The Ugly Duckling, a Fairy Tale

The Ugly Duckling is a literary fairy tale by Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen. The story tells of a homely little bird born in a barnyard who suffers abuse from the others around him until, much to his delight (and to the surprise of others), he matures into a beautiful swan, the most beautiful bird of all. It was first published 11 November 1843, with three other tales by Andersen in Copenhagen, Denmark to great critical acclaim.
The tale has been adapted to various media including opera, musical, and animated film. The tale is completely Andersen's invention and owes no debt to fairy tales or folklore.