The Happy Prince

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

Explanation:

Courtiers called the prince the "happy prince" because he didn't know what tears were when he was alive, and because he lived in the palace, no sorrow was allowed. No, he is no longer happy. After his death, a statue was made to him and placed on a high place from which he could see the ugliness and poverty of the city.

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

Explanation:

The Happy Prince gave a ruby ​​to the seamstress, because she was poor and her son had a fever. Her son asked her to give him oranges, but she only had river water.


At the request of the Happy Prince, the little swallow came to visit the ruby ​​and gave it to the tailor. When the swallow arrived home, she was sleeping soundly and the boy was vomiting with fever. The Swallow put the ruby ​​on the table next to the thimble. Then he walked slowly around the boy's bed and fanned the boy's forehead with his wings. The boy felt better and fell into a deep sleep.

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

Explanation:

The prince gave his two sapphire eyes to a young writer and a match girl respectively. The young writer tried to finish a play for a theater director, but he was too cold to continue writing. There was no fire on the grill and he passed out from hunger. The Happy Prince gave him a sapphire he had ripped out of his eye, so he could sell it to the jeweler and buy firewood to complete his piece.


The match girl's match fell into the gutter and broke. She cried because her father was hitting her for this mistake.


The Happy Prince gave her another sapphire, lest her father strike her upon seeing her jewel.

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

Explanation:

As the swallows flew over the city, he saw the great disparity between rich and poor. He saw how the rich enjoyed themselves in their beautiful homes, while the beggars sat at the door. He flew through dark alleys and saw the pale faces of hungry children staring listlessly at the dark streets.

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

Explanation:

The swallow did not leave the prince for Egypt. The prince went blind after offering his sapphires to those in need. Swallow was moved by the prince's kindness and decided to stay with the prince.

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

Explanation:

The precious objects mentioned in the story are: the leaden heart of the Happy Prince and the dead bird.



They are precious for their generosity and their kindness. The Happy Prince sacrificed the ruby ​​of his sword so that the poor seamstress could cure her son of a fever. He even sacrificed his sapphire eyes and went blind. He continues to donate gold leaf from his statue to help the poor and needy.


The little bird gave up his desire to go to Egypt with his friends, but stayed with the Happy Prince. He ends up sacrificing his life to stay with the prince and help people.


So when God asked one of his angels to bring two of his most precious things, the angel brought the leaden heart of the Happy Prince and the dead bird.


God was right to say that the angels had chosen them, for in his paradise garden the birds will sing forever, and in his golden city the Happy Prince will praise him.