The Happy Prince - Chapter 1 of Class 10 NCERT PSEB
"The Happy Prince" is a
short story by Oscar Wilde, first published in 1888. It is a fairy tale that
tells the story of a golden statue of a prince and a swallow, and it imparts a
poignant message about selflessness and compassion. Here's a summary of "The
Happy Prince":
Summary of "The Happy
Prince":
The story is set in a town where
there stands a magnificent statue of a prince who lived in the city. The
statue, known as the Happy Prince, is adorned with gold leaf and precious
jewels, making it the most beautiful statue in the city. The Happy Prince's
eyes are two sapphires, and a large ruby is embedded in his sword's hilt.
One day, a swallow who is on his
way to Egypt for the winter decides to take shelter for the night near the
statue of the Happy Prince. The swallow is cold and tired, and he rests beneath
the statue's feet.
As the swallow prepares to sleep,
he hears the voice of the Happy Prince, who is weeping. The prince reveals
that, while he was alive and in the palace, he was shielded from the suffering
and misery of the city. It is only in his current form as a statue that he can
see the poverty and hardship endured by the city's residents.
The Happy Prince implores the
swallow to help those in need. He instructs the swallow to take the ruby from
his sword hilt and give it to a poor family struggling in a nearby attic. The
swallow hesitates at first but eventually agrees.
The swallow carries out the
prince's request, delivering the ruby to the needy family. He then continues to
perform acts of kindness on behalf of the Happy Prince, plucking the sapphires
from the prince's eyes and giving them to the poor. He also takes the gold leaf
from the Happy Prince's body and distributes it to various charitable causes.
As the swallow sacrifices himself
to help others, he becomes weaker and eventually succumbs to the cold. He dies
at the prince's feet.
In the end, the city's mayor and
councillors see the statue of the Happy Prince as tarnished and stripped of its
beauty. They decide to remove it and melt it down, thinking it is no longer of
value. However, they spare the broken heart of the prince because it is so
fragile.
The story concludes with an angel
carrying the heart of the Happy Prince to heaven, where it is deemed the most
precious thing in the city. The angel and the Happy Prince are finally happy,
knowing that they have made a difference in the lives of the poor.
"The Happy Prince" is a
tale of sacrifice, compassion, and the value of selflessness. It emphasizes the
idea that true happiness comes from helping others and being aware of the
suffering in the world.
Q. 1. Where did the statue of the Happy Prince stand?
Ans. The statue of the Happy
Prince stood on a high column above the city.
Q. 2. How was the statue decorated?
Ans. The statue of the Happy
Prince was decorated with gold leaf and precious jewels. It had sapphire eyes
and a large ruby in the hilt of its sword..
Q. 3. Where was the Swallow going?
Ans. The Swallow was going to
Egypt for the winter.
Q. 4. Why did the Swallow put up between the feet of the Happy Prince?
Ans. The Swallow took shelter
between the feet of the Happy Prince because he was tired and needed a place to
rest for the night and there was plenty of fresh air. It was fine place for
Swallow.
Q. 5. Where were the drops coming from?
Ans. The drops were coming from
the Happy Prince's eyes
Q. 6. Why was the Happy Prince Crying?
Ans. The Happy Prince was crying
because, as a statue, he could see the suffering and poverty of the people in
the city, and it saddened him deeply that he couldn't do anything to help them
Q. 7. Describe the seamstress in the words of the Prince?
Ans. the Prince describes the
seamstress as a "poor and thin" lady, emphasizing her poverty and the
fact that her child is ill. This description underscores the seamstress's
difficult circumstances and the reason she is in need of assistance.
Q. 8. Why was the seamstress’s little boy crying?
Ans. The Happy Prince" was
crying because he was very ill, hungry, and specifically crying for oranges.
Q. 9. How did the Happy Prince and the Swallow help the seamstress?
Ans. The Happy Prince and
the Swallow helped the seamstress by providing her with the two sapphires from
the Happy Prince's eyes. The swallow, acting on the Happy Prince's request,
plucked out the sapphires and delivered them to the poor seamstress, allowing
her to sell them and alleviate her financial hardships.
Q. 10. Why did the Swallow feel warm?
Ans. The Swallow felt warm
because he had chosen to stay with the Happy Prince and help the needy, which
warmed his heart and brought him a sense of fulfillment and happiness.
Q. 11. What troubled the young man in the garret?
Ans. The young man in the
garret was troubled by extreme cold and hunger and there was no fire in his
garret.
Q. 12. How was the young man helped?
Ans. The young man was helped
through the actions of the swallow who, at the request of the Happy Prince,
distributed the prince's precious jewels and gold to the poor and needy in the
city, alleviating their suffering.
Q. 13. Why was the match girl crying?
Ans. The match girl was
crying because she was cold, hungry, and poor. She was trying to sell matches
but had not sold any because of the harsh weather and the fact that she had
dropped her matches in the gutter. They were all spoiled She was in a desperate
situation and crying due to her dire circumstances because her matches had
fallen into the gutter.
Q. 14. The Swallow said to the Prince, “I will stay with you always.”
Why?
Ans. one of the reasons the
Swallow decided to stay with the Happy Prince was because the Prince had become
blind due to the loss of his sapphires, and the Swallow wanted to be the
Prince's eyes and help him carry out his acts of kindness to the poor and
suffering people in the city. The Swallow's loyalty and dedication to the Happy
Prince were motivated by compassion and a desire to assist those in need.
Q. 15. How did the poor Swallow manage to live in so much cold?
Ans. The poor swallow
managed to live in the cold by flapping his wings to keep warm while resting at
night beneath the sheltering statue of the Happy Prince.
Q. 16. Why did the statue of Happy Prince pulled down?
Ans. The statue of the Happy
Prince was pulled down because it had lost its external beauty.
Q. 17. What were the two most precious things in the city?
Ans. The two most precious things
in the city were the heart of the Happy Prince and the dead swallow.
Long Question and Answer
Q. 1. Why the Prince was called the Happy Prince?
Ans. he Prince was called
"The Happy Prince" during his lifetime because he lived a life of
luxury and was shielded from the suffering and sadness of the world outside the
palace. He was never sad, did not know about tears, and enjoyed a carefree
existence. The title "The Happy Prince" reflects his outward
appearance of happiness and prosperity during his life. It is only after his
death, when he becomes aware of the suffering of the people in his city, that
he truly embodies the spirit of compassion and selflessness, which is the
central theme of the story.
Q. 2. “I cannot choose but weep.” Why did the Happy Prince say so?
Ans. The Happy Prince, while
alive, was a beautiful and opulent prince who lived a sheltered and luxurious
life within the palace. He was unaware of the suffering and tears of his city's
residents. However, after his death and transformation into a statue, he gained
the ability to see and empathize with the problems and hardships faced by the
people. Although he wished to help them, he couldn't physically do so in his
statue form, leading to his tears and deep sorrow. This transformation is a
central theme in the story, highlighting the Prince's newfound empathy and
compassion for others.
Q. 3. Comment on the remark – ‘The living beings always think that gold
can make them happy.’
Ans. The statement that
"living beings think that money is the most powerful in the world, and
they always think that gold can make them happy" reflects a common
societal belief. Many people equate material wealth and possessions, such as
gold and money, with power, success, and happiness. This perspective often
stems from the idea that financial security can provide access to basic needs,
comfort, and opportunities for personal enjoyment.
However, the story of "The
Happy Prince" by Oscar Wilde challenges this notion by illustrating that
true happiness is not solely derived from material wealth. The Prince, who was
adorned in gold and jewels during his lifetime, comes to understand the
limitations of material riches only after his transformation into a statue. He
realizes that genuine happiness is found in acts of compassion, selflessness,
and helping those in need.
In essence, while money and gold
have their place in ensuring a certain level of comfort and security, the story
encourages us to recognize that the pursuit of empathy, kindness, and the
well-being of others is equally, if not more, important for a fulfilling and
meaningful life.
Q. 4. Why did the Mayor dislike the statue so much?
Ans. The Mayor disliked the
statue of the Happy Prince after it had given away all its precious stones and
gold to the poor. The Happy Prince's selfless acts of charity left the statue
stripped of its beauty, and its appearance changed as a result of the
sacrifices it made for the welfare of the city's impoverished citizens. The
Mayor, driven by a more materialistic perspective, could not appreciate the
statue's transformation and considered it unsightly; failing to recognize the
value of the compassion and sacrifice that had taken place.
Q. 5. Write a short note on the sufferings of the poor people in the
city?
Ans. Happy Prince, as a golden
statue, can see the suffering of the poor people in the city. The story vividly
portrays the dire circumstances faced by the less fortunate residents of the
city. Among those who endure poverty and hunger are:
- The Seamstress: She represents the
struggling working class, trying to make ends meet with her meagre
earnings. She works tirelessly but barely has enough to feed herself.
- Her Son: The seamstress's son is also a
symbol of the innocent suffering of children in impoverished families. He
is depicted as being weak from hunger.
- The Match Girl: This character is another
example of a vulnerable and impoverished individual. She is selling
matches to survive and is shivering in the cold, a tragic portrayal of
child labor and destitution.
- The Playwright: The playwright is an artist
who is impoverished and unable to afford warmth or food. He represents the
idea that even those with talent and aspirations can fall victim to
poverty.
The Happy Prince, from his elevated
position, becomes acutely aware of the suffering of these individuals and is
moved to help them. His compassion and willingness to alleviate their suffering
drive the central themes of selflessness and the responsibility of the
privileged toward the less fortunate.
Q. 6. What is the message conveyed by the author?
Ans. The story emphasizes that
service to the less fortunate is a virtuous and selfless act, and it equates
this service with a divine endeavor. The Happy Prince, in his transformed state
as a golden statue, comes to understand the true meaning of happiness and
fulfillment. He realizes that material wealth, represented by his gold and
jewels, is meaningless when it's not used to alleviate the suffering of others.
Instead, true happiness is derived from acts of compassion and selflessness,
such as helping the poor. This message underscores the idea that genuine wealth
lies in the ability to make a positive difference in the lives of others
through service and empathy.