NCERT Solutions For Class 9 English Moments Chapter 5 The Happy Prince

Physics Wallah Academic Expert

November 28, 2024

Class 9 English Moments Chapter 5 The Happy Prince:- Class 9 English Moments Chapter 5, The Happy Prince, is a heartwarming story by Oscar Wilde. It tells the tale of a statue of a prince who once lived a life of luxury but is now deeply saddened by the poverty around him. He decides to help the poor, even though he has to give up his own treasures. The story shows how true beauty comes from kindness and selflessness, not wealth.

If you're looking for The Happy Prince question answers, you'll find simple and clear explanations to help you understand the story better. The Happy Prince Class 9 is a story full of important lessons about caring for others. Check out the NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Moments Chapter 5 The Happy Prince for easy-to-understand answers and explanations that will help you learn the key themes and moral lessons of the story.

If you're looking for answers to Class 9 English Moments Chapter 5, The Happy Prince, here is the detailed solutions for you. You can explore the full NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English and get all the answers to help you understand the story better. The answers are easy to follow and follow the CBSE guidelines.Before jumping into the Happy Prince question answers, reading the chapter first is a good idea. This will help you understand the story, its characters, and the important lessons it teaches.

The NCERT Solutions explains each question step by step, making it simple to understand the story and the values of kindness and selflessness shown by the Happy Prince.

Check out: Class 9th Books

NCERT Solutions For English Moments Class 9 Chapter 5 The Happy Prince

Check out the class 9 English chapter 5 question answer below:-

Think about it

Question 1. Why do the courtiers call the prince ‘the Happy Prince’? Is he really happy? What does he see all around him?

Answer: The courtiers had once called the prince ‘the Happy Prince’ because, during his lifetime, he was shielded from sorrow, living in a palace where unhappiness was not permitted. However, he was no longer happy. After his death, he was turned into a statue and placed high above the city, where he could now witness the harsh realities of ugliness and poverty.

Question 2. Why does the Happy Prince send a ruby for the seamstress? What does the swallow do in the seamstress’ house?

Answer: The Happy Prince decides to send a ruby to a poor seamstress because she is struggling, and her young son is gravely ill with a fever. The boy, too weak to ask for much, had only requested oranges, but the seamstress could only offer him river water. Moved by their plight, the Happy Prince asks the swallow to deliver the ruby to her.

When the swallow arrives at the seamstress’s modest home, he finds her asleep after a long day of hardship, while the little boy lies feverish and restless. Carefully, the swallow places the ruby on the table next to the seamstress’s sewing thimble. Then, with tender care, he circles the boy’s bed and gently fans his fevered forehead with his wings. The cooling touch helps to soothe the boy, who gradually falls into a deep, restful sleep, feeling much better.

Question 3. For whom does the prince send the sapphires and why?

Answer: The Happy Prince decides to send the two sapphires from his eyes to help a young writer and a matchgirl.

The young writer, struggling to complete a play for the Theatre Director, is unable to continue working due to the bitter cold and lack of firewood. Weak from hunger and the freezing conditions, he is on the brink of collapse. The Happy Prince sends one of his sapphires to the writer, allowing him to sell it to a jeweller. With the money, the writer can purchase firewood and finish his play.

Meanwhile, the matchgirl, who has accidentally dropped her matches into the gutter, watches in despair as they become ruined. Fearing a harsh beating from her father for her mistake, she weeps helplessly. The Happy Prince sends the other sapphire to her, ensuring that she will be spared from punishment when her father sees the valuable gem.

Question 4. What does the swallow see when it flies over the city?

Answer: As the swallow flies over the city, it observes a stark contrast between the lives of the rich and the poor. He sees the wealthy enjoying themselves in their lavish homes, while beggars sit outside their gates. The swallow ventures into dark alleys and encounters the pallid faces of starving children, who peer out wearily from the grimy streets.

Question 5. Why did the swallow not leave the prince and go to Egypt?

Answer: The swallow chose not to continue his journey to Egypt, despite the approaching winter. The Happy Prince, having given away his sapphires to help those in need, had become blind and lost his former brilliance. Deeply moved by the prince’s selfless acts of compassion, the swallow decided to remain by his side. The swallow felt a profound sense of loyalty and gratitude towards the prince, whose unwavering kindness and sacrifice had deeply touched him. As the winter cold grew harsher, the swallow stayed close, offering comfort and companionship to the prince in his time of need.

NCERT Solutions For Class 9 English Moments Chapter 7

Question 6. What are the precious things mentioned in the story? Why are they precious?

Answer: The precious items mentioned in the story are the leaden heart of the Happy Prince and the dead swallow. These are considered precious because of their acts of generosity and kindness. The Happy Prince sacrificed the ruby from his sword to help a poor seamstress and her sick son. He also gave away his sapphire eyes, which rendered him blind, and continued to distribute the gold leaf from his statue to aid those in need.

Similarly, the swallow gave up his desire to migrate to Egypt with his companions and chose instead to stay with the Happy Prince, helping him in his mission to assist the needy. Ultimately, the swallow sacrificed his own life to stay by the prince’s side and help others.

When God asked one of His angels to bring the two most precious things, the angel chose the leaden heart of the Happy Prince and the dead swallow. God praised the angel's choice, declaring that in His heavenly garden, the little bird would sing eternally, and in His city of gold, the Happy Prince would forever sing praises of the divine.

Check out: Class 9th Combo Set of 5 Books

The Happy Prince Class 9 Summary

The story is set in a city where a magnificent statue of a prince stands on a tall pedestal. The statue, covered in gold leaf and adorned with precious jewels, is known as the Happy Prince. Despite his grandeur, the statue's eyes are filled with sorrow because he cannot see the suffering of the people in the city below.

One night, a little swallow, migrating to Egypt, rests at the feet of the statue. The Happy Prince, who can no longer see but can speak, asks the swallow to help him alleviate the suffering of the city's poor. The prince explains that he used to live in luxury but was unaware of the hardships outside his palace. Now, seeing the plight of the city's inhabitants from his high perch, he wishes to use his wealth to help them.

The Happy Prince asks the swallow to take his gold leaf and precious jewels to those in need. The swallow agrees and carries out the prince's wishes. First, the swallow helps a poor seamstress, then a struggling playwright, and later a starving child. Each time the swallow delivers a piece of the prince's gold or jewels, the situation of the people improves.

As the swallow continues his acts of charity, he grows colder and weaker due to the approaching winter. Eventually, the swallow perishes from the cold. The Happy Prince's statue, now stripped of its gold and jewels, becomes dull and unremarkable.

In the end, the city’s officials, unable to appreciate the true value of the statue, order it to be taken down and melted down. However, the statue’s heart, though made of lead, does not melt. The heart is found alongside the dead swallow. The story concludes with the city recognizing the true beauty of selfless love and sacrifice, though too late to honour the prince and the swallow’s nobility.

Check out: Class 9th Revision Books

The Happy Prince Class 9 FAQs

Q1. Who wrote "The Happy Prince"?

Ans. The story was written by Oscar Wilde.

Q2. What is the central theme of "The Happy Prince"?

Ans. The central theme is the selfless sacrifice and the contrast between material wealth and true happiness.

Q3. Why is the statue of the Happy Prince sad?

Ans. The Happy Prince is sad because he can see the suffering of the poor people in the city, despite his own past life of luxury and opulence.

Q4. What role does the swallow play in the story?

Ans. The swallow helps the Happy Prince by delivering the gold and jewels from the statue to the needy people in the city.

Q5. What does the Happy Prince ask the swallow to do?

Ans. The Happy Prince asks the swallow to take the gold and jewels from his statue and distribute them to the poor and suffering people in the city.

Recommended for you