Class 9 Moments Supplementary Reader Chapter 5 Question Answers - The Happy Prince

Q1. Describe the statue of the Happy Prince.

Ans: The statue of the Happy Prince stood tall on a high column, entirely covered in thin layers of gold. His eyes were made of bright sapphires, and a large red ruby adorned the hilt of his sword.

Q2. What made the statue of the Happy Prince cry?

Ans: The statue of the Happy Prince cried because it could see the misery and suffering of the people below. From its high position, it witnessed a seamstress who had nothing to offer her sick son except river water. This sight deeply moved the Happy Prince, prompting its tears.

Q3. Why was the statue called the Happy Prince?

Ans: The statue was named the Happy Prince because it represented a prince who lived a life free from sorrow and tears. He resided in a palace and died feeling content, which is why he earned this joyful title.

Q4. Why did the Happy Prince request the swallow to stay with him for the night?

Ans: The Happy Prince asked the swallow to stay with him for the night because he wanted to send the ruby from his sword hilt to a seamstress in need. The seamstress had a sick son, and the Prince, being a statue, could not deliver the ruby himself. The swallow could help by carrying it to her, thus providing much-needed assistance.

Q5. How did the swallow give comfort to the son of the seamstress?

Ans: The swallow provided comfort to the son of the seamstress by gently fanning him with its wings. This soothing action helped to cool his fever and allowed him to fall asleep peacefully. The swallow acted out of kindness and compassion, deeply moved by the struggles faced by the boy and his mother.

Q6. What was the last wish of the swallow?

Ans: The swallow understood that her time was up. She flew to the shoulder of the Happy Prince and said, “I wish to kiss your hand.” The Happy Prince replied, “Kiss me on the lips, for I love you.” The swallow then kissed him on the lips and fell dead at his feet.

Q7. Describe the statue of the Happy Prince as depicted at the beginning of the story.

Ans: The statue of the Happy Prince stood high on a tall column, overlooking the city. It was covered in thin leaves of fine gold, giving it a shimmering appearance. The statue's eyes were two bright sapphires, and a large red ruby adorned the hilt of its sword.

Q8. Where was the swallow going? Why did he decide not to go there?

Ans: The swallow was heading to Egypt to reunite with his friends, who had arrived there six weeks earlier. He had initially stopped for just one night to rest during his long journey. However, he became so attached to the Happy Prince that he couldn't bear to see him in distress. As a result, he chose to stay and act as his messenger.

Q9. Why did the swallow stop in the city? Where did he put up for the night?

Ans: The swallow stopped in the city to rest during his long journey to Egypt, as his friends had already arrived there. He chose to spend the night between the feet of the Happy Prince, finding a suitable spot for his stay.

Q10. What happened when the little swallow was getting ready to sleep?

Ans: A large drop of water fell on the little swallow as he was preparing to sleep. He found it curious because the night was clear, bright, and full of stars, with no sign of rain. This unexpected occurrence made him wonder about the statue he was resting on, questioning its purpose if it couldn't keep the rain off.

Q11. What were the drops of rain actually? Why did they fall?

Ans: The drops of rain were actually the tears from the Happy Prince's sapphire eyes. He shed these tears because he felt sad witnessing the poverty and misery of the city's inhabitants.

Q12. What made the statue of the Happy Prince cry?

Ans: The Happy Prince had never known sorrow during his life. However, after his death, he was placed on a high pedestal, allowing him to see the ugliness and misery of his city. This sight filled him with deep sorrow, causing him to weep.

Q13. When did the Prince first ask the swallow to stay on? Why?

Ans: The Prince first asked the swallow to stay on for the night after he saw a poor seamstress and her sick son. Since the Prince's feet were fastened to the pedestal, he could not move. He needed the swallow's help to bring relief and joy to the seamstress and her hungry child.

Q14. Why did the swallow refuse to carry ruby to the seamstress? Why did he finally agree to do it?

Ans: The swallow initially refused to carry the ruby to the seamstress because he wanted to join his friends in Egypt. He also expressed a dislike for boys when the Happy Prince asked for help for the seamstress's little boy. However, upon seeing the Happy Prince's sorrowful state, the swallow changed his mind and agreed to stay for the night.

Q15. How did the swallow reach the seamstress’s house?

Ans: The swallow flew over the town's roofs, passing the cathedral tower adorned with white marble angels. He glided over the palace and the river before finally reaching the seamstress's house.

As he flew, he noticed the lanterns hanging from the ships' masts. Upon arriving, he saw a boy tossing in bed with fever, while his exhausted mother slept nearby. The swallow hopped in and placed a great ruby beside the woman's thimble. He then gently fanned the boy's forehead with his wings, bringing him relief. The boy remarked, "How cool I feel! I must be getting better," before drifting into a peaceful slumber.

Afterwards, the swallow returned to the Happy Prince and shared what he had done. The Prince noted, "It is curious, but I feel quite warm now, although it is so cold," highlighting the warmth of doing good deeds.

Q16. What did the swallow overhear while going to the seamstress’s house?

Ans: As the swallow flew past the palace, he noticed a beautiful girl on the balcony. She expressed her hope that her dress would be ready for the upcoming state ball. She mentioned that she had ordered flowers to be embroidered on it but complained that the seamstresses were quite lazy.

Q17. Why and how did the Happy Prince help the seamstress?

Ans: The Happy Prince chose to help a poor seamstress who was exhausted and had a sick son. The woman struggled to afford food and medicine for her child, providing him only with water. To alleviate her suffering, the Prince asked the swallow to take the ruby from his sword hilt. This would enable the seamstress to escape her poverty and purchase the necessary supplies for her son.

Q18. Why does the Happy Prince send a ruby for the seamstress? What does the swallow do in the seamstress’s house? (Textual)

Ans: The Happy Prince sends a ruby to the seamstress to alleviate her poverty, enabling her to purchase food and medicine for her sick son. The swallow places the ruby on the table next to the woman's thimble and then gently flies around the boy's bed, using his wings to fan the boy's forehead.

Q19. Why couldn’t the poor seamstress sit beside her ailing son?

Ans: The poor seamstress had to work tirelessly to finish a gown for the Queen's most beautiful maid of honour, which was needed for the upcoming court ball. Exhausted and hungry, she eventually fell asleep at her table, leaving her ailing son alone in bed, tossing and turning with fever.

Q20. What change came over the bird on his return from the seamstress’s house? Why?

Ans: After returning from the seamstress's house, the swallow felt a sense of warmth despite the cold weather. The Happy Prince explained that this warmth was a result of his good deed.

Q21. What did the swallow do before planning for his flight towards Egypt on the second night?

Ans: The swallow bathed in the river at dawn and spent the day exploring the city's monuments. He rested for a long time on top of the church steeple. Later, he approached the Prince to ask if he had any commissions for Egypt. The Prince, who had gone blind, instructed the swallow to remove the gold from his body, leaf by leaf, and give it to the poor and needy.

Q22. How did the swallow become the Prince’s eyes?

Ans: The swallow chose to stay with the blind Prince instead of leaving for Egypt. He flew over the city, observing its people and their struggles. The swallow reported their misery to the Prince, who then instructed him to take the golden leaves from his statue to help those in need. This act of kindness allowed the swallow to become the Prince's eyes, seeing the world and its suffering.

Q23. The little Swallow grew colder and colder but kept up his determination. How did the bird show his great strength and courage?

Ans: The little swallow grew colder due to the snow and frost, yet he remained by the Happy Prince because of his deep love for him. To stay warm, he picked up crumbs from outside the baker's shop and flapped his wings. His strength and courage were evident as he chose to stay beside the Prince despite the harsh cold, risking his own life in the process.

Q24. What did the swallow do when he realised that he was going to die? How did the Prince respond?

Ans: Upon realizing he was nearing death, the swallow summoned his remaining strength and flew to the Prince's shoulder. He bid farewell and asked to kiss the Prince's hand. The Prince, believing the swallow was departing for Egypt, welcomed this and requested a kiss on his lips instead, expressing his love.

The swallow clarified, "I am not going to Egypt; I am heading to the House of Death. Death is the brother of Sleep, isn't it?" He then kissed the Happy Prince on the lips and fell dead at his feet.

Q25. Why was a cracking sound heard when the swallow died? OR What happened when the little swallow fell down dead at the feet of the Happy Prince?

Ans: The Happy Prince loved the swallow deeply. When the bird kissed the Prince and fell dead at his feet, the Prince's leaden heart broke with a curious cracking sound. This moment marked a profound loss, as the heart shattered into two pieces.

Q26. What happened to the Prince’s heart? Why?

Ans: As the swallow fell dead at the feet of the Prince, the latter's lead heart broke into two. This occurred because the Prince loved the bird dearly. Despite the harsh winter, the heart shattered due to its deep sorrow.

Q27. What made the Happy Prince look shabby and beggarly? OR Why did the Mayor and Town Councillors comment that the Prince looked ‘little better than a beggar’?

Ans: The gold leaves that covered the statue of the Happy Prince were gradually given away in charity. Additionally, his sapphire eyes and the red ruby from his sword hilt were also donated. As a result, the statue appeared shabby and beggarly.

Q28. Why did the Town Councillors decide to pull down the statue of the Happy Prince? OR How did the Mayor and his Councillors react to seeing the statue of the Happy Prince?

Ans: The Mayor and the Town Councillors were shocked to see the statue of the Happy Prince, which had become dull and shabby. The statue was missing its sapphire eyes, the ruby from its sword hilt, and its gold leaves had faded. They decided to pull it down because it looked too beggarly and was no longer beautiful or useful.

Q29. What strange thing was observed by the overseer?

Ans: The statue of the Happy Prince was taken down and sent to be melted in a furnace. At this moment, the overseer at the foundry noticed something unusual: the broken lead heart of the Prince did not melt and had to be discarded with the dust.

Q30. What happened to the leaden heart of the Happy Prince after it was thrown away?

Ans: After the Happy Prince's lead heart was thrown away, it did not melt in the foundry. Instead, it was discarded on a dust-heap alongside the dead swallow. Later, God's Angels selected both the heart and the swallow as the most precious items in the city.

Q31. What are the two most precious things mentioned in the story? Why are they precious? OR What did the Angel consider the two most precious things in the city? Why?

Ans: The two most precious things mentioned in the story are the lead-heart of the Happy Prince and the dead swallow. They are considered precious because the Angel selects them for their virtues and noble deeds. God rewards them by granting them a place in His garden of Paradise.

Q32. What is the moral of the story “The Happy Prince”?

Ans: The moral of the story is that charity and compassion bring us closer to God. The virtues of love, sacrifice, and pity should guide humanity. True beauty lies not in outward appearances but in a heart that cares for others.

Q33. What made the Happy Prince cry?

Ans: The Happy Prince cried because he could see the misery in the city. His heart, made of lead, felt heavy as he witnessed the sorrows of the poor people around him. Despite being a beautiful statue covered in gold, he was deeply affected by the pain and suffering he observed, which led him to weep.

Q34. To whom did the prince send his ruby and why?

Ans: The prince sent his ruby to a poor seamstress because her son was ill and longed for oranges. Lacking money, the mother could only provide him with river water. The prince wished to help her by sending the ruby.

Q35. How did the prince and the swallow enable the playwright to finish his work?

Ans: The playwright was cold and hungry, which prevented him from finishing his play. The Prince asked the swallow to deliver one of his sapphires to the playwright. This act of kindness allowed the playwright to sell the sapphire, buy firewood, and complete his work.

Q36. How did the prince help the match-girl? What was the result?

Ans: The prince sent the sapphire to the match-girl, which made her very happy. She ran home, laughing.

Q37. Why did the swallow decide not to leave the prince?

Ans: The swallow chose to stay with the prince because he had given away the sapphires from his eyes to help the poor, leaving him completely blind. The swallow, moved by the prince's sacrifice, decided to remain by his side.

Q38. How did the prince and the swallow help the poor?

Ans: The swallow informed the Prince about the suffering of the people in his city. In response, the Prince asked the swallow to remove gold and jewels from his body. He instructed the swallow to give these precious items to the poor, helping them in their time of need.

Q39. What did the angel consider ‘the two most precious things in the city’?

Ans: The angel considered the lead heart and the dead swallow to be the two most precious things in the city.

Q40. When the prince was alive, he did not know what tears were. Why?

Ans: The prince lived in a palace where no sorrow was allowed. Because he was shielded from sadness, he never experienced it and, therefore, did not know what tears were.

Q41. What was the boy’s mother doing when the swallow flew into the room? Where did he put the ruby? Why did the boy feel cool?

Ans: The boy’s mother had fallen asleep due to exhaustion. The swallow placed the ruby on a table next to her thimble. He then gently fanned the boy with his wings, making him feel cool and comfortable.

Q42. What made the playwright happy?

Ans: The playwright discovered a sapphire on the table beside him. He believed it had been sent by a great admirer, which filled him with happiness. This newfound appreciation inspired him to continue working on his play.

Q43. Describe the sufferings of poor people in the city. How did the Happy Prince help them?

Ans: The poor people in the city endured a miserable existence. One such individual was a seamstress who had nothing to give her sick son. In response, the Happy Prince sent her a ruby. Another was a playwright who lacked firewood to stay warm; the prince sent him a sapphire. There was also a match-girl without shoes or stockings, whose matches had fallen into the gutter, leaving her in tears. The prince sent her his second sapphire. Additionally, there were hungry and homeless children, to whom the prince gave all the gold leaves from his body.

Q44. Give a brief character sketch of the Happy Prince.

Ans: The Happy Prince was a striking statue, adorned with gold and embellished with sapphires for eyes and a ruby in his sword. Despite his beautiful appearance, he was deeply aware of the suffering of the poor people in his city. His heart ached for them, and he shed tears for their misery.

In his desire to help, he selflessly gave away his precious gems and gold, becoming blind and losing his beauty. However, he found true happiness in serving others. The Happy Prince realised that genuine joy comes from helping those in need. In recognition of his kindness, God blessed him and kept him in his city of gold.

Q45. Give a brief character sketch of the swallow.

Ans: The swallow was very much like the Happy Prince, possessing a kind heart. It noticed the tears in the prince's eyes, and its heart filled with pity. Wanting to help, the swallow abandoned its plans to fly to Egypt and chose to stay with the prince on cold nights. When the prince lost his sight, the swallow decided to remain with him forever. Eventually, it died, but even in death, it could not be separated from the prince, as both were taken to heaven together.