The Happy Prince | Questions, and Answers

The Happy Prince | Story 5 | Questions, and Answers |

English | Class 9th | Short Stories |Tulip Series | jandkncert | Free NCERT Solutions |

Story 5 – The Happy Prince | Tulip Series | Questions, and Answers |
(Oscar Wilde)

 

Oscar Wilde, Irish-born writer was a novelist, playwright, poet, and critic. He was born on October 16, 1854, in Dublin, and educated at Trinity College, Dublin. As a youngster, he was exposed to the brilliant literary talk of the day at his mother’s Dublin salon. Later, as a student at the University of Oxford, he excelled in classics, wrote poetry. At Oxford Wilde came under the influence of English writers Walter Pater and John Ruskin. As an aesthete, the eccentric young Wilde wore long hair and velvet knee-breeches. His wit, brilliance, and flair won him many devotees. He died in 1900.

      [ Table of Contents ]

• Thinking About the Text
• Language Work
• Writing Work
• Discussion
• Suggested Readings

Thinking About the Text

Q1. Why do the courtiers call the prince ‘The Happy Prince’? Is he really happy? What does he see around him?

Ans. The courtiers called the prince ‘The Happy Prince’ because he was happy indeed and had a human heart when he was alive. He did not know what tears were, as he lived in the palace where sorrow is not allowed to enter. He is not, really happy now as he can see the ugliness and all misery of his city around him.

Q2. Why does the Happy Prince send a ruby for the seamstress? What does the swallow do in the seamstress’ house?

Ans. The Happy Prince sends a ruby for the seamstress because she is so poor that she cannot feed his son who is lying ill in a bed in the corner of the room. The swallow puts the great ruby on the table beside the woman’s thimble. Then he flies gently round the bed, fanning the boy’s forehead with his wings who cool and better and fells into a delicious sleep.

Q3. For whom does the prince send the sapphires and why?

Ans. The prince sends one of his sapphires to the young in a garret who is a writer and has to finish a play for the Director of the Theater but due to cold, he cannot finish his play. After getting the sapphire he will able to get firewood and food and can finish his play for the Director.

          The prince sends his second sapphire to a little girl who has spoiled her matches in the gutter and is now crying that her father will beat her. So to save her from beating he sends her the valuable sapphire.

Q4. What does the swallow see when it flies over the city?

Ans. When the swallow flies over the city, he sees the rich making merry in their beautiful houses, while the beggars sitting at the gates. Into the dark lanes of the city, he sees the white faces of starving children and the two little boys crying and wandering out hungry into the rain because of the watchman.

Q5. Why did the swallow not leave the prince and go to Egypt?

Ans. The swallow did not leave the prince because the prince was blind due to the sacrifice of his two sapphire made eyes. The swallow was a kind-hearted bird. He knew the prince need him after getting blind. His sacrifice for the poor made a deep impact on his heart and he decided not to leave the prince in the state of his blindness.

Q6. Why is the statue of the prince described as looking like a beggar and being no longer useful?

Ans. The statue of the prince is described as looking like a beggar because the ruby has fallen out of his sword, his eyes are gone and he is golden no longer. The statue was really, no longer useful because the prince had sacrificed all the riches of the statue to the poor. It was looking shabby without the ruby, sapphire, and the golden leaves.

Q7. What proclamation does the Mayor make about the death of the birds?

Ans. The Mayor issues, the proclamation that the birds are not to be allowed to die near the statue.

Q8. What impression do you gather of his personality from this?

Ans. We gather the impression that the Mayor was illogical and irrational because without knowing the cause of the death of the bird and the shabbiness of the statue he issues the proclamation. He looks physical appearance of the things instead of thinking the essence of the things.

Q9. What were the two precious things the angel brought to God? In what way were they precious?

Ans. The leaden heart and the dead bird were the two precious things that the angel brought to God. The two things were precious because both sacrificed themselves to serve the suffering of humanity and help the poor. The leaden heart was of the prince who sacrificed all his jewelry even his eyes to serve the poor and the dead bird sacrificed himself in the service of the kind-hearted prince.

Q10. What happened to the princes’ laden heart? What feelings does the end of the story arouse in you?

Ans. The princes’ laden heart broke into two. The workmen melted the statue but could not melt the leaden heart as it was made of dreadful hard frost so they threw it away on a dust-heap where the dead Swallow was also lying. The two things were then taken to Paradise by an angel. There should have been a more valuable statue of the prince instead of demolishing. This is sympathetic and we feel sympathy for both. Their sacrifice has not gone waste. They got their reward from God.

Language Work

Use the following phrases in sentences of your own

Bring out, Bring up, Bring forth, Lookup, Look into, Look after, Look down upon, Look around, Fall in, Hang in, See-through, See off

Ans.

Bring out: This blue scarf would bring out the colour of your eyes.

Bring up: It is not an easy task to bring up a child to a mature one.

Bring forth: Trees bring forth fruit.

Look up: I will look up the train schedule in the train timetable.

Look into: The inspector promised to look into the matter.

Look after: She gave her a work to look after his baby.

Look down upon: We shall never look down upon manual labour.

Look around: I going to look around and see what I can find.

Fall in: Please don’t look into my eyes else I will fall in love with you.

Hang in: His paintings hang in his gallery room.

See through: I can’t see through the mist so it is not good to drive the car now.

See off: The labourers requested the owner to enhance their salary else to see off the threat.

 

 

“I am glad that you are going to Egypt at last, little Swallow,” said the Prince.

This is called direct speech. It can also be written in the form of indirect speech as follows.

 

The prince told the little swallow that he was glad; the swallow was going to Egypt.

 

Change the narration of the following sentences.

 

a) “Why are you weeping then?” asked the swallow.

b) “I don’t think I like boys,” answered the swallow.

c) “I hope my dress will be ready in time for the State ball,” she said. “I have ordered flowers to be embroidered on it, but the seamstresses are so lazy.”

d) “Alas! I have no ruby now,” said the Prince. “My eyes are all- that I have left.

e) “Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow,” said the Prince, “Do as I command you.”

f) “Bring me the two most precious things in the city,” said God to one of His Angels:

g) “Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow,” said the Prince, “will you not stay with me one night longer?”

h) “You are blind now,” he said, “so I will stay with you always.”

i) “I have come to bid you goodbye,” he cried.

j) The little swallow says, “It is curious, but I feel quite warm now, although it is so cold.”

 

Ans.

a) “Why are you weeping then?” asked the swallow.

Indirect: The swallow inquired him why he was weeping then.

b) “I don’t think I like boys,” answered the swallow.

Indirect: The swallow answered that he did not think he like boys.

c) “I hope my dress will be ready in time for the State ball,” she said. “I have ordered flowers to be embroidered on it, but the seamstresses are so lazy.”

Indirect: She said that she hoped her dress would be ready in time for the State ball. She had ordered flowers to be embroidered on that, but the seamstresses were so lazy.

d) “Alas! I have no ruby now,” said the Prince. “My eyes are all- that I have left.

Indirect: With a sorrowful voice the prince said that he had no ruby then. His eyes were all that he had left.

e) “Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow,” said the Prince, “Do as I command you.”

Indirect: The prince requests the little swallow to do what he had commanded him.

f) “Bring me the two most precious things in the city,” said God to one of His Angels:

Indirect: God commanded one of His Angels to bring Him the two most precious things in the city.

g) “Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow,” said the Prince, “will you not stay with me one night longer?”

Indirect: The prince requests the little swallow to stay one night longer with him

h) “You are blind now,” he said, “so I will stay with you always.”

Indirect: He told him that he stay would always with him because of his blindness.

i) “I have come to bid you goodbye,” he cried.

Indirect: He cried that he had come to bid goodbye to him.

j) The little swallow says, “It is curious, but I feel quite warm now, although it is so cold.”

Indirect: The little swallow says that he is curious, besides cold, he feels quite warm then.

 

Writing Work

Q1. Write in two paragraphs how to take care of orphans.

Ans. Islam is a complete system of life, it takes care of the rights of every individual in society. Allah has not left anyone with no kind of love. They have provided for each one to live on The Earth of Allah and spend the day of his life. Orphaned and under-age children also have social rights. Their full rights are theirs and their rights are theirs to turn away from. Islam has given great emphasis on the rights of orphans. This can be gauged by the fact that the Quran mentions orphans on twenty-three different occasions, including the treatment of orphans, the protection of their property and the care they are given, and the rights and rights of those who oppress them. The Qur'an is: The orphan's wealth is a gross sin and a severe haraam. Sadly, people don't care about it either. Usually, orphan children are their own, uncles, etc.

          Many foundations have chosen the job of taking care of orphans. Not only in the religion of Islam. Almost all religions teach us to take proper care of orphans. But Islam is strictly advising for the proper care of orphans because the Muslims know that Quran says to be humble with orphans.

Allah says: Those who devour the property of orphans unjustly, they are filling their bellies with fire, and soon they will be admitted into the fire, and give them the property of the orphans, Do not exchange (good) wealth for (your) imperfect wealth, and do not consume their wealth with your wealth, for that is a grievous sin. (Surat an-Nisa ')

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “And they ask you concerning the orphans. Say: It is better for them, to do good to them, and if you take their property for yourselves, then they are your brethren.” He knows best, and if Allah had willed, He could have put you to hardship. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise. (Surat al-Baqara, 220)

If there is an orphan under his care, he should take good care of that orphan. In the hadiths, there are innumerable virtues of raising an orphan and treating him well. Some of them are as follows: The Holy Prophet said: I and the sponsor of the orphan will be like this in Paradise. Then he pointed with his index and middle finger and opened them. (Sahih Bukhari)

It is narrated on the authority of Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas that the Imam of the Prophets said: “Whoever takes the responsibility of feeding an orphan child of the Muslims, Allah Almighty will admit him to Paradise.” (Jami 'al-Tirmidhi)

The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) blessed the orphan with the glad tidings of being with him in Paradise, that he would be with him in Paradise. I will be like this and he pointed with his finger between the index finger and the middle finger. (Sahih Bukhari)

It is narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah blesses him and grant him peace, said: I and the guardian of the orphan, whether the orphan is his relative or not, will be in Paradise like these two fingers. (Sahih Muslim) He pointed with his index finger and middle finger.

The child needs a parent for all his needs. If he is deprived of the support of his parents, then there is hardly anyone more helpless and helpless than him. So the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: Whoever takes care of an orphan and takes care of him is in the sight of Allaah. I do such a favorite deed that it will be available to me in heaven as the index finger and the middle finger are together.

Being an orphan is not man's fault, but God's will that he does what he wants. He orphaned his most beloved servant, Sayyid al-Mursalin, that his father, Majid, had died before his blessed birth. Then, at the age of six, his mother Majida also died. Allah Almighty has mentioned this condition of His Beloved in the Qur'an Al-Hakim as follows: "(O Beloved!) Did He not find you an orphan, then He gave you a place of honor?" Dur Orphan set the highest example of love for orphans, compassion, and kindness towards them. سنائی۔ The Qur'an al-Hakim says: "So do not be harsh on any orphan." On another occasion, Allah Almighty said:

Similarly, he said in other places: “And they ask you about the orphans. Say: It is better to take care of them, and if you take them with you, they will be yours. They are brothers, and He distinguishes the doer of evil from the doer of good. ”(Surat al-Baqarah)

It was added: "And those who deal with the orphans should fear lest they should leave behind them feeble children, and they should be frightened (and worried) about the condition of these children." About the orphans, one should be afraid of them and speak straight to them. Verily, those who devour the wealth of orphans unjustly, they fill their bellies with fire, and they will soon fall into the blazing Fire. ”(Surat al-Nisa ')

In Surah Al-An'am, it is said, "And do not approach the property of the orphan except in a way that is pleasing to him until he reaches his youth." It is said in Surah Al-Ma'un: If he denies the religion, then he is the one who pushes the orphans (ie does not meet the needs of the orphans and deprives them of the right) and does not encourage the feeding of the needy (ie the poor and needy from the society). Does not seek to end economic exploitation

Hazrat Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The best house among the Muslims is the one in which there is an orphan and he is treated well and the worst house is the one in which there is an orphan and he is treated badly. (Sunan Ibn Majah)

Hazrat Abu Huraira narrates that the Holy Prophet (saw) said: “By the One who sent me with the truth! The Almighty will not punish on the Day of Resurrection a person who has compassion on an orphan, has spoken kindly to him, and has shown mercy to the needy and weak of the society, and who has He did not oppress his neighbor. Then he said: O Ummah of Muhammad! I swear by the One who sent me with the truth! The Almighty will not accept charity on the Day of Resurrection from a person who has given charity to others, even though his own, relatives were, in need of that charity. I swear by the One in Whose hand is my soul! Blessed be Allah on the Day of Resurrection, He will not look upon that person with mercy. ”(Tabarani)

Hazrat Amr ibn Shoaib narrates from his father and he narrates from his grandfather: Let that wealth be gone. ”(Bayhaqi, Sunan al-Kubra)

Although all these verses and hadiths are about encouragement and virtue in providing for orphans, it is clear from them that Muslims are responsible for providing for such poor, destitute, and orphaned children. Individuals will have this responsibility. These children will not be lost like this. If some people fulfill this responsibility, then all of them will be acquitted, otherwise, all of them will be sinners.

The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The best home for Muslims is the one in which there is an orphan (sponsored), who is treated well, and the worst family of Muslims is the one in which An orphan (sponsored), but he is abused. ”(Mushkoot)

Discussion 

Q1. Do you think that we should take care of our fellow beings? How should we plan this social service?

Ans. It becomes our duty to take care of our fellow beings. Kashmiris have been practicing such service for years. Kashmir is known for its hospitality, kindness, and help. Kashmiris have faced crucial situations in which they taught the world how to tackle the situation and how to take care of fellow beings in this situation. When a person plans to help his fellow being, then many people come forward to help him. We can make trusts or organizations and collect money or other food items from the people and help our fellow beings whenever they need help. We can make social welfare committees also to look into the matters of our neighbourhood. There are so many by which we can take care of our fellow beings.

Suggested Reading

The Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde.

How Much Land Does a Man Require by Leo Tolstoy?