The Happy Prince

The Happy Prince

Think about it

Question 1. Why do the courtiers call the prince ‘the Happy Prince’? Is he really happy? What does he see all around him?

Answer: The courtiers called the prince ‘the Happy Prince’ because when he was alive and had a human heart, he did not know what tears were, for he lived in the Palace, where sorrow was not allowed to enter.

No, he was not really happy. After the death of the Prince, a statue of him was built and set up so high that he could see the ugliness and all the misery of his city, and though his heart was made of lead yet he could do nothing but weep.

Question 2. Why does the Happy Prince send a ruby for the seamstress? What does the swallow do in the seamstress’ house?

Answer: The Happy Prince sends a ruby for the seamstress because he finds her very poor and her son ill. He also finds that her son is asking for oranges but his mother has nothing to give him except river water.

The swallow enters into the seamstress’ house and lays the great ruby on the table beside the woman’s thimble. He then flies gently round the bed, fanning the boy’s forehead with his wings. This makes him feel comfortable, and he sinks into a deep slumber.

Question 3. For whom does the prince send the sapphires and why?

Answer: The prince sends the two sapphires for a young writer and a matchgirl each.

As the the young writer stops writing because of too much cold weakness from hunger, the Happy Prince sends one of the sapphires for the young writer so that he can sell it to the jeweller, and buy firewood, and finish his play for the Director of the Theatre.

Seeing the matchgirl losing all her matches in the gutter, and the fear that her father will beat her if she doesn’t bring home some money, the Happy Prince sends the other sapphire to her so that her father will not beat him.

Question 4. What does the swallow see when it flies over the city?

Answer: When the swallow flies over the city, it sees the rich men making merry in their beautiful houses, while the beggars are sitting at the gate. sharp difference between the lives of the rich and the poor. It then flies into dark lanes and sees the white faces of starving children looking out listlessly at the black streets.

Question 5. Why did the swallow not leave the prince and go to Egypt?

Answer: The swallow did not leave the prince and go to Egypt because the prince had become blind after donating his sapphires to the young writer and matchgirl. Besides this, seeing his kindness towards the poor people, the swallow decided to stay with the prince.

Question 6. What are the precious things mentioned in the story? Why are they precious?

Answer: The precious things mentioned in the story are the leaden heart of the Happy Prince and the dead bird.

They are precious because both of them sacrifice their lives for the welfare of the poor people.

The Happy Prince sends the ruby of his sword for the poor seamstress, finding the mother so sad and the boy so thirsty. He even donates his sapphire eyes and become blind. He also keeps on donating the gold leaves of his statue the poor.

The bird leaves his desire of going to Egypt and stays back with the Happy Prince instead. He finally sacrifices his life to help the prince and his people.

Thus, when God sends one of His Angels to bring the two most precious things, the angel brings Him the leaden heart of the Happy Prince and the dead bird. He also declares that the bird shall sing for ever in his garden of Paradise, and the Happy Prince shall praise him.