Background: Although Wilde had created controversy with ideas he had revealed on his writings, these short tales let us know the well-intentioned side of the author.
Theme: Charity, humbleness, empathy, solidarity.
Mood: It is a fable in a deceptively simple classic fairy tale style presenting ironic scenarios.
Style: Short tale
Setting: North-European city on Winter.
Characters: The Happy Prince, the Swallow, matchgirl, the Major, major assistants, student, seamstress, seamstress’ son, hand-maiden, reed.
Figurative Language: The story is written as a fable, where animals present human characteristics. Full of metaphors and very descriptive.
Imagery:
- Statute on a high column.
- People admiring the Happy Prince.
- The Swallow in love with the Reed.
- The Swallow’s plans for going to Egypt.
- The Maid-of-Honor in a party talking about seamstress.
Plot: A swallow, flying south for the winter, stops for the night on the shoulder of a great golden statue of the Happy Prince. The swallow discovers that the statue is crying because he is unable to help the needy people of his town. The ensuing partnership between the golden statue and the little swallow will touch the hearts of all.
Point of view: “The Happy Prince” is a story about humankind. More than charity, the tale shows the irony of an –apparently- dead statue and a bird who are more generous than people.
Activity
Relate each character with the corresponding virtue.