The story begins with a duck sitting on her eggs, one of which hatches into an ugly duckling. The ugly duckling faces constant ridicule and bullying from other animals due to his appearance. He eventually leaves and encounters various challenges in his search for acceptance. In the end, he transforms into a beautiful swan and finds happiness and acceptance among his newfound swan family. The story conveys a message of self-acceptance and the idea that true beauty lies within.
Sure, here are the key facts extracted from the provided text:
1. Mother duck sits on her eggs among tall leaves, waiting for them to hatch.
2. The eggs start cracking, and ducklings hatch, except for one large and ugly duckling.
3. The ugly duckling faces bullying and mistreatment from other animals, including his own family.
4. The ugly duckling escapes and finds a moor where he is not bullied but still lonely.
5. The duckling encounters wild ducks who allow him to stay but mock his appearance.
6. The duckling seeks shelter with an old lady but is ridiculed by her cat and hen.
7. The duckling dreams of swimming in a pond but is confined.
8. The duckling escapes one night and finds a beautiful lake where he can swim.
9. Despite being in a new place, other animals still avoid and mistreat the ugly duckling.
10. The duckling despairs, wishing he had never been born, and cries.
11. He sees his reflection in the lake and realizes he has transformed into a beautiful swan.
12. The other swans accept and praise him for his beauty.
13. The swan feels shy and overwhelmed by the sudden appreciation.
14. The story highlights the theme of how people treat others based on their looks, emphasizing the importance of inner beauty.
These are the factual points from the text, excluding opinions or subjective information.