“Cinderella” Searches and Notes

The Grimm version was tame when it came to vocabulary. My right hand, so dutifully clutching a highlighter, quickly relaxed while the story was told. I did appreciate the darker tale as well as the clearly “magical” nature of the aid provided our girl. That said the ending seemed out of place, rushed even, but I know that it isn’t so odd for stories of the age. Delightful.

The Anne Sexton bit though, that was rather entertaining. There is some definite humor there…and with it a few things to look up.

The first word that got to me was “Dior.” Google threw various links to clothing, jewelry, and fashion in general. Wikipedia confirmed this via one Christian Dior, an apparently famous French fashion designer who died around 50 years ago.

The next was “Bonwit Teller,” which, according to the first hit given by Google –Wikipedia – was a high-class department store in New York City opened over 100 years ago by Paul Bonwit. So far I’m really only caught by the “specific” words I wouldn’t come across in normal reading for today, I assume mentions of these brands would be more common while the bit was written.

The third word that made me pause was “Al Jolson.” After hitting up Google and, subsequently, Wikipedia, I’m a bit embarrassed. Apparently, I should know this man, “the world’s greatest entertainer.” An accomplished musician who starred in the first “talkies,” Jolson was a blues, jazz, comedy and acting star.

Last, “the Bobbsy Twins,” which are apparently fictional characters in popular children’s books. Appropriate given the creepy doll simile Sexton uses at the end. Really creepy.