“The Happy Prince” is written in the form of a fairy tale. As is typical of the genre, the story has a short length, is driven by plot, and has a moralistic message. It also contains elements of the fantastical, such as animals that can speak and mystical lands that remove readers from their own world and engage the imagination.
“The Happy Prince” takes inspiration in the fairy tale genre pioneered by Hans Christian Andersen, who—like Wilde—wrote in the 19th century. Andersen’s fairy tales are known for being fantastical and amusing while also containing social critiques and moral teachings. Wilde’s fairy tales similarly combine the silly and the serious, with the grandeur of the Swallow’s sacrifice, for example, being balanced with the absurdity of the town’s leaders.
What's more, "The Happy Prince" also falls into the genre of children’s literature. The story uses fairly simple, straightforward language, and its plot is easy to follow. However, like Andersen said of his fairy tales, the writer is always aware that while the story may be read to the children, parents are often listening at the same time. Wilde himself wrote that his stories were meant “partly for children, and partly for those who kept childlike faculties of wonder and joy.” As such, “The Happy Prince” keeps its adult audience in mind with its social satire. Both audiences however, whether child or adult, are encouraged to indulge in their imaginations and immerse themselves in the whimsical fairy-tale landscape.
