What is the moral of The Ugly Duckling?

Don't judge others, or yourself, by appearances. The duckling was never ugly, just different, and he grew into exactly what he was meant to be.

Who wrote The Ugly Duckling and when?

Hans Christian Andersen, the Danish author, published it in 1843 in his collection New Fairy Tales.

Is The Ugly Duckling about Hans Christian Andersen himself?

Many readers and biographers think so. Andersen grew up poor and awkward in Odense, was teased for being odd, and later became famous, much like the duckling who turns out to be a swan.

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Fairy tale · 声匠改编 · 3:50

The Ugly Duckling

A big grey duckling is teased by the whole farmyard, runs away, survives a long winter, and finds out who he really is. Andersen's classic, retold.

Narrator

The Duckling

Mother Duck

The Turkey

The Hen

The Cat

The Swan

0:000:00

Other languages · 2 languages

🇨🇳 中文 🇺🇸 English

About this story

The Ugly Duckling is a fairy tale by the Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen, first published in 1843. A grey cygnet hatched among ducks is mocked for being different, survives a lonely year, and discovers he is a swan. This retelling keeps Andersen's farmyard, the snooty cat and hen, and the frozen winter, told softly for bedtime.

What it teaches

Being different is not the same as being wrong, and you can't judge anyone by how they look while they're still growing. Sooner or later, everyone finds the people who are like them.

Suits

Ages 4–9

Tips for telling it

Slow right down for the winter, then brighten your voice when spring comes.
Ask how the duckling felt at the farm, and how he felt at the lake.
Look at pictures of grey cygnets and white swans together afterwards.

Questions people ask

What is the moral of The Ugly Duckling?: Don't judge others, or yourself, by appearances. The duckling was never ugly, just different, and he grew into exactly what he was meant to be.
Who wrote The Ugly Duckling and when?: Hans Christian Andersen, the Danish author, published it in 1843 in his collection New Fairy Tales.
Is The Ugly Duckling about Hans Christian Andersen himself?: Many readers and biographers think so. Andersen grew up poor and awkward in Odense, was teased for being odd, and later became famous, much like the duckling who turns out to be a swan.

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