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.