EXAMPLE 1

Possible answers

Yes, because the themes are universal.

The gap between the rich and the poor seems to be increasing and common people are getting poorer and poorer and depend on charity.

Our youth-obsessed society cherishes the appearance, what we look like, what we have rather than who we are and what/how we have contributed to society/the world.

ACTIVITY IDEA 

Oscar Wilde called his stories fairy stories. Considering the typical features, The Happy Prince can be a fairy tale, but it has some features of a fable too.

First, in groups, discuss both, a fairy tale and a fable.

Then, make notes in your notebook on the following:

• what are the fairy tale/fable characteristics?
• what is the origin of the fairy tale/fable?
• how were they passed on from generation to generation?
• once print was invented, why didn’t they disappear?
• which fairy tales do you know?
• which is/are your favourite?
• who are the most famous fairy tale writers or collectors?
• which fables do you know?
• which is/are your favourite?
• who are the most famous fable writers or collectors?
• how do you think the fairy tales and fables contribute to the world literature heritage?

Finally, compare and exchange ideas, make a presentation to the other groups in your class.

You can do a Google search for more information on the topic.

Now, it’s time to read the fairy tale The Happy Prince to find out the whole story. Do the following:
• borrow a book from a library or do a Google search for the online version of the story: simply type in Google ‘Oscar Wilde, The Happy Prince’ and you will get it;
• once you have read it, look at the prompts below and make questions;
• then, give full answers to them;
• next, think of at least three major themes of the story, write them down in your notebook and justify your choice;
• finally, create your own moral of the story.

Questions:

Why/the town people/like the statue?
What/the Happy Prince/look like?
How/he/spend his childhood?
Why/he/befriend the Swallow?
Who else/take part in the story?
Who/he help?
What/happen after their death?

EXAMPLE

Why did the town people like the statue?
What did the Happy Prince look like?
How did he spend his childhood?
Why did he befriend the Swallow?
Who else took part in the story?
Who did the Prince help?
What happened after their death?

Possible answers

It was happy and smiling, and symbolised a carefree and happy life.
Extravagant. He was covered in fine golden leaves and had precious stones.
With no worries. He was ignorant of the outside world and he was not aware of the fact that a real, ugly world started beyond the lofty wall of his home.
By accident. One day the Swallow sought shelter to overnight before setting out on a long journey to Egypt. The Prince had good intentions to help the poor, but he was immobile, so he begged the Swallow for help without being aware they were both nearing the end.
The town people, passers-by, town councillors and the mayor; the seamstress and her child, etc.
The poor people of his town.
They were rewarded in paradise for their good deeds, but forgotten by humans.

Possible major themes
• the gap between the rich and the poor;
• charity: the Prince and his messenger the Swallow are involved in helping the poor in a generous and devoted way.
• sacrifice: the Swallow gives up his dreams for the sake of the Prince and the poor.
• The outer beauty is of no value, it is only skin-deep and people admired the Price for as long as he was ‘shiny’ and appeared to be happy.

GRAMMAR LOG

The past tense negative form

The past tense negative form is made by adding ‘not’ to the auxiliary verb ‘did,’ which is followed by the base form of the verb.

The rule applies to all persons (I, you, he, she, it, we, they) and both numbers (singular, plural), except for the verb to BE, where we simply add ‘not’ to its past forms.
Examples:

He did not approve of children dreaming.
The Prince was not really happy.  

In spoken English and less formal written English the contracted form ‘didn’t’ is used.
Examples:

He didn’t approve of children dreaming.
The Prince wasn’t really happy.

The negative-interrogative form or the negative question is less common, but still sometimes used.
Examples:

Why did you not hand in your assignment?
Was his life not beautiful?

or with the contracted form:

Why didn't you hand in your assignment?
Wasn't his life beautiful?