The Tears of Princess Prunella facts for kids
"The Tears of Princess Prunella" is a short story by Evelyn Sharp. It's part of her book called The Other Side of the Sun. Other stories in this collection include "The Weird Witch of the Willowherb" and "Somebody Else's Prince". You can also find "The Lady Daffodilia", "The Palace on the Floor", and "The Kite That Went to the Moon" in the same book.
Contents
Story Summary: Princess Prunella's Tears
Princess Prunella was very beautiful and charming. But she was always grumpy and unhappy. She lived in a grand palace with her parents, the King and Queen of Fairyland.
The King was tired of his daughter's constant complaints. The Queen wanted to help her daughter feel happier. She decided to find a playmate for the Princess. All the children in the land came to the palace. Princess Prunella was supposed to choose one.
To everyone's surprise, the Princess cried. She said all the children looked exactly the same. The King was very angry. He worried the crowd's disappointment might even start a war. Suddenly, Princess Prunella jumped up. She pointed to a boy with a "wonderful look" on his face.
She told the boy to kiss her hand. But he ran out of the palace instead! This made the Princess furious. No one had ever disobeyed her before. She found out the boy's name was Deaf Robert. Despite her parents' worries, she insisted he would be her playmate.
Deaf Robert's Special Hearing
One day, the Princess's Fairy Pony ran away with her. They went deep into the Fairy Forest. They stopped at a small grey house. It was surrounded by bright flower gardens. The Princess was so happy to find Deaf Robert there. She forgot her anger and spoke gently.
She was surprised when he could hear her. Deaf Robert explained that Wymps had visited his christening. His father, The Minstrel, had wished for him to be deaf to any sound that wasn't beautiful. After a lot of talking, Deaf Robert agreed to go back to the palace. He became Princess Prunella's playmate.
For many weeks, the Princess was overjoyed. But then, Deaf Robert became unhappy. The wonderful look left his face. He wanted to go back to the town and the forest.
Deaf Robert's Quest to Be "Real"
One day, the Princess pricked her finger and started to cry. Deaf Robert couldn't hear her sobs. This upset the Princess even more. She realized he wasn't a "real" boy. Deaf Robert rushed back to the forest. He asked his father for advice, but got no answers.
Then he met a Wymp. The Wymp told him that the next person he met would tell him how to become a real boy. He then met a woman. She told him he needed to do something brave, kind, foolish, and wise. If he wasn't a real boy after that, it would be his own fault.
Deaf Robert bravely fought a dragon and saved a princess. He refused any reward for this. This completed his brave and kind actions. After many tries, he met a Wymp disguised as a young girl. She helped him understand that leaving his Princess was foolish. Returning to her would be wise.
With this new understanding, he hurried back to the palace. Princess Prunella had pricked her finger again. But this time, he could hear her soft, sweet tears. The Princess was thrilled to see him. She said the wonderful look had returned to his face. They spent their years happily arguing. They debated whether the sounds of the town were better than the sounds of the forest. They had both found beauty in each other's worlds.
Characters in the Story
Meet Princess Prunella
Princess Prunella is beautiful, charming, and talented. Everyone loves her, even though she is often grumpy. She is tired of her palace life. She wants something or someone new and exciting.
Meet Deaf Robert
Deaf Robert is the son of The Minstrel. He can only hear sounds that are beautiful. He stands out from other children because of the "wonderful look on his face." When he can't hear the Princess cry, she thinks he isn't a "real" boy. This makes Deaf Robert sad. He sets out on a journey to become a "real" boy. He completes tasks that are brave, kind, foolish, and wise. This helps him hear all sounds, not just beautiful ones.
Meet the King and Queen
The King of Fairyland is tired of his grumpy daughter. He doesn't understand why she complains when she has everything. He lets the Queen handle their daughter's problems. He worries more about how it affects his kingdom.
The Queen of Fairyland, unlike her husband, tries to understand her daughter. She wants to make Princess Prunella happy. She tries to grant all her wishes.
Meet the Minstrel
The Minstrel is Deaf Robert's father. When his son was born, he wished that the Wymps would make him only hear beautiful sounds. He doesn't understand why his son wants to hear the Princess cry. He doesn't think that sound is beautiful.
Meet the Wymps
The Wymps are magical, fairy-like creatures. They live in the forest. They have special powers and love to laugh and joke.
Fairytale Fun: Story Elements
This story has many common elements you find in fairytales:
- Fantasy and Make-Believe: It takes place in Fairyland. There's a Fairy Pony and a Fairy Forest that keeps growing.
- Royalty: The story features a King, a Queen, and a Princess. They rule Fairyland.
- Magical Creatures: You'll find Wymps and Dragons in the story.
- A Problem to Solve: Deaf Robert wants to undo his father's wish. He wants to hear all sounds, not just beautiful ones.
- Tasks and Journeys: Like many fairytales, characters must complete tasks to solve their problems.
- Happy Ending and a Lesson: The story ends happily. It also teaches a moral or lesson.
Story Lessons: Important Themes
This story explores popular themes found in many fairytales. It's about proving yourself brave, kind, foolish, and wise. Like many fairytales, it has a moral lesson. Deaf Robert goes on a journey. He completes tasks to gain knowledge that magic had hidden from him. At the end, he is rewarded and lives happily ever after.
Another important theme in The Tears of Princess Prunella is about changing your mind. At first, Princess Prunella thinks the sounds of the town are better than nature's quiet beauty. But by the end, she agrees with Deaf Robert. She learns that the sounds of the forest are sweeter. This suggests that Princess Prunella changes. She becomes a sweeter, more patient Princess. She learns to see the world in a new way.
