Why do the courtiers call the prince the Happy Prince”? Is he really happy? What does he see around him?
When the Prince was alive, he lived in the Palace where sorrow was not allowed to enter so he remained happy throughout the day. This made his courtiers call him the Happy Prince.
After his death his statue was placed at such a place in the town that he could see the ugliness and the misery of the city. He could now feel the pain of the people but do nothing else than weep.
Why does the Happy Prince send a ruby for the seamstress? What does the swallow do in the seamstress’ house?
The Happy Prince saw a woman in one of the houses through the open window. She was embroidering on a gown for the Queen’s Maids of honour and her son was lying ill in the corner of the room. He wanted oranges but she had nothing more than the river water to give to him. The Happy Prince requested the swallow to pluck the ruby on his sword and deliver it to the seamstress so that she could buy oranges for her son.
The swallow came to the poor woman’s house and laid the ruby on the table where the poor seamstress had fallen asleep. He also fanned the boy’s forehead with his wings.
For whom does the prince send the sapphires and why?
The prince’s eyes had rare sapphires. He sent them for the playwright and a little girl.
The young man was writing a play for the Director of the Theatre but it was too cold for him to write. Moreover, hunger made him faint. The Prince wanted a sapphire to be delivered to him so that he could sell it and purchase some firewood and food and complete his work.
He wanted the other sapphire to be delivered to a little match girl who had let all her matches in the gutter. The Prince knew that the girl’s father would beat her so he wanted the other sapphire to be delivered to her so that she could give it to her father.
What does the swallow see when it flies over the city?
The Prince asked the swallow to fly over the city and tell him the condition of the residents. The swallow saw the rich making merry in their beautiful houses and the beggars sitting at the gates. The swallow also saw the white faces of starving children in dark lanes. The swallow also saw two boys sitting in each other’s arms trying to keep each other warm.
Why did the swallow not leave the Prince and go to Egypt?
The Prince had become blind as he had made the Swallow deliver the sapphire from his eyes to the needy. The Prince's kindness touched his heart and made him change his mind. He could not leave the prince in that state and decided to live with him forever and gave up its idea of going to Egypt. Though the Prince asked him to leave, he did not go and thought of helping the poor with the help of Prince.
What are the precious things mentioned in the story? Why are they precious?
The two precious things mentioned at the end of the story are the leaden heart and the dead bird. They are precious because it was their kindness that they served the people by sacrificing their own lives. The Happy Prince let his ornaments which were also his glory be delivered to the ones in need and the Swallow had sacrificed his journey for being with the blind prince.
The little swallow says: “It is curious, but I feel quite warm now, although it is so cold.”
Have you ever had such a feeling? Share your experience with your friends?
Whenever a good deed is performed by us, it is likely that we feel proud about it. It brings in a sense of accomplishment and bliss. The swallow sacrificed himself for the service and command of the Happy Prince. In his initial service, he not only delivered the ruby to the woman but also fanned the ill child which made the child feel better.
During the summer holidays, I often visit my father’s village. A small stream flows nearby. Once, I went there with my cousins to take a bath. As soon as we started bathing, the flow of the water sped up and we ran to save our lives. One of my cousins didn’t know how to swim and he was left behind. I jumped into the stream and held his hand and brought him out. I felt really happy as I saved my brother and I was filled with pride.