CBSE Class 9 English: The Happy Prince NCERT Solutions

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NCERT Solutions PDF Class 9 PDF

This resource provides detailed NCERT Solutions for CBSE Class 9 English, Chapter 5, 'The Happy Prince'. It covers short and long answer questions, focusing on the story's themes of empathy, sacrifice, and social injustice. The solutions explain the motivations of the Happy Prince and the swallow, their acts of charity, and the ultimate message of the story. Students will find clear explanations of the characters' actions and the symbolic meaning of the statue's jewels. These solutions are designed to help students grasp the nuances of the narrative, prepare for exams, and understand the importance of compassion and helping the less fortunate.

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BoardCBSE
ClassClass 9
SubjectEnglish
Session2026
LanguageEnglish
TypeNCERT Solutions
Chapter5. The Happy Prince

Chapter summary

NCERT Solutions for 'The Happy Prince' (Class 9 English) delves into the story's core elements. It addresses questions about the statue's appearance, the swallow's journey, and the prince's selfless acts of giving away his jewels to aid the poor and suffering. The solutions highlight the themes of empathy, sacrifice, and the contrast between outward appearances and inner feelings, offering insights into the story's moral lessons.

Learning outcomes

  • Understand the symbolism of the Happy Prince statue and its jewels.
  • Analyze the characters of the Happy Prince and the swallow, and their motivations.
  • Explain the themes of empathy, sacrifice, and social inequality in the story.
  • Identify the moral lessons conveyed through the narrative.
  • Articulate the reasons behind the Happy Prince's sadness despite his outward appearance.
  • Describe the acts of kindness performed by the Prince and the swallow.

Topics covered

Paper topics

  • The Happy Prince statue
  • The swallow's journey
  • Acts of charity
  • Empathy and compassion
  • Social inequality
  • Sacrifice
  • Symbolism of jewels
  • Character analysis
  • Moral of the story
  • Poverty and suffering

Important topics

  • Themes of empathy and sacrifice
  • The role of the Happy Prince and the swallow
  • Symbolism of the statue's transformation
  • Moral lessons on helping the needy
  • Analysis of characters' motivations

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Questions and Solutions

Q.1. Why did the Swallow cry when the Happy Prince asked him to pluck out one of the sapphires?

Why did the Swallow cry when the Happy Prince asked him to pluck out one of the sapphires? (SA-1, DDE-2014)
Solution: The little swallow cried because he knew that if he plucked out one of the sapphire eyes of the Happy Prince, the Prince would become blind. The Happy Prince, despite his own suffering and the potential for blindness, was willing to sacrifice his sight to help the poor and needy, showing his immense compassion.

Q.2. Where was the Swallow going? Why did he decide not to go there?

Where was the Swallow going? Why did he decide not to go there? (SA-1,2014)
Solution: The little swallow was originally flying to Egypt to meet his friends and spend the winter there. However, he decided not to go to Egypt because he was deeply moved by the sadness of the Happy Prince statue. The Prince looked so miserable that the swallow felt compassion and chose to stay with him for a night to be his messenger and companion.

Q.3. What were the drops of rain actually? Why did they fall?

What were the drops of the rain actually? Why did they fall? (Board Term 1, Sept., 2013,9KK73AP)
Solution: The drops of rain that fell on the swallow were actually the tears of the Happy Prince. The Prince was weeping because, from his high vantage point on the tall column, he could see the widespread poverty, misery, and suffering in the city. He was deeply saddened by the plight of the poor and sick people around him.

Q.4. Describe the statue of the Happy Prince as described in the beginning of the story?

Describe the statue of the Happy Prince as described in the beginning of the story? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-014)
Solution: In the beginning of the story, the statue of the Happy Prince is described as being mounted on a tall column, overlooking the city. It was covered all over with thin leaves of pure gold, making it shine brightly. It had two brilliant sapphires for eyes, and a large, red ruby was fixed in the hilt of its sword.

Q.5. How did the Happy Prince help the poor children in the city?

How did the Happy Prince help the poor children in the city? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-015)
Solution: The Happy Prince helped the poor children in the city by sacrificing his own adornments. He asked the little swallow to pluck off all the gold leaves that covered his body and distribute them among the poor families. This act provided warmth and comfort to the children who were suffering from the cold.

Q.6. In the story "The Happy Prince" what are the two most precious things? What makes them so precious?

In the story "The Happy Prince" what are the two most precious things? What makes them so precious? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-016)
Solution: The two most precious things in the story are the leaden heart of the Happy Prince and the dead swallow. The Happy Prince's heart is precious because it was filled with empathy and compassion, causing him to weep for the suffering of others and sacrifice his own beauty (jewels and gold) to help them. The swallow is precious because it willingly sacrificed its life by staying with the Prince, carrying out his charitable missions, and ultimately dying in the process.

Q.7. How did the Happy Prince help the seamstress?

How did the Happy Prince help the seamstress? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-020)
Solution: The Happy Prince helped the seamstress, who was working late into the night to make ends meet, by asking the swallow to pluck out the large ruby from his sword. He instructed the swallow to take this precious gem and give it to the seamstress. She desperately needed the money from selling the ruby to buy food and firewood for herself and her sick son.

Q.8. How did the Prince and the Swallow enable the playwright to finish his work?

How did the Prince and the Swallow enable the playwright to finish his work? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-022)
Solution: The playwright was a poor man who was struggling to write a play. He lacked both food and firewood, which made it impossible for him to concentrate or even stay warm enough to work. The Happy Prince, seeing his plight, asked the swallow to take one of his sapphire eyes and give it to the playwright. This act allowed the playwright to sell the sapphire, buy food and firewood, and complete his play.

Q.9. What were the drops of the rain actually? Why did they fall?

What were the drops of the rain actually? Why did they fall? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-025)
Solution: The drops of rain that fell on the little swallow were actually the tears shed by the Happy Prince. He was weeping uncontrollably as he observed the immense suffering, poverty, and misery prevalent in the city below. His heart ached for the people, and his tears were an expression of his deep sorrow and empathy.

Q.10. Why was the "Happy Prince" not really happy?

Why was the "Happy Prince" not really happy? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-026)
Solution: The Prince was not truly happy because, during his lifetime, he lived in a palace where he was shielded from any sadness or suffering. He was unaware of tears and sorrow. After his death, when his statue was placed on a high column, he gained the ability to see the ugliness, poverty, and misery of the city. This newfound awareness of suffering made him deeply unhappy, and he constantly wept for his people.

Q.11. Why did the Swallow not leave the Prince and go to Egypt?

Why did the Swallow not leave the Prince and go to Egypt? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-028)
Solution: The swallow did not leave the Prince immediately to go to Egypt because he was deeply touched by the profound sadness emanating from the Happy Prince statue. The Prince looked so sorrowful that the little swallow felt pity and compassion. He agreed to stay with the Prince for just one night to act as his messenger and help him in his charitable deeds, postponing his journey.

Q.12. What is the moral of the story The Happy Prince?

What is the moral of the story The Happy Prince? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-040)
Solution: The central moral of the story 'The Happy Prince' is the importance of empathy, compassion, and selfless service to others, especially the poor and needy. The story teaches that true happiness lies not in material possessions or outward appearances, but in helping those who are suffering. Both the Prince and the swallow exemplify love and sacrifice through their actions.

Q.13. What happened when the little Swallow was getting ready to sleep?

What happened when the little Swallow was getting ready to sleep? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-043)
Solution: As the little swallow was preparing to sleep for the night, nestled at the base of the Happy Prince's statue, a large drop of water fell on him. This was not ordinary rain; it was a tear shed by the Happy Prince, who was weeping profusely upon witnessing the misery and suffering of the people in the city below.

Q.14. What did the Happy Prince ask the Swallow to do for helping the young man in the garret?

What did the Happy Prince ask the Swallow to do for helping the young man in the garret? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-044)
Solution: To help the young man in the garret, who was suffering from hunger and cold and could not write his play, the Happy Prince asked the swallow to pluck out one of his sapphire eyes. The Prince instructed the swallow to take this sapphire and sell it to the watchmaker to buy food and firewood for the struggling young writer.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing the Happy Prince's outward appearance with his inner feelings.
  • Underestimating the significance of the swallow's role and sacrifice.
  • Failing to connect the Prince's actions to the theme of social responsibility.
  • Misinterpreting the 'drops of rain' as literal precipitation rather than tears.

Revision tips

  • Reread the story, paying close attention to the descriptions of the statue and the characters' emotions.
  • Summarize the acts of charity performed by the Prince and the swallow in your own words.
  • Discuss the moral of the story with classmates and try to relate it to real-life situations.
  • Focus on understanding the motivations behind each character's actions.
  • Practice answering the questions, ensuring you cover all aspects of the prompt.

Practice MCQs

Q1. Why did the Happy Prince cry, causing drops that were mistaken for rain?

Q2. What were the two most precious things mentioned in the story?

Q3. Why did the swallow decide to stay with the Happy Prince instead of flying to Egypt?

Q4. How did the Happy Prince help the seamstress?

Q5. What was the ultimate fate of the Happy Prince's statue?

Frequently asked questions

What is the main theme of 'The Happy Prince' story?

The main themes of 'The Happy Prince' are empathy, compassion, sacrifice, and the stark contrast between outward appearances and inner feelings, highlighting social inequality and the importance of helping the less fortunate.

Why is the statue called 'The Happy Prince' if he is sad?

He is called the 'Happy Prince' because when he was alive, he lived a life of luxury and was unaware of sorrow. After his death, his statue, placed high above the city, could see the misery and suffering, making him sad and unable to be happy.

What did the Happy Prince ask the swallow to do first?

The Happy Prince first asked the swallow to pluck out one of the sapphires from his eyes and give it to a poor seamstress whose son was ill and shivering.

How did the Happy Prince help the poor children?

The Happy Prince helped the poor children by having the swallow take away his gold leaves and distribute them among them, providing warmth and comfort.

What happened to the Happy Prince's statue at the end of the story?

At the end of the story, the Happy Prince's statue was melted down by the city officials because it was no longer beautiful after its jewels and gold leaves were given away. Only its leaden heart could not be melted.

What is the moral lesson of 'The Happy Prince'?

The moral of the story is that true happiness comes from helping others, especially the poor and needy, and that acts of kindness and sacrifice are the most valuable things in life.

Important links

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