THE HAPPY PRINCE

THE HAPPY PRINCE

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

Ans. While the prince was alive he lived in his palace. No sorrow was allowed to enter. The prince was always happy. He did not know what sorrow is. So the courtiers called him the Happy Prince. But after his death, his statue was put on a high pedestal. Now he could see the misery of poor people all around. It made him very sad.

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

Ans. The poor woman's son is ill. He is asking for oranges. But the poor woman has no money. So the Happy Prince sends a ruby for her. The swallow takes the ruby from the Prince’s sword and flies away with it. He puts the ruby on a table. He fans the boys with his wings.

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

Ans. The prince sends one sapphire for a playwright. The playwright has no firewood to warm himself. He sends the other for a poor match-girl.  The match girl's matches have fallen into a gutter. She is crying. The prince wants her to get money by selling it. So he sends his sapphires for them.

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

Ans. When the swallow flies over the city, he sees the rich making merry in their beautiful houses and the beggars sitting at their gates. In the dark lanes, he sees poor hungry children. Due to hunger, their faces have turned white. Under a bridge, there are two little boys lying in each other's arms to keep themselves warm.

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

Ans. The prince had given the two sapphires of his eyes to the poor people. Now he was completely blind. The swallow had a kind heart. He could not leave the prince in that state. He decided to stay with him forever and not to go to Egypt.

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

Ans. The two precious things mentioned in the story are the leaden heart of the prince and the dead swallow. Both are precious because they have loving hearts. The prince gives his all for the poor. The swallow sacrifices his life for the sake of the prince. There is no selfishness in their love.

LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS

Q.1 Give a brief character sketch of the Happy Prince.

Ans. The Happy Prince was nothing but a statue that stood on a tall pillar. He had two sapphires for his eyes. His body was covered with leaves of gold. There was a ruby in his sword hilt. When he was alive he was very happy and people called him the happy prince. After his death, he was set on a high pillar. Now he saw the misery of the poor people. His heart melted with pity for them. Their sufferings brought tears in his eyes. He gave away his ruby, sapphires and all the gold for the poor. He became blind. His body looked ugly. But he was happy at heart because he had given away his all for the poor. The Happy Prince came to know that real happiness lay in the service of the poor. God blessed him and kept him in His city of gold.

Q. Give a brief character sketch of the swallow.

Ans. The swallow played an important role in this story. He was every inch like the Happy Prince. It had a very kind heart. He was going to Egypt where his friends were waiting for him. After flying all day long, he arrived at the city. In the city, he saw the statue of the Happy Prince. When he saw tears in the prince's eyes, his heart melted with pity. He wanted to help the prince. Therefore, he gave up his idea of going to Egypt. He stayed with the prince in cold nights. When the prince became blind, the swallow decided to live with him for-ever. He died one day. But even the death could not separate him from the prince. He was taken to heaven along with the prince.