The Happy Prince Comprehension Questions

The Happy Prince by Oscar Wilde tells the story of a statue and a swallow. The statue, once a happy prince, now sees the city's misery and enlists the swallow to help the poor by giving away his jewels. Despite the swallow's initial reluctance, he helps the prince, eventually staying with him until his death. The statue is dismantled, but its lead heart and the swallow are deemed precious by God.

What is the Happy Prince statue made of?

• Solid gold

• Solid coal

• Solid silver

• Solid bronze

Why does the Happy Prince cry?

• He is afraid of the dark

• He misses his palace

• He is lonely

• He sees the city's misery

What does the Happy Prince ask the swallow to do with the ruby?

• Sell it

• Throw it away

• Give it to a poor mother

• Keep it for himself

What does the swallow do with the sapphires from the Prince's eyes?

• Throws them into the river

• Sells them

• Gives them to a writer and a match girl

• Keeps them

Why does the swallow decide to stay with the Prince?

• He is afraid of the cold

• He wants to collect more jewels

• He is too tired to fly

• He has grown fond of the Prince

What happens to the gold leaves of the statue?

• They are stolen

• They are given to the poor

• They are sold

• They are melted down

What causes the swallow to die?

• Old age

• Hunger

• Exhaustion

• Cold weather

What happens to the statue after the swallow's death?

• It is repaired

• It is melted down

• It is moved to a museum

• It is left untouched

What do the angels take to heaven?

• The statue's gold leaves

• The statue's sapphires

• The statue's heart and the dead swallow

• The statue's ruby

What does God say about the heart and the swallow?

• They are beautiful

• They are useless

• They are the most precious things

• They are ordinary