Discussion Questions for
"The Happy Prince"

Why does the Town Councillor fear that people will think him "unpractical"?

Why is the "disappointed man" "glad" that there is someone who is happy in the world?

Why does the Mathematical Master disapprove of children having dreams?

Do you have to see something to believe it? Why or why not?

Why do you think Oscar Wilde does not tell us the name of the city?

Did the little Swallow make a good decision in leaving the Reed? Why or why not?

Should the Reed have gone with the Swallow? Why or why not?

Why does the Swallow decide to help the Prince?

Why does Wilde show us the beautiful girl and her boyfriend when the Swallow is on its way to help the seamstress and her son?

When Oscar Wilde writes, "And he wrote a long letter about it to the local newspaper. Every one quoted it, it was full of so many words that they could not understand" who is he criticizing?

After receiving the sapphire the young man says:

“I am beginning to be appreciated,” he cried; “this is from some great admirer.  Now I can finish my play,” and he looked quite happy.

In the above quote what do you thing Wilde is saying about being a writer or artist?

Why is the Prince willing to give up even his eyes to help those he does?

What does the Prince mean when he says, "There is no Mystery so great as Misery"?

What does the Swallow mean when he says that "Death is the brother of Sleep"?

What does the Art Professor mean when he says of the Prince, "As he is no longer beautiful he is no longer useful"?

Oscar Wilde was part of movement that espoused, "Art for art's sake." What does that mean?

What makes the Councillors argue about who will have a statue built of himself?

Why is the heart of the Prince unable to be melted?

Why does God call the Swallow and the Prince the two most precious things in the city?

©2005-2008 Glen Draeger (all rights reserved)
Millstone Education: World Literature / http://www.millstoneeducation.com/worldLit