Characterization & Archetypes
This fairy-tale character fits the “kind but oppressed heroine” archetype as she serves her cruel stepfamily and sleeps in the ashes.
Who is Ashputtel?
The scenes of Ashputtel crying at her mother’s grave create this overall emotional atmosphere for the reader before the royal balls begin.
What is a sad / mournful mood?
This part of the setting, where the heroine must sleep in the cinders by the hearth, directly increases Ashputtel’s suffering and makes her transformation more dramatic.
What is the kitchen hearth / ashes by the fire?
In the story title, the name “Ashputtel” most closely suggests a girl associated with this substance because of where she is forced to sleep.
What are ashes / cinders?
Ashputtel’s kindness and patience, rewarded in the end with marriage to the prince, best supports this theme about how good behavior is ultimately treated.
What is goodness/kindness will eventually be rewarded?
These two characters in Ashputtel best represent the “villainous or jealous antagonist” archetype who try to keep the heroine from happiness and the prince.
Who are the stepsisters?
When the prince dances only with Ashputtel at the feast, the tone shifts toward this hopeful feeling as her fortunes begin to change.
What is a hopeful / optimistic tone?
The graveyard and hazel tree setting in Ashputtel most strongly influence the plot by allowing this kind of magical event to occur when she prays there.
What is the appearance of the magic bird / magical help from her mother’s spirit?
When the text calls Ashputtel’s stepfamily “proud and haughty,” the word “haughty” most nearly means this kind of arrogant attitude toward others.
What is snobbish / arrogant / looking down on others?
The harsh punishment of the stepsisters at the wedding supports this lesson about the long-term consequences of cruelty and deceit.
What is cruelty and dishonesty lead to punishment or consequences?
This figure in Ashputtel functions as a supernatural helper, granting dresses and aid when the heroine prays at her mother’s grave.
What is the magic bird at the hazel tree?
The stepsisters’ harsh, insulting way of speaking to Ashputtel contributes to this negative tone toward her at the beginning of the story.
What is a cruel / contemptuous tone?
A paragraph describing the sisters mutilating their feet to fit the slipper mainly contributes to this crucial plot event in the prince’s search.
What is showing the false brides and raising tension in the search for the true bride?
In “Barter,” the title word most nearly means this action involving trading something you have for something you want.
What is to trade / exchange?
The repeated idea in “Barter” that life’s beauty is worth a high “price” best expresses this central message about what people should value.
What is life’s beauty is worth sacrificing for / cherish beauty over material things?
When Ashputtel quietly weeps at her mother’s grave yet keeps working hard at home, this part of the STEAL model is being revealed about her character.
What is her Actions?
The use of words like “loveliness,” “beauty,” and “holy thoughts” in “Barter” helps create this positive tone toward life’s experiences.
What is an admiring / reverent / appreciative tone?
A short passage showing the bird exposing the false brides and pointing out the blood in the shoe mainly advances this story element.
What is revealing the truth so the prince can find Ashputtel?
In “Barter,” saying life has “loveliness to sell” suggests that people must be willing to give up this kind of “price” (time, effort, or comfort) to gain beauty.
What is a sacrifice / cost such as time, effort, or comfort?
From “Barter”’s focus on brief moments of peace and joy, readers can infer that Sara Teasdale believes these moments are worth this kind of sacrifice.
What is giving up comfort, safety, or ease for meaningful experiences?
In “Barter,” the speaker’s rich description of “loveliness” in life best shows this kind of appreciative attitude toward the world.
What is a joyful / appreciative / grateful attitude toward life?
In Michelle Obama’s commencement address, her word choices help create this inspiring tone as she urges graduates to serve and lead.
What is an inspirational / motivational tone?
In “Barter,” the repetition of the main idea across separate stanzas and the poem’s regular structure mainly has this effect on its message and rhythm.
What is emphasizing the theme and creating a strong, musical rhythm?
The strong rhythm and repeated end sounds in each stanza of “Barter” give the poem this musical quality that supports its persuasive message.
What is a song-like / lyrical quality?
In Michelle Obama’s commencement address, her emphasis on diversity, hard work, and collective responsibility best develops this overarching theme she wants graduates to carry forward.
What is using education and diversity to serve others and improve the community/world?