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Creating Your Blog
General Directions:
-When you begin your blog, go to kidblog.org and login using your information.
Username: first name last name (JoeSmith)
Password: student ID number (library card #)
-To start a post, select “New Post” from the top menu. Title your post the subject
of the requirement that it is meeting (Characterization).
-When you have completed your work for the day, either “Save as Draft” if you
plan to come back and work on it again, or “Publish”, if your post is final.
*Each requirement is a separate “post” in your blog.
-Your posts must be organized logically.
Here is one approach for organizing your ideas/information.
Paragraph #1 provides an introduction.
Paragraph #2 discusses book #1.
Paragraph #3 discusses book #2.
Paragraph #4 compares the two books and reaches a conclusion.
You are welcome to organize your paragraphs differently, but be certain that your
decisions are logical and intentional.
-All paragraphs must have at least 4-5 sentences.
-Remember to use specifics from both stories. In addition to strong details, you
should be using quoted material where appropriate.
-Remember to focus on critical evaluations, using literary terms. Do not simply give
your opinions.
-Remember that spelling, grammar, capitalization and voice matter!
-Complete your posts in the order that works best for you. Remember that you will
complete 4 in the fall, and the remaining 4 in the spring.
Requirements for Setting:
1) You must have an introduction that names your titles/authors, as well as sets up the post.
2) You must discuss the settings of both books. Use quotes from each book in your discussion.
Consider the following: time in history, time of action, geographical location, place of action,
and mood.
3) Draw some conclusions regarding the different approaches to setting used by your author(s).
Exemplar #1 for Setting: (One story, then the other)
As fairytales, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” and “Cinderella” both have typical and
familiar settings. As you would expect, they occur “Once upon a time”. We have everything from the
cabin in the woods and the house in the village, to the enchanted castle and “happily ever after”.
Although there are no surprises regarding where these fairytales take place, there are differences in
how these settings relate to the conflicts in these stories.
In the case of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”, the woods are essential to Snow White’s
survival. The woods offer her protection from her wicked step-mother, who has “turned yellow and
green with envy” over Snow White’s unmatchable beauty. When the step-mother orders Snow White’s
death, it is Snow White’s promise to her hit-man that she “…will run away into the wild forest, and never
come home again.” Given the feudal era that this story takes place in, there would be few places for a
woman to hide. She is living in a man’s world; and without the protection of her family, or a husband
she is hard-pressed to survive on her own. She is lucky to have encountered seven dwarfs who are
happy to have her cook and clean for them.
For “Cinderella,” however, the era that the story is set in is less fixed. The plot of this story
could occur in today’s society, just as easily as “a long time ago, in a far away land”. In fact, modernized
versions of Cinderella’s “rags to riches” theme are still being made today. While the time in history
matters little to the plot, the place of action is of great importance. Since Cinderella’s family lives in the
village where there are people and action, she is presented with this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Additionally, if the event was not a Royal Ball, Cinderella would not have had occasion to look so
beautiful. Likewise, the time of action matters greatly to the story. Cinderella is under the pressure of
time, as the threat of her beautiful, enchanted dress returning to her ordinary rags looms over her
during the ball. She must escape into the darkness and leave the Prince’s presence before midnight.
As fairytales the descriptions of these settings are minimal, yet both play an important role in
the stories. For “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” the conflict depends upon the story’s time in
history. Whereas, for “Cinderella” the aspects of the setting that are most important to the conflict are
adaptable. This is why “Cinderella” has been modernized many times but not “Snow White”.
Exemplar #2 for Setting: (place of both, time of both)
As fairytales, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” and “Cinderella” both have typical and
familiar settings. As you would expect, they occur “Once upon a time”. We have everything from the
cabin in the woods and the house in the village, to the enchanted castle and “happily ever after”.
Although there are no surprises regarding where these fairytales take place, there are differences in
how these settings relate to the conflicts in these stories.
In the case of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”, the woods are essential to Snow White’s
survival. The woods offer her protection from her wicked step-mother, who has “turned yellow and
green with envy” over Snow White’s unmatchable beauty. When the step-mother orders Snow White’s
death, it is Snow White’s promise to her hit-man that she “…will run away into the wild forest, and never
come home again.” In “Cinderella,” however, it is not the geographical location, but the place of action
that is of greatest importance. Since Cinderella’s family lives in the village where there are people and
action, she is presented with this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Additionally, if the event was not a
Royal Ball, Cinderella would not have had occasion to look so beautiful.
The authors’ decisions about time are the cause of lasting differences. Given the feudal era that
“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” takes place in, there would be few places for a woman to hide.
Snow White is living in a man’s world; and without the protection of her family, or a husband she is
hard-pressed to survive on her own. She is lucky to have encountered seven dwarfs who are happy to
have her cook and clean for them. For “Cinderella,” however, the era that the story is set in is less fixed.
The plot of this story could occur in today’s society, just as easily as “a long time ago, in a far away land”.
In fact, modernized versions of Cinderella’s “rags to riches” theme are still being made today. Unlike
“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” where the time of action is not important to the story itself, the
time of action in “Cinderella” matters greatly. Cinderella is under the pressure of time, as the threat of
her beautiful, enchanted dress returning to her ordinary rags looms over her during the ball. She must
escape into the darkness and leave the Prince’s presence before midnight.
As fairytales the descriptions of these settings are minimal, yet both play an important role in
the stories. For “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” the conflict depends upon the story’s time in
history. Whereas, for “Cinderella” the aspects of the setting that are most important to the conflict are
adaptable. This is why “Cinderella” has been modernized many times but not “Snow White”.
HOW WILL YOU ORGANIZE YOUR IDEAS?
Note the differences in the way that the two exemplars are organized.
In exemplar #1, the first body paragraph is about the time and place of “Snow
White and the Seven Dwarfs” and the second body paragraph is about the time and
place of “Cinderella”, so that each story is discussed separately.
In exemplar #2, however, the first body paragraph discusses the place of both
stories, and the second body paragraph discusses the time of both stories.
Requirements for Narrator & Point of View:
1) You must have an introduction that names your titles/authors, as well as sets up the post.
2) You must discuss the narrator/point of view of both books. Use quotes from each book in
your discussion. Consider how much you know about the thoughts/feelings of the
characters.
3) Draw some conclusions regarding the different approaches to narrator and point of view
used by your author(s).
Exemplar for Narrator & Point of View:
“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” and “Cinderella” both share the standard fairytale narrator
of the third person voice that sets us “once upon a time, in a land far away”. Additionally, they both
stay true to the typical omniscient fairytale point of view, where the narrator has knowledge of the
characters’ thoughts and feelings.
“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” allows us to know the thoughts and feelings of several
characters. We are able to understand the motivation the wicked step-mother has for trying to kill
Snow White when the narrator tells us, “the queen was shocked, and turned yellow and green with
envy” as the mirror tells her that Snow White is the fairest of all. Similarly, we also share the dwarves
feelings when we are told they, “were so glad that they did not wake her [Snow White] up, but let her
sleep in the bed” when they first discover her.
The thoughts and feelings of the characters in “Cinderella” are also stated by the narrator. For
example, when she is told she cannot go to the Prince’s ball, “Cinderella obeyed, but wept, because she,
too, would have liked to go with them to the dance, and begged her step-mother to allow her to do so”.
Upon discovering that Cinderella is the Prince’s true love, “the step-mother and the two sisters were
terrified and became pale with rage” as they realized Cinderella had fooled them.
The omniscient point of view shared by these stories made relating to the characters easy.
Since we get to know what the characters are thinking and feeling we are more connected to the story.
Even though both stories were written by the Brothers Grimm, the narrator of “Snow White and the
Seven Dwarfs” seemed to include more of the characters’ thoughts and feelings than the narrator of
“Cinderella”. In fact, it took a second look to even realize that “Cinderella” was written from an
omniscient point of view, and not an objective point of view. This made me prefer the narration in
“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”.
Requirements for Characterization:
1) You must have an introduction that names your titles/authors, as well as sets up the post.
2) You must discuss the characterization in both books. Use specific details/quotes from each
book in your discussion. Consider how you learn about your characters.
3) Draw some conclusions regarding the different approaches to characterization used by your
author(s).
Exemplar for Characterization:
The Grimm Brothers focused little on the characterization in these stories. They relied on
common character types (wicked step-mothers, kings, and beautiful damsels in distress) while staying
true to the social opinions of the time. It was a man’s world, but on the other hand it seems that there
were some pretty powerful women, who were always depicted as being evil. Everything we learn about
the characters in these stories is either through the narrator’s descriptions or through the characters’
words and actions.
In both stories we encounter a wicked-stepmother who is evil-hearted and misuses her
authority. In “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” the step-mother tries several times to kill Snow
White. Cinderella, on the other hand, is simply forced to work as a servant for her evil step-mother and
step-sisters. In each case, the young girl is the victim who is eventually saved by a prince. The message
about these character types seems to be that innocence is beautiful, and misuse of power makes people
ugly. Additionally, damsels need to be saved by handsome men.
With the focus off characterization, the plot is more at the forefront of the reader’s experience.
This forces us to explore more deeply the conflict, as well as the lesson that we learn from the way
things work out for the characters.
Requirements for Plot and Conflict:
1) You must have an introduction that names your titles/authors, as well as sets up the post.
2) You must discuss the plot and conflict in both books. Consider any special techniques used
by the authors, such as red herrings, cliffhangers, or foreshadowing.
3) Draw some conclusions regarding the different approaches to plot and conflict used by your
author(s).
Exemplar for Plot and Conflict:
The conflicts at play in “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” and “Cinderella” are not
complicated, but are the focal points of these stories. The Brothers Grimm seem mainly concerned with
the lessons these stories have to offer, and for that reason the plots are given much attention.
Because the stories are so simplistic, they don’t contain such devices as red-herrings and
cliffhangers. There is foreshadowing, however. In “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” the story opens
with a description of the beautiful baby Snow White. Shortly after her wicked step-mother is described
as “a beautiful woman, but proud and haughty, and she could not bear that anyone else should surpass
her in beauty”. It is this early in the story that we are set up for the character vs. character conflict
between these two women. It comes as no surprise to us when the step-mother tries to kill Snow White
several times. In “Cinderella” the left-behind slipper foreshadows that the prince will be able to find his
bride. Cinderella is the only one whose foot will fit the slipper.
The foreshadowed outcomes of these stories allow the reader to predict much of what will
happen, enabling us to once again focus on the lessons these stories have to offer us. Because they are
both Grimm tales, the endings as well as the lessons learned are very predictable. I tend to appreciate
stories that have more of an unpredictable plot better. These stories were a little flat.
Requirements for Theme:
1) You must have an introduction that names your titles/authors, as well as sets up the post.
2) You must discuss the themes in both books. Consider the issues the characters are dealing
with, and be sure not to summarize.
3) Draw some conclusions regarding the different themes addressed in your stories.
Exemplar for Theme:
A commonly explored theme in most fairytales centers on the struggle between good vs. evil,
and good always wins. In both of Grimms’ stories this holds true. Although they have the same theme,
the story of “Cinderella” is more relatable to us, which makes it a more interesting story to read.
In “Cinderella” we are introduced to a more common family that demonstrates real
imperfections found in families. Cinderella struggles with typical family conflict and her overabundance
of chores. She and her sisters argue over borrowing clothing, much as sisters tend to do in real life.
Cinderella feels she is made to do more chores than her over-privileged sisters, a common complaint in
many households. We have all felt a bit like Cinderella from time to time. In reality all of Cinderella’s
complaints are true, since the step-mother and step-sisters are evil and eventually Cinderella’s goodness
is rewarded. Hence the theme, good wins over evil.
“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”, on the other hand, is about a queen who sends her
innocent step-daughter into the woods to be killed simply because of her beauty. We are not dealing
with a typical family here! We still have a good vs. evil theme. The queen’s several attempts to kill
Snow White are thwarted because Snow White is a symbol of goodness and that makes her invincible
against the evil queen’s efforts. In the end there is little here that we can relate to in our personal lives,
but still the lesson is learned just the same: good will win out over evil.
Requirements for Additional Elements:
1) You must have an introduction that names your titles/authors, as well as sets up the post.
2) You must discuss the additional elements found in both books. Use quotes from each book
in your discussion. Consider what other devices your author(s) used. Give examples of
irony, symbolism, and/or flashback.
3) Draw some conclusions regarding the additional elements used in your stories.
Exemplar for Additional Elements:
Symbolism is used frequently in fairytales. Aside from the typical symbols like the repetition of
the number three, or the color white to represent innocence, there are some symbols that were very
specific to these stories.
Cinderella’s glass slipper becomes a symbol of lasting beauty when it does not turn to fairy dust
at the stroke of midnight. Unlike Cinderella’s evil step-sisters who are only able to mask their true selves
by putting on beautiful dresses, Cinderella possesses real inner beauty. Cinderella “seated herself on a
stool, drew her foot out of the heavy wooden shoe, and put it into the slipper, which fitted like a glove”.
The slipper can only fit Cinderella, as she is the only pure character. Therefore, the slipper serves as
evidence to the prince that he has found a worthy bride, and not just a greedy maiden. Upon fitting the
shoe on her foot the prince exclaims, "That is the true bride!"
In “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” the poisoned apple is a symbol of evil. Here
understanding the symbol requires the reader to also understand the allusion being made by the
authors’ choice of an apple as the poisoned gift. In the Bible it is an apple that the snake tempts Eve
with, who in turn “poisons” Adam, causing mankind to know suffering. Just as in the biblical story, the
apple being offered to Snow White is very tempting, but promises death. The queen, “made a very
poisonous apple. Outside it looked pretty, white with a red cheek, so that everyone who saw it longed
for it; but whoever ate a piece of it must surely die.” This makes the allusion behind this symbol all the
more obvious.
In contrast to my opinions of the plots of these stories, I felt the symbolism in “Snow White and
the Seven Dwarfs” was more interesting than the symbolism found in “Cinderella”. The added
importance found through the allusion behind the apple really made me think.
Requirements for Language Use:
1) You must have an introduction that names your titles/authors, as well as sets up the post.
2) You must discuss the language use in both books. Did you find any puns, clichés, idioms,
personification, onomatopoeia, alliteration, repetition, imagery, or sensory language, etc.?
3) Draw some conclusions regarding the use of language devices in your stories.
Exemplar for Language Use:
Strong imagery is found in the original versions of these Grimm fairytales. Have you ever
actually read the original stories of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” and “Cinderella”? The
children’s versions that we all read as we were growing up are romanticized and void of most of the
graphic detail that exists in the original versions. Grimm did not use such devices as alliteration, puns, or
clichés. Oh, no. Their stories are just filled with imagery and sensory language.
Prior to the birth of Snow White her mother dreamed of having a daughter “as white as snow,
as red as blood, and as black as the wood of the window-frame." The very idea of Snow White is full of
imagery. That imagery stays with us throughout the story as Snow White eats a red apple at the hand of
her step-mother’s black heart. Brothers Grimm used the following simile to explain the depth of the
step-mother’s jealousy: “And envy and pride grew higher and higher in her heart like a weed”. Then, at
the end of the story, imagery is used once again to describe how the step-mother is punished for her evil
deeds. “Iron slippers had already been put upon the fire, and they were brought in with tongs, and set
before her. Then she was forced to put on the red-hot shoes, and dance until she dropped down dead.”
Did you know that at Cinderella’s wedding at the end of the story, “pigeons pecked out one eye
of each of them [the evil step-sisters]… And thus, for their wickedness and falsehood, they were
punished with blindness as long as they lived”? Or do you recall how her oldest step-sister tried and
tried to make the glass slipper fit? I bet you don’t remember how “her mother gave her a knife and said,
‘Cut the toe off; when thou art Queen thou wilt have no more need to go on foot.’” And just like that
“the maiden cut the toe off, forced the foot into the shoe, swallowed the pain, and went out to the
King's son”. How’s that for some gruesome imagery?
The images these stories leave us with are a far cry from the Disney stories we know and love.
In conclusion, the more graphic descriptions found in the original stories are distracting. I find myself
concentrating on the images instead of the story. I also find that they are harder to shake from my
memory because they are so disturbing. Based on these two stories, you’d be hard-pressed to find a
fairy godmother in Grimms’ original tales.
Requirements for Structure:
1) You must have an introduction that names your titles/authors, as well as sets up the post.
2) You must discuss the structure in both books. Consider how the events in your stories were
organized.
3) Draw some conclusions regarding the use of structures used in your stories.
Exemplar for Structure:
There is something of a formula to writing a fairytale. Fairytales begin “once upon a time” and
end “happily ever after” for the main character, but not for the antagonist who tends to pay a dear price
for his/her evil deeds. Between the standard beginning and ending, we can always count on a
chronological telling of events, building the conflict until it reaches the climax, and then unfolding the
denouement.
Upon meeting Cinderella we are made aware of her family problems. The tension between her
and her step-family mounts as the announcement of the ball is brought to their attention. The conflict
continues to grow at the ball when clock strikes midnight and Cinderella must rush out, and finally
comes to head at the end when the prince comes looking for his bride-to-be. Cinderella runs off with
the prince, while the eyes of her evil step-sisters are plucked out by pigeons. The same formula holds
true for “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”. The Queen wants Snow White dead, tries to kill her three
times, almost succeeds until the prince comes along to save her, and then Snow White and the prince
get to live happily ever after, while the queen is punished.
The way that these stories are structured allows the reader to get immediately into the story.
Since we are set “once upon a time” in a “land far away”, we are made comfortable knowing that the
story is fictional, which makes us more willing to accept some of the far-fetched events. Because the
structure is always the same we are paying closer attention to the lesson that we’re going to get from
the story and that we are, of course, expecting. It seems to be a very successful structure in that
because we already know how things are going to go, we are comfortable with the plot and can just get
involved with the lesson at hand.
Requirements for Title:
1) You must have an introductory sentence. Your response must name your titles/authors.
2) Draw some conclusions regarding the titles of your stories.
3) Give your blog a creative and suitable title.
Titles of fairytales typically are simple. They might name the main character(s) or they might
give you an idea of the story’s subject. In this case, both stories name the main characters: “Cinderella”
and “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”. The funny thing about “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” is
that the story is really more about Snow White and her wicked step-mother than it is about Snow White
and the seven dwarfs. I guess here the Brothers Grimm thought a title that refers to seven dwarves is
more interesting than a title that mentions the clichéd “wicked step-mother.” Both of these titles are
suitable for their stories, but the simplistic nature of fairytale titles causes them to seem a little flat.
When I think of book titles or movie titles of today, I usually find a title to be more creative than these.
I’m pretty sure these stories would not make my top-ten reading list today if I were making it based just
on their titles.
*Note that these exemplars show you possible approaches to each blog
requirement. As illustrated by the two versions of “Setting” exemplars, there
are multiple ways you could structure these responses. Be sure that each post
you write is thorough and follows the specific directions for that requirement.
Stay on top of your deadlines!
