The Happy Prince Summary and Important Questions for class 9th
The Happy Prince by Oscar Wilde is is a timeless and enthralling fairy tale that masterfully combines themes of empathy, selflessness, and the harsh reality of societal injustice. This enduring story, which was first published in 1888, has won readers over with its moving examination of what true virtue and beauty imply. The story, which takes place in a made-up city, centers on a gilded statue of a prince, whose elaborate appearance conceals a heartwarming and compassionate story.
The Happy Prince Summary
The Happy Prince is Oscar Wilde's
sorrowful and allegorical fairy tale. The tale, which was first published in
1888, has enthralled readers with its themes of compassion, selflessness, and
the harsh reality of societal injustice. The story, which takes place in a
made-up city, centers on a golden statue of a prince who, despite his lavish
appearance, turns into a representation of compassion and generosity.
The Happy Prince Summary and Important Questions-A majestic statue of a prince, who
was once a living ruler, is described at the opening of the story. It is
perched atop a towering column and provides a view of the city. The statue has
a big ruby on its hilt, sapphire eyes, and is coated in gold leaf. The prince
was unmatched in his beauty and fortune during his lifetime, and his monument
today serves as a representation of extravagance and grandeur.
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As the city's residents admire and
praise the statue for its beauty, an unlikely friendship unfolds between the
statue and a small swallow. The swallow, on its way to Egypt for the winter,
decides to take refuge under the statue to rest its tired wings. The
compassionate prince, noticing the shivering bird, engages in a conversation
with the swallow.
The Happy Prince Summary and Important Questions-The prince, from his vantage point,
sees the suffering and poverty in the city. Touched by the plight of the poor,
he implores the swallow to take various pieces of his precious gold and deliver
them to those in need. Initially hesitant, the swallow gradually becomes the
selfless messenger of the prince's benevolence, distributing the gold to the
less fortunate.
As winter approaches, the swallow
decides to stay and continue assisting the prince in his charitable deeds. The
small bird selflessly gives away the prince's gold, clothes, and jewels to the
needy, making a significant impact on the lives of the city's impoverished
residents. This phase of the story underscores the themes of compassion,
charity, and the stark contrast between the privileged and the downtrodden.
The Happy Prince Summary and Important Questions-However, as the winter deepens, the
swallow's health deteriorates due to the harsh conditions. The once vibrant and
happy prince also begins to lose his golden exterior as the swallow plucks out
the sapphires and the ruby from his eyes and hilt to distribute among the poor.
This act of sacrifice, both by the prince and the swallow, symbolizes the cost
of genuine compassion and selflessness.
Tragically, the swallow succumbs to
the cold and dies at the feet of the statue. Witnessing the death of his loyal
friend, the prince becomes despondent. He now feels lifeless without the joyous
songs of the swallow. In the end, an angel descends and carries the lifeless
body of the swallow and the heart of the prince to the heavenly realms. The
angel declares that the most valuable things in the city are the leaden heart
of the dead prince and the lifeless body of the swallow.
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The story ends with a contemplation
on what real beauty is, and how important love and sacrifice are. The prince
and the swallow's deeds of generosity and selflessness are what give the
statue, which was formerly covered in gold and diamonds, its actual value. The
angel praises the happy prince and the obedient swallow for their unselfish
deeds at the conclusion of the story, illustrating the eternal value of
kindness and sacrifice.
A everlasting story that goes
beyond the fairy-tale genre, The Happy Prince provides insightful observations
about what it means to be human. Oscar Wilde is a superb storyteller who can
deftly combine themes of sacrifice, compassion, and social injustice into a
story that appeals to readers of all ages. Not only is the story's language
fascinating, but it also conveys timeless lessons about the transformational
power of love and selflessness.
Characters in The Happy Prince
1. The Happy Prince (Golden Statue
of the Prince):
The titular character, the Happy
Prince, is a golden statue that stands atop a tall column overlooking the city.
Once a living prince, he was adorned in opulent gold leaf, sapphires for eyes,
and a large ruby on his hilt. Despite his now-inanimate state, the Happy Prince
becomes a symbol of empathy and selflessness. Through his compassionate
observations of the city's suffering, he implores the swallow to carry out acts
of kindness on his behalf, ultimately sacrificing parts of his own golden
exterior for the benefit of the poor.
2. The Swallow:
The swallow is a small bird that
becomes the Happy Prince's unexpected companion. Seeking shelter under the
statue during its migration to Egypt, the swallow forms a unique bond with the
prince. Initially hesitant to carry out the prince's requests to help the poor,
the swallow gradually becomes the selfless messenger of the Happy Prince's
benevolence. Through its eyes, readers witness the suffering in the city and
the impact of their joint acts of charity. The swallow's loyalty and eventual
sacrifice underscore the themes of compassion and selflessness.
3. The Mayor:
The Mayor is one of the city
officials who, despite the opulence of the Happy Prince's exterior, fails to
recognize the suffering of the poor. The narrative uses the Mayor as a
representation of the societal indifference to the plight of the less
fortunate.
4. The Seamstress:
The Seamstress is a poor woman
living in the city who receives the ruby from the Happy Prince through the
efforts of the swallow. Her gratitude and the joy it brings to her otherwise
difficult life contribute to the narrative's exploration of the impact of
kindness on the lives of the impoverished.
5. The Little Match-Girl:
In some versions of the story, the
Little Match-Girl is another character who benefits from the generosity of the
Happy Prince and the swallow. This character is a reference to Hans Christian
Andersen's tale "The Little Match Girl," and her inclusion adds
another layer to the story's themes of compassion and social injustice.
6. The Angel:
The Angel appears in the story's
resolution, carrying the lifeless bodies of the swallow and the Happy Prince to
the heavenly realms. The Angel's role reinforces the transcendental themes of
the narrative and underscores the lasting impact of the selfless acts performed
by the Happy Prince and the swallow.
The Happy Prince Important Questions and Answers
1. How did the swallow help the Happy Prince?
The swallow was planning to go
Egypt like his friends and on his way he rested on the feet of the Prince’s
statue. There he came across the Prince’s reason of misery. The Prince
requested the swallow to become his messenger.
The Prince requested the swallow to give the ruby to the seamstress whose boy was suffering from high fever and was demanding for oranges. The swallow hopped inside the house and gave the ruby to the seamstress.
Next , on Prince’s command the swallow plucked out the
sapphires from the Prince’s eyes and gave them to the young writer and to the
little matchgirl. After plucking the sapphires the Prince became blind and the
swallow flew around the city and informed the Prince about the sufferings of
the people. At last the Prince ordered the swallow to pluck out all gold leaf
by leaf from his body and distribute it among the poor . The swallow followed
the orders accordingly and proved himself a trustworthy messenger.
2. Why did the swallow cry when the Happy Prince asked him
to pluck out one of the sapphires?
The Prince ordered the swallow to
pluck one sapphire for the young writer and the second one for the little
matchgirl. The swallow cried when the Prince ordered to do so as after doing
that plucking the sapphires the Prince would become completely blind. Moreover,
the Prince went through so much sufferings to help the poor and needy ones .
This why the swallow got emotional and cried.
3. How did the Happy Prince help the poor children in the city?
The last thing left with the Prince
was the gold leaves which covered his body throughout. The Prince ordered
the swallow to pluck out all the gold leaf by leaf and distribute among the
poor children. The swallow followed his order accordingly and distributed all
the gold leaves to the poor and the needy ones.
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