Teacher Resources
Culture Through Literature

 Scenario

"The story of Cinderella may be the world's best-known folk tale. No one knows how old it is, but a Chinese version dates from the ninth century A.D. One folklore study has identified nine hundred versions of the story from the cultures of Europe. The specific details vary from place to place, but the basic plot remains the same: a young, mistreated girl is rewarded in the end.".--McDougal, Littell. Responding To Literature. McDougal, Littell, and Co., c1992.

Imagine you have been asked to write a television script, retelling your own version of Cinderella. In your story you are going to emphasize how cultural values are reflected using the Cinderella archetypical model.

Task and Product

How are cultural values reflected in literature?

You will read and compare two versions of Cinderella with the American Disney version, to gain an understanding of the archetypical model, in order to write a fairy tale that will reflect cultural values as set forth in setting, characters, and story details, symbolism and moral rewarded for virtue.

Using information you gather on the culture of a country, you will create a new version of the fairy tale reflecting that country's values through setting, characters, story details, and symbolic meaning. Your story may take the form of a book, a multimedia presentation (rubric), a video, or a Web 2.0 product using such tools as ToonDo, MakeBeliefsComix, or Animoto.

As you read the versions of Cinderella, take notes using the graphic organizer Cinderella Archetypical Model Comparison.

Assessments

Your grade will be based on the following:

Question

Essential Question: How are cultural values reflected in literature?

Subsidiary questions

  • What are the hopes and aspirations of most people?
  • How are virtues rewarded?
  • What behaviors reveal the character's values?
  • How are the geography and natural resources worked into the story?

Gather, Sort and Cite

Read at least two versions of Cinderella and take notes using the graphic organizer Cinderella Archetypical Model Comparison (PDF)

Gather information about a country from a variety of sources.

Sort your country research findings using a graphic organizer or note cards.

Cite your sources to avoid plagiarism.

Organize

Analyze your completed Cinderella Archetypical Model Comparison sheet to determine how cultural values have been reflected in the tales. Review your country research for cultural values, geographical features and natural resources.

Synthesize your findings by writing your version of the tale. Synthesis is the act of pulling your research and ideas together to form new meaning.

  • What new insights have emerged about culture and its values?
  • Which facts are the most reflective of the country you researched and would have the greatest impact on your story?
  • Create your version of Cinderella, reflecting country's values expressed through the setting, characters, story details, symbolism, and moral rewarded for virtue.

Evaluate the effectiveness of your research for the task.

  • Have you gathered sufficient details about the culture of a country in order to write your story?
  • Is your research reflected in the story?

Conclusion

Class Discussion

As you listen to the class present their story, take notes on values expressed through the setting, characters, story details, and symbolism. Use the Listening for Details sheet.

Reflection

Why does the Cinderella story have such a universal appeal for children and adults around the world? Scoring Tool for Brief Constructed Response