Lesson Plans

One-off workshop: Oscar Wilde's The Happy Prince

Patrice Baldwin outlines a workshop based on Oscar Wilde's The Happy Prince.
© ADOBE STOCK/SSSTOCKER

Wilde's story goes that when the Happy Prince dies, a golden, bejewelled statue of him is erected. Miraculously, he now sees poverty and misery in the city, having been unaware of it during his lifetime. He persuades a swallow to delay migrating and take the jewels and gold leaves to the poor. The swallow stays, winter comes, and it dies. The prince's lead heart cracks. The mayor has the dull statue removed. The dead swallow and broken heart are precious, so an angel takes them to heaven.

A free version of this story is available to download here: http://wilde-online.info/the-happy-prince.html

The version of The Happy Prince used in this lesson is a picture book by Maisie Paradise Shearring, published by Thames and Hudson, London (ISBN 978-0-500-65155-1). Reprinted 2023. Other versions are available.

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