The Happy Prince Important Questions Class 9 Moments English
Short Answer Type Questions
Question 1. Describe the statue of the Happy Prince as depicted at the beginning of the story.
Answer
The statue of the Happy Prince was mounted on a tall column high above the city. It had thin leaves of fine gold gilded all over. Two bright sapphires were its eyes and a large red ruby glowed on its sword hilt.
Answer
At the beginning of the story the statue was fixed on a tall column, full of thin leaves of gold on the body, and had two sapphires for eyes. It had a large red ruby fixed on the hilt of the sword.
Question 3. What happened to the Prince’s heart? Why?
Answer
As the swallow fell dead at the Prince’s feet, the latter’s lead heart broke into two. This happened because the Prince loved the bird dearly. Although it was a dreadful winter, still the heart broke, for it was deeply hurt.
Question 4. Where was the swallow going? Why did he decide not to go there?
Answer
The little swallow was going to Egypt to join his friends. The happy Prince looked so sad that the swallow decided to stay back and be his messenger. The swallow died helping the happy Prince in the service of poor people.
Question 5. What was the last wish of the swallow?
Answer
The swallow knew that her end had come. He flew on to the shoulder of the Happy Prince and said, “wish to kiss your hand.” The Happy Prince asked him to kiss him on the lips. He kissed on his lips and then died.
Question 6. What happened when the little swallow was getting ready to sleep?
Answer
When the little swallow was getting ready to sleep, a large drop of water fell on him. It was the Prince crying on seeing the misery and suffering of the people.
Question 7. How did the swallow become the Prince’s eyes?
Answer
The swallow stayed back with the blind Prince. He would fly over the city and see its people in all their colours. He would report their miseries and sufferings to the Prince. Then, on the Prince’s orders, he would pluck the golden leaves from his statue and give them to the needy.
Question 8. What were the drops of the rain actually? Why did they fall?
Answer
The drops of rain were actually the Happy Prince's tears. The Happy prince was sad and moved by the widespread poverty and misery. He had always seen happiness around him. He could not fathom that people were sick and crying because of the misery around them.
Question 9. What made the statue of the Happy Prince cry?
Answer
The statue of the Happy Prince was on a high pillar, He could see the sorrows and misery of people. He saw a seamstress. Her son was ill. But she had nothing to give her except the river water. This made the Happy Prince cry.
Question 10. What did the swallow observe when he flew over the city?
Answer
When the swallow flew over the city, he found the rich making merry. He passed by the palace and heard the sound of dancing. He saw the rich making merry in their beautiful houses while beggars were sitting at the gates. He saw white faces of starving children. Two little children lying in each other's arms to keep themselves warm and the watchman telling them to leave the place and they wandered out into the rain.
Question 11. Where did the bird decide to stay for the night? Why?
Answer
The bird decided to stay near the statue of the prince, because it was located on a tall column and the bird felt he would get plenty of fresh air there.
Question 12. What did the Swallow see and hear while taking the ruby for the thirsty boys ?
Answer
While taking the ruby for the thirsty boys, he passed by the cathedral tower, where the white marble angels were sculptured. He passed by the palace and heard the sound of dancing. A beautiful girl came out on the balcony with her lover. He passed over the river, and saw the lanterns hanging on the masts of the ships.
Question 13. What did the swallow do when he realised that he was going to die? How did the Prince respond?
Answer
On realising that he was going to die, the swallow gathered his remaining strength and flew up to the prince’s shoulder. He bid him goodbye and sought permission to kiss his hand. The Prince thought that the swallow was going to leave for Egypt. He welcomed this decision and asked the swallow to kiss him on his lips instead, as he loved him.
Question 14. In the story The Happy Prince what are the two most precious things? What makes them so precious?
Answer
The two most precious things were the leaden heart of the Happy Prince and the dead swallow. The former wept for the poor and helped them by giving sapphires, gold leave and ruby. While the latter helped the prince in his noble cause and sacrificed her life while staying with him.
Question 15. Why did the swallow refuse to carry ruby to the seamstress? Why did he finally agree to do it?
Answer
The swallow first refused to carry the ruby to the seamstress because he wanted to be with his friends who were in Egypt. Moreover, when the Happy Prince expected help from the little boy of the seamstress, the bird said that he did not like boys. However, he agreed to stay for the night on seeing the Happy Prince in such a sorrowful state.
Question 16. How did the Happy Prince help the seamstress?
Answer
The Happy Prince asked the swallow to take the ruby out of his sword, where it was hidden and give it to the seamstress, whose son was lying on the bed with fever. The swallow took the ruby and placed it on the table.
Question 17. Why couldn’t the poor seamstress sit beside her ailing son?
Answer
The poor seamstress had to work endlessly to complete a gown that had to be worn by the Queen’s loveliest maid of honour at the court ball. Tired and hungry, she fell off to sleep while her ailing son tossed on the bed alone.
Question 18. Why did the swallow not leave the Prince and go to Egypt?
Answer
The Happy Prince looked so sad that the little swallow felt sorry for him. He agreed to stay with him for one night and be his messenger. He picked out the great ruby from the prince's sword and flew away to deliver it to the poor woman.
Question 19. What change came over the bird on his return from the seamstress’s house? Why?
Answer
After returning from the seamstress’s house, the swallow felt curious that despite the cold he was feeling quite warm. The Happy Prince told him that it was so because he had done a good deed.
Question 20. Why was the Happy Prince not really happy?
Answer
When the 'Happy Prince' was alive, he did not know what tears and sorrow were. After his death, he could see the ugliness and misery of the city. Therefore, he weeps and is not really happy.
Question 21. When the prince was alive, he did not know what tears were. Why?
Answer
The prince lived in a palace. No sorrow was allowed to enter there. The prince never had the taste of sorrow. So he did not know what tears were.
Question 22. Why did the Swallow cry when the Happy Prince asked him to pluck out one of the sapphires?
Answer
The swallow cried when the Prince asked him to pluck out one of the sapphires because the Prince would go blind. The Prince himself suffered too much so as to help the poor and needy people.
Question 23. How did the Happy Prince help the poor children in the city?
Answer
As per the orders of the Happy Prince, the gold leaves and the jewels on his body were taken out by the swallow and distributed among the poor. Thus, the Happy Prince was able to help the poor children in the city.
Question 24. What happened to the leaden heart of the Happy Prince after it was thrown away?
Answer
Because it did not melt in the foundry, the Happy Prince’s lead heart was thrown away on a dust-heap where the swallow also lay dead. Later on, God’s Angels chose the heart as well as the dead swallow as the two most precious things in the city.
Question 25. How did the prince and the swallow enable the playwright to finish his work?
Answer
The playwright was very poor. He could not buy food and firewood. It was difficult for him to write a play without food and firewood. The Prince took pity on him and decided to help him by sending the sapphires with the help of the swallow.
Question 26. Why did the swallow want to fly to Egypt?
Answer
He wanted to do so because it was a warm country where the sum shone on green palm trees and crocodiles lay in the mud. Moreover, all his friends had already gone there to escape the cold weather.
Question 27. How did the Happy Prince and the Swallow help the poor woman and her ill son?
Answer
The Happy Prince asked the Swallow to peck out the ruby from one of his eyes and give it to the poor woman. The Swallow wasn't ready to do this at first because the thought of the Prince becoming blind pained her. But the Happy Prince convinced her. The Swallow left the ruby near the woman's thimble and fanned the sick boy with her wings. The boy felt better instantly.
Question 28. What strange thing was observed by the overseer?
Answer
The statue of the Happy Prince was pulled down and put to melt in a furnace. The overseer at the foundry noticed a strange thing at this time. The broken lead heart of the Prince did not melt and had to be thrown away in the dust.
Question 29. Why did the town councillors decide to pull down the statue of the Happy Prince?
Answer
The Town councillors decided to pull down the statue of the Happy Prince because the statue was no longer beautiful and it looked dull and shabby. Precious stones and golden leaves were gone from the statue and now it looked little better than a beggar.
Question 30. What is the moral of the story The Happy Prince?
Answer
The moral of the story is that we must help the poor and the needy. The Prince set an example of this by giving his jewels to the poor. The swallow also proved to be a great example of love and sacrifice.
Question 31. How did the prince and the swallow enable the playwright to finish his work?
Answer
The playwright was feeling very cold and hungry. He could not finish his play. The prince asked the swallow to take one of his sapphires to the playwright. Thus they helped him to finish his work.
Question 32. How did the coming of the cold weather affect the swallow?
Answer
He grew colder by the day, but did not leave the statue of the Happy Prince, which he had come to love dearly. He ate the crumbs he found outside the baker’s door and tried to keep warm by flapping his wings.
Question 33. Why did the swallow delay his departure for the second time?
Answer
He delayed his departure for the second time because the Prince asked him to deliver one of his sapphire eyes to a poor young man in a garret who was trying to finish a play for the Director of the theatre, but who was too hungry and cold to write anymore.
Long Answer Type Questions
Question 1. When and how did the Happy Prince realise the true meaning of life? What did this realisation prompt him to do?
Answer
The Happy Prince had lived a very comfortable life and had not known any sorrow when he was alive. In fact, sorrow was not allowed to enter the palace where he lived. Thus, he was called the ‘Happy Prince’ by his ministers. However, after his death, his gold and jewel-studded statue were put up on a high column in the city. From here, the Happy Prince, like a statue, got to see the pain and miseries of the people. He then realised that ugliness and suffering are the true faces of life. He felt that the misery suffered by humans was the greatest mystery and the plight of – men and women was more marvellous than the grandeurs of riches. He then started giving away his riches to the needy and tried to relieve them of the pain of poverty.
Question 2. Write the character sketch of Happy Prince.
Answer
When the Happy Prince was alive, he had no knowledge of sorrow and tears. He was kept away from all the sufferings and sorrows. He always saw people who were happy all around him in his kingdom. He never knew people could be poor and have problems. After his death, he was placed on a tall column. He was covered with golden leaves and had rubies and sapphires studded on him. Standing on the tall column, the Prince could see the miserable condition of the poor people. He helped all the people around him with the help of the swallow. He was generous and soft-hearted as he felt the pain of other people.
Question 3. Give a character-sketch of the swallow.
Answer
The little swallow plays an important role in this story. He was going to Egypt. His friends were waiting for him. But the Prince requested him to stay for one day more. He agreed. At the request of the Prince, he took the ruby to the seamstress. He took the sapphires of the Prince’s eyes to the young man and the poor girl. Now the Prince was blind. So he decided to stay with the Prince. The swallow had a kind heart. He fanned the son of the poor woman and gave him comfort. Then winter came. The swallow lived in the snow. He had only crumbs to eat. But he did not leave the Prince. One day the swallow died. But even death could not separate hint from the prince. The angel of God took the swallow and the Prince’s heart to paradise.
Question 4. What were the precious things mentioned in the story and why are they precious?
Answer
The two most precious things were the leaden heart of the Happy Prince and the dead swallow. Even after being dead, the Happy Prince's spirit helped all the needy and poor by giving away his jewels. He could not see the misery around him and therefore he helped the people. His heart bled and melted for swallow carried out the wishes of the Happy Prince. Instead of going and joining his friends in Egypt, swallow carried rubies and sapphires to the poor and needy people. Just like the Happy Prince, swallow sacrificed his home, freedom and happiness for the sake of other people. Both of these characters wanted to share happiness around them. Hence they sacrificed themselves.
Question 5. ‘Goodness can never be destroyed’. Do you agree? Illustrate with reference to the story “The Happy Prince”.
Answer
Goodness is forever. The happy prince had goodness for all. He was moved by the widespread poverty and misery. He gave his eyes, his gold and jewels to the poor. When the swallow died at his feet, his heart was broken into two. The statue of the happy prince was no longer useful and beautiful. It was pulled down. When the statue was melted in a furnace, the leaden heart did not melt because goodness can never be destroyed. The prince and the swallow both were rewarded by God by providing them with a place in heaven.
Question 6. Why was ‘Happy Prince’ not really happy?
Answer
The courtiers call the prince the ‘Happy Prince’ because he lived a happy life during which no sorrow could enter his palace. However, the prince was not actually happy because he had never got the chance to witness the misery and plight of his people. By keeping him away from sorrow, his heart was never given a chance to feel the virtues of pity and compassion. So, when his statue was placed at a point from where he could see the city laid before him, he saw pain, hunger, want, and suffering all around. Even his lead heart could not help but weep at this site.
Question 7. What happened to the statue of the Prince and the swallow in the end?
Answer
The swallow and the Happy Prince became friends. The swallow loved the Prince for his kindness. He decided not to go away. The Prince sent his ruby and the sapphires of his eyes to the poor people. He sent the gold of his body to the poor children. Now he was blind and ugly. Then winter came. The little swallow felt very cold. But he did not leave the Prince. One day, the swallow died. The leaden heart of the Prince broke in two. The next day, the statue was pulled down. It was melted in a furnace. But leaden heart did not melt. It was thrown into a heap. The dead body of the swallow was also lying there. God sent his angel to bring the two most precious things from the city. The angel brought him the leaden heart of the Prince and the dead body of the swallow.
Question 8. What do you think appealed the Swallow to be the messenger of the happy prince?
Answer
The Happy Prince's tears and concern for the misery and suffering of the people and the sight of people facing extreme situations appealed to the Swallow to be the messenger of the Happy Prince. He saw the little girl whose match sticks had fallen in the gutter and that her father would beat her if she failed to bring money. She had no shoes or stockings, and her little head was bare. He saw the ailing boy with his poor mother in a hut. He saw the man who was trying to finish a play for the Director of the Theatre but could not do so due to cold and hunger. He saw the white faces of starving children looking out listlessly at the black streets. Under the archway of a bridge, two little hungry boys were lying in each other's arms to try and keep themselves warm. All these melted his heart. He was also touched by the magnanimity of the happy prince. The Swallow must have thought that if the happy prince was ready to lose everything for the welfare of others, why shouldn't he help him?
Question 9. The town mayor ordered the statue of the Happy Prince to be pulled down. How does this show the bad side of human nature and behaviour?
Answer
This is a strange world. It presents a shocking contrast. Nothing succeeds like success here. So long you are powerful and strong you are respected and obeyed. In this dazzling world of wealth and riches, human feelings have no relevance. The statue of the Happy Prince was installed at the highest column in the most important square of the city. It was gilded all over with fine gold. His eyes had two bright sapphires and a large red ruby glowed on his sword hilt. He was a symbol of power, beauty and grandeur. The moment he lost his gold, sapphires and the grand ruby, he became very ordinary, ugly and useless. He was to be pulled down and melted in a furnace. The Mayor and the Town Counsellors are cruel and selfish.
Question 10. "In fact, he is little better than a beggar!" The mayor says this on seeing The Happy Prince on a frosty morning. This statement expresses the irony of the story. Explain the irony.
Answer
The mayor speaks the given statement when he finds the statue of the Happy Prince without its embellishment. The statue stood bare, ripped off its fineries, the pricey stones. This statement is ironic in two ways. Firstly, the value of a statue or a person is decided by its external appearance or beauty. As long as the statue of the Happy Prince was beautiful, decked up with precious stones, it was valuable. As soon as it lost its embellishment, the mayor scoffed at it. He didn't see the Happy Prince's innate beauty. The irony was that when he was alive, the Happy Prince had inherited his Princehood. But after his death, he became a real Prince, and attained his Princehood from his sacrifice to make others' life happy. The other irony that strikes us hard is that it was the same wealthy Happy prince who was now a beggar. The Happy Prince had got his name because he was always happy. He had never experienced sorrow and misery in his life. He didn't know what tears were. But he became a beggar in his silent sacrifice to wipe the tears of the poor.
Question 11. Men melt down the statue, yet the Angels proclaim it one of the most precious things in the city. Comment on the divergent viewpoints of the Angels and humans with reference to the story The Happy Prince.
Answer
Humans are attracted to material things, and tend to appreciate only outer beauty. Thus, the statue was considered beautiful when it was covered with gold leaf and precious stones like rubies and sapphires. However, when it was stripped of the gold and jewels, they declared that it was shabby and should be pulled down. On the other hand, the Angels looked into the mind and heart of all creatures, and valued qualities like charity, selflessness and kindness above any external materials.
In this story, we have two very noble characters—the swallow and the statue—who together help out several poor people in the city quietly, without expecting praise or acclaim. The statue gives every valuable part that can help someone, even though it makes him look shabby and he goes blind. The swallow also risks his life by staying on in the cold weather instead of flying to warmer climes like its friends. Instead, it stays back and helps the prince alleviate the suffering of several people in the city. Thus, their actions make them the most precious things in the city.
Question 12. What the Happy Prince does as a statue should have been done by him when he was alive? Discuss.
Answer
The Happy Prince had lived a very comfortable life as long as he lived. He had never seen sorrow as it was not allowed to enter his palace. Hence his courtiers called him the ‘Happy Prince’. However, after his death, his statue was put up on a high column and he got to see the miseries, sorrows and sufferings of the people in his city and decided to do his bit to lessen them. That is when he discovered true happiness and from thereon he spread it by sacrificing all that he had.
For example, he had the ruby in his sword hilt sent to a poor seamstress to help her get over poverty and buy food and medicines for her ailing son.
Again, the Happy Prince sent one of his sapphire eyes to a poor playwright in need of warmth and food so that he could complete his play for a show. The other sapphire was sent to a matchgirl who was crying because her matches had fallen in a gutter and she feared her father would beat her for not bringing home any money. And whatever leaves of the fine gold the Prince had were distributed among the poor to bring them succour. Thus, the Prince donated all that he had to end misery and poverty in the city. This is what he, and for that matter, any prince on the earth, should have done, for the true purpose of life is to be happy by spreading happiness.