The Statue and the City
What was the statue of the Happy Prince covered with?
t was covered in gold leaves.
Where was the Little Swallow's planned journey to?
He was traveling to Egypt.
Who was the first person the Prince helped with his ruby?
A poor seamstress who was working late into the night.
What happened to the Swallow at the end of the story?
He died of cold and exhaustion at the Prince's feet.
What is the central theme of the story?
The central theme is compassion, sacrifice, and the true meaning of happiness.
What were the two jewels in the Happy Prince's eyes?
Two bright sapphires.
Why did the Swallow decide to rest at the feet of the Happy Prince's statue?
It seemed like a good place for a night's rest, as it was high up and protected.
Where was the second sapphire sent?
It was sent to a young playwright in a cold, lonely room, who was too cold to write.
What happened to the Happy Prince's statue after the Swallow died?
His lead heart broke in two.
How does the Prince's definition of "happy" change throughout the story?
At first, he was happy because he lived a life of pleasure, but he finds true happiness by helping others and relieving their suffering.
What was the jewel on the hilt of his sword?
A large, red ruby.
What happened that made the Swallow realize the Prince was crying?
A large drop of water fell on him, and he was surprised because there were no clouds in the sky.
Who was the third sapphire sent to?
It was sent to a poor match-girl whose matches had fallen in the gutter, and she was afraid her father would beat her.
Why did the Mayor and Town Councillors decide to pull down the statue?
They thought it looked dull, ugly, and no longer beautiful after all the gold and jewels were gone.
What does the Swallow's character represent?
The Swallow represents unselfish love and devotion, as he chooses to sacrifice his own life to help the Prince help others.
Why was the statue of the Happy Prince placed high above the city?
So that he could see all the ugliness and misery of the city, which he couldn't see when he was alive inside his palace.
Why was the Swallow crying after the first night?
He was crying because he was filled with pity for the Prince, who was sad about the suffering of his people.
After giving away his eyes, what did the Prince ask the Swallow to do?
He asked the Swallow to fly over the city and tell him about all the misery and poverty he saw.
What did the statue look like after it was pulled down?
It was a dull, leaden statue with no beauty.
What is the moral lesson that the story teaches about true beauty?
It teaches that true beauty is not in outward appearance (like gold and jewels) but in kindness, compassion, and a loving heart.
What did the Town Councillors say about the Prince's statue to justify their praise?
They said he looked "as beautiful as a weathercock" and that he was "useful," though they mostly cared about how he looked.
What was the Swallow's relationship with the Reed?
He had fallen in love with a Reed and had stayed behind to be with her for the summer, which is why he was so late to fly to Egypt.
What did the Swallow do after seeing the poor children shivering in the cold?
He pulled off all the gold leaves from the Prince's body and distributed them to the poor children.
What did the workmen decide to do with the broken lead heart of the Prince's statue?
They tried to melt it in a furnace, but it would not melt, so they threw it on a dust-heap with the dead Swallow.
What is the symbolic meaning of the broken lead heart and the dead Swallow being together on the dust-heap?
It symbolizes that the world, which values material beauty, throws away true goodness and sacrifice, yet these things are cherished by God as "the two most precious things in the city."