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The Ugly Duckling
"To be born in a duck's nest, in a farmyard, is of no consequence to a bird, if it is hatched from a swan's egg." Hans Christian Andersen's "The Ugly Duckling" ranks among the most beloved and enduring stories in all of children's literature.
This edition combines the world-famous translation of H.B. Paull with two sets of classic illustrations, the engravings of Vilhelm Pedersen from the original Danish edition and Helen's Stratton's illustrations from "The Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen." Both sets provide a beautiful and dramatic visual compliment to this simple but unforgettable story of the difficult transition from childhood to maturity.
Also included are vocabulary notes with pronunciations and definitions of some words that may be unfamiliar to grade school readers.
This edition combines the world-famous translation of H.B. Paull with two sets of classic illustrations, the engravings of Vilhelm Pedersen from the original Danish edition and Helen's Stratton's illustrations from "The Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen." Both sets provide a beautiful and dramatic visual compliment to this simple but unforgettable story of the difficult transition from childhood to maturity.
Also included are vocabulary notes with pronunciations and definitions of some words that may be unfamiliar to grade school readers.
38 pages, Paperback
First published November 11, 1843
2458 people are currently reading
7990 people want to read
About the author
Hans Christian Andersen
7,654 books3,519 followersHans Christian Andersen (often referred to in Scandinavia as H.C. Andersen) was a Danish author and poet. Although a prolific writer of plays, travelogues, novels, and poems, Andersen is best remembered for his fairy tales. Andersen's popularity is not limited to children; his stories — called eventyr, or "fairy-tales" — express themes that transcend age and nationality.
Andersen's fairy tales, which have been translated into more than 125 languages, have become culturally embedded in the West's collective consciousness, readily accessible to children, but presenting lessons of virtue and resilience in the face of adversity for mature readers as well. Some of his most famous fairy tales include "The Little Mermaid", "The Ugly Duckling", "The Nightingale", "The Emperor's New Clothes" and many more. His stories have inspired plays, ballets, and both live-action and animated films.
Andersen's fairy tales, which have been translated into more than 125 languages, have become culturally embedded in the West's collective consciousness, readily accessible to children, but presenting lessons of virtue and resilience in the face of adversity for mature readers as well. Some of his most famous fairy tales include "The Little Mermaid", "The Ugly Duckling", "The Nightingale", "The Emperor's New Clothes" and many more. His stories have inspired plays, ballets, and both live-action and animated films.
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December 21, 2024
Is there anyone who does not know the the famous fairytale story of The Ugly Duckling? Originally the Danish author, Hans Christian Andersen called it , but then decided against giving away the surprise ending, and renamed it The Ugly Duckling (“Den grimme ælling”). So just in case, I will not spoil the ending either, (although if you read the blurb that might give it away).
The Ugly Duckling was first published in 1843, and was an immediate success. The first edition of 850 copies sold out within the first week. Hans Christian Andersen later admitted that the story was “a reflection of my own life”, and when he was asked if he was going to write an autobiography, he claimed that it had already been written — The Ugly Duckling.
The story has been told and retold countless times, and is often one of the first stories children learn in childhood, but what does not always transfer to the different versions is Hans Christian Andersen's delightfully droll humour. The positive life-affirming message is always there, that it is important to be yourself, and this is why the story perpetuates, but there are additional nuances in the original which make it one of his most enjoyable stories.
I chuckled all through the beginning where the mother duck is waiting for her biggest egg to hatch, complaining that her layabout husband never comes to see her, another older duck advising her that it was a turkey's egg, and to leave it alone. But at last the big egg does crack open, and a little one tumbles out,
“How big and gawky he was! The mother duck was soon convinced that he was her very own as she watched him in the the water, his little feet paddling away beneath him, "Look at those legs go! He knows how to keep upright. He is my own chick! And really quite pretty if you look closely," she said.”
But as the days went on, the other ducklings started to pick on their brother, and everyone else in the farmyard got in on the act. They started to be unkind and poke fun at him too,
“He is gawky and different so he must be put in his place!” they jeered, and the ugly duckling began to feel very unhappy. He got jostled and pecked and teased. He was the butt of every joke, and the mother duck always had to stick up for him. It was that he was so long in the egg ... she was sure he would turn out all right in the end. And anyway he was a drake, so perhaps looks didn't matter so much. “He's fit and strong so maybe he'll be able to look after himself.”
Eventually things got so bad that he ran away. The story follows all the adventures the ugly ducking had. Everyone he met at first seemed to run away from him, or ignore him, and this only confirmed to him how ugly he must be.
The ugly duckling roamed far and wide. He was frightened and lonely. He was never accepted anywhere, and nowhere felt like home. Nobody seemed to want to be his friend. They just laughed at him, or terrifyingly wanted to shoot those around him. Running from a situation where his life was in peril, he ended up as a companion to an old lady and her cat. But he could not lay eggs like Chickabiddy Shortshanks. He missed the open green spaces; the fresh air and the sunshine. He longed to go for a swim. The old woman's cat and the hen teased him mercilessly, so the ugly duckling decided he couldn't stay there either. “I think I had better go back out into the wide world,” said the ugly duckling, and again he set off on his own.
Time went on, winter came and went, and the ugly duckling just huddled down to endure the harsh wind, hail and snow. He became thinner and thinner, and more and more unhappy. He spent a miserable winter alone in the outdoors, mostly hiding in a cave on the lake that partly froze over. He exhausted himself trying to keep the water flowing by paddling round and round - and even got stuck in the ice, and had to be rescued by a kind farmer. Still the ugly duckling had yet more adventures in store. Then,
“One evening, just as the setting sun flamed across the sky, a flock of large lovely birds rose from the rushes ... the ugly duckling was seized with a wild excitement”.
Some deep impulse stirs inside him ...
And the end of the story is just perfect, making this one of the world's most uplifting and heartwarming tales. In my opinion it is Hans Christian Andersen's masterpiece. It has been translated into many languages and published around the world. It has become his most famous story.
The Ugly Duckling is Hans Christian Andersen's own creation, and owes no debt to any other fairy tale. Hans Christian Andersen had his first glimmer of inspiration for the story in 1842, while staying at the country estate of Bregentved, and enjoying the beauty of nature. But it took him a year to write and hone the story to his own satifaction.
The Ugly Duckling was the first story where the phrase “told for children” was not part of the title, and although clearly it is a tale which has great moral truths, it can be read by any age. It was the fourth and last in the volume which also contained “The Nightingale”, another lovely tale. Link here to my review of “The Nightingale”. The book sold out almost immediately and Hans Christian Andersen wrote delightedly,
“The book is selling like hot cakes. All the papers are praising it, everyone is reading it! No books of mine are appreciated in the way these fairy tales are!” He even read it aloud at social gatherings.
It is not difficult to see why the author viewed this story as a metaphor for his own life. He was a tall, ugly boy, with a big nose and big feet. Although he had a beautiful singing voice and a passion for ballet and the theatre, all his life he was rejected and teased by other children. He used to boast that he was secretly a prince, and although this only led to further mockery, there is a real possibility that he was in fact the illegitimate son of Prince Christian Frederik, later to be King Christian VIII of Denmark.
It is extraordinary that this story grabs the imagination in such a feel-good way. The ugly duckling is not heroic, and apart from enduring the winter, he does not complete any of the challenges typically demanded of a fairy tale hero. Yet we all relate to the story's positive messages about acceptance and rejection, stoicism and self-worth, and the idea that some things are worth waiting for. It is a beautiful and timeless story; one that speaks across generations, and my favourite of all Hans Christian Andersen's stories.
Here's a photo I took of an "Ugly Duckling". Doesn't it just make you melt?
The Ugly Duckling was first published in 1843, and was an immediate success. The first edition of 850 copies sold out within the first week. Hans Christian Andersen later admitted that the story was “a reflection of my own life”, and when he was asked if he was going to write an autobiography, he claimed that it had already been written — The Ugly Duckling.
The story has been told and retold countless times, and is often one of the first stories children learn in childhood, but what does not always transfer to the different versions is Hans Christian Andersen's delightfully droll humour. The positive life-affirming message is always there, that it is important to be yourself, and this is why the story perpetuates, but there are additional nuances in the original which make it one of his most enjoyable stories.
I chuckled all through the beginning where the mother duck is waiting for her biggest egg to hatch, complaining that her layabout husband never comes to see her, another older duck advising her that it was a turkey's egg, and to leave it alone. But at last the big egg does crack open, and a little one tumbles out,
“How big and gawky he was! The mother duck was soon convinced that he was her very own as she watched him in the the water, his little feet paddling away beneath him, "Look at those legs go! He knows how to keep upright. He is my own chick! And really quite pretty if you look closely," she said.”
But as the days went on, the other ducklings started to pick on their brother, and everyone else in the farmyard got in on the act. They started to be unkind and poke fun at him too,
“He is gawky and different so he must be put in his place!” they jeered, and the ugly duckling began to feel very unhappy. He got jostled and pecked and teased. He was the butt of every joke, and the mother duck always had to stick up for him. It was that he was so long in the egg ... she was sure he would turn out all right in the end. And anyway he was a drake, so perhaps looks didn't matter so much. “He's fit and strong so maybe he'll be able to look after himself.”
Eventually things got so bad that he ran away. The story follows all the adventures the ugly ducking had. Everyone he met at first seemed to run away from him, or ignore him, and this only confirmed to him how ugly he must be.
The ugly duckling roamed far and wide. He was frightened and lonely. He was never accepted anywhere, and nowhere felt like home. Nobody seemed to want to be his friend. They just laughed at him, or terrifyingly wanted to shoot those around him. Running from a situation where his life was in peril, he ended up as a companion to an old lady and her cat. But he could not lay eggs like Chickabiddy Shortshanks. He missed the open green spaces; the fresh air and the sunshine. He longed to go for a swim. The old woman's cat and the hen teased him mercilessly, so the ugly duckling decided he couldn't stay there either. “I think I had better go back out into the wide world,” said the ugly duckling, and again he set off on his own.
Time went on, winter came and went, and the ugly duckling just huddled down to endure the harsh wind, hail and snow. He became thinner and thinner, and more and more unhappy. He spent a miserable winter alone in the outdoors, mostly hiding in a cave on the lake that partly froze over. He exhausted himself trying to keep the water flowing by paddling round and round - and even got stuck in the ice, and had to be rescued by a kind farmer. Still the ugly duckling had yet more adventures in store. Then,
“One evening, just as the setting sun flamed across the sky, a flock of large lovely birds rose from the rushes ... the ugly duckling was seized with a wild excitement”.
Some deep impulse stirs inside him ...
And the end of the story is just perfect, making this one of the world's most uplifting and heartwarming tales. In my opinion it is Hans Christian Andersen's masterpiece. It has been translated into many languages and published around the world. It has become his most famous story.
The Ugly Duckling is Hans Christian Andersen's own creation, and owes no debt to any other fairy tale. Hans Christian Andersen had his first glimmer of inspiration for the story in 1842, while staying at the country estate of Bregentved, and enjoying the beauty of nature. But it took him a year to write and hone the story to his own satifaction.
The Ugly Duckling was the first story where the phrase “told for children” was not part of the title, and although clearly it is a tale which has great moral truths, it can be read by any age. It was the fourth and last in the volume which also contained “The Nightingale”, another lovely tale. Link here to my review of “The Nightingale”. The book sold out almost immediately and Hans Christian Andersen wrote delightedly,
“The book is selling like hot cakes. All the papers are praising it, everyone is reading it! No books of mine are appreciated in the way these fairy tales are!” He even read it aloud at social gatherings.
It is not difficult to see why the author viewed this story as a metaphor for his own life. He was a tall, ugly boy, with a big nose and big feet. Although he had a beautiful singing voice and a passion for ballet and the theatre, all his life he was rejected and teased by other children. He used to boast that he was secretly a prince, and although this only led to further mockery, there is a real possibility that he was in fact the illegitimate son of Prince Christian Frederik, later to be King Christian VIII of Denmark.
It is extraordinary that this story grabs the imagination in such a feel-good way. The ugly duckling is not heroic, and apart from enduring the winter, he does not complete any of the challenges typically demanded of a fairy tale hero. Yet we all relate to the story's positive messages about acceptance and rejection, stoicism and self-worth, and the idea that some things are worth waiting for. It is a beautiful and timeless story; one that speaks across generations, and my favourite of all Hans Christian Andersen's stories.
Here's a photo I took of an "Ugly Duckling". Doesn't it just make you melt?
June 15, 2018
You guys know I hate Hans Christian Anderson's way of ending the stories.
I started this with the same expectations. But unexpectedly here I got the happy ending! HAPPY ENDING!! 😊
--As always, his writing style didn't fail to amuse me. I totally love him for this.
--For those like me who have read many of his short stories, will see some similarities. But I like them.
--This is the story of an uglyduckling. Nobody accepts him because of his ugliness. He goes through the cruel behaviour of world around him and sees that only beauty has the value.
--I really sympathized with the Duckling. He went through the bad time and ultimately got the happiness.
I loved this story. One of the best from him! ^__^
13 June, 2018
--As always, his writing style didn't fail to amuse me. I totally love him for this.
--For those like me who have read many of his short stories, will see some similarities. But I like them.
--This is the story of an ugly
--I really sympathized with the Duckling. He went through the bad time and ultimately got the happiness.
I loved this story. One of the best from him! ^__^
13 June, 2018
July 13, 2019
I feel like this is one of the most powerful fables told to children. It is one of my favorite stories. I think it is also one of the archetypes that is really running in todays world. There are so many people who don’t feel like they belong to their families, who are rejected by their communities. They have to find their own communities. Being in the world of healing, I have seen many people who have had to struggle against their family and find their place in the world, just like the ugly duckling did.
This is especially true in the LGBTQ community. It is getting better nowadays, but people are still rejected for who they are made to be and must go out and find their own family.
This little story, which is beautiful illustrated by Jerry, is such a roadmap and a reminder for those people born in the family that rejects them, that there is a place out in the world with people like them where they can belong. There is a place of acceptance and a place to gracefully fly. I have seen it so many times.
I don’t know that the kids see how powerful this is. The nephew loved the animals. He does like this story and he gave this 3 stars. The niece has had some issues at school here and there and I think this story made a little more sense to her. She gave this 4 stars.
This is especially true in the LGBTQ community. It is getting better nowadays, but people are still rejected for who they are made to be and must go out and find their own family.
This little story, which is beautiful illustrated by Jerry, is such a roadmap and a reminder for those people born in the family that rejects them, that there is a place out in the world with people like them where they can belong. There is a place of acceptance and a place to gracefully fly. I have seen it so many times.
I don’t know that the kids see how powerful this is. The nephew loved the animals. He does like this story and he gave this 3 stars. The niece has had some issues at school here and there and I think this story made a little more sense to her. She gave this 4 stars.
December 31, 2019
Wonderful children's story but fun for any age! I have always loved all of Hand Christian Andersen's books!!
August 14, 2015
It's a wonderful story about Self-acceptance,The Difference and how it does not necessarily mean a bad thing!
بجد تحفة و في رأيي كبير او صغير قراها فهو هيستمتع جدا و هيستفاد كمان
! :)
بجد تحفة و في رأيي كبير او صغير قراها فهو هيستمتع جدا و هيستفاد كمان
! :)
April 2, 2021
به مناسبت روز تولد جناب هانس و روز جهانی کتاب کودک، بازخوانی شد .
گمونم این معروف ترین داستان پند آموز جهان باشه، یا دیگه معروفترین داستان آقای اندرسون که هست حتما. کیه اینو نخونده باشه واقعا؟ آریایی نیستی اگه توی مهد کودک کتاب مصورش رو هدیه نگرفته باشی. تعجب میکنم ریویوو فارسیش کمه.
از هرکی بپرسی، خودشو جوجه اردک زشت میدونه، کسی که جای اشتباه قرار گرفته و قابلیت های خاصش نادیده گرفته شده. خیلی جالبه ولی ، یه فرق بزرگ داریم ما آدما با جوجه اردکه، اردکه هرچی بزرگتر میشه خوشگلتر میشه و در نهایت به اوج زیبایی میرسه، ولی ما آدما هرچی بزرگتر میشیم زشت تر و بد قیافه تر میشیم . شما تا حالا یه بچهی زشت دیدید؟ حتی بچه هایی که نقص جدی دارن هم خیلی خوشگلن. در عوض ادم بزرگا، تا دلتون بخواد زشت و بد ترکیبن
گمونم این معروف ترین داستان پند آموز جهان باشه، یا دیگه معروفترین داستان آقای اندرسون که هست حتما. کیه اینو نخونده باشه واقعا؟ آریایی نیستی اگه توی مهد کودک کتاب مصورش رو هدیه نگرفته باشی. تعجب میکنم ریویوو فارسیش کمه.
از هرکی بپرسی، خودشو جوجه اردک زشت میدونه، کسی که جای اشتباه قرار گرفته و قابلیت های خاصش نادیده گرفته شده. خیلی جالبه ولی ، یه فرق بزرگ داریم ما آدما با جوجه اردکه، اردکه هرچی بزرگتر میشه خوشگلتر میشه و در نهایت به اوج زیبایی میرسه، ولی ما آدما هرچی بزرگتر میشیم زشت تر و بد قیافه تر میشیم . شما تا حالا یه بچهی زشت دیدید؟ حتی بچه هایی که نقص جدی دارن هم خیلی خوشگلن. در عوض ادم بزرگا، تا دلتون بخواد زشت و بد ترکیبن
March 28, 2013
The Ugly Duckling is one of the most famous fairy tales of Danish Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875). I am still to read the whole collection but I got a copy of this book as I try to buy a few children's books every payday for our outreach program for child literacy on May 25, 2013 to be held at the Museo Pambata. We will spend half a day to read three stories to children aged 4-8 from the financially-challenged families of Manila, we will also feed them and give them loot bags that contain school supplies, candies, biscuits, etc. Then all the donated books will go to the Museo for their mobile library. If you want to donate, please communicate with me. Any amount or second hand children's books will do.
Well, we all know the story of the ugly ducking. Accidentally mixed with a duck's eggs, he (it is only now that I found out that the ugly duckling is male) is hatched and grows up with ducks. Naturally, he looks different so all the animals and people around find him ugly. Until he matures and sees a group of swans and so he finds out that he is a swan and not a duck.
For me the lesson is to make sure that you segregate the eggs properly. How can a swan's egg get mixed with duck's egg? It is like in the hospital, in the past the hospitals have loose procedures. Now, I guess all hospitals follow a certain generally accepted procedures for newly born babies to be footprinted, to immediately have a name tag, to be photographed with the parents, etc. I am not saying that swans and ducks have these too. I think what I am trying to say is that the mix-up is unexplained and so the ugly duckling suffers from being an outcast and extreme humiliation. I am sure that if this happens to an individual, the trauma that the very young ugly duckling from being ostracized would left a permanent damage to his self-esteem and psyche.
We should love even those who look different from us.
Well, we all know the story of the ugly ducking. Accidentally mixed with a duck's eggs, he (it is only now that I found out that the ugly duckling is male) is hatched and grows up with ducks. Naturally, he looks different so all the animals and people around find him ugly. Until he matures and sees a group of swans and so he finds out that he is a swan and not a duck.
For me the lesson is to make sure that you segregate the eggs properly. How can a swan's egg get mixed with duck's egg? It is like in the hospital, in the past the hospitals have loose procedures. Now, I guess all hospitals follow a certain generally accepted procedures for newly born babies to be footprinted, to immediately have a name tag, to be photographed with the parents, etc. I am not saying that swans and ducks have these too. I think what I am trying to say is that the mix-up is unexplained and so the ugly duckling suffers from being an outcast and extreme humiliation. I am sure that if this happens to an individual, the trauma that the very young ugly duckling from being ostracized would left a permanent damage to his self-esteem and psyche.
We should love even those who look different from us.
August 20, 2019
یادمه بچه بودم بعد از امپول زدن تو درمانگاه و تو راه برگشت به خونه کتاب جوجه اردک زشت رو دیدم و مامانمو مجبور کردم برام بخردش :) از اون کتاب ها بود که باز می شد عکس ها میومدن جلو ، خیلی حال کردم باهاش
March 18, 2018
A wonderful story of a duckling facing discrimination just because of her appearance. Emotional and heart-touching. Reading it in my school days, I remember getting tearful over this one.
May 23, 2024
Man, I Can Relate to Uglyness.
Mother Duck lovingly nurtures all her eggs, and in time, a whole bunch of lovely baby ducks hatch from their shells; except for some strange reason, one of them stands out among from the rest, a grey Ugly baby duck that is so much different to the rest. Shunned by his siblings, his mother and the whole animal community, the tiny baby duck finds himself utterly lost, and hopeless. Oh no! What will become of him?
I think this is a great story, for personal reasons I couldn’t enjoy that much.
First, even though I’ve never read it or watched the film, I somehow knew pretty much all the story and its ending. A massively spread children’s story and some general culture will do that I suppose, and I guess the grand majority, if not all of us, were fed this story in our infancy, whether or not we can remember exactly when. And sadly, that made it way too predictable; and that beautiful unexpected ending, which would’ve totally blown me away and added an extra star if I hadn’t know it, held no surprise at all, been aware of it beforehand.
Second, one thing about the premise didn’t quite convince me. Also, there was a visit to some cabin with an old lady and a cat, and some other stuff which felt completely unnecessary and totally dragged the story. Idk, maybe a big chunk of this story is symbolical; which would explain why I didn’t get any of it. YES, not even my adult self gets symbolism.
But anyway, all in all, and despite my many reservations, I still think this is a great story; its reputation certainly precedes it. And any child should probably LOVE it, or any adulescent, capable of overlooking a few things.
It’s public domain. You can find it HERE.
*** The Ugly Duckling (1939)…
-----------------------------------------------
PERSONAL NOTE :
[1843] [40p] [Children’s] [2.5] [Conditional Recommendable]
-----------------------------------------------
★★★☆☆ The Little Match Girl [2.5]
★★☆☆☆ The Ugly Duckling [2.5]
-----------------------------------------------
Vaya, ¡Sí Que Puedo Identificarme con ser Feo!
Mamá Pato cuida con amor todos sus huevos y, con el tiempo, un montón de adorables patitos bebés nacen de sus cáscaras; excepto que por alguna extraña razón, uno de ellos destaca entre los demás, un Patito Feo y gris que es muy diferente al resto. Rechazado por sus hermanos, su madre y toda la comunidad animal, el pequeño patito se encuentra completamente perdido y desesperanzado. ¡Oh, no! ¿Qué será de él?
Creo que esta es una gran historia, pero por razones personales no pude disfrutarla mucho.
Primero, aunque nunca lo leí ni vi la película, de alguna manera conocía prácticamente toda la historia y su final. Supongo que una historia infantil difundida masivamente y algo de cultura general inevitablemente hace eso, y creo que la gran mayoría, si no es que todos nosotros, nos alimentaron en nuestra infancia con esta historia, aunque podamos o no recordar exactamente cuándo. Y, desafortunadamente, eso lo hizo demasiado predecible; y ese hermoso e inesperado final, que seguramente me habría dejado asombrado y habría agregado una estrella extra si no lo hubiera conocido, no tuvo sorpresa en absoluto, sabiéndolo de antemano.
Segundo, una cosa sobre la premisa no me convenció del todo. Además, hubo una visita a una cabaña con una anciana y un gato, y algunas otras cosas que parecieron completamente irrelevantes y que alargaron innecesariamente la historia. No sé, tal vez una gran parte de esta historia sea simbólica; lo cual explicaría por qué no entendí nada. Y SÍ, ni siquiera mi yo adulto entiende simbolismo.
Pero en fin, dentro de todo, y a pesar de mis muchas reservas, sigo pensando que ésta es una genial historia; su reputación ciertamente la precede. Y a cualquier niño probablemente la AMARIA, o a cualquier adulescente, capaz de dejar pasar ciertas cosas.
Es dominio público, lo pueden encontrar ACA.
*** El Patito Feo (1939)…
-----------------------------------------------
NOTA PERSONAL :
[1843] [40p] [Niños] [2.5] [Recomendable Condicional]
-----------------------------------------------
Mother Duck lovingly nurtures all her eggs, and in time, a whole bunch of lovely baby ducks hatch from their shells; except for some strange reason, one of them stands out among from the rest, a grey Ugly baby duck that is so much different to the rest. Shunned by his siblings, his mother and the whole animal community, the tiny baby duck finds himself utterly lost, and hopeless. Oh no! What will become of him?
I think this is a great story, for personal reasons I couldn’t enjoy that much.
First, even though I’ve never read it or watched the film, I somehow knew pretty much all the story and its ending. A massively spread children’s story and some general culture will do that I suppose, and I guess the grand majority, if not all of us, were fed this story in our infancy, whether or not we can remember exactly when. And sadly, that made it way too predictable; and that beautiful unexpected ending, which would’ve totally blown me away and added an extra star if I hadn’t know it, held no surprise at all, been aware of it beforehand.
Second, one thing about the premise didn’t quite convince me. Also, there was a visit to some cabin with an old lady and a cat, and some other stuff which felt completely unnecessary and totally dragged the story. Idk, maybe a big chunk of this story is symbolical; which would explain why I didn’t get any of it. YES, not even my adult self gets symbolism.
But anyway, all in all, and despite my many reservations, I still think this is a great story; its reputation certainly precedes it. And any child should probably LOVE it, or any adulescent, capable of overlooking a few things.
It’s public domain. You can find it HERE.
*** The Ugly Duckling (1939)…
-----------------------------------------------
PERSONAL NOTE :
[1843] [40p] [Children’s] [2.5] [Conditional Recommendable]
-----------------------------------------------
★★★☆☆ The Little Match Girl [2.5]
★★☆☆☆ The Ugly Duckling [2.5]
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Vaya, ¡Sí Que Puedo Identificarme con ser Feo!
Mamá Pato cuida con amor todos sus huevos y, con el tiempo, un montón de adorables patitos bebés nacen de sus cáscaras; excepto que por alguna extraña razón, uno de ellos destaca entre los demás, un Patito Feo y gris que es muy diferente al resto. Rechazado por sus hermanos, su madre y toda la comunidad animal, el pequeño patito se encuentra completamente perdido y desesperanzado. ¡Oh, no! ¿Qué será de él?
Creo que esta es una gran historia, pero por razones personales no pude disfrutarla mucho.
Primero, aunque nunca lo leí ni vi la película, de alguna manera conocía prácticamente toda la historia y su final. Supongo que una historia infantil difundida masivamente y algo de cultura general inevitablemente hace eso, y creo que la gran mayoría, si no es que todos nosotros, nos alimentaron en nuestra infancia con esta historia, aunque podamos o no recordar exactamente cuándo. Y, desafortunadamente, eso lo hizo demasiado predecible; y ese hermoso e inesperado final, que seguramente me habría dejado asombrado y habría agregado una estrella extra si no lo hubiera conocido, no tuvo sorpresa en absoluto, sabiéndolo de antemano.
Segundo, una cosa sobre la premisa no me convenció del todo. Además, hubo una visita a una cabaña con una anciana y un gato, y algunas otras cosas que parecieron completamente irrelevantes y que alargaron innecesariamente la historia. No sé, tal vez una gran parte de esta historia sea simbólica; lo cual explicaría por qué no entendí nada. Y SÍ, ni siquiera mi yo adulto entiende simbolismo.
Pero en fin, dentro de todo, y a pesar de mis muchas reservas, sigo pensando que ésta es una genial historia; su reputación ciertamente la precede. Y a cualquier niño probablemente la AMARIA, o a cualquier adulescente, capaz de dejar pasar ciertas cosas.
Es dominio público, lo pueden encontrar ACA.
*** El Patito Feo (1939)…
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NOTA PERSONAL :
[1843] [40p] [Niños] [2.5] [Recomendable Condicional]
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December 11, 2019
One of the most known and most loved fairy tales of all. I loved it as a kid and so did my kids and my grandchildren. It is emotional and touching as you see what the duckling goes through, and many kids can relate to that. It is a wonderful lesson of self-acceptance, and getting through difficult periods in our lives. A true classic that everyone should read at least once.
August 14, 2025
3,5/5
He leído este cuento clásico para un reto, y esta es la primera vez que lo leo, ya que no tengo recuerdo de haberlo leído con anterioridad. Me gustado este cuento que además es muy cortito y que además está ilustrado por Galina Makaveyeva. Las ilustraciones son muy bonitas.
En esta ocasión no voy a hacer un resumen de la trama, ya que seguramente me excedería en lo que contar. Lo que más me ha gustado de este cuento es su moraleja: "No juzgues a las personas por las apariencias o por ser diferentes porque a veces las apariencias engañan."
He leído este cuento clásico para un reto, y esta es la primera vez que lo leo, ya que no tengo recuerdo de haberlo leído con anterioridad. Me gustado este cuento que además es muy cortito y que además está ilustrado por Galina Makaveyeva. Las ilustraciones son muy bonitas.
En esta ocasión no voy a hacer un resumen de la trama, ya que seguramente me excedería en lo que contar. Lo que más me ha gustado de este cuento es su moraleja: "No juzgues a las personas por las apariencias o por ser diferentes porque a veces las apariencias engañan."
June 25, 2016
I have this story on my Andersen's Fairy Tales but I didn't read it because I had bought the short story on Amazon Kindle.
Was as good as the others Andersen's tales. A short story about self-acceptance.
"They are afraid of me because I am ugly," he said
Was as good as the others Andersen's tales. A short story about self-acceptance.
"They are afraid of me because I am ugly," he said
February 23, 2019
بررسی جوجه اردک زشت از نگاه مدیریتی و روانشناسی
"نگاه مدیریتی"
همه ما قصۀ جوجه اردک زشت، نوشتۀ «هانس کریستین اندرسن» را خواندهایم، داستانِ قو يى زیبا، كه بدليل آنکه از بد حادثه قاطی یک دسته اردک شده بود، به نظر زشت می آمد. بر خلاف آنچه به نظر می رسید او بسيار زیبا بود ولی او در پایان داستان این موضوع را می فهمد، آن هم وقتی که دیگر جوجه نیست و بالغ شده است و در دریاچه ای شنا می کند، مردم زيبايى او را با انگشت به هم نشان می دهند، و او برای اولین بار در انعکاس آب، زیبایی اش را در می یابد.
به نظر میرسد که داستان زندگی خیلی از ما شبیه آن جوجه اردک زشت است و درون هرکدام از ما قوی زیبای منحصر به فردی است که در تقابل با جامعه ای خشن، فردیتش را از دست می دهد و بین اردک ها به فراموشى سپرده می شود.
جوجه اردک بارها زمین می خورد، تحقیر می شود و مردم ریشخندش می کنند. آنها از او انتظار دارند که شکل اردکی باشد که نیست. دردناک تر آن که خودش هم تصویر خود را در آب ندیده است و نمی داند کیست.
دنیا پر است از جوجه اردک های زشتی که هرگز نمی فهمند که اردک نبوده اند:
کارمند های معمولی ای که می توانس��ند کارگردان موفقی باشند، کارگرانى که می توانستند کارشناس باشند، مدیران ناخوشنودی که باید نقاش یا شاعر می شدند،
حسابدارانی که از ریاضیات متنفرند و می توانستند طراح لباس باشند، زن های خانه داری که می توانستند خلبان هواپیما باشند.
دنیا پر است از کسانی که قهرمان زندگی خود نبوده اند، نشده اند، نتوانسته اند، نفهمیده اند و به هر دلیلی آن چیزی که باید باشند نشده اند.
دنیا پر است از جوجه اردک هایی که عمری را در ناخشنودی و تکرار زندگی می کنند، بدون آنکه تصویر واقعی خود را ببینند... "جوجه اردک زشت درون خود را تبدیل به یک قوی زیبا کنيد"
(مقدمه یکی از کتاب های مدیریتی)
ترجمه:محمد مسعود نخستین
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"نگاه روانشناختی"
"این کتاب از نگاه روانشناسی یونگ هم قابل بررسی هست تحت عنوان "سایه
یونگ کشفی دارد که خیلی ها معتقدند اگر این کشف درست به دنیا معرفی شود، صلحی پایدار در دنیا پدید خواهد آورد بله این کشف نامش سایه است.
اگر به شما بگویند حسود، فضول، احمق، نادان، بیشعور و.... به شما چه حسی دست می دهد.
بله اگر یکی به شما چیزی از این صفاتی که گفتم و حالتان بد شد یا هر صفت دیگری را به شما نسبت دهد و حال تان بد شود مطمئن باشید شما نسبتی با آن صفت دارید و باید حتما برای آن کاری کنید.
یونگ می گوید سایه همین طور در روان ما، همچون یک دشمن جنایتکار ما را تعقیب می کند.
بنابراین صفات بد همیشه همراه ما و در روان ما جای دارند.
یعنی من و شما همیشه یک حسود درون مان داریم، همین طور یک جانی و آدمکش!
واقعا تا حالا برای شما پیش نیامده بخواهید سر به تن کسی نباشد. آن همان جانی آدم کش درون شماست که می خواهد سر به تن فلانی نباشد.
حالا که قانع شدید صفات بد درون شماست. به این صفات بد در روانشناسی یونگ می گوییم " سایه"
متاسفانه سایه را همه انکار می کنند.
ولی رفتار سالم این است که هیچ چیز را ما از روان مان نباید دور بریزیم.
وقتی حسادت سراغ من می آید باید یک مکثی به خودم بدهم و از خود سوال کنم:" چرا الان من به داشتن فلان چیزحسادت میکنم"، "احتمالا من دوست دارم فلان چیز را داشته باشم"، "چرا نرفتم دنبال فلان چیز که آن را داشته باشم"، "احتمالا به خاطر این بوده که من در خودم فلان توانمندی را که برای داشتن فلان چیز نیاز است پرورش ندادم"
تمام شد . کشف شد. سایه به من کمک کرد. حسادتم به من کمک کرد!
من باید فلان کار را انجام بدم و به توانمندیم اضافه کنم
سایه ها کثیف نیستند، آن ها هستند تا ما را راهبری کنند.
جالب هست بدانید که هر ملتی سایه جمعی دارد و اگر نتواند درست این سایه را تشخیص دهد می تواند مصیبت هایی برای دنیا پیش بیاورد. یونگ در دوره خودش متوجه سایه جمعی آلمان ها در زمان ظهور هیتلر شد و طرح این موضوع مشکلاتی را هم برای او ایجاد کرد.
سخن آخر اینکه
سخنان دیگران درباره ما فرصتی طلایی برای شناخت و کشف بهتر خودمان هست
"نگاه مدیریتی"
همه ما قصۀ جوجه اردک زشت، نوشتۀ «هانس کریستین اندرسن» را خواندهایم، داستانِ قو يى زیبا، كه بدليل آنکه از بد حادثه قاطی یک دسته اردک شده بود، به نظر زشت می آمد. بر خلاف آنچه به نظر می رسید او بسيار زیبا بود ولی او در پایان داستان این موضوع را می فهمد، آن هم وقتی که دیگر جوجه نیست و بالغ شده است و در دریاچه ای شنا می کند، مردم زيبايى او را با انگشت به هم نشان می دهند، و او برای اولین بار در انعکاس آب، زیبایی اش را در می یابد.
به نظر میرسد که داستان زندگی خیلی از ما شبیه آن جوجه اردک زشت است و درون هرکدام از ما قوی زیبای منحصر به فردی است که در تقابل با جامعه ای خشن، فردیتش را از دست می دهد و بین اردک ها به فراموشى سپرده می شود.
جوجه اردک بارها زمین می خورد، تحقیر می شود و مردم ریشخندش می کنند. آنها از او انتظار دارند که شکل اردکی باشد که نیست. دردناک تر آن که خودش هم تصویر خود را در آب ندیده است و نمی داند کیست.
دنیا پر است از جوجه اردک های زشتی که هرگز نمی فهمند که اردک نبوده اند:
کارمند های معمولی ای که می توانس��ند کارگردان موفقی باشند، کارگرانى که می توانستند کارشناس باشند، مدیران ناخوشنودی که باید نقاش یا شاعر می شدند،
حسابدارانی که از ریاضیات متنفرند و می توانستند طراح لباس باشند، زن های خانه داری که می توانستند خلبان هواپیما باشند.
دنیا پر است از کسانی که قهرمان زندگی خود نبوده اند، نشده اند، نتوانسته اند، نفهمیده اند و به هر دلیلی آن چیزی که باید باشند نشده اند.
دنیا پر است از جوجه اردک هایی که عمری را در ناخشنودی و تکرار زندگی می کنند، بدون آنکه تصویر واقعی خود را ببینند... "جوجه اردک زشت درون خود را تبدیل به یک قوی زیبا کنيد"
(مقدمه یکی از کتاب های مدیریتی)
ترجمه:محمد مسعود نخستین
-------------
"نگاه روانشناختی"
"این کتاب از نگاه روانشناسی یونگ هم قابل بررسی هست تحت عنوان "سایه
یونگ کشفی دارد که خیلی ها معتقدند اگر این کشف درست به دنیا معرفی شود، صلحی پایدار در دنیا پدید خواهد آورد بله این کشف نامش سایه است.
اگر به شما بگویند حسود، فضول، احمق، نادان، بیشعور و.... به شما چه حسی دست می دهد.
بله اگر یکی به شما چیزی از این صفاتی که گفتم و حالتان بد شد یا هر صفت دیگری را به شما نسبت دهد و حال تان بد شود مطمئن باشید شما نسبتی با آن صفت دارید و باید حتما برای آن کاری کنید.
یونگ می گوید سایه همین طور در روان ما، همچون یک دشمن جنایتکار ما را تعقیب می کند.
بنابراین صفات بد همیشه همراه ما و در روان ما جای دارند.
یعنی من و شما همیشه یک حسود درون مان داریم، همین طور یک جانی و آدمکش!
واقعا تا حالا برای شما پیش نیامده بخواهید سر به تن کسی نباشد. آن همان جانی آدم کش درون شماست که می خواهد سر به تن فلانی نباشد.
حالا که قانع شدید صفات بد درون شماست. به این صفات بد در روانشناسی یونگ می گوییم " سایه"
متاسفانه سایه را همه انکار می کنند.
ولی رفتار سالم این است که هیچ چیز را ما از روان مان نباید دور بریزیم.
وقتی حسادت سراغ من می آید باید یک مکثی به خودم بدهم و از خود سوال کنم:" چرا الان من به داشتن فلان چیزحسادت میکنم"، "احتمالا من دوست دارم فلان چیز را داشته باشم"، "چرا نرفتم دنبال فلان چیز که آن را داشته باشم"، "احتمالا به خاطر این بوده که من در خودم فلان توانمندی را که برای داشتن فلان چیز نیاز است پرورش ندادم"
تمام شد . کشف شد. سایه به من کمک کرد. حسادتم به من کمک کرد!
من باید فلان کار را انجام بدم و به توانمندیم اضافه کنم
سایه ها کثیف نیستند، آن ها هستند تا ما را راهبری کنند.
جالب هست بدانید که هر ملتی سایه جمعی دارد و اگر نتواند درست این سایه را تشخیص دهد می تواند مصیبت هایی برای دنیا پیش بیاورد. یونگ در دوره خودش متوجه سایه جمعی آلمان ها در زمان ظهور هیتلر شد و طرح این موضوع مشکلاتی را هم برای او ایجاد کرد.
سخن آخر اینکه
سخنان دیگران درباره ما فرصتی طلایی برای شناخت و کشف بهتر خودمان هست
October 16, 2018
His feathers and his beak are the brightest of all.
🐣
I gave it 5 stars because the story touches my soul. I lived the experience of feeling “different” in Catholic school, wanting something but not deserving it ä la a girlfriend. Eventually I’ve realized that I’m better off single!
What matters in life is NOT your identity, but what you do to make a difference. 🤓
April 9, 2020
In my opinion this fairy story shows how society that live in small closed space hates anybody who is different from the members of this society. If you are in the society of stupid ducks they never realize that you are a beautiful noble swan. Therefore, it is important to find people like you are.
March 5, 2021
¡Qué diferente se siente leer este cuento infantil tantos años después!
September 1, 2014
The Ugly Duckling is a classic story apt to impart lessons on morality to children. I got this book at the daily kindle deals for free. I picked this up to read for pleasure and diversion. This tiny forty pages book stimulated some ideas that are expected only from fables, stories and fairy tales.
This is a story about a baby duck that is born out of a huge egg and looks 'ugly'. In few words, the author presents the reaction of its mother who conditioned to appreciate beauty than character is ashamed to accept it. Though, she attempts to protect the duckling but succumbs to constant critical remarks made by the community. The frustrations of a parent over inability to shield the duckling against the social loathing and the shame associated with the ‘ugly’ part of oneself were easy to read between the lines. The duckling moves away from the community, travels distant places, survives all the torments and struggles to find where he belongs. Finally, one day out of shame it looks down in the lake water and finds a beautiful white swan. It is this reflection that fills its heart with happiness. The story ends with two morals: ‘To savor happiness one needs to go through hardships’ and ‘No matter what your past is, your present defines you and determines your future’.
In the entire book, the word ‘ugly’ appeared rather strongly for me. The definitive nature of ‘ugly’ changes when it is used as a ‘Label’. Once labeled, a person is persecuted, detested and constantly reminded of one’s deficits in such a way that the identity of a person solidifies as one of ‘handicap’; becoming a ‘self’ ruptured beyond repair. I would recommend that if you read this story to your little ones, do not just focus on imparting the above mentions lessons from the book, but also impart sensitivity to and appreciation of ‘the differences’ that exist in this world.
A story is an instrument that indulges the reader into a world of fantasy thereby granting insight into the roots of the real problems. This is true for any fiction, but fables, stories and tales are unique owing to their simplicity and because they go beyond the limits of societies, cultures and time periods. For me, reading this book was therapeutic. The other component of the book is the illustrations, which were serene and can add a flavor to reading for children. I recommend this book to both kids and adults alike.
This is a story about a baby duck that is born out of a huge egg and looks 'ugly'. In few words, the author presents the reaction of its mother who conditioned to appreciate beauty than character is ashamed to accept it. Though, she attempts to protect the duckling but succumbs to constant critical remarks made by the community. The frustrations of a parent over inability to shield the duckling against the social loathing and the shame associated with the ‘ugly’ part of oneself were easy to read between the lines. The duckling moves away from the community, travels distant places, survives all the torments and struggles to find where he belongs. Finally, one day out of shame it looks down in the lake water and finds a beautiful white swan. It is this reflection that fills its heart with happiness. The story ends with two morals: ‘To savor happiness one needs to go through hardships’ and ‘No matter what your past is, your present defines you and determines your future’.
In the entire book, the word ‘ugly’ appeared rather strongly for me. The definitive nature of ‘ugly’ changes when it is used as a ‘Label’. Once labeled, a person is persecuted, detested and constantly reminded of one’s deficits in such a way that the identity of a person solidifies as one of ‘handicap’; becoming a ‘self’ ruptured beyond repair. I would recommend that if you read this story to your little ones, do not just focus on imparting the above mentions lessons from the book, but also impart sensitivity to and appreciation of ‘the differences’ that exist in this world.
A story is an instrument that indulges the reader into a world of fantasy thereby granting insight into the roots of the real problems. This is true for any fiction, but fables, stories and tales are unique owing to their simplicity and because they go beyond the limits of societies, cultures and time periods. For me, reading this book was therapeutic. The other component of the book is the illustrations, which were serene and can add a flavor to reading for children. I recommend this book to both kids and adults alike.
April 28, 2016
I've intended to read Hans Christian Andersen's famous fairy tales and I just had the chance to do it recently. I started with The Ugly Duckling. This is basically how The Ugly Duckling looked like after hatching..
I think it's rather cute, dontcha think? I also think that all creatures look cute when they're little.
Most of you must be familiar with the story. It reminds me of switched at birth situations when the child can't fit in with the new family merely because that child doesn't look like the others within that family. The poor duckling is constantly teased and bullied because everyone thinks he's ugly. What makes it worse is that all the bullying started by his supposedly own folks. How terrible! After a journey of agony and misfortunes he finally gets to know who he really is.. Guess what? What I disliked in the story is that the tormented fellow kinda gives up when everyone is against him. WTH, dude? Man up for God's sake! Screw them all, to hell what they think, but DON'T GIVE UP!
Moral of the story:
The world is such a messed up shallow place. Accept who you are and move on. You never know what the future hides for you.
I think it's rather cute, dontcha think? I also think that all creatures look cute when they're little.
Most of you must be familiar with the story. It reminds me of switched at birth situations when the child can't fit in with the new family merely because that child doesn't look like the others within that family. The poor duckling is constantly teased and bullied because everyone thinks he's ugly. What makes it worse is that all the bullying started by his supposedly own folks. How terrible! After a journey of agony and misfortunes he finally gets to know who he really is.. Guess what? What I disliked in the story is that the tormented fellow kinda gives up when everyone is against him. WTH, dude? Man up for God's sake! Screw them all, to hell what they think, but DON'T GIVE UP!
Moral of the story:
The world is such a messed up shallow place. Accept who you are and move on. You never know what the future hides for you.
March 9, 2018
It was very sad throughout this fairy tale but what a lovely ending
December 1, 2024
The Ugly Duckling is my favourite Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale. I grew up with lots of tolerance for no matter who, so when my parents read this book to me I felt angry for how the duck was treated. That was the first time I noticed how tolerant I am and how this story has such a strong meaning behind it. I felt sad for the duck, but no pity as I believed for the duck to find true happiness soon enough and I am still glad that this is also the way the story turns out to be.
Nowadays the story also reminds me of mental health issues related to physical appearance. Many people seem to categorise themselves as 'ugly' and some people who didn't see an issue with their appearance were made fun of, making them feel the same way. This reminds me a lot about the ugly duckling as well, as I'm sure that the duck only started to see itself as ugly and miserable when it was told so by its environment. Ones own environment can influence one a lot and this book was one of the few where I started to realise that.
(Also the worst betrayal in this book was the mother duck, literally saying that she likes her child nevertheless of the appearance and then avoiding it as best as possible. Mother duck I trusted you and I will never again, shame on you!)
StoryGraph review
Nowadays the story also reminds me of mental health issues related to physical appearance. Many people seem to categorise themselves as 'ugly' and some people who didn't see an issue with their appearance were made fun of, making them feel the same way. This reminds me a lot about the ugly duckling as well, as I'm sure that the duck only started to see itself as ugly and miserable when it was told so by its environment. Ones own environment can influence one a lot and this book was one of the few where I started to realise that.
(Also the worst betrayal in this book was the mother duck, literally saying that she likes her child nevertheless of the appearance and then avoiding it as best as possible. Mother duck I trusted you and I will never again, shame on you!)
StoryGraph review
August 30, 2025
ذلك الفرخُ الصغيرُ الذي وُلِدَ مُغايراً لسائرِ الفِراخِ الجديدة، يشعرُ بنبذِه من عالمِهم منذ يومِه الأوّل... يُعاقبُه الجميعُ لا لذنبٍ اقترفه، بل فقط لأنّه قبيحٌ في نظرِهم، مختلفٌ في شكلِه، ولا يقتربُ من سلوكِهم في شيءٍ، حتى تلك البَطّةُ التي احتضنته حتّى فقسَ من البيضةِ كانت تتمنّى لو أنّه لم يُولَدْ قطّ، فقد عانى من كلِّ الطيورِ ولاقى العداءَ أينما حلَّ، ولكنّه في يومٍ يكتشفُ أنّه لم يكن قطُّ بذاك القبح، وإنّما لم يكن عارفاً كيف يُواجِهُ مُنتقديه...
إنّها قصّةٌ من التّراثِ القديمِ، شاهدناها وقرأناها مراراً، لكنّنا لم نكن ندركُ حقيقتَها وما ترمي إليه؛ فخلفَ اكتشافِ ذاك الكائنِ لذاتِه رسالةٌ عميقة... في الحقيقة لم تكن موجّهةً إلى الصغار، ولم تكن تقصدُ ذاك المخلوقَ بقدرِ ما قصدتْنا نحنُ الكائناتَ البائسةَ، التي تخضعُ من غيرِ وعيٍ إلى الانتقادِ وجَلدِ الذات، بحيث لا تُدركُ أنّ قيمتَها الحقّ ليستْ بما يراه الآخرون عنها، بل بما تفعله هي وما تكون عليه بالفعل...
قصّةٌ تُعلّمنا أنّ أكثرَ الأمورِ قسوةً ليستْ كلماتِ الغير، بل تصديقُنا لتلك الكلماتِ واعتبارُنا إيّاها مسلَّمةً لا مَفرَّ منها... فكلُّنا، في لحظةٍ ما، كنّا وما زلنا أسرى لذاك الفرخِ القبيحِ الذي لازمَنا من ألسنةِ الآخرين، ولا نغدو غيرَ ذلك حتّى نرى ذواتِنا بعيونِنا لا بعيونِهم... و قد تجاوز ذلك القُبحٌ المُتولِّدٌ الشكلَ إلى الفكرةِ، حتى صار لسانُنا ينطقُ بما لا نقول، بل بما يُقالُ عنّا... أليسَ هذا حالَنا اليوم، ونحن ننطقُ بلسانِ الغربِ وإسرائيلَ في أكبرِ جريمةٍ تُرتَكَبُ أمامَ ناظرينا؟!
إنّها قصّةٌ من التّراثِ القديمِ، شاهدناها وقرأناها مراراً، لكنّنا لم نكن ندركُ حقيقتَها وما ترمي إليه؛ فخلفَ اكتشافِ ذاك الكائنِ لذاتِه رسالةٌ عميقة... في الحقيقة لم تكن موجّهةً إلى الصغار، ولم تكن تقصدُ ذاك المخلوقَ بقدرِ ما قصدتْنا نحنُ الكائناتَ البائسةَ، التي تخضعُ من غيرِ وعيٍ إلى الانتقادِ وجَلدِ الذات، بحيث لا تُدركُ أنّ قيمتَها الحقّ ليستْ بما يراه الآخرون عنها، بل بما تفعله هي وما تكون عليه بالفعل...
قصّةٌ تُعلّمنا أنّ أكثرَ الأمورِ قسوةً ليستْ كلماتِ الغير، بل تصديقُنا لتلك الكلماتِ واعتبارُنا إيّاها مسلَّمةً لا مَفرَّ منها... فكلُّنا، في لحظةٍ ما، كنّا وما زلنا أسرى لذاك الفرخِ القبيحِ الذي لازمَنا من ألسنةِ الآخرين، ولا نغدو غيرَ ذلك حتّى نرى ذواتِنا بعيونِنا لا بعيونِهم... و قد تجاوز ذلك القُبحٌ المُتولِّدٌ الشكلَ إلى الفكرةِ، حتى صار لسانُنا ينطقُ بما لا نقول، بل بما يُقالُ عنّا... أليسَ هذا حالَنا اليوم، ونحن ننطقُ بلسانِ الغربِ وإسرائيلَ في أكبرِ جريمةٍ تُرتَكَبُ أمامَ ناظرينا؟!
April 13, 2021
As I was searching for a book to read that started with the letter "U" for the A to Z Alphabet Reading Challenge, I came across the free original and uncensored version of "Andersen's Fairy Tales" (c1925), at: http://read.gov/books/ugly_duckling.html which included the "The Ugly Duckling", (first 16 pages), originally published in 1843 in Denmark by Hans Christian Andersen. The other stories included in this book are "The Tin Soldier", "The Princess on the Pea", and "The Fir Tree". I have never heard of these stories before but didn't care for them too much.
The Ugly Duckling is a great little story of persevering through all the ugliness the world has to offer. Except today, with everyone being so darn sensitive, some of the story may not pass muster. At one point when mother duck brings her little ducklings around the barn to introduce them to the other ducks, she tells them to be sure and bow their heads to the oldest duck who was the grandest of them all. The book reads, "She has Spanish blood in her, that is why she is so fat." (ha ha...too funny!)
The only version I ever knew about was Walt Disney's Little Golden Books: The Ugly Duckling, now considered vintage, which I had bought for my kids when they were young. I don't remember if they had "improved" upon the story by then, or not. But, I'm pretty sure you won't find that comment in any of today's versions.
The Ugly Duckling is a great little story of persevering through all the ugliness the world has to offer. Except today, with everyone being so darn sensitive, some of the story may not pass muster. At one point when mother duck brings her little ducklings around the barn to introduce them to the other ducks, she tells them to be sure and bow their heads to the oldest duck who was the grandest of them all. The book reads, "She has Spanish blood in her, that is why she is so fat." (ha ha...too funny!)
The only version I ever knew about was Walt Disney's Little Golden Books: The Ugly Duckling, now considered vintage, which I had bought for my kids when they were young. I don't remember if they had "improved" upon the story by then, or not. But, I'm pretty sure you won't find that comment in any of today's versions.
September 24, 2013
What a heartbreaking story! Who knew that the original characters were so cruel! The Ugly Duckling was physically and mentally abused by his mother, siblings, and all of the other animals on the farm. He ran away, and was mistreated and talked about not because of anything that he could prevent, but just because he was ugly. Talk about self esteem issues! He was afraid to make friends at one point so he became a loner, and didn't bother to fly south with any flock for the winter. He suffered alone, and at the point when the flocks were flying back , he saw a flock of swans. He thought they were most beautiful, and said that he would rather try to be in their circle and they kill him rather than to continue to be tormented by others. When he approached, he found out that they thought that he was the most beautiful among them. He didn't have the confidence to let their compliments go to his head, but truly appreciated the words. He finally found a place to belong. It was a long, hard road, but in the end he found peace, family, love and friends. :)
Just don't expect a lot of pictures with this story. They are sorely lacking.
Just don't expect a lot of pictures with this story. They are sorely lacking.
February 7, 2017
Fantastic
Beautifully illustrated, classic children's tale, with a moral. One of my favorites as a child. Very short story, suitable for reading as a bedtime story.
Originally published in 1843, it's hard to imagine that such a classic children's book is still so easily readable for today's kids; it's values are timeless.
Beautifully illustrated, classic children's tale, with a moral. One of my favorites as a child. Very short story, suitable for reading as a bedtime story.
Originally published in 1843, it's hard to imagine that such a classic children's book is still so easily readable for today's kids; it's values are timeless.
June 3, 2021
One of my favorite stories...
It reminds me my childhood when I used to listen to day by day this wonderful LP.
It's one of my favorite memories...
I felt so sorry about this duck and then a huge surprise in the end.
Every one should read it. I recommend it.
💗
It reminds me my childhood when I used to listen to day by day this wonderful LP.
It's one of my favorite memories...
I felt so sorry about this duck and then a huge surprise in the end.
Every one should read it. I recommend it.
💗
January 23, 2019
The Ugly Duckling, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney.
This lovely edition of Hans Christian Andersen's original fairy-tale, The Ugly Duckling, was selected as a Caldecott Honor Book in 2000 - one of five Jerry Pinkney titles to be so distinguished over the years - and is no doubt the best suited, of those versions of this story that I have read, for very young children. With a text based on the Andrew Lang version, found in The Yellow Fairy Book , it is a few steps removed from the original Andersen, with its many harsh realities.
Here is no nosy neighbor advising that the Ugly Duckling's egg be abandoned, no maternal rejection, in which mother duck tells her unusual offspring that she wishes he would go away, no short-lived friendship with two ganders who are shot down before the duckling's eyes, and no over-eager farmer's children to mishandle him. In short: a safer, less traumatic rendition of events, in which the truly horrific has been blunted.
As someone who almost always prefers the full, unexpurgated version of the classic fairy-tales, I can't say that Pinkney's narrative is the one I would have chosen, but a recent discussion of sensitive younger children has led me to the conclusion that adaptations such as this also have their place. There is certainly no doubt that this is a visually appealing retelling, with Pinkney's gorgeous watercolor illustrations capturing - in expressive animal faces - all the emotion of the tale. The small cast of human characters is diverse, with both African and European figures - an innovation that works here, given the "everyman" feeling of this particular tale.
This lovely edition of Hans Christian Andersen's original fairy-tale, The Ugly Duckling, was selected as a Caldecott Honor Book in 2000 - one of five Jerry Pinkney titles to be so distinguished over the years - and is no doubt the best suited, of those versions of this story that I have read, for very young children. With a text based on the Andrew Lang version, found in The Yellow Fairy Book , it is a few steps removed from the original Andersen, with its many harsh realities.
Here is no nosy neighbor advising that the Ugly Duckling's egg be abandoned, no maternal rejection, in which mother duck tells her unusual offspring that she wishes he would go away, no short-lived friendship with two ganders who are shot down before the duckling's eyes, and no over-eager farmer's children to mishandle him. In short: a safer, less traumatic rendition of events, in which the truly horrific has been blunted.
As someone who almost always prefers the full, unexpurgated version of the classic fairy-tales, I can't say that Pinkney's narrative is the one I would have chosen, but a recent discussion of sensitive younger children has led me to the conclusion that adaptations such as this also have their place. There is certainly no doubt that this is a visually appealing retelling, with Pinkney's gorgeous watercolor illustrations capturing - in expressive animal faces - all the emotion of the tale. The small cast of human characters is diverse, with both African and European figures - an innovation that works here, given the "everyman" feeling of this particular tale.
May 21, 2017
The ugly duckling has a pure heart, and I like this story because it also shows us that people we can't imagine, someday can turn their back to us, but if we keep our heart pure, someday we will turn into beautiful creatures. So beautiful we can't imagine!
I liked to listen to this audiobook, but I'm not a good listener as I'm am as a reader. Some words and meanings were missing.
Favorite Character: The ugly duckling is more special, because he didn't give up!
I liked to listen to this audiobook, but I'm not a good listener as I'm am as a reader. Some words and meanings were missing.
Favorite Character: The ugly duckling is more special, because he didn't give up!
January 14, 2008
This book was a story of hope for me - I was the ugly duckling when I read this book - I see it as a story about rejection [fear (bondage) expectation] and belonging [love (freedom) becoming] - and the war to stay faithful to ones-self despite the many callings to abandon faith and hope - The swan finally finds his/her true identity and place after a life of opression and struggles with the threat of death - a story of home coming, hope, faith, courage and truth - a favourite ; )
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