Introduction
The sacrifice of a prince and a bird is the main element of the Happy Prince. The narrative accurately portrays a prince who cares for his subjects. The prince in the story was always joyful because he never saw sadness or misery around him. When the prince passes away, a statue of him was built on a height. His eyes were made of sapphires, and the statue was constructed of gold. With all of his wealth, the prince was no longer content because he had witnessed the pain and agony of his people, and he now works to make everyone happy and assist the less privileged.
Summary
It is a story about the statue of a happy prince. A bird once sought refuge beneath the statue of Happy Prince. When the bird noticed that the prince was not content, she inquired as to why. The prince then retorted that he was known as the happy prince since he never experienced sadness or misery during his lifetime. However, after he passed away and his statue was built outside the castle, he now senses the sufferings of his unfortunate subjects.
The bird made the decision to be the messenger of the prince and aid the less fortunate. The prince instructed him to give the seamstress the ruby from his sword so she could treat his sick son. Then he requested that the Bird offer his one sapphire eye to an artist who was unable to write his play because he was cold and hungry.
One day, he witnessed a match girl being hit physically by her father after she accidentally dropped matches in the canal. He instructed the bird to remove his other eye and offer the sapphire to that young lady. Post this the prince was totally blind, thus, the bird made the decision not to go anywhere but stay with the prince and serve the underprivileged.
The prince lost his sight yet continued to aid the needy. Following the prince’s orders, the Bird dutifully removed the golden leaves from the monument and continued to assist the underprivileged. The statue lost its luster as the poor received all of its gold and sapphires. Then a long winter arrived, which ultimately took the life of the swallow bird, it fell close to the monument. The prince’s leaden heart split in half upon seeing this. As time passes the statue looked dull and unattractive and thus the municipal council members agreed to destroy the statue and melt it in the furnace. The whole statue got destroyed but the heart remained the same which was also thrown near the dead swallow.
God sent an angel to earth and instructed him to collect the most priceless items from the earth; upon his return, the angel carried the prince’s heart and the swallow’s body. Both of them were welcomed by God in his garden.
Textbook Question Answers
1. Why do the prince’s courtiers refer to him as “the Happy Prince”? Is he actually content? What is it that he notices everywhere?
Ans: The prince was known as “The Happy Prince” by his courtiers because, while he was alive, he never experienced sadness. He was actually no longer content because, as a statue raised to a height, he could observe the anguish, misery, and ugliness of his land.
2. Why does the Happy Prince send the seamstress a ruby? What is the role of the swallow in the seamstress’ home?
Ans: Because she was in need and his only son had a fever, the prince sent a ruby to the seamstress. The swallow treated his son at the seamstress’ home.
3. To whom and why does the prince send the sapphires?
Ans: The young writer and the match girl receive the sapphires from the prince, respectively. In order to help the young author finish his play after he fainted from hunger and cold, the prince sends him a sapphire. The match girl dropped matchsticks in the gutter by mistake and his father was beating her. In order to help each of them with their issues, the prince sends sapphire.
4. the swallow flies over the city, what does it see?
Ans: The swallow observes the stark disparity between the lifestyles of the rich and the poor as it hovers over the city. He witnesses wealthy people getting married in their lavish homes while beggars wait outside the gates.
5. Why did the swallow not leave the prince and go to Egypt?
Ans: The swallow was moved by the prince’s kindness, so he chose not to leave him and travel to Egypt.
6. What are the priceless items described in the story? Why are they valuable?
Ans: The leaden heart of the prince and the bird were the two most valuable items in the tale. The bird abandoned his desire to travel to Egypt and chose to live with the prince in order to aid the needy while the prince gave away all of his treasures, including his sapphire and gold.
Extra Questions
1. What is the moral of the story The Happy Prince?
Ans: The story’s message is that we should assist the less fortunate and those in need. The happy prince was an example of this as he gave his diamonds to the underprivileged and needy. The swallow proved to be a wonderful symbol of love and selflessness. Acts of kindness and generosity can have a profound impact on others, and even inanimate objects can possess human qualities. The story emphasizes the need for empathy and a willingness to help those less fortunate.
2. What qualities does the Happy Prince possess?
Ans: The Prince is described as having golden skin, sapphire eyes, and a ruby on the hilt of his sword. Although he is physically attractive to many around him, he believes that this beauty is simply surface-level. He believes that his genuine beauty rests in his compassion for his town’s people and his readiness to make sacrifices for them.
3. What represents Happy Prince?
Ans: The Lead Heart is the symbol that signifies The happy prince. The Happy Prince’s heart is made of lead, and when his beloved Swallow dies from the cold, it breaks.