...“The Ugly Duckling” and Standards of Beauty Today Jennifer Murrish Kaplan University HU300-01RP682 “The Ugly Duckling” and Standards of Beauty Today Of all the stories I have heard throughout the years there is one that I can think of which really stands out in my mind. The story I chose is, “The Ugly Duckling” by Hans Christian Anderson, first published in Denmark, November 11, 1843. This story has an amazing moral and always tends to make me emotional every time I hear it, and has touched my heart since the first time I heard it when I was a child. Even though this story was published close to 170 years ago the concept is one that is still an issue within our society today. Gender roles can be described as, “the way acceptable male and female behavior and functions are defined in a given culture,” (Janaro, Altshuler, 2012); so many young people, both male and female, struggle with the image they are “supposed” to uphold much due to society’s stereotypical acceptations of what beauty is supposed to be, they can lose sight of what is truly more important than superficial appearance. Anderson’s story starts off describing the setting which is an old farm next to a lake amongst the forest trees. Within the old farm’s overgrown reeds a mother duck is sitting on her eggs getting ready for them to hatch. Finally the day comes and all the babies emerge from their shells and are ready to live, all the eggs except the largest egg of the bunch which had no signs of movement...
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...something we all possess, some are afraid of heights and some are afraid of spiders. However, all fears are conquerable, it may be a long and hard process but in the end, it could end up changing one for the good. That is the case in ‘’the swimmer’’ by S.J Butler written in 2011 where we meet an anonymous girl who is afraid of swimming. Contrasting to many other persons with a fear this girl truly wants to overcome her fear. When she does, she discovers a more relaxed and calm side of herself and other beautiful things that she would never have discovered if she had not challenged her fear. Even though it is her fear to swim, she never describes why she is so afraid of swimming and she never describes the water or the surroundings as something ugly, in fact she describes the nature in a positive way. ‘’It is gloriously fresh as she pulls her finger through it’’ (l. 48). The girl is very much ashamed of this particular fear that she has, she feels that normal people swim and it is natural ‘’people have swum for generations’’(l. 20) and that is why she does not want anyone to notice her swimming the river because she’s afraid of what people might think. Finally, when she decides to go into the water all of her fears suddenly comes back and she regrets it. She overthinks the situation, what if someone sees her or current is too strong to swim. Her fear really shines through here and she is very close to going back again as she has done before. When she finally goes into the water, she...
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...Bryan Pelkey AP Literature Mrs. Chow 27 September 2015 Alternate Biblio-therapy in Frankenstein Bibliotherapy, by definition, is the use of reading materials for help in solving personal problems. It can be very useful to those the struggle with confidence issues, and has also helped improve the lives of people living through depression. It is also a tool used in literature throughout history, and sometimes it can do more harm than good. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the monster ends up with a group of books that are less than beneficial. These books are Paradise Lost, Plutarch’s Lives, The Sorrows of Young Werther, and the journal of his creator. Each of these books, especially the passages he absorbed, had negative messages that could easily scar a being just brought into this world. Had he read different books that focused on loyalty, honor, and morals, he might have not had the fire of revenge in his heart. The first book read by the monster, Paradise Lost, is a poem written by John Milton. It tells the story of Satan, Adam, and Eve. It has a specific asphyxiation on Satan and the fall of man into sin. This could very easily give the monster a feeling of rebellion, as Adam and Eve rebelled against God. If he had instead just read the bible, his outlook on the story of creation would have been very different. He would have seen the sorrow that comes with rebellion, not just the thrill. There are also many good message in the bible, like “Thou shalt not kill”. ...
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...In The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, the story of Katniss Everdean unfolds: the story of a young girl living in poverty under a tyrannical government. Katniss volunteers to compete, in her little sister’s place, in a competition held yearly called the Hunger Games. These games consist of a fight to the death between 24 teenagers, a boy and girl from each of the 12 districts under the Capitol’s control. Katniss teaches the reader to persevere and be strong. She shows her strength in adversity and fights against the government that threatens to consume everything she loves. The savageness of human nature is also revealed in this story. The Capitol enjoyed watching the tributes fight to the death in the arena. The Hunger Games is a story worth reading because Katniss demonstrates kindness, courage to stand up for what right, and that people can overcome savage situation through intelligence and trust. The most striking quotes in The Hunger Games, was a line by Katniss. She questions how anyone could find enjoyment through watching children kill each other in the most brutal ways possible. Upon reading this I was almost forced to turn on myself and close the book, because doesn’t enjoying the novel make me just as bad as the people from the capitol who enjoy watching the blood bath televised live? I tried to justify it to myself saying it would be different in real life, but I was engrossed with the tragic tale which unfolded as I read. The truth is almost everyone has a morbid...
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...#essay 1 #Miaoshu Jiang #07/09/2012 When I was a little girl, I loved bedtime stories, especially those in Andersen's Fairy Tales. My mom often read them for me, but, most of the time, I enjoyed reading them myself. While I was proud of the ugly duckling who eventually evolved to a gorgeous swan, happy for Cinderella who suffered so much but found her prince in the end, and sorry for the little match girl who was found frozen to death on the last night of the old year, I was impressed by the author’s solid knowledge of literature. He easily controlled my mood by merely applying some simple words. At that time, I thought literacy equaled a good story. As time went by, I started to study in a primary school. Somehow, I went to a composition class in grade four and became the best student in that class by the end of that semester. However, at first, I did not understand the assignments. In my mind, I still loved stories, and all I wanted to write were lovely stories. However, a description of a building was the first required assignment. Since stories were the only writing style I knew, it made me so confused that I even did not know how to start . Nevertheless, I had no choice but tried to observe, touch and feel the object that I was going to write. Gradually, I found I fell in love with the process of watching before writing. It made me understand that literacy was not just a good story but came from a thorough observation of life. Quickly I became a high school...
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...Ariel Thomas Mrs. Mitchell English IV-4 7 May 2012 The Ugly Duckling Analysis As the ugly duckling in the fairytale finds himself transformed into a beautiful swan surrounded by all of the other swans and creatures who once rejected him, he hears a young child exclaim that He is the most beautiful. Throughout the story, the ugly duckling calls the swans he sees “royal birds.” At the end he becomes one of these birds and exclaims “such happiness I did not dream of when I was the ugly duckling.” In society, many people are constantly comparing themselves to others every chance they get. There are only few to accept who they are and then work each and every day to their fullest potential to become the best they can be; to challenge themselves, question everything they do, and then reflect upon each experience in the end. Society is full of ugly ducklings that cross paths with cats and hens; however few have the attitude that the ugly duckling has. Most people dream of looking like someone else, wishing they would be treated as the others they see are, and find themselves trying to live up to others standards, rather than their own. The ugly duckling gave all he can to life and fought for himself rather than listening to the other animals. The duckling tried not to bother others and just exist as he was, never even wishing to be someone else, no matter how happy others seemed or how easy their lives appeared. He used all of his inner strength to be himself, something many...
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...Books for grades form 1st to 3rd graders. Vizcarra, Natasha. The Black Kitten (1995) The story is about a kitten looking for a home, but because it is black they think it is bad luck. The kitten named is lgnacia. She went to different houses but no one wanted the kitten. In a couple of houses she went to they were scared and would get the kitten out of there house. Then she went to a huge house. In this house the kitten found a person that just took her in and didn’t matter that the kitten was black. The little girl had to the kitten with full of love. This book would be for 1st to 3rd graders. I think that this story shows a hero to this kitten because the kitten was looking for a home just because it was different. The kitten saw the love from the girl and see her as a hero for taking it to her home. Huseinovic. P. Andrea. The Blue Sky (2002) This book is about a liitle girl that had lost her parents. She wanted to look for her mother. She didn’t want to do anything as other children did. She just wanted to look for her mom. She put her self in a tower. As she was up there she started to talk to the birds as they came up to her. Then she started to see things in the air that reminded her of her mother. Then came a bird with stars and she went up there, they say she went with her mother. These animals helped her. I believe this book could be for 3rd graders. This book believe to be a hero book because the animals kept reminding her about her mom. It is believe they...
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...KinderCamp 2012 A Day at KinderCamp Daily Schedule 9:00-9:15 9:15-10:30 10:30-11:00 11:00-11:30 11:30-12:00 12:15-12:30 Rides In Swim/Change Snack Activity Period* Assembly Rides Out KinderCamp hats are a Cary YMCA tradition for 15 years. Children are recognized for demonstrating character traits or a new skill by having a special foam piece attached to their hat. One hat for a whole summer adds up to a lot of fun. Making Camp Successful Help protect your camper’s skin by applying sunscreen before they get to camp. They should come to camp already wearing their bathing suits and croc-like shoes. Please send a LABELED backpack or bag with your camper every day. In a LABELED bag (which you can place in the LABELED backpack) a change of clothes, a pool towel, and athletic shoes for after pool time. If you think your child might have an accident, then pack two sets of clothes. Please pack a daily snack which is LABELED. We are a peanut free, tree nut free program so please don’t send in food items that list nuts in their ingredients. If your child has a food allergy then we need to know about it! Rides in/Rides Out is a very important part of making your child’s day a safe one. Please help us to make it even safer by not using your cell phone, staying in line, and not driving around cars that are in front of you. Our staff cannot administer medicine during program hours to any camper without the following: A completed and signed Medication Form A written...
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...Confined In a Room Here, in this small room, on this giant table, is where I read. Read the same book I got as a gift over, and over, and over, until I was able to read it perfectly aloud. My mother always liked to emphasize the well known quote, “practice makes perfect.” What she seemed to not fully understand was that stuttering could not be fixed from one day to another. Every tutoring session broke my hope in taming this beast, because every tutoring session my stuttering got worse, or at least it seemed that way. “You can erase the board today Cindy,” said my first grade teacher Mrs. Gonzalez. As the tall, skinny, tan teacher awkwardly walked back to her wooden desk in her white dress, I slowly stood up from my chair. After jumping over the sea of backpacks lying on the floor and saying the words “excuse me” to three of my peers, I finally reached the front of the small, packed classroom. I caught my breath to eventually say “thank you Mrs. Gonzalez!” with the biggest smile my face could manage. I picked up the big chalk board eraser, and a classmate of mine stood up from her seat. Ever since Kindergarten, Christina was my competition for every test, quiz, and most importantly, becoming “teacher’s pet.” She had short brown hair, a little taller than I was, and always had her white polo ironed and her white sneakers as clean as can be. She never let me live a day without telling me my shoes were dirty or my shirt was wrinkled. Christina believed she was better than...
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...eyes Don’t know what to feel, I’m frozen like ice Your fairytale is not yet over Cinderella is back to fight for her lover I don’t want you to feel it again The times you suffered in so much pain I promise you not to leave But here I am and I just did Not because I want to But because I need to To make you happy is all I want Cinderella’s Fairy, may you please grant My love for you made me selfless I want you to live with your Princess I closed the book with all my heart A new chapter of life, I must start We’re not friends, not enemies Just strangers with some memories. -Erica Mae R. Lina How to Survive? Just like a star with no light at all No one’s there when I need them all Just like the ugly duckling they laugh at No one wants to cross my path Just like the black ship that gives bad luck No one helps when in moment I’m stuck Just like...
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...This is my journal of the daily life of a single teenage mother. My experience with my sugar baby was so much fun, but I soon learned that it wouldn't be easy caring for a baby all day long every day. Day one began my journey, when I introduced Lauren Ashley to my friends and family. I fixed her curly brown hair up in a bow, and I put on her a newborn diaper. There were so many styles of diapers to choose from in the store; it was mind-boggling. She had the cutest little ears I had ever seen. It was very heavy carrying Lauren Ashley everywhere all over school, including my books! The only time I needed a babysitter was when I had football games, pep-rallies, cheer practice, and class, so basically all day. I saw right then that daycare would be a necessity. I hired my parents, my grandmother, and my friends to baby sit. Whenever me and the other cheerleaders went to practice, we created a daycare in Mrs. Dennis' classroom. If Lauren Ashley were a real baby, I would pay around $90.00 a week just for her to go to daycare, and that doesn't include any extra food or diapers I would need to send. I also couldn't imagine having to wake up every two hours all night long to feed, change diapers, and rock Lauren Ashley back to sleep. But, I know I would really love my baby, so I would take care of her the proper way. One day when I really have kids, and they are girls, I am going to name them Julia- Love and Lauren Ashley. If I have a boy, I am going to name him Colton Bradley. Hopefully...
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...Personal Mission Statement My mission in life is to please God. This mission drives me through each milestone of life, onward to the lifetime goal of hearing my God say, “well done, you have been a good and faithful servant”. My focus, direction, purpose, motivation, decisions, and every breath I take is for His purpose. Many of my days are as I described above. Some are not, some days I struggle to hold on to joy and peace. To fulfill this mission, I live by many principles. Below are the top five. 1 I recognize that I cannot please a God I do not know; I must understand His nature and His ways in order to acknowledge Him in all my ways and receive His direction for my life. • I make it a point to rise up early and pray (talk) to God. Communication is essential for any relationship to be successful. Communication is two-way, after I talk to God; I listen to His voice by reading and meditating on His word to see in what way I am being instructed. Effective communication with God leads to better relationship with my husband, children and my neighbors (everyone else). • Right communication and right relationship leads to right counsel in all decision-making processes. Marriage, Money, children, religion, investments, giving respect and etc… 2 I love God, people and myself. I recognize that God loves everyone. It can be challenging sometimes but I strive to love people as God loves me. God deals with me and my issues every day and does not love me...
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..."The Ugly Duckling": Fairy Tale or Not? “The Ugly Duckling” was a short story written by Hans Christian Andersen in 1844. Although it is nearly 200 years old, the story is still one of the most popular retellings within modern culture. The question, of course, becomes “why?” We all know the story: a fowl is born to a duck family, shunned by its family and community because of its looks, and later develops into a beautiful swan that is envied by everyone for its beauty. Why would this story stand the test of time to not only still be heard on the lips of storytellers around the world, but to also be retold and reinvented through modern day translations? To answer this question, we must first look at the story itself in order to first understand its literary value and then to evaluate its impact on our popular culture. Many would first assume, by its presentation, that “The Ugly Duckling” can be considered a good example of a fairy tale. Bruno Bettelheim, a noted educator and scholar on the role that fairy tales play, has stated that in fairy tales, there is typically a battle between good and evil. Characters are absolute...either good or evil. He also goes on to say that the goal is not to impart a moral, but rather to show that one can overcome any obstacle (Bettelheim 216-217). Based on this criterion, “The Ugly Duckling” falls short of what could be called a fairy tale. Other than the anthropormorphisizing of the animal characters, there is no magic that is done in the...
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...Harry Potter – the new ugly duckling. Everyone has heard of J.K. Rowling’s book about Harry Potter, which have had their triumph all around the world. The books, which have achieved a total sale of more than 35 million copies, in over 35 languages, are very thick but are being swallowed by children and teenagers who can’t get enough. Everyone knows the story of the little wizard, who must go through much evil in the human world, in order to find happiness at Hogward’s school for wizards. Hogward lies in a parallel world that’s populated with strange creatures and that offers exciting adventures. In this world Harry leads the battle against the evil Lord Voltemort and his followers with Hermione Granger and Ron Weasly, which are the names of his best friends. Lord Voltemort, who wants to fight to get the power in the wizard world, exposes Harry to the most terrible dangers in all of the books. J.K. Rowling has planned out seven books about Harry, which are expected with great excitement every time a new book in the series appears. Before a new release people are queuing in front of the book stores to get the first copies. The story about the author is an adventure which is similar to the transformation Harry is exposed to in the switch from the muggler-world, the name for the boring human world, and the wizard world. Joanne Kathleen Rowling herself had to go through some very painful things before she became famous. She is born in 1965 as a daughter to a Scottish French...
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...Everyone has heard of J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter books, which have outshined their triumph transition all over the world. The books, which have achieved a total sale of more than 35 million copies, in over 35 languages, are very thick but are being swallowed by children and teenagers who can’t get enough. Everyone knows the story about the little wizard who must go through much evil in the human world in order to find happiness at Hogwarts school for wizards. Hogwarts is set in a parallel world, which is inhabited with strange creatures and offers many exciting adventures. In this world Harry leads the battle against the evil Lord Voldemort and his followers with Hermione Granger and Ron Weasly, which are the names of his best friends. Lord Voldemort, who wants to fight to get the power in the wizard world, exposes Harry to the most terrible dangers in all of the books. JK Rowling has planned out seven books about Harry, which are expected with great excitement every time a new book in the series releases. People are queuing outside bookshops to get the first copies when the release time is near. The story about the author of the books is an adventure, which is similar to the transformation Harry is exposed to in the switch from the Muggle worlds, the name for the boring human world and the wizard world. Joanne Kathleen Rowling had to go through a lot of wicked painful things before she became famous. She was born in 1965 as the daughter of a Scottish French mother...
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