Class 9 English - BIHAR
Supplementary: The Happy Prince
Supplementary: The Happy Prince by Oscar Wilde is a touching story about a golden statue and a little swallow who work together to help the poor and suffering people of the city. For Class 9 Bihar Board (BSEB) students, this chapter is crucial as it carries significant weight in the English supplementary reader section. It teaches profound moral lessons about true love, self-sacrifice, and compassion. Board exams frequently feature questions regarding character sketches of the Happy Prince and the Swallow, the theme of charity, and the significance of the two most precious things mentioned in the story.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Selfless Sacrifice
The Happy Prince gives away all his gold leaves, precious jewels, and even his eyes to help the poor, showing that true love means giving up one's own comfort for others.
True Beauty and Worth
God and his angels consider the dead swallow and the leaden heart of the Happy Prince as the two most precious things in the city, proving that inner goodness matters more than outward appearance.
Compassion and Empathy
The little swallow delays his journey to Egypt because he feels deep sympathy for the suffering of ordinary people, guided by the Prince's vision.
Superficial Judgment
The Mayor and Town Councillors judge things only by their physical utility and looks, failing to see the true spiritual beauty of the Prince once he is stripped of his gold and jewels.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Bihar (BSEB) Class 9 English exams, this chapter typically carries around 5 to 8 marks. Questions commonly include short answer questions about the plot, long answer questions analyzing the theme of sacrifice or character sketches of the Happy Prince and the Swallow, and objective multiple-choice questions based on specific details from the text.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Happy Prince cry?
The Happy Prince cried because, standing high above the city, he could now see all the ugliness, misery, and poverty of his people, which he had never noticed when he was alive and lived in Sans-Souci Palace.
What were the two most precious things in the city mentioned at the end?
The two most precious things in the city were the dead swallow and the leaden heart of the Happy Prince, as chosen by God's angel.
Why didn't the swallow go to Egypt immediately?
The swallow delayed his journey because he stayed back to help the Happy Prince by delivering his rubies, sapphires, and gold leaves to the poor and needy people of the city.
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