Date of Award
4-8-2012
Document Type
Thesis
First Advisor
Martha Rainbolt (Advisor)
Second Advisor
Kevin Moore (Convener)
Third Advisor
Claudia Mills (Reader)
Abstract
The Cinderella motif is found in countless stories across the globe. This thesis explores the underlying motifs that connect the tales, attempting to pinpoint what could cause its thematic material to be consistent across variations. A sociobiological perspective will be used to supplement the traditional cultural approach to interpreting the motif, creating a novel reading and greater understanding of the story’s resonance with humans around the world. An evolutionary lens is applied to the human relationships in the stories, while a cultural lens is applied to the nonhuman motivic elements. The analysis gained through this sociobiological approach adds a scientific perspective to the already existing literary theory and supplements our current understanding of the text.
Recommended Citation
Owens, Katie '12, "The Cinderella Connection: Structural Resonance of a Narrative Motif" (2012). Honor Scholar Theses. 282, Scholarly and Creative Work from DePauw University.
https://scholarship.depauw.edu/studentresearch/282