The Happy Prince

Answer: The courtiers called him the Happy Prince because when he was alive, he lived in the Palace where sorrow was not allowed to enter, and he was always happy. But after his death, as a statue standing high above the city, he is not happy. He sees the ugliness and misery of his city — the suffering of poor people, hungry children, and struggling workers — which makes him weep.

Answer: The Happy Prince sends the ruby to the seamstress because her little boy was ill with fever and crying for oranges, but she had nothing to give him except river water. The swallow took the ruby, placed it on the table beside the woman's thimble, and fanned the boy's forehead with his wings, helping him fall into a peaceful sleep.

Answer: The prince sends one sapphire to a young playwright who was trying to finish a play but was too cold and hungry to write. He sells the sapphire to buy firewood and finish his play. The prince sends the other sapphire to a little matchgirl whose matches had fallen in the gutter and were spoiled. Her father would beat her if she didn't bring home money.

Answer: The swallow sees the rich making merry in their beautiful houses while beggars sit at the gates. It sees starving children with white faces looking listlessly at the black streets, and two little boys lying under a bridge trying to keep warm, who are chased away by the watchman.

Answer: The swallow did not leave the prince because he loved him too well. Even when the weather became extremely cold and snowy, he stayed with the blind prince. He had seen the prince's kindness and selflessness, and he chose to stay and serve him until his own death.

Answer: The two precious things mentioned in the story are the leaden heart of the Happy Prince and the dead swallow. They are precious because they represent selfless love, sacrifice, and compassion. The prince gave away all his gold and jewels to help the poor, and the swallow sacrificed his life to stay with the prince and serve him. Their love and kindness are more valuable than gold or jewels.

Answer: [Write your own answer based on personal experience — e.g., helping someone in need, receiving kindness, etc.]