5. The Happy Prince - Class 9 - Moments

Author: Oscar Wilde

Textbook: Moments

Genre: Fairy tale / Allegory / Fiction

📝 Summary

The story is about a beautiful statue called the Happy Prince, who stands high above a city. The statue is covered in gold and decorated with precious stones. Though the Prince was happy during his life, he is now sorrowful in death as he sees the pain and misery in the city below him. One night, a little swallow, on his way to Egypt, rests between the feet of the statue. The Prince persuades the swallow to stay and help him distribute his riches to the poor and needy.

The Prince gives away the ruby from his sword, the sapphires from his eyes, and the gold leaf covering his body. The swallow delivers these gifts and brings joy to many suffering people. In the process, the Prince becomes dull and grey, and the swallow becomes weak due to the cold, but refuses to leave. Eventually, the swallow dies at the Prince’s feet, and the Prince’s leaden heart breaks. The townspeople find the statue useless and melt it down, discarding the heart and the bird’s body. However, God recognises their selfless love and takes them to Heaven, declaring them the most precious things in the city.

👤 Character Sketch

The Happy Prince

The Happy Prince is a symbol of compassion and selflessness. During his lifetime, he lived in luxury and ignorance of suffering. After death, as a statue, he becomes aware of the pain and poverty around him. He sacrifices all his beauty and riches to help the needy, proving that true happiness lies in caring for others.

The Swallow

The little swallow is loyal, loving, and compassionate. Initially focused on migrating to Egypt, he stays back to help the Prince, delivering gold and jewels to the poor. His kindness grows with each act of charity, and he ultimately sacrifices his life in the service of humanity. His selfless devotion transforms him into a symbol of love and purity.

📚 Themes

✨ Literary Devices

📖 Title Justification

The title The Happy Prince is deeply ironic. While the Prince was happy during his lifetime, his true happiness and greatness are revealed only in death, when he becomes aware of suffering and gives everything to ease it. His joy lies not in royalty or wealth but in acts of kindness, making the title emotionally powerful and appropriate.

✅ One-Mark Questions

Q1. Why did the courtiers call the Prince ‘The Happy Prince’?

The courtiers called him ‘The Happy Prince’ because he lived in luxury and pleasure without ever knowing sorrow during his lifetime.

Q2. What did the Happy Prince see from his high pedestal?

From his high pedestal, the Happy Prince saw the suffering and poverty in the city, which made him deeply sad.

Q3. Why did the Prince ask the swallow to give away his ruby?

The Prince asked the swallow to give his ruby to a poor seamstress whose child was ill and crying for oranges.

Q4. What did the swallow see when he flew over the city?

The swallow saw rich people enjoying themselves while poor people suffered in dark alleys and cold streets.

Q5. Why did the swallow not go to Egypt?

The swallow did not go to Egypt because he grew attached to the Prince and chose to stay to help him serve the poor.

✅ Three-Mark Questions

Q1. How did the Happy Prince and the swallow help the poor people?

The Happy Prince asked the swallow to take his ruby, sapphires, and gold to help the poor. The swallow obeyed, delivering the jewels to those in need — like the seamstress, the playwright, and the matchgirl — and later distributed the Prince’s gold to starving children.

Q2. How does the story reflect the value of sacrifice and love?

Both the Prince and the swallow give up everything they have — the Prince sacrifices his beauty and wealth, and the swallow sacrifices his life. Their unselfish actions demonstrate that love and compassion are more valuable than material possessions.

Q3. Why did the townspeople pull down the statue of the Happy Prince?

The townspeople pulled down the statue because it had lost its beauty and riches, and they considered it useless. They failed to see the inner worth of the Prince’s loving heart and judged it only by outward appearance.

🧠 Value-Based Question

Q. What moral lesson does “The Happy Prince” teach us about true wealth and happiness?

The story teaches that true wealth lies in generosity and empathy. The Prince and the swallow gain eternal life not because of their beauty or riches, but because they chose to use what they had to help others. It reminds us that real happiness comes from love, compassion, and sacrifice.

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