be covered with ashes and cinders. Because of this she was given the nick-name of "Cinderella". The poor girl bore it patiently, but could not tell her father as he was completely dominated by his wife.

wicked stepmother in the Disney film

The Prince, the King's Son, needed a wife. So, he invited all the beautiful single girls in the realm to a ball. Ella's stepsisters were part of the group invited. As they dressed, Ella assisted them, but they still taunted her by saying a maid could never attend a ball.

When the two left for the ball, Cinderella cried in sadness and loneliness. A Fairy appeared. It was her Fairy Godmother. She would help Ella get to the ball. To start with made a coach from a pumpkin. She then made horses out of mice and a footman from a lizard. Ella needed a beautiful gown. Her Godmother made the gown from the rags she was wearing plus a small pair of Glass Slippers. The Godmother then informed her that the spell will be broken at midnight She said for Ella to enjoy the ball, but she must leave by midnight, as everything would change back.

When Ella arrived, she dazzled the Prince and every else in the court. The Prince never left her side. She was unrecognized by her sisters as she danced with the Prince. She remembered she had to leave before midnight.

Ella was having such a good time that she stayed too long. At the stroke of midnight, as she hurried to leave, she lost a glass slipper. The Prince tried to catch her without success. The guards had seen only a country wench leave. The Prince found the slipper and promised that he would search for the girl that fit the slipper until he found her. Then he would marry her.

Cinderella Fleeing the Ball by Anne Anderson

Back home, She thanked her Godmother. She then greeted the Stepsisters who could talk of nothing but the beautiful girl at the ball.

The Prince searched all the realm with the slipper trying to find the beautiful girl that the slipper fit. The Stepsisters could not fit. They teased her but she still asked if she might try it on. It was a perfect fit, and she then put on the other slipper. The two stepsisters pleaded with Ella and she forgave them for their cruelties. The Prince escorted Ella to the palace. They were married at a huge ball.

In another of the versions of A Cinderella Story, the sisters are made to dance until their feet fall off!