The Happy Prince and Other Tales

Objective

Students will listen to and discuss the opening of Oscar Wilde's story "The Happy Prince," identifying the main characters (the Happy Prince statue and the Swallow), describing the statue's appearance, and explaining why the Prince asks the Swallow for help.

Materials

• The text of "The Happy Prince and Other Tales" (the excerpt provided, covering the title page, contents, and the story "The Happy Prince" through the Swallow agreeing to stay a second night)
• Chalkboard/whiteboard or chart paper
• Paper and pencils for each student

Warm-up (~5 min)

• Show or describe the book cover and title page information to the class: the book is called The Happy Prince and Other Tales by Oscar Wilde, illustrated by Walter Crane and Jacomb Hood.
• Read aloud the Contents page and ask students to guess: "Which story do you think we will read today?" (Answer: "The Happy Prince," the first story listed.)
• Ask: "Have you ever seen a tall statue in a city? What do you think a statue might be like if it could talk?"

Main Activity (~25 min)

1. Read Aloud (15 min): Read aloud the story of "The Happy Prince" from the beginning ("High above the city, on a tall column...") through the part where the Swallow agrees to stay a second night to help the young man in the garret.
2. Pause and Discuss (10 min): Stop at key moments to ask comprehension questions:
3. After the statue's description: "What is the Happy Prince statue made of? What are his eyes made of? What is on his sword-hilt?"
4. After the Swallow and the Reed section: "Why did the Swallow leave the Reed? Where was he flying to?"
5. After the Prince explains his life: "Why is the Happy Prince crying, even though his heart is made of lead?"
6. After the ruby is given to the seamstress's family: "What did the Swallow do with the ruby? How did it help the sick boy?"
7. After the second request: "What does the Prince ask the Swallow to bring next, since he has no more ruby? Who is it for?"

Wrap-up / Exit Ticket (~10 min)

Have students write or draw answers to these two prompts on paper:

1. Describe the Happy Prince statue in your own words (what he is made of, what his eyes and sword-hilt look like).
2. Why did the Swallow decide to stay and help the Prince instead of flying straight to Egypt?

Collect the papers as an exit ticket to check understanding.

If Time Remains

Ask students to imagine they are the Swallow flying over the city. Have them draw a quick picture or write 2-3 sentences describing one thing the Swallow might see below him, using details from the story (the cathedral tower, the palace balcony, the river with lanterns, or the Ghetto where the old Jews weighed money).