NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Moments Chapter 5 - The Happy Prince

Page No. 36

Think About It

Q1. Why do the courtiers call the prince ‘the Happy Prince’? Is he really happy? What does he see all around him?
Ans: The courtiers called the prince ‘the Happy Prince’ because he was always happy. When he was alive, he did not know what tears were because he lived in a palace where sorrow was not allowed to enter. However, when he died and was made into a statue, he was not happy and tears flowed down his eyes when he saw the suffering in his city.  He could see all the suffering of the 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 sent a ruby for the seamstress as she was extremely poor and could not feed her child who was suffering from fever. The swallow, after being persuaded by the Prince, went to the seamstress’s house. She had fallen asleep, so the swallow placed the ruby on the table where the woman worked. He then flew round the bed, fanning the boy’s forehead with his wings. This soothed the boy and helped him sleep.

Q3. For whom does the prince send the sapphires and why?
Ans: The Happy Prince sent sapphires to help two people in need: a young writer and a little matchgirl. The writer, too cold and hungry to finish his play for the Theatre Director, received a sapphire to sell for firewood and food. This gift revived his spirits, and he felt encouraged to complete his work. Next, the Happy Prince noticed a matchgirl who had dropped her matches in the gutter, spoiling them. Knowing she’d be punished without money, he sent a sapphire to her as well. When the swallow placed it in her hand, she ran home happily, relieved and laughing.

Q4. What does the swallow see when it flies over the city?
Ans: When the swallow flew over the city, it saw the stark contrast of plenty and poverty. It saw rich men making merry oblivious to the plight of the poor down the lane. It saw the nadir of the condition of the poor when they were denied even a sound sleep by police patrolling the street.

Q5. Why did the swallow not leave the prince and go to Egypt?
Ans: After the Prince gave away the sapphires from his eyes, he became blind, and the swallow decided to stay with him permanently. This shows how deeply moved the swallow was by the Prince’s kindness; rather than flying to Egypt to join his friends, he chose to stay by the Prince's side.

Q6. What are the precious things mentioned in the story? Why are they precious? 
Ans: In the story, the two precious things are the Prince's leaden heart and the dead swallow, both valued for their kindness and selflessness. The Prince, despite being dead, felt sad about the suffering in his city and gave away his riches to help the poor, prioritizing their well-being over his own. The swallow showed kindness by delivering the Prince's messages and chose to stay with him, even knowing he would face difficulties in winter.

When the swallow died at the Prince’s feet, the Prince’s heart broke from sorrow. When God asked for the most precious things in the city, an angel brought the leaden heart and the dead bird. God promised that the swallow would sing in His garden of Paradise, while the Happy Prince would praise him in his city of gold.