Young duckling is picked on, beaten up (often left out of modern versions)and taunted by all the other ducklings. He goes through his childhood never fitting in and eventually feels the need to run away. He then sees a bunch of swans and is amazed by them, before realising that he himself is a swan and therefore fabulous and all the ducks can suck it. He joins up with the other swans and lives happily ever after.
Andersen was quite famous for incorporating elements of his life and particularly his romantic life into his work.
Andersen was quite famous for incorporating elements of his life and particularly his romantic life into his work.
Once known as Hochopepa
You cannot kill a vampire with an MDF stake; werewolves can't fly; zombies do not run. - Simon Pegg
You cannot kill a vampire with an MDF stake; werewolves can't fly; zombies do not run. - Simon Pegg
"It's like the ugly duckling, but with swans."
- 25/07/2010 09:40:32 PM
942 Views
In fairness, it should properly be cygnet and not duckling. *NM*
- 25/07/2010 10:00:09 PM
254 Views
Is there a story called "The Ugly Cygnet?"
- 25/07/2010 10:50:45 PM
647 Views
Point being the title is technically incorrect *NM*
- 26/07/2010 01:27:48 AM
252 Views
Then I must conclude that our points are different.
- 26/07/2010 01:35:01 AM
622 Views
I vaguely remember the story. 
- 26/07/2010 07:56:09 AM
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- 26/07/2010 07:56:09 AM
742 Views
The cygnet is raised in a family of ducks.
- 26/07/2010 10:14:20 AM
615 Views
I looked it up, but Wikipedia was unclear.
- 26/07/2010 10:20:39 AM
682 Views
- 26/07/2010 10:20:39 AM
682 Views
Surely you have a wikipedia quicksearch option, or a bookmark?
- 26/07/2010 10:25:24 AM
578 Views
I refer you to my title. And then my edits.
- 26/07/2010 10:30:54 AM
572 Views
Basically it's a metaphor for being gay
- 26/07/2010 05:17:29 PM
602 Views
I never knew Andersen was gay. Makes a lot of sense, though. *NM*
- 26/07/2010 06:24:05 PM
306 Views
I always took it as a metaphor for being a nerd *NM*
- 28/07/2010 10:44:18 AM
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I always took it as a blatant lie told to comfort ugly children. *NM*
- 28/07/2010 10:52:05 AM
315 Views
This thread was much more fun than I anticipated.
- 26/07/2010 05:48:15 PM
626 Views
- 26/07/2010 05:48:15 PM
626 Views
yes the best indepth discussion of the Ugly Ducking and the word cygnet I have seen in weeks
- 26/07/2010 07:01:18 PM
610 Views
- 26/07/2010 07:01:18 PM
610 Views
Never know what you'll learn around this place. *NM*
- 26/07/2010 07:20:00 PM
309 Views
*NM*
- 26/07/2010 07:20:00 PM
309 Views
I'm going to leap to her defence here.
- 26/07/2010 10:19:22 AM
653 Views
Your argument holds no water.
- 26/07/2010 07:54:58 PM
603 Views
- 26/07/2010 07:54:58 PM
603 Views
I'll let you win if I get to see the bootie shake 
*NM*
- 26/07/2010 08:17:17 PM
343 Views
*NM*
- 26/07/2010 08:17:17 PM
343 Views
I won anyway, so I'm not sure you've got a good bargaining position. *NM*
- 26/07/2010 09:10:57 PM
358 Views
*NM*
- 26/07/2010 09:10:57 PM
358 Views
I can't even remember the context in which I said that.
- 26/07/2010 09:12:58 PM
604 Views
We were on that pier thingie
- 26/07/2010 09:17:14 PM
632 Views