University Of Kirkuk

College Of Education Second Year

English Department Subject: Short Story
evening and Morning classes
Asst. Lecturer: Ibrahim. K. I

The Happy prince

By Oscar Wilde
( 1854 -1900 )

1) The plot

The Happy Prince used to be very careless about the bad condition for his
people. He spent his days and night playing and dancing with his friends
in his palace without knowing what was happening beyond his high walls.
when he died, however , his people made him a golden statue and put him on a
very high place that he was able to see everything in the city . He became able to
see how his people were suffering from poverty and bad condition in the city.
One night , a little Swallow on his way to Egypt passed over the city and decided
to spend the night on prince's statue. He discovered that the prince was crying due
to the bad condition of his people.
Swallow agrees to be his messenger to the poor people in order to help them
with fine gold and precious stones. The little swallow stayed with happy prince for
a long
time until it became very cold and Swallow died under the prince's feet. The
other day ,
the Mayor and his councillors dediceded the prince's statue because it became
ugly , therefore, they decided to throw it on a dust –heap with the bird dead .
 2) The characters :

1-The Happy Prince

When the Happy Prince was alive he did not care about the bad condition of
People were living . He used to spend his time playing and dancing with his
friends. However , when he died , his people made him a golden statue and
put him on a so high place , that he was able to see how his people were
suffering from hungry and poverty.

2- The Swallow

The little swallow was on his way to Egypt when he met the Happy Prince.
He decided to spend the night on the golden statue. He discovers that the
Happy Prince was crying when he knew the reason , he agreed to be his
messenger to the poor people in the city in order to help them with his fine
gold and precious stones, the little swallow stayed with the happy prince for
a long time until it became very cold . Thus he died under the prince's feet.
 -The elements of the short story in the happy prince:
1. Contrast
There are two examples of contrast in the Happy Prince:
1-There is a contrast between the prince's name and his real feelings.

2-There is a contrast between the condition of poor before the little Swallow
brought them the gifts, they were miserable and hungry but after that they
became happy.

2)The Conflict

There are many examples on conflict in this story:

1-There is a hidden conflict inside the Happy Prince .
He was very sad because of the past behave against his people
that is why he decided to help them.

2-There is a conflict between life and death.

The poor people were struggling against the bad condition.