The Ugly Duckling

Outside reading list
Book 2
Title:The Ugly Duckling
Author: Hans Christian Anderson
Picture Book? (Yes or no): Yes
Posting date and/or number: January 30, 2008

In the story, "The ugly Duckling", the author introduces a beautiful setting. It compels to the senses. "The air was sweet, the corn stood tall..." All of this is indeed an example of a setting that seems so serene and enlightening. However the story takes on a shift when a mother duck watches as her eggs hatch. The diction thus changes and develops a character that is said to be "clumsy". The little ducklings are hatched and "look as much as they liked". The curious little ducks are in fact intrigued about their surroundings. Within the dialogue of the mother duck's talking, you can tell that she is responsible and caring for all her ducklings because she makes sure to count each and everyone one of them. When she realizes that one has not yet hatched, she continues to wait on even though she is tired of waiting. In the story, it has introduced more characteristic of the ugly duckling. It is to show us what to expect. "But then she settled back down to keep the last egg warm beneath her feathers." In this text, the duckling already convinces the reader that it is late and slow witted. It is unlike the other eggs because it is "the biggest egg of all". The story already shows signs of differences even though we have not yet met the ugly duckling. When the ugly duckling finally hatches, the mother notices the differences right away, but like any other mother, she continues to treat the ugly duckling as her own. She is no longer convinced he is a turkey like she was told because the ugly duckling is able to swim. The mother's affection for her young is very loving. She accepts him for what he is.
In the story not only does the setting introduce us to the ugly duckling but so does the narration. "What an odd-lookig fellow that last one is!We certainly don't want him around here." Already we have heard voices of others. It shows how some others can be very cruel to the way your outer appearance looks because even though the little duckling is very much respectful and obedient, his looks seem to be the target of others. Because of his ugliness, he is bitten by a chicken and the actions of others are released based upon his physical attraction. The actions of everyone around the duck expresses cruelty and remarkable sadness amongst the little duck. Because of all the mean comments the little duckling is faced with, the self image is ruined by himself and he reflects upon all the remarks, thus believing he is ugly. In one part of the story, the dog doesn't even say anything but runs off and yet already he believes his looks drove the dog away. However, as the little duck develops within the story and grow into a lovely swan, he is very vashful and not as mean like everyone is. "He was very, very happy and not proud at all, for a good heart is never proud." This sentence shows us that he is not thick headed and even though the now lovely swan is flattered, he still understands how it is to be ugly and picked on for his appearance. This character goes from complete sorrow to complete happiness throughout the book. In this story, to describe his happiness, personification is used. "The lilacs bent their branches down to the water to greet him." Everything changes and the swan, as beautiful as it is, has more appreciation to the happiness that he is feeling rather than the beauty that covers his exterior.
This story shows every reader that you shouldn't judge people on their looks or by their appearance because their is beauty from within. You have to accept everyone for what they are because we don't want to break their spirit, their lives, their self image of themself. We want to be able to make another happy for what they are no matter if they may seem like the most ugliest person or thing, they can, in fact, be the most beautiful to exist.