The-happy-prince–Class-9–English–Summary–questions-and-answers–CBSE-NCERT

 

 

Summary – “The Happy Prince” by Oscar Wilde

 

“The Happy Prince” is a touching story written by Oscar Wilde. The story is about the golden statue of a prince who, during his lifetime, lived in a palace and never saw sadness. After his death, his statue was placed high above the city, decorated with gold leaves, precious stones, and sapphires for his eyes.

 

From his high position, the Happy Prince could now see all the poverty, hunger, and misery of the people in his city. He felt deeply sad and helpless until a kind little Swallow came to rest at his feet on its way to Egypt. The Prince requested the Swallow to help him distribute his gold and jewels to the poor.

 

The Swallow obeyed and carried the sapphire eyes and gold leaves to the needy — a seamstress, a playwright, and a match-girl. Slowly, the statue lost all its beauty, but the poor were helped. The Swallow, moved by the Prince’s kindness, stayed even in the cold and finally died at his feet. The Prince’s leaden heart broke.

 

Later, when the Mayor saw the dull, ugly statue, he ordered it to be melted. But the broken heart of lead did not melt. God’s angels took the broken heart and the dead bird to heaven, calling them the most precious things in the city.

 

Moral: True beauty lies in kindness, sacrifice, and compassion, not in outward appearance or wealth.

 

📖 Glossary

 

Statue – a carved or cast figure of a person or animal

Sapphire – a precious blue gemstone

Ruby – a red precious stone

Pedestal – the base or stand of a statue

Compassion – deep sympathy for others’ suffering

Charity – helping those in need

Seamstress – a woman who sews for a living

Playwright – a person who writes plays

Misery – great suffering or unhappiness

Ugly – unpleasant to look at

Melt – to turn from solid to liquid

Sacrifice – giving up something valuable for others

Lead – a heavy grey metal

Generous – kind and giving

Precious – very valuable

Frozen – extremely cold or stiff with cold

Glory – great beauty or magnificence

Selfless – putting others’ needs before one’s own

Kindness – the quality of being gentle and helpful

Heaven – the place believed to be the home of God

 

 

Short Questions and Answers

 

Q1. Who is the author of The Happy Prince?

A1. The story was written by Oscar Wilde.

 

Q2. Where was the statue of the Happy Prince placed?

A2. It was placed on a tall column in the middle of the city.

 

Q3. Why was the Prince called the Happy Prince?

A3. Because when he was alive, he lived in a palace of pleasure and never saw sorrow.

 

Q4. What was the statue made of?

A4. It was covered with gold leaves, had sapphire eyes, and a ruby on the sword hilt.

 

Q5. Who came to the statue one night?

A5. A little Swallow came to rest at the feet of the statue.

 

Q6. Why was the Swallow going to Egypt?

A6. To escape the cold winter and join his friends in Egypt.

 

Q7. What made the Swallow feel warm inside?

A7. The good deeds and kindness he did for the Prince made him feel warm.

 

Q8. Why did the Happy Prince cry?

A8. He cried after seeing the suffering of poor people in the city.

 

Q9. What did the Happy Prince ask the Swallow to take to the seamstress?

A9. The ruby from his sword hilt.

 

Q10. Why did the Prince ask the Swallow to stay another night?

A10. To help a poor playwright who was too cold and hungry to write.

 

Q11. What did the Swallow bring to the playwright?

A11. One of the sapphires from the Prince’s eyes.

 

Q12. Who was the third person helped by the Swallow?

A12. A poor match-girl who had dropped her matches in the gutter.

 

Q13. What happened to the Happy Prince’s eyes?

A13. Both sapphires were given away to help the poor.

 

Q14. How did the Swallow help the poor after the Prince’s eyes were gone?

A14. He carried gold leaves from the statue to give to the needy.

 

Q15. Why couldn’t the Swallow go to Egypt finally?

A15. Because it was too cold and he wanted to stay with the Prince.

 

Q16. What happened to the Swallow at the end?

A16. He died at the Prince’s feet out of cold and exhaustion.

 

Q17. What happened to the leaden heart of the Prince?

A17. It broke when the Swallow died.

 

Q18. Why did the Mayor and Town Councillors remove the statue?

A18. Because it looked shabby and no longer beautiful.

 

Q19. What did the workmen do with the statue?

A19. They melted it in a furnace, but the heart did not melt.

 

Q20. What did the angels take to heaven?

A20. The dead Swallow and the Happy Prince’s broken heart.

 

Q21. What was the Happy Prince’s main quality?

A21. He was kind, generous, and compassionate.

 

Q22. Why did the Swallow admire the Happy Prince?

A22. Because of his kindness and love for the poor.

 

Q23. What lesson does the story teach us?

A23. True happiness comes from helping others selflessly.

 

Q24. What was the first sign of kindness shown by the Swallow?

A24. He agreed to stay one night to deliver the ruby to the poor woman.

 

Q25. What did the poor playwright need?

A25. Firewood and food to complete his play.

 

Q26. What did the poor match-girl lose?

A26. She dropped her matches and was afraid her father would beat her.

 

Q27. How did the Prince feel after giving away his jewels?

A27. He felt happier than before because he could help others.

 

Q28. Why did the Town Councillors think the statue was useless?

A28. Because it had lost its gold and jewels and looked dull.

 

Q29. What kind of weather was there when the Swallow died?

A29. It was very cold and snowy.

 

Q30. What are the “two most precious things” mentioned by God?

A30. The dead Swallow and the broken heart of the Happy Prince.

 

 

Long Questions and Answers

 

Q1. Why was the Happy Prince not really happy after his death?

 

A1. When the Prince was alive, he lived in a palace where sadness was not allowed. He was always surrounded by luxury and pleasure. After his death, his statue was placed high above the city. From there, he could see the real world — people suffering, hungry children, and poor workers. Seeing so much misery made him deeply sad. He realized that true happiness does not come from wealth or comfort but from helping others. This understanding transformed him into a symbol of compassion and selflessness. Hence, although called the “Happy Prince,” he became truly happy only when he helped others in need.

 

Q2. Why did the Happy Prince ask the Swallow for help?

 

A2. The Happy Prince could not move from his pedestal, but he wanted to help the poor people he saw from above. The little Swallow came to rest near him one night, and the Prince requested his help. He asked the Swallow to take the ruby from his sword to a poor seamstress whose child was ill. Later, he sent the sapphires to a playwright and a match-girl. The Prince used the Swallow as his messenger to spread kindness and relief to the needy. Without the Swallow’s help, the Prince’s compassion would have remained helpless. Together, they brought happiness and warmth to many suffering people.

 

Q3. Describe the friendship between the Happy Prince and the Swallow.

 

A3. The friendship between the Happy Prince and the Swallow is built on love, kindness, and sacrifice. The Swallow first met the Prince when he stopped to rest before flying to Egypt. The Prince’s tears moved him, and he agreed to help deliver his jewels to the poor. Gradually, the Swallow began to love the Prince for his compassion. He gave up his journey to Egypt and stayed to help him until the end. When the Swallow died in the cold, the Prince’s heart broke in sorrow. Their friendship shows that true love and loyalty exist beyond wealth, beauty, and even death.

 

Q4. How did the Happy Prince help the poor seamstress?

 

A4. The Happy Prince saw a poor seamstress sitting in her small house, trying to finish an embroidery. Her little boy was ill and crying for oranges, but she had no money to buy them. Moved by pity, the Prince asked the Swallow to take the ruby from his sword hilt and give it to her. The Swallow obeyed and laid the ruby beside her. The seamstress fell asleep peacefully, and the child stopped crying. This act of kindness brought relief to their suffering. The Prince felt joyful that he could help someone in need, proving that true happiness lies in helping others.

 

Q5. How did the Happy Prince help the playwright?

 

A5. The Happy Prince noticed a poor playwright trying to finish a play for the director of the theatre. He was cold and hungry because he had no money to buy firewood or food. The Prince felt sorry for him and asked the Swallow to take one of the sapphires from his eyes and give it to the playwright. The Swallow carried out the command and placed the jewel near the writer’s desk. When the playwright saw it, he was overjoyed and immediately felt inspired to continue his work. This act of generosity helped the man to survive and complete his art.

 

Q6. Why did the Happy Prince give away both his eyes?

 

A6. The Happy Prince gave away both his sapphire eyes out of compassion for the poor. First, he gave one to a struggling playwright and the other to a match-girl whose matches had fallen in the gutter. He couldn’t bear to see their suffering. Even though this act made him blind, he was happy because he could help others. His blindness symbolizes the sacrifice of selfless love — he gave away everything he had for others’ happiness. This shows that real beauty and joy come from caring for those in need, not from wealth or appearance.

 

Q7. What did the Happy Prince do to help the poor match-girl?

 

A7. The Happy Prince saw a poor little match-girl crying on the street. Her matches had fallen into the gutter, and she was afraid her father would beat her if she returned without money. It was snowing heavily, and she had neither shoes nor a coat. The Prince felt deep pity for her. He asked the Swallow to pluck out his remaining sapphire eye and give it to the girl. The Swallow obeyed and placed the jewel in her hand. The girl felt happy and ran home smiling. Though the Prince became blind after this act, he was satisfied that he had brought happiness to a poor child.

 

Q8. Why did the Swallow decide to stay with the Happy Prince even after deciding to leave?

 

A8. Initially, the Swallow wanted to fly to Egypt to escape the cold. However, the kindness and compassion of the Happy Prince deeply touched his heart. Each act of charity brought warmth and satisfaction to the bird. When the Prince became blind, the Swallow could not leave him alone. His heart was filled with love and loyalty. Despite the freezing winter, he stayed with the Prince to help the poor and to be his eyes. Finally, the Swallow sacrificed his life out of devotion. This act shows the highest form of friendship and loyalty, proving that true love involves sacrifice and compassion.

 

Q9. Describe how the Swallow helped the Happy Prince in serving the poor.

 

A9. The Swallow was the only means through which the Happy Prince could help the needy. The Prince, being a statue, could not move. The Swallow agreed to carry out his requests. He delivered the ruby to the poor seamstress, the sapphires to the playwright and the match-girl, and finally distributed the Prince’s gold leaves among the poor. The Swallow worked selflessly, without caring for his own comfort. Through the Swallow’s actions, the Prince’s compassion reached those in distress. The story beautifully depicts how both kindness and cooperation can change lives — the Prince had the will to help, and the Swallow made it possible.

 

Q10. What happened to the Swallow at the end of the story?

 

A10. The Swallow stayed with the Happy Prince through thick and thin. When the Prince became blind, the Swallow could not bear to leave him. He stayed during the harsh winter, even though he was weak and cold. One day, as he kissed the Prince’s hand to say goodbye, he fell dead at his feet. The Prince’s lead heart broke in sorrow. Later, when the statue was melted, the broken heart did not melt. Finally, God’s angels took the dead Swallow and the broken heart to Heaven, calling them the most precious things in the city. The Swallow’s death symbolizes true love and devotion.

 

Q11. What was the reaction of the Town Councillors to the statue of the Happy Prince after it lost its beauty?

 

A11. The Town Councillors and the Mayor admired the statue when it was covered with gold and jewels. But once the Prince gave away all his gold leaves, rubies, and sapphires, the statue looked dull and shabby. The Mayor and the Councillors thought it was useless and no longer beautiful. They decided to pull it down and melt it in a furnace. This act shows the selfishness and shallowness of society. They valued the Prince only for his outward beauty, not for his inner goodness or compassion. This contrast between appearance and virtue forms the moral foundation of the story.

 

Q12. Why didn’t the Happy Prince’s leaden heart melt in the furnace?

 

A12. When the workers melted the statue, the Prince’s leaden heart refused to melt. It symbolized the unbreakable power of love and kindness. The heart was filled with compassion and selflessness, qualities that are eternal and indestructible. Even though the outer beauty of the statue was destroyed, its true goodness remained untouched. The unmelting heart shows that spiritual beauty and kindness can never be destroyed by physical means. It serves as a symbol of divine purity, which later leads the angels to choose it as one of the “two most precious things” in the city.

 

Q13. What message does the story “The Happy Prince” convey?

 

A13. The story conveys the message of love, charity, and self-sacrifice. It teaches that true happiness comes from giving and helping others. The Happy Prince and the Swallow both sacrifice their comfort and life for the welfare of the poor. The Prince gives away all his gold and jewels, and the Swallow gives up his journey to Egypt and finally dies serving the Prince. Their actions show that material beauty and wealth are temporary, but goodness and compassion are eternal. The story encourages readers to be kind, generous, and empathetic toward others’ suffering.

 

Q14. How did the Happy Prince and the Swallow bring happiness to the city?

 

A14. The Happy Prince and the Swallow worked together to relieve the suffering of the poor. The Prince, seeing the misery around him, gave away all his riches — the ruby, sapphires, and gold. The Swallow carried these gifts to needy people — a seamstress, a playwright, and a match-girl. Later, the Swallow distributed the gold leaves among the poor, bringing warmth and joy to many homes. Their combined kindness spread happiness throughout the city. Although they lost their beauty and life, they gained eternal peace and honor. Their sacrifice made them symbols of love and goodness.

 

Q15. How does Oscar Wilde criticize social inequality through this story?

 

A15. Oscar Wilde uses “The Happy Prince” to criticize the deep social divide between the rich and the poor. The story shows how the rich live in luxury without caring about the suffering of the poor. The Happy Prince, when alive, never saw misery, but after death, his statue witnessed poverty and sadness everywhere. He realized how unfair society was. Through his compassion and generosity, the Prince tried to balance this inequality. Wilde conveys that real nobility lies in helping others, not in wealth or luxury. The story is a powerful message against materialism and social injustice.

 

Q16. What is the role of the angels at the end of the story?

 

A16. At the end of the story, the angels serve as divine messengers who recognize true goodness. When the Mayor discards the statue as useless, the angels take notice of the real value in the city — the dead Swallow and the broken leaden heart. They bring them to God, who declares them the most precious things. This heavenly reward symbolizes that real worth is measured not by outward beauty or wealth but by kindness and selfless love. The angels’ act also shows that true compassion is eternal and receives divine recognition.

 

Q17. Compare the lives of the Happy Prince before and after his death.

 

A17. When the Prince was alive, he lived in a palace surrounded by happiness and luxury. He never knew what sorrow or poverty meant. People called him the Happy Prince because he was always cheerful. However, after his death, his statue was placed high above the city, where he could see misery and suffering everywhere. He felt deep compassion for the poor and helpless. The contrast shows how ignorance and privilege can blind people to reality. In death, the Prince found true happiness in helping others, proving that love and generosity are greater than wealth and comfort.

 

Q18. How does the story show that true beauty lies within?

 

A18. The Happy Prince was admired for his outward beauty — gold covering, sapphire eyes, and a ruby sword. However, when he gave away all his jewels to help the poor, people found him ugly and useless. But in reality, he became spiritually beautiful because of his compassion and generosity. The Swallow too, though small and plain, became great through his love and sacrifice. Wilde thus conveys that physical beauty fades, but inner beauty — shown through kindness and love — is everlasting. True beauty shines from the heart and not from appearance.

 

Q19. Why did the Happy Prince feel sad for the poor people?

 

A19. The Happy Prince felt sad for the poor because he could now see their real suffering from his high position. When alive, he had been sheltered from sadness, living a life of pleasure. Now he saw the contrast between his past luxury and the misery of others — starving children, cold workers, and homeless people. His heart filled with pity and compassion. He realized that beauty and wealth mean nothing if people around suffer. This awakening of empathy made him determined to help the poor, even if it cost him his jewels and beauty.

 

Q20. What does the story teach about selfless love and sacrifice?

 

A20. “The Happy Prince” beautifully portrays the idea of selfless love and sacrifice through the characters of the Prince and the Swallow. The Prince sacrifices his jewels and gold to help the needy, while the Swallow sacrifices his warmth, comfort, and life to serve the Prince’s cause. Neither expects anything in return. Their pure intentions bring happiness to others and eternal peace to themselves. The story teaches that true love involves giving, not taking, and that the greatest joy comes from helping others. Their sacrifice makes them immortal in the eyes of God.

 

Q21. Describe how the townspeople misunderstood the value of the Happy Prince.

 

A21. The townspeople, including the Mayor and Councillors, valued the Happy Prince only for his outer beauty. They admired his gold, sapphires, and ruby but never cared about the meaning behind his kindness. When the statue lost its riches, they found it ugly and useless and decided to pull it down. This shows society’s shallow mindset — valuing appearances over goodness. They couldn’t see the Prince’s sacrifice for the poor. Wilde criticizes this attitude, showing that real worth lies in the heart, not in wealth or luxury.

 

Q22. How did the Happy Prince and the Swallow become immortal?

 

A22. The Happy Prince and the Swallow achieved immortality through their deeds of love and sacrifice. Though the Prince’s statue was destroyed and the Swallow died in the cold, their compassion made them eternal in spirit. The angels took the Prince’s broken heart and the dead Swallow to Heaven, calling them the most precious things in the city. This symbolizes divine recognition of goodness. Their names live forever because of their kindness. Oscar Wilde shows that true immortality is achieved through selflessness, not fame or wealth.

 

Q23. What contrast does the story show between appearance and reality?

 

A23. The story contrasts outward appearance with inner reality. The Happy Prince’s statue appeared beautiful and glittering, but it was lifeless and unaware of real suffering. When he lost all his jewels and gold, he looked dull, but his heart became full of compassion. Similarly, the rich citizens looked respectable but were selfish. The poor, though miserable, were honest and hardworking. Wilde shows that true worth and beauty lie in love and kindness, not in outer appearance. The contrast exposes the hypocrisy of society, where value is often judged by looks rather than deeds.

 

Q24. How does the ending of “The Happy Prince” highlight divine justice?

 

A24. The ending of the story reflects divine justice and moral truth. The townspeople destroyed the statue because they thought it was useless. However, in Heaven, God appreciated the Prince’s and the Swallow’s kindness. The angels brought their souls to Paradise, calling them the most precious things. This shows that earthly judgments based on wealth and beauty are temporary, but divine judgment values love and self-sacrifice. The ending thus restores moral balance — the good are rewarded, and materialistic society is shown to be blind to real virtue.

 

Q25. What lesson can modern society learn from “The Happy Prince”?

 

A25. Modern society can learn that wealth and beauty mean nothing without compassion. The story reminds us to care for others, especially the poor and helpless. Today’s world is filled with materialism and self-interest, just like the city in the story. The Happy Prince and the Swallow teach that true happiness lies in giving, not in possessing. Their sacrifices encourage us to practice empathy, charity, and kindness. Oscar Wilde’s message remains timeless — love and humanity are the true jewels of life, far more valuable than gold or riches.