Answer key

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Last edited 11 days ago by Learn LoopHQ.

Chapter: 10. The Prince And The Swallow

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A. Answer these questions.

Describe the palace where the Happy Prince lived when he was alive. What was its name?

The Happy Prince lived in the Palace of Sans-Souci, which means ‘without worry or care’ in French. It had a garden where he played with companions and a Great Hall where he led dances, with a very lofty wall running around it.

What was the Swallow’s initial reaction when the first two drops of water fell on him?

His initial reaction was confusion and irritation. He cried, “What a curious thing!” and noted there were no clouds, then complained, “What is the use of a statue if it cannot keep the rain off?” before deciding to look for a good chimney-pot.

Why did the Happy Prince say his heart was “made of lead”?

The Happy Prince said his heart was made of lead because he was a statue, and that was the material of his inner core. Despite being inanimate, he felt the pain of the city’s misery deeply.

Besides the ruby, what other precious materials did the Happy Prince possess on his statue?

Besides the large red ruby on his sword-hilt, the Happy Prince was gilded all over with thin leaves of fine gold and had two bright sapphires for eyes.

What immediate effect did the Swallow’s fanning have on the sick boy?

The immediate effect was that the boy felt cool and believed he was getting better, sinking into a delicious slumber.

B. Answer these questions with reference to the context.

“What a curious thing! There is not a single cloud in the sky, the stars are quite clear and bright, and yet it is raining.” a. Who said these words? * These words were said by the little Swallow. b. What was the speaker’s general feeling about the climate in the north of Europe? * The speaker (the Swallow) thought the climate in the north of Europe was “really dreadful.” c. What did the speaker soon discover was the true source of the “rain”? * The speaker soon discovered that the “rain” was actually tears flowing from the eyes of the Happy Prince.

“My courtiers called me the Happy Prince, and happy indeed I was, if pleasure is happiness.” a. Who is the “me” in this sentence? * The “me” in this sentence is the Happy Prince. b. What does the last part of the sentence (“if pleasure is happiness”) suggest about the speaker’s current view of his past happiness? * It suggests that the Prince now questions or redefines what true happiness means. He implies that his past “happiness” was superficial, based only on pleasure and ignorance, and not genuine or deep. c. How does the speaker’s perspective on happiness change after he becomes a statue? * After becoming a statue, his perspective changes from seeing happiness as personal pleasure to understanding it as empathy and the alleviation of others’ suffering, which brings him a different kind of fulfillment (even if accompanied by tears).

“I don’t think I like boys. Last summer, when I was staying on the river, there were two rude boys…” a. Who is the speaker of these lines? * The speaker of these lines is the Swallow. b. What past experience is the speaker recalling? * The speaker is recalling an experience where two rude boys, the miller’s sons, were always throwing stones at him. c. How does the speaker’s actions later in the story contradict this initial statement? * Later in the story, the Swallow’s actions contradict this statement when he compassionately fans the forehead of the sick boy, the seamstress’s son, bringing him comfort and helping him fall into a “delicious slumber.”

C. Think and answer.

The Town Councillor remarked that the Happy Prince was “as beautiful as a weathercock… only not quite so useful.” Do you agree with his assessment by the end of the chapter? Explain why.

No, I would disagree with the Town Councillor’s assessment by the end of the chapter. While the Prince might not be “useful” in a practical sense like a weathercock that shows wind direction, he proves to be incredibly useful and significant through his compassion and self-sacrifice. He uses his resources (jewels and gold) to alleviate suffering, inspiring kindness and providing comfort to the poor. His actions demonstrate a much deeper and more profound “usefulness” than the Councillor’s narrow, practical definition.

The story describes how the Swallow felt warm after doing a good deed. Do you think this “warmth” was physical or emotional? How can helping others make you feel good?

The “warmth” the Swallow felt was primarily emotional, though described with physical sensation. It represents the profound satisfaction, joy, and inner peace that comes from an act of selfless kindness. Helping others can make you feel good because it connects you to humanity, gives you a sense of purpose, reduces feelings of guilt or helplessness, and often results in gratitude from the person you helped, creating a positive emotional cycle.

What is the significance of the “very lofty wall” that ran around the Prince’s garden when he was alive? What does it symbolize?

The “very lofty wall” that ran around the Prince’s garden symbolizes his isolation and ignorance of the world outside his privileged existence. It represents the barrier between his life of pleasure and the suffering of his people. It allowed him to remain “happy” by shielding him from the harsh realities and misery beyond its confines, thus symbolizing his detachment from true human experience and suffering.

The story suggests that people often judge others by their outward appearance (like the Prince’s gold and jewels). How does the story challenge this idea?

The story directly challenges the idea that outward appearance defines worth or happiness. Initially, the Happy Prince is admired for his gold and jewels, and his beauty is perceived as a sign of his inherent “happiness.” However, it is only when he, as a statue, sheds these valuable adornments for the benefit of others that he (and the Swallow) experiences true meaning and warmth. The story shows that true beauty and worth lie in compassion, empathy, and selflessness, not in superficial wealth or external display.

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