The Happy Prince — Comprehension Quiz

Multiple Choice

1. Who wrote "The Happy Prince and Other Tales"?
A) Walter Crane
B) Oscar Wilde
C) Jacomb Hood
D) Carlos Blacker

2. What is the statue of the Happy Prince covered in?
A) Silver paint
B) Thin leaves of fine gold
C) Bronze
D) Marble dust

3. What are the Happy Prince's eyes made of?
A) Diamonds
B) Glass
C) Sapphires
D) Emeralds

4. Why did the little Swallow stay behind instead of flying to Egypt with his friends?
A) He was injured
B) He was in love with a Reed
C) He was afraid of the cold
D) He wanted to see the city

5. What does the Swallow discover is falling on him when he lands on the statue?
A) Rain from a cloud
B) Snow
C) The Prince's tears
D) Water from a fountain

6. Who does the Prince ask the Swallow to help first?
A) A young playwright
B) A poor seamstress and her sick son
C) A group of Charity Children
D) The Mathematical Master

7. What does the Swallow first bring to the poor family?
A) A sapphire
B) A gold leaf
C) The ruby from the Prince's sword-hilt
D) Bread

8. Why does the Prince ask the Swallow to stay a second night?
A) To see the Pyramids together
B) To help a young man writing a play in a cold garret
C) To meet the Charity Children
D) To visit the cathedral

Short Answer

9. Why did the Happy Prince say he never knew what tears were when he was alive?

10. After the Swallow helps the sick boy, he says he feels "quite warm now, although it is so cold." What does the Prince say is the reason for this?

11. What does the Prince offer to give the Swallow to help the poor young playwright, since he has no rubies left?

---

Answer Key

1. B) Oscar Wilde
2. B) Thin leaves of fine gold
3. C) Sapphires
4. B) He was in love with a Reed
5. C) The Prince's tears
6. B) A poor seamstress and her sick son
7. C) The ruby from the Prince's sword-hilt
8. B) To help a young man writing a play in a cold garret
9. He lived in the Palace of Sans-Souci ("no worries"), where sorrow was not allowed to enter, so he never saw sadness or hardship.
10. The Prince tells him it is because he has done a good action (a good deed).
11. One of his sapphire eyes, so the young man could sell it to buy food and firewood.