Class 9 English - ODISHA

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 students under the Odisha Board (BSE), this chapter is very important as it teaches deep moral values like empathy, true love, and self-sacrifice. Board exams frequently feature questions testing character analysis, the central theme of inner beauty versus outer wealth, and the bond between the Happy Prince and the Swallow. Scoring well here requires a clear understanding of the plot and its symbolic meaning.

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Key Concepts

Appearance vs. Reality

The Prince's statue is covered in gold and jewels, looking completely happy on the outside, but inside it weeps seeing the city's misery.

True Friendship and Compassion

The little swallow delays his migration to Egypt to become the messenger of the Happy Prince, sacrificing his own life out of love and duty.

Self-Sacrifice

Both the Prince and the swallow give away everything they have—gold, jewels, and even their lives—to bring joy to the suffering poor.

True Value of Things

God and his angels consider the dead swallow and the leaden heart of the Prince as the two most precious things in the city.

Important Formulas

Theme: True beauty lies in selfless service to humanity and kindness to the poor.
Symbolism: The ruby, sapphires, and gold represent material wealth, while the leaden heart and the dead swallow represent spiritual richness.
Climax: The statue is torn down when it loses its beauty, and the broken leaden heart does not melt in the furnace.

Board Exam Info

In the Odisha (BSE) Class 9 English board assessments, supplementary readers like 'The Happy Prince' typically carry around 5 to 8 marks. Questions usually include short-answer questions, long descriptive questions based on the central theme, and character sketches of the Happy Prince or the Swallow.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did the Happy Prince weep?

The Happy Prince wept because from his high column, he could see the ugliness, poverty, and misery of the city people, which he had never noticed when he was alive.

Why did the little swallow decide to stay with the Happy Prince?

The swallow stayed because he was moved by the sadness of the blind and helpless Prince after the Prince gave away his eyes to help the needy.

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

The two most precious things in the city were the dead swallow and the leaden heart of the Happy Prince, chosen by God's angel.

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