The story of Cinderella is ancient, and there are variations in many countries. The most common version was translated from Charles Perrault’s “Cendrillon”, which first appeared in 1697.
Once upon a time,
there was a pretty young girl named Cinderella. Cinderella was a good, sweet, kind, pretty young girl. Cinderella’s widowed father, Baron Hardup, married again to the Baroness, a mean woman with two ugly daughters of her own. They lived together along with Buttons, the Baron’s servant and Cinderella’s friend. Cinderella’s mean stepmother and the two ugly stepsisters made Cinderella do all of the cooking and cleaning. She no longer had nice things and wore only tattered old clothes, while her stepmother and stepsisters had very nice clothes and lived very comfortably.
The Prince and Dandini, his servant, swap places so that the Prince can meet ordinary people. In this way, the Prince meets Cinderella in the woods, and Dandini suggests a ball so they can meet again.
Soon after, a letter came inviting everyone to the palace for the ball. Cinderella had no good clothes to wear to the ball, and was upset “Don’t cry, child,” said a gentle voice. “I am your fairy godmother, and I have come to help you”. Then the fairy-godmother waved her wand. Four mice became four proud horses, and a big, round pumpkin became a glittering coach. Again the fairy-godmother waved her wand and turned Cinderella’s torn dress into a beautiful gown. “You must leave the ball by midnight”, she warned. “After that, the magic spell will be broken.”
At the ball, the Prince was enchanted by Cinderella, and danced with her all evening. She felt as if she were floating on a dream! But as the clock struck midnight, Cinderella ran from the palace. She was in such a hurry that she left one glass slipper behind. The Prince ran after her, but it was too late.
The next day, the Prince and Dandini go door-to-door to find the young woman who had lost her slipper. When they got to Cinderella’s house, both stepsisters tried on the glass slipper, but their feet were much too big. Cinderella’s stepmother told them that there were no other ladies in the house. When Cinderella appeared and asked if she could try on the slipper, her stepmother was furious. Of course, the slipper fitted, and the fairy-godmother’s magic spell restored her dress and riches. The Prince would be married at last. And Cinderella’s dreams would all come true.
And they lived happily ever after……..
Read the story of Cinderella and answer the questions given below:
- What kind of a girl was Cinderella?
- What was the name of Cinderella’s father?
- Describe Cinderella’s stepmother?
- How did Cinderella’s stepmother and stepsisters treat her?
- Name the Baron’s servant and the Prince’s servant?
- Who invited everyone to the ball?
- Why was Cinderella upset?
- Who came to her help?
- What did the fairy-godmother do to help Cinderella?
- What did the fairy-godmother say to Cinderella before she left for the ball?
- How did the Prince feel when he saw Cinderella?
- How did Cinderella feel at the ball?
- What did she leave in her hurry?
- How did the Prince find Cinderella?
- How did Cinderella’s stepmother react when Cinderella asked if she too could try on the slipper?
- Did the slipper fit Cinderella’s foot?
- What happened in the end?
- Give the meaning of – mean, ugly, tattered, glittering, warning, furious.
