The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

If you're looking for French specific activities, check out our separate lesson plan for Le Petit Prince!

Characters

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Themes

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BME Summary

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Text Evidence

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Point of View

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Visual Vocabulary

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Essential Questions for The Little Prince

1. Why is making friends important?
2. Is perseverance a good quality? Why or why not?
3. Are people able to see what is invisible with their heart? Why or why not?

A Quick Synopsis of The Little Prince (Contains Spoilers)

The story begins by introducing the narrator, an aviator, who recalls drawing a picture when he was six - a picture of a boa constrictor swallowing an elephant. He says that grownups did not understand his pictures and are always looking for explanations for everything.

The narrator then describes his crash landing in the Sahara Desert. He only has enough water to survive for eight days and must repair his airplane himself. While sleeping, he is woken up by the little prince asking him to draw a sheep. After several failed attempts to draw just the right sheep, the narrator draws a crate and claims the sheep is inside. The prince is satisfied.

While spending time with the little prince, the aviator learns about his planet; it’s so small that he can see many sunsets in a single day and even rake his volcanoes. The planet is also quite peculiar in that there are good plants and bad plants; a certain baobab plant must be pulled immediately so that it does not take over the entire planet.

The prince asks the aviator if sheep eat flowers with thorns because he is concerned about his sheep eating his flower. Busy working on his airplane, the aviator carelessly states that thorns do nothing at all for the plant and of course the sheep will eat them. The prince becomes very angry; he wants his flower to be able to protect herself.

This leads the prince to reveal more of the details on how he came to be in the Sahara Desert. Not realizing that he loved his flower, the prince left and visited several planets. He met a king, a vain man who just wanted to be admired, a drunkard who is embarrassed about his drinking, a businessman who believed he was a serious man who owned the stars, and a lamplighter who relit the lamp each minute. The prince found these grownups to be completely ridiculous and useless.

On the sixth planet the prince met a geographer who advised him to visit Earth, which is how he came to land in the Sahara Desert. He was stunned to see that the roses were exactly like his and believed that there wasn’t anything special about his rose at home.

The prince then met a fox, who taught the prince how to tame him. Before the prince left to continue his journey, the fox instructs the prince to look at the roses again. The prince realizes that these roses have not been tamed and therefore are nothing like his rose at home. The fox taught the prince a valuable lesson - anything essential is invisible to the eyes and must be felt with the heart. Through his conversations with the prince, the aviator begins to understand him and realizes that what is important is invisible.

As the days go by, the prince realizes it is the anniversary of his arrival to Earth. The aviator is sad to see his friend go and feels like he has been tamed. The prince is also upset but tells the aviator that he can always look up at the stars, know that the he is at home on his planet, and hear his laughter.

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Frequently Asked Questions about The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

What are some quick lesson ideas for teaching The Little Prince in the classroom?

Some quick lesson ideas for The Little Prince include discussing essential questions about friendship and perseverance, creating character maps, exploring symbolism such as the rose and the fox, and having students write about what is "invisible to the eyes". Engaging activities can be found on dedicated lesson plan sites.

How can teachers use The Little Prince to teach about friendship and empathy?

The Little Prince offers many moments to highlight friendship and empathy. Teachers can prompt student discussions with questions about taming, caring for others, and seeing with the heart, helping learners reflect on their own relationships and emotions.

What grade levels is The Little Prince suitable for?

The Little Prince is suitable for a wide range of grade levels, typically from upper elementary (grades 4-5) through middle and even high school. The novel's themes and simplicity make it accessible, while deeper messages offer rich discussion for older students.

Are there ready-made activities or lesson plans for The Little Prince?

Yes, there are ready-made lesson plans and classroom activities for The Little Prince available online. These resources include storyboards, discussion questions, and creative projects tailored for different grade levels.

What is the main message or moral of The Little Prince?

The main message of The Little Prince is that what is truly important is invisible to the eyes and must be felt with the heart. The story encourages readers to value love, friendship, and seeing beyond surface appearances.