Pan's Labyrinth and the Grimms' Cinderella (Aschenputtel)

In the Brothers Grimm's version of Cinderella (called Aschenputtel) there is a similarity in the use of tasks as a way to obtaining an end result- ascending to a thrown in one case, attending a ball in another. 
In the tale of Aschenputtel, Aschenputtel's mother dies, leaving her with her father, a stepmother, and two step sisters. Aschenputtel grows up serving the family, not being cared and supported for by her father. When the day comes that the King is holding a three day celebration to find a wife for his son, the Prince, Aschenputtel wants to attend with the rest of the kingdom. Her step mother gives her impossible tasks to complete in order to go, which Aschenputtel completes with the help of birds.

     

When still told she cannot go, she wished under a tree that she had grown with her tears on her mother's grave, and a bird threw down a gown for her so she could attend. Aschenputtel attended all three days of the feast. On the final day she lost one of her gold slippers at the ball, which the prince then used to find her. 
      
In this version, the step sisters cut of parts of their feet in order to fit into the slipper. Once the prince finds and marries Aschenputtel, the birds that helped Aschenputtel along the way gouge out the eyes of the step sisters, blinding them.