The Happy Prince — Class 9 English Notes

Topics covered in The Happy Prince

1. 1.The Happy Prince

   Short Summary:

   "The Happy Prince" by Oscar Wilde is a story about a statue of a prince that stands high above a city. The prince was happy during his life, but after death, he sees the misery and suffering of the people in his city. He enlists the help of a swallow to distribute his riches to the poor and needy, sacrificing his beauty and wealth for their happiness.
   
   

   Long Summary:

   The story revolves around the statue of the Happy Prince, which stands high above a city. The prince, who was happy during his life, sees the suffering of the people in the city after his death. The statue is adorned with gold, sapphires, and a ruby. A little swallow, on its way to Egypt, stops at the statue and becomes the prince's messenger. The prince asks the swallow to take the ruby from his sword hilt to a poor seamstress whose son is ill. Then, the swallow plucks the sapphires from the prince’s eyes, giving them to a young playwright and a little matchgirl. Finally, the prince asks the swallow to strip him of his gold, which the bird distributes among the poor. The swallow, unable to survive the cold, dies at the prince’s feet. The prince's leaden heart breaks in two. The town authorities, seeing the statue no longer beautiful, melt it down, but the lead heart and the dead swallow are thrown on a dust heap. God asks an angel to bring the two most precious things in the city, and the angel brings the leaden heart and the dead bird. God declares that they shall live forever in His Paradise.

   
   

   
   

   Key Events:

   1. Introduction of the Happy Prince: The statue of the Happy Prince stands high above the city, adorned with gold, sapphires, and a ruby.
      
      
   2. Meeting the Swallow: A little swallow, left behind by his friends, decides to rest at the feet of the statue.
      
      
   3. First Act of Kindness: The Happy Prince asks the swallow to take the ruby from his sword to a poor seamstress.
      
      
   4. Second Act of Kindness: The swallow takes one of the sapphires from the prince’s eyes to a struggling young playwright.
      
      
   5. Third Act of Kindness: The prince sends the second sapphire to a little matchgirl.
      
      
   6. The Prince’s Sacrifice: The swallow strips the gold from the prince’s body to distribute among the poor.
      
      
   7. The Swallow's Death: The swallow, too cold to survive, dies at the feet of the Happy Prince.
      
      
   8. The Prince's Heart Breaks: The leaden heart of the Happy Prince breaks in two.
      
      
   9. Final Scene: The statue is melted down, but the leaden heart and the dead swallow are deemed the most precious things in the city by God.

   
   

   Lessons to Learn:

   • Compassion and Sacrifice: The Happy Prince shows that true happiness comes from helping others, even at great personal cost.
     
     
   • Selflessness: The swallow and the prince both sacrifice their comfort and well-being for the sake of others, teaching the value of selflessness.
     
     
   • The Value of Kindness: The story emphasizes that material wealth is meaningless compared to acts of kindness and love.

   
   

   Solving Questions & Answers:

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

      • The courtiers called the prince ‘the Happy Prince’ because he was always joyful during his life. However, he is not truly happy now because he sees the misery and suffering of the people in his city from his vantage point as a statue.
        
        

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

      • The Happy Prince sends the ruby to the seamstress because her son is ill, and she has no money to buy him food. The swallow delivers the ruby to her house and cools the boy's feverish forehead with his wings.
        
        

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

      • The prince sends the sapphires to a young playwright who is too poor to buy firewood and to a little matchgirl who has no money and is afraid her father will beat her.
        
        

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

      • The swallow sees the rich enjoying their wealth while the poor suffer in dark lanes. He sees starving children and beggars at the gates of the rich.
        
        

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

      • The swallow did not leave the prince because he grew to love him and wanted to help him in his mission to relieve the suffering of the people in the city.
        
        

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

      • The precious things mentioned are the leaden heart of the Happy Prince and the dead swallow. They are precious because they symbolize true love and sacrifice.

   
   

   Essay:

   The Theme of Selflessness and Compassion in "The Happy Prince"

   Oscar Wilde's "The Happy Prince" is a profound tale that explores the themes of selflessness and compassion through the story of a statue and a little swallow. The Happy Prince, once a living prince who never knew sorrow, is now a statue that sees the suffering of the people in his city. He cannot bear the misery and pain around him, so he decides to help the poor by giving away his riches. This act of kindness is not without sacrifice. The prince gives away the ruby from his sword, the sapphires from his eyes, and finally, the gold covering his body. These sacrifices, however, bring joy and relief to those in need.

   The swallow, initially reluctant to stay, becomes the prince's loyal messenger. Despite the cold and his longing to join his friends in Egypt, the swallow stays to help the prince. The bird's growing attachment to the prince leads to its ultimate sacrifice—staying in the cold until it succumbs to the harsh winter.

   The story illustrates that true happiness does not come from wealth or luxury but from helping others. The Happy Prince and the swallow find fulfillment in their acts of compassion, even at the cost of their lives. Wilde's tale teaches readers the importance of selflessness, showing that the most valuable things in life are not material but the love and kindness we share with others.

   In conclusion, "The Happy Prince" is a timeless story that encourages readers to look beyond their own needs and consider the well-being of others. It reminds us that the greatest acts of kindness often require sacrifice, but they are also the most rewarding.