The Prince and The Pauper Story in English | Stories for Teenagers | @EnglishFairyTales

Summary

The story follows two boys, Prince Edward and Tom Canty, born on the same day but from drastically different lives. Through a twist of fate, they exchange roles, with Tom becoming the king's advisor and Edward experiencing life as a pauper. As the prince learns the hardships of the common people, Tom proves his wisdom and honesty. Eventually, Edward returns to claim his throne, acknowledging Tom's noble heart. The tale teaches lessons on the power of choice, honesty, and compassion, while highlighting the stark contrastbetweenthelivesoftheprivilegedandthepoor.

Takeaways

• 😀 Two boys, born on the same day, one a prince and the other a pauper, lead starkly different lives due to their birth status.
• 😀 Tom, the pauper, dreams of a better life and resents his fate of poverty, while Edward, the prince, enjoys wealth and luxury.
• 😀 Professor Andrews encourages Tom to embrace books and knowledge, teaching him that one can rise above their circumstances.
• 😀 Tom and Prince Edward discover they look alike and decide to exchange clothes to see how people treat them differently.
• 😀 Prince Edward, dressed as a pauper, is thrown out of the palace by the guards, illustrating the importance of appearance over identity in the kingdom.
• 😀 Tom, while living as a prince, performs his duties with honesty and wisdom, earning the respect of the kingdom despite being a pauper by birth.
• 😀 King Henry VIII passes away, and the kingdom prepares to crown Tom, who secretly wishes for Edward's return, to avoid being crowned king.
• 😀 Prince Edward, confused and lost in the streets, eventually seeks help from a merciful man, leading to his eventual journey back to the palace.
• 😀 Tom, despite being mistaken for Prince Edward, refuses the throne and continues to search for the real prince, showing his integrity.
• 😀 In the end, Tom is honored by Prince Edward for his honesty and wisdom, and is offered a role as an advisor in the palace, strengthening their friendship.
• 😀 The story of the Happy Prince shows how the prince, despite being wealthy and happy in life, becomes deeply moved by the suffering of the poor after his death, leading him to give away his treasures.

Q & A

Why were Tom and Prince Edward's lives so different despite being born on the same day?

Tom was born into a poor family, while Prince Edward was born in the royal palace, leading to vastly different lifestyles. Tom had to beg for food and wore rags, while Edward had all the luxuries of a prince.

What advice did Professor Andrews give to Tom about life?

Professor Andrews encouraged Tom to always be honest and noble, regardless of his circumstances. He believed that Tom had the courage to choose to be someone noble, even though he was born into poverty.

How did Tom and Prince Edward first meet each other?

Tom accidentally snuck into the palace, where he saw Prince Edward. After being caught by the guards, Edward took Tom into his chambers, and they became friends. This encounter sparked a series of events that would change their lives.

What was the idea behind Tom and Edward exchanging clothes?

Edward suggested they exchange clothes to test whether people would recognize him as the prince. It was a way to explore how much people judge by appearance, as the guards didn't recognize Edward when he was dressed as a pauper.

Why did Prince Edward get thrown out of the palace?

After exchanging clothes with Tom, Prince Edward dressed as a pauper and tried to enter the palace, but the guards did not recognize him. They thought he was an imposter and threw him out, even though he was the real prince.

How did Tom end up taking over the royal duties?

While Edward was lost and wandering, Tom, still disguised as the prince, took over the duties at the palace. He quickly learned the responsibilities of the role and earned the trust and affection of the people at the palace.

What happened when King Henry VIII died?

King Henry VIII's death led to preparations for Edward to be crowned as king. However, Tom, who was mistaken for Edward, was about to be crowned. This caused confusion, and Edward had to return to claim his throne.

How did Tom prove that he was not Prince Edward?

Tom repeatedly told people that he was not Edward, but no one believed him. However, he eventually convinced them by mentioning the Great Seal of England, which only Prince Edward would know about. This helped reveal the truth.

Why did the Happy Prince start crying after his death?

The Happy Prince, now a statue, began to cry because he could see the suffering of the poor and the oppressed in the city. He was no longer content with his past, privileged life and felt sorrow for the hardships of others.

What did the swallow do to help the Happy Prince?

The swallow stayed with the Happy Prince throughout the winter, helping him by taking the jewels from the statue and giving them to the poor, as well as taking one of the prince's eyes to help a writer. The swallow sacrificed his own warmth to help others.