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In 1914, the Russian-born composer [[Sergei Prokofiev]] composed a work for voice and piano based on Nina Mershchersky's adaptation of Andersen's original tale. Later in 1932, he arranged the work for voice and orchestra. |
In 1914, the Russian-born composer [[Sergei Prokofiev]] composed a work for voice and piano based on Nina Mershchersky's adaptation of Andersen's original tale. Later in 1932, he arranged the work for voice and orchestra. |
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The various international "[[Betty la fea|Ugly Betty]]" television series, beginning in 1999, have often been called modern-day |
The various international "[[Betty la fea|Ugly Betty]]" television series, beginning in 1999, have often been called modern-day adaptations of the "Ugly Duckling" story. |
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In 2006 the Danish animation studio [[A. Film]] produced a spin-off CG feature called ''[[The Ugly Duckling and Me!]]'', and later a children's CG TV-series ''[[Ugly Duckling Junior]]'', featuring the same characters as the movie. |
In 2006 the Danish animation studio [[A. Film]] produced a spin-off CG feature called ''[[The Ugly Duckling and Me!]]'', and later a children's CG TV-series ''[[Ugly Duckling Junior]]'', featuring the same characters as the movie. |
Revision as of 22:07, 1 January 2008
The Ugly Duckling is a fairy tale by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen; it was first published on 11 November 1843.[1] Its moral teaching is that inner virtues will eventually overshadow physical appearance.
Plot synopsis
A mother duck hatches her eggs and, while most of her ducklings are normal, one is grey, too large, and too clumsy to fit in among the others. Though she tries to accept him, the entire barnyard realizes that he simply does not belong and after a period of harassment he leaves to fend for himself. He wanders for the entire summer and fall, for no one will take him in, and he nearly freezes to death in an icy pond. Though he is rescued by a human, he cannot live in captivity, and he goes back to the wild.
By the end of winter he is miraculously still alive. He comes to a pond in a park or garden, where beautiful white swans are swimming. He is drawn to their beauty, though he has no reason to think that they will treat him better than anyone else has. Still, he thinks, even if they kill him, he must approach them. To his surprise, the beautiful creatures welcome and accept him; gazing at his reflection, he sees that he too is a swan. The children declare that he is the most beautiful swan of them all, yet he is not proud, for a good heart is never proud. Because of all that he suffered he now appreciates his happiness so much more.
Possible autobiographical themes
There has been speculation that Andersen wrote The Ugly Duckling to describe himself. Author Anne Chisholm wrote that Andersen "was a tall, ugly boy with a big nose and big feet", that he was born out of wedlock to a poor couple, that his aunt ran a brothel, and that he was ridiculed by other children because he was effeminate, and an unacknowledged homosexual.[2] There is also some speculation that Andersen was in fact the illegitimate son of Christian Frederik, the Crown Prince of Denmark (who would later become King Christian VIII of Denmark), and found this out some time before he wrote the book, and thus that being a swan in the story was a metaphor not just for inner beauty and talent but also for secret royal lineage.[3]
Adaptations
Walt Disney produced two Silly Symphonies animated shorts based on the story, one in 1931 in black and white, and one in 1939 in Technicolor. The latter film is the more notable version, as it won the 1939 Academy Award for Best Short Subject (Cartoons). In this version, the baby swan's sufferings are significantly shortened, as he is found by his real mother and father, and brothers and sisters, after only a few minutes of rejection and ostracism, instead of a whole year; also, its quack was similar to that of a motorcar horn. This abbreviated version is read by Lilo to Stitch in the 2002 Disney film Lilo & Stitch. The story has a deep impact on Stitch, who sets out to look for his real family.
The 1952 Charles Vidor musical film Hans Christian Andersen contains a song, "The Ugly Duckling", written by Frank Loesser and sung by Danny Kaye.
A musical, Honk!, based loosely on the text of Hans Christian Andersen, but more on the concept of the "Ugly Duckling," was performed in London's West End Theatre.
In 1914, the Russian-born composer Sergei Prokofiev composed a work for voice and piano based on Nina Mershchersky's adaptation of Andersen's original tale. Later in 1932, he arranged the work for voice and orchestra.
The various international "Ugly Betty" television series, beginning in 1999, have often been called modern-day adaptations of the "Ugly Duckling" story.
In 2006 the Danish animation studio A. Film produced a spin-off CG feature called The Ugly Duckling and Me!, and later a children's CG TV-series Ugly Duckling Junior, featuring the same characters as the movie.
Ugly, a 2006 children's book by Donna Jo Napoli, sets the "Ugly Duckling" story in Tasmania.
References
- ^ "Hans Christian Andersen: The Ugly Duckling". Hans Christian Andersen Center. Retrieved 2007-11-19.
- ^ "The tale of an ugly duckling", Anne Chisholm, June 5, 2006, The Daily Telegraph
- ^ "The little prince", Neil Philip, January 8, 2005, The Times
External links
- SurLaLune's Annotated The Ugly Duckling
- Hersholt, Jean. "A translation of Hans Christian Andersen's "Den grimme Ælling"". Hans Christian Andersen Center. Retrieved 2007-11-19.
- The 1939 Silly Symphony at The Encyclopedia of Disney Animated Shorts