2.5 The Happy Prince - Std 8 - Kumarbharati

Author: Oscar Wilde

Genre: Fairy Tale / Allegorical Short Story

Textbook: English Kumarbharati – Class 8

Board: Maharashtra State Board

English Summary

The Happy Prince is a touching story of compassion and sacrifice. A grand statue of the Happy Prince stood in the city, covered with gold and jewels. The people admired its beauty, but the Prince’s heart was full of sorrow as he saw the suffering of the poor. A little Swallow, on its way to Egypt, stopped to rest under the statue and became the Prince’s messenger. At the Prince’s request, the Swallow carried his ruby, sapphires, and gold leaves to the needy—a sick child, a struggling writer, and a poor girl. Gradually, the Prince lost all his beauty, but the poor became happy. The loyal Swallow stayed with the Prince despite the cold, and finally died at his feet. The Prince’s leaden heart broke. Later, the authorities melted the statue, but God declared the two best things in the city were the dead Swallow and the broken heart. Their true value lay in love and sacrifice.

Theme / Central Idea

The story conveys the values of kindness, sacrifice, and love for humanity. It teaches that true beauty lies in compassion and helping others, not in outward appearance.

Character Sketches

The Happy Prince

• Once a joyful ruler, later a statue overlooking the city.

• Sympathetic towards the suffering of the poor.

• Sacrificed his gold, ruby, and sapphires to help the needy.

• Symbol of love, compassion, and selflessness.

  
  

The Swallow

• Small bird on its way to Egypt.

• Became the loyal companion of the Prince.

• Sacrificed its migration to serve the poor.

• Died faithfully at the Prince’s feet, symbolizing loyalty and sacrifice.

  
  

The Needy People

• Poor woman and her sick child.

• Hungry young writer trying to finish his work.

• Poor girl selling eggs, afraid of punishment.

• Represent society’s struggles and human suffering.

Word Meanings

Grammar Questions (5)

1. Infinitive / Gerund

   Sentence: “I wish to go to Egypt.”

   Infinitive: to go – shows purpose.

   
   

2. Passive Voice

   Active: The swallow carried the ruby to the poor woman.

   Passive: The ruby was carried to the poor woman by the swallow.

   
   

3. Modal Auxiliary

   Sentence: “You must stay with me for one more night.”

   Must shows strong request and necessity.

   
   

4. Tense Change

   Direct: The Swallow said, “I will go to Egypt.”

   Indirect: The Swallow said that he would go to Egypt.

   
   

5. Wh-Question Framing

   Statement: The Happy Prince gave his eyes to the poor.

   Question: To whom did the Happy Prince give his eyes?

   
   

Personal Response Questions (5)

1. What do you admire about the Happy Prince?

   I admire the Happy Prince for his compassion and sacrifice. Though he was a beautiful statue, he gave away all his wealth to help others. His willingness to lose his own beauty for the sake of the poor shows true greatness. His character inspires us to value kindness above material things.

   
   

2. What qualities of the Swallow impress you the most?

   The qualities of loyalty, courage, and sacrifice in the Swallow impress me the most. Instead of flying to Egypt, it chose to stay with the Prince and help the needy. Even in the freezing cold, the Swallow remained faithful until its death. This shows the power of true friendship.

   
   

3. What message does this story give about true beauty?

   The story gives the message that true beauty does not lie in gold, jewels, or outward appearance. It lies in kindness, sacrifice, and helping the needy. The Prince looked ugly when stripped of wealth, but he became spiritually beautiful. This lesson is timeless and inspiring.

   
   

4. How do you feel about the poor people described in the story?

   The poor people in the story represent real human suffering. They show how poverty forces mothers, children, and workers into pain. Their struggles make the Prince and Swallow act with compassion. Their presence reminds us of the importance of empathy in society.

   
   

5. Do you agree with God’s judgment in the story? Why?

   I agree with God’s judgment because He valued the broken heart and the dead bird as the city’s best treasures. These symbolized love, loyalty, and sacrifice. Material wealth fades, but kindness is eternal. The story shows that true greatness is measured by goodness.

   
   

True or False (5)

1. The Happy Prince’s statue was covered with gold and jewels. → True

   
   

2. The Prince gave both his eyes to help the poor. → True

   
   

3. The Swallow flew to Egypt and never returned. → False (It died at the Prince’s feet.)

   
   

4. The authorities valued the broken heart of the statue. → False (They threw it away.)

   
   

5. God declared the dead bird and broken heart as the best treasures. → True

   
   

Probable Exam Questions (5)

1. Why was the Happy Prince sad despite his beautiful statue?

   The Happy Prince was sad because he could see the misery of the poor from his high position. His heart, though made of lead, felt their pain. He cried tears of sorrow, showing that real happiness cannot exist when people around are suffering.

   
   

2. How did the Happy Prince help the poor woman and her sick child?

   The Happy Prince asked the Swallow to take the red ruby from his waist and give it to the poor woman. She could then buy food and medicine for her sick son. This act showed his compassion and concern for the needy.

   
   

3. Why did the Happy Prince give away his eyes?

   The Happy Prince gave away his eyes because he wanted to help a poor writer and a little girl. One eye was given so the writer could buy food and wood, and the other was given to the girl selling eggs. His sacrifice shows true generosity.

   
   

4. Why did the Swallow finally stay with the Happy Prince?

   The Swallow stayed with the Prince out of love and loyalty. Even though it was dying of cold, it refused to leave him alone. Its sacrifice of life for the Prince proved the depth of friendship and devotion.

   
   

5. What is the moral of the story The Happy Prince?

   The moral of the story is that love, kindness, and sacrifice are the true treasures of life. The Prince and the Swallow gave everything for others without expecting reward. Their actions were rewarded by God, showing that goodness is eternal.

   
   

Appreciation / Reflection Paragraph

The Happy Prince by Oscar Wilde is a beautiful story of sacrifice, compassion, and true love. The character of the Prince shows that beauty lies not in wealth but in helping others. The Swallow’s loyalty and sacrifice make the story even more moving. The poor represent the reality of human suffering, which can be relieved by kindness. The ending, where God values the broken heart and the dead bird, conveys a timeless message. The story is memorable because it teaches that real treasures are love and selflessness, not material wealth.

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