Cinderella
A young girl, left to the care of her wicked stepmother and stepsisters after her father's death, is reduced to servitude. She is forced to do all household chores and is treated poorly by her family. Despite this, she remains kind and gentle. A prince invites all maidens in the kingdom to a ball, but Cinderella's stepsisters are the only ones who attend. At the ball, Cinderella meets the prince and they dance together, but she must leave before midnight when her stepmother discovers her whereabouts. The prince searches for Cinderella, but she is nowhere to be found.
By Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm · First published 1812 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Folklore · 2,396 words
First lines
The wife of a rich man fell sick: and when she felt that her end drew nigh, she called her only daughter to her bedside, and said, "Always be a good girl, and I will look down from heaven and watch over you. " Soon afterwards she shut her eyes and died, and was buried in the garden; and the little girl went every day to her grave and wept, and was always good and kind to all about her. And the snow spread a beautiful white covering over the grave; but by the time the sun had melted it away again, her father had married another wife. This new wife had two daughters of her own: they were fair in face but foul at heart, and it was now a sorry time for the poor little girl. "What does the good-for-nothing thing want in the parlor? " said they; and they took away her fine clothes, and gave her an old frock to put on, and laughed at her and turned her into the kitchen.
What this Textopian page supports
Cinderella is listed on Textopian as a short story by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, dated 1812 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
- Date: 1812 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Folklore, Children's Literature, Romance
- Length: 2,396 words
- Structure: 1 section, 23 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Cinderella by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Cinderella?
- How does this short story by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fairy Tale first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- Sweetheart Roland by Jacob And Wilhelm Grimm
- The Three Golden Hairs The Story Of A Charcoal Burners Son Who Married A Princess by Parker Fillmore
- The Loving Pair by Hans Christian Andersen
- The Real Princess by Hans Christian Andersen
Genres
- Fairy Tale — The story features magical elements, a moral lesson, and a traditional narrative structure typical of fairy tales.
- Fantasy — The presence of magical birds, a tree that grants wishes, and enchanted clothing places the story within the fantasy genre.
- Folklore — The tale is rooted in oral tradition and cultural folklore, passed down through generations.
- Children's Literature — The story is designed to be accessible and engaging for children, with simple language and clear moral lessons.
Tags
Fairy Tale · Romance · Fantasy · Magic · Transformation · Social Hierarchy · Class Struggle · Poverty · Abuse · Loneliness · Isolation · Escape