Class 9 English - ICSE
Prose: The Model Millionaire
The Model Millionaire by Oscar Wilde is a charming and witty short story included in the Class 9 ICSE English Literature syllabus. It revolves around Hughie Erskine, a good-looking but penniless young man, and his act of kindness toward an old beggar, who turns out to be a disguised millionaire, Baron Hausberg. This chapter teaches students valuable moral lessons about true generosity, wealth, and love, while highlighting Wilde's signature use of irony, humor, and satire. For ICSE board exams, students must master character sketches, situational irony, and thematic understanding to score well in reference-to-context questions.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Character Contrast
The story contrasts Hughie Erskine, who is poor in money but rich in heart, with Alan Trevor, the cynical artist, and Baron Hausberg, who represents actual immense wealth.
Situational Irony
The primary irony of the story is that Hughie gives his last sovereign to a man he believes is a destitute beggar, only to discover that the 'beggar' is one of the richest men in Europe.
The Nature of Wealth
Oscar Wilde subtly critiques Victorian society's obsession with money, showing that genuine romance and human kindness are far more valuable than material riches.
Poetic Justice
Hughie's random act of kindness is ultimately rewarded tenfold when the Baron finances his marriage to Laura Merton, proving the old adage that 'good deeds are rewarded'.
Wit and Humor
Wilde uses clever aphorisms and lighthearted satire in the narrative exposition, such as the famous opening line that 'romance is the privilege of the rich, not the profession of the unemployed'.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the ICSE Class 9 English Literature exam, questions from 'The Model Millionaire' typically carry around 5 to 10 marks. You can expect reference-to-context (RTC) extracts with sub-questions testing comprehension, character motivations, and identifying figures of speech or irony, as well as long-answer questions requiring a character sketch of Hughie or an analysis of the story's theme.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Hughie give his last sovereign to the old beggar?
Hughie gave his last sovereign because he felt deeply moved by the beggar's wretched and miserable appearance, showing his inherently kind and generous nature despite having no money himself.
What is the main theme of 'The Model Millionaire'?
The main themes are true generosity, the ironic nature of wealth and poverty, and the idea that genuine acts of kindness do not go unrewarded.
Who was the old beggar in reality?
The old beggar was actually Baron Hausberg, one of the richest men in Europe, who had posed in rags for Alan Trevor's painting just for his own amusement.
Learn Prose: The Model Millionaire with Your AI Tutor
10 different ways to study this chapter. Free for 3 chapters per day.
Lecture
Key Points
Interactive
Quiz
Flashcards