The Happy Prince Summary Class 9 English Moments Chapter 5

Key Points of the Story

• The story is about a statue of a prince, covered in gold and jewels, that overlooks a city.

•  A swallow sees the prince’s sadness and agrees to help him assist the needy people in the city.
• The prince asks the swallow to give his jewels to those in need:
  A ruby to a poor seamstress.
  Sapphires to a struggling writer and a little match girl.
•  Even after losing his beautiful eyes, the prince keeps helping the poor through the swallow’s efforts.
• The swallow stays loyal to the prince, helping him until the bird becomes sick and dies.
•  After the swallow’s death, the prince’s statue is torn down, but his lead heart does not melt in the furnace.
• God honors the prince and the swallow for their selflessness, showing that true happiness lies in helping others.

Detailed Summary

The Happy Prince was a beautiful statue covered in gold, with sapphires for eyes and a ruby on his sword. He stood on a tall column overlooking the city. One evening, a swallow, who was on his way to Egypt, stopped to rest at the statue's feet. As he prepared to sleep, he felt drops of water and realized they were tears from the statue. The Happy Prince was crying because, from his high position, he could see the misery and poverty of the people in the city, which he could not help during his life.

The Happy Prince requested the swallow to take the ruby from his sword and give it to a poor seamstress. The seamstress was struggling to sew a dress for a queen's maid while caring for her sick child. Although the swallow wanted to leave for Egypt, he agreed to stay one night to help. The swallow delivered the ruby, fanned the sick boy with his wings, and returned to the prince.

The next evening, the prince saw a young playwright in a cold attic, unable to complete his play due to hunger and freezing conditions. The prince asked the swallow to pluck out one of his sapphire eyes and give it to the playwright. Despite feeling reluctant, the swallow obeyed. The playwright sold the sapphire, bought food and firewood, and continued his work.

On the following night, the prince noticed a poor matchgirl crying in the cold because her matches had fallen into the gutter, and she feared her father’s anger. The prince asked the swallow to pluck out his other eye and give it to the girl. The swallow hesitated because it would leave the prince blind, but he eventually obeyed. The girl was overjoyed with the jewel, but now the prince could no longer see.

Since the prince was now blind, the swallow decided to stay and act as his eyes. The swallow flew over the city and described what he saw—rich people enjoying luxury while the poor suffered. The prince asked the swallow to strip the gold leaf by leaf from his body and give it to the needy. The swallow did so, bringing happiness to many.

As winter approached, the swallow grew weaker due to the cold. He refused to leave the prince and stayed by his side. One day, the swallow kissed the prince and died at his feet. At the same moment, the prince's lead heart broke in two.

The townspeople noticed that the statue was no longer beautiful. They removed it, melted it in a furnace, but the leaden heart would not melt. They discarded the heart along with the swallow's body on a dust heap.

God asked His angels to bring Him the two most precious things in the city. The angels brought the leaden heart and the dead swallow. God welcomed them into Paradise, where the little bird would sing forever, and the Happy Prince would praise Him.

Theme & Message

Theme:
The story emphasizes the themes of compassion, selflessness, and the true meaning of happiness. It portrays the contrast between material wealth and emotional richness, showing that beauty and luxury are meaningless without kindness. The bond between the prince and the swallow demonstrates how self-sacrifice can bring joy and hope to those in need.

Message:
Oscar Wilde delivers a powerful message that true happiness lies in helping others. The story teaches that acts of kindness and generosity, even at great personal cost, have a lasting impact. It also highlights the value of empathy, showing how caring for others can transform not just their lives but also our own. Through the prince and the swallow’s sacrifices, Wilde reminds us that love and selflessness are the greatest virtues.

Difficult Words

• Gilded: Covered with a thin layer of gold.
• Sapphires: Precious blue gemstones.
• Ruby: A valuable red gemstone.
• Alighted: Landed or settled after flying.
• Seamstress: A woman who sews for a living.
• Embroidering: Sewing decorative patterns on fabric.
• Pedestal: The base supporting a statue.
• Garret: A small, cramped room under a roof.
• Withered: Dried up or shriveled.
• Listlessly: Without energy or enthusiasm.
• Courtiers: People who serve in a royal court.
• Feverishly: In a restless or frantic manner due to fever or excitement.
• Swooped: Flew down quickly and suddenly.
• Furnace: A hot oven used to melt or heat things.
• Proclamation: An official public announcement.