The Happy Prince: book club questions by chapter

🦉 The Happy Prince · meeting 1 of 3

Read: Part One, “The Statue and the Swallow” (pages 1–4, about 4 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 4, and don't read on: the next part is for next time.

1. Why does the Happy Prince weep, though he is called happy?
   The story's answer: From up high he can see the misery of his city
2. Who have we met so far, and what does each of them want?
   Listen for: Make a list together on the board; keep it for next time and add to it.
3. The part we just read is called "The Statue and the Swallow". Why do you think it has that name?
   Listen for: Any answer that points to a moment in the part is a good one; ask for the page.
4. Stop here. What do you think will happen next? Write or draw one guess to check next time.
   Listen for: Keep the guesses in an envelope. Don't say whether a guess is right: the next part will.

🦉 The Happy Prince · meeting 2 of 3

Read: Part Two, “The Ruby, the Sapphires and the Gold” (pages 5–8, about 5 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 8, and don't read on: the next part is for next time.

1. What does the Swallow take to the seamstress?
   The story's answer: The ruby from the sword
2. Why does the Swallow feel warm after his first errand, even though it is cold?
   The story's answer: He has done a good deed
3. Why did the Swallow stay with the Prince instead of flying to Egypt?
   The story's answer: He loved the Prince and wanted to help him
4. Look back at last time's guesses. Which came true, and what surprised you?
   Listen for: Read the guesses out. Nobody was wrong: a guess that missed often shows what the author wanted us to expect.
5. The part we just read is called "The Ruby, the Sapphires and the Gold". Why do you think it has that name?
   Listen for: Any answer that points to a moment in the part is a good one; ask for the page.
6. Stop here. What do you think will happen next? Write or draw one guess to check next time.
   Listen for: Keep the guesses in an envelope. Don't say whether a guess is right: the next part will.

🦉 The Happy Prince · meeting 3 of 3

Read: Part Three, “Winter” (pages 9–13, about 6 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 13, the end of the story.

1. What does the story suggest about what is truly precious?
   The story's answer: Love and giving to others
2. Look back at last time's guesses. Which came true, and what surprised you?
   Listen for: Read the guesses out. Nobody was wrong: a guess that missed often shows what the author wanted us to expect.
3. The part we just read is called "Winter". Why do you think it has that name?
   Listen for: Any answer that points to a moment in the part is a good one; ask for the page.
4. Now that you know the ending, was it the ending you expected?
   Listen for: Ask what in the earlier parts pointed to it, or pointed the other way.

About the whole story

1. Who in the story was kind, and who was not? How do you know?
   Listen for: Ask for the moment in the story that shows it.
2. Which part would you change, and how would the story end then?
   Listen for: There is no wrong ending; ask what else would have to change.
3. Is there a rule of three in this story (three tries, three wishes, three visitors)? Why do you think fairy tales like threes?
   Listen for: Many do; a third time is where the change happens.
4. Who would you give this story to, and why them?
   Listen for: A reader who can name the right person has understood what the story is like.
5. If you could ask the person who first told this story one question, what would it be?
   Listen for: Collect the questions; some have answers on the story's page in the library.