"The Ugly Duckling" (Danish: Den grimme ælling) is a Danish literary fairy tale by the Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen (1805–1875). It was first published on 11 November 1843 in New Fairy Tales.
Read the full text of The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Andersen. A young bird ridiculed for being different endures hardship before discovering his true identity as a beautiful swan in this beloved autobiographical fairy tale. Includes free study guide with quiz questions.
The Ugly Duckling is a classic Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale adapted for children aged 6–12 (Best for independent readers aged 7–10). In this child-friendly retelling, a lonely young bird is judged for how he looks before discovering his true identity.
In the morning, the old woman who lived in the cottage found the ugly duckling. “You can stay here,” she told him, “and we shall have duck eggs.”
“That is because I am so ugly!” thought the Duckling; and it shut its eyes, but flew on farther, and so it came out into the great moor, where the wild ducks lived.
“The Ugly Duckling” | Fairy Tales and Other Traditional Stories | Hans ...
But the poor duckling, who had crept out of his shell last of all, and looked so ugly, was bitten and pushed and made fun of, not only by the ducks, but by all the poultry.
He shook his feathers, stretched his slender neck, and in the joy of his heart said, "How little did I dream of so much happiness when I was the ugly, despised duckling!"
The poor Duckling didn't know where to stay or which way to go, he was so miserable at being ugly and the butt of the whole duck-yard. That was the first day, and as time went on it got worse and worse.