Le Petit Prince (The Little Prince) by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry is a classic novella that has been translated into more than 300 languages and dialects, making it one of the best-selling books ever published. It tells the story of a pilot who crashes in the desert and meets a young prince from a tiny asteroid. The prince tells the pilot about his travels to other planets, where he meets a variety of eccentric adults who have lost touch with what is truly important in life.
The
book in three sentences:
- The Little Prince is a novella that tells the story of a pilot who
meets a young prince from a tiny asteroid.
- The little prince tells the pilot about his travels to other
planets, where he met strange and wonderful characters.
- The novel explores themes such as friendship, love, and the
importance of seeing the world with a childlike sense of wonder.
The story begins with the narrator, a pilot, telling of his childhood
experience of drawing a boa constrictor digesting an elephant. When he shows
the drawing to grown-ups, they all think it is a hat. This experience leads the
narrator to realize that grown-ups are not very imaginative.
Years later, the pilot crashes in the desert and meets a young prince
from a tiny asteroid. The prince is on a journey to explore the universe and
learn about life. He has already visited six other planets, where he has met a
variety of eccentric adults:
- A king
who demands that everyone obey him, even if their commands are
unreasonable.
- A
conceited man who only wants to be admired by others.
- A
businessman who is so busy counting his stars that he has no time to enjoy
them.
- A
lamplighter who lights and extinguishes a lamp every minute, even though
his planet is so small that it only has one day and one night.
- A
geographer who has never traveled anywhere, but who claims to know
everything about the world.
- A rose
who is vain and demanding, and who expects the prince to cater to her
every whim.
The prince is disappointed by the adults he has met on his travels. He
has found them to be narrow-minded, selfish, and materialistic. He has also
learned that they have lost touch with what is truly important in life, such as
love, friendship, and imagination.
The prince finds a friend in the pilot. They talk for hours about life,
the universe, and everything. The pilot learns a great deal from the prince,
and he begins to see the world in a new way.
One day, the prince decides it is time to return to his asteroid. He has
learned what he has come to learn, and he is ready to be reunited with his
rose. He says goodbye to the pilot and asks him to never forget him.
The pilot repairs his plane and leaves the desert. He takes the prince's
lessons with him, and he vows to never forget the little prince.
Themes
Le Petit Prince explores a variety of themes, including:
- The
importance of imagination and creativity: The prince is a highly
imaginative and creative individual. He is able to see the world in a
unique way, and he is not afraid to challenge the status quo. The pilot
learns from the prince to appreciate the importance of imagination and
creativity in his own life.
- The
importance of love and friendship: The prince's relationships with the
other characters in the story teach him about the importance of love and
friendship. He learns that these are the most important things in life,
and that everything else is secondary.
- The
importance of seeing the world through the eyes of a child: The prince's
innocence and childlike wonder help him to see the world in a new way. He
is able to appreciate the beauty of simple things, and he is not blinded
by material possessions or social status.
Legacy
The Little Prince is one of the most beloved and
translated books in the world. It has been adapted into numerous films,
television shows, and operas. The novel has also inspired countless artists and
writers.
The Little Prince is a timeless classic that
continues to be enjoyed by readers of all ages. It is a story that reminds us
of the importance of friendship, love, and imagination.
Chapter by chapter summary:
Chapter 1
The story begins with the narrator, a pilot, describing how he
once drew a picture of a boa constrictor digesting an elephant. When he showed
the drawing to grown-ups, they thought it was a picture of a hat. The pilot
realized that grown-ups were very different from him, and that they could not
see the world in the same way that he could.
Chapter 2
Years later, the pilot crashes in the desert. He is working to
repair his plane when he is approached by a young boy. The boy asks the pilot
to draw him a sheep, and the pilot agrees. The pilot draws several sheep, but
the boy is not satisfied with any of them. Finally, the pilot draws a box and
tells the boy to imagine the sheep inside. The boy is delighted, and he
introduces himself as the little prince.
Chapter 3
The pilot and the little prince spend the next few days talking.
The little prince tells the pilot about his life on his asteroid, where he
takes care of a single rose. He also tells the pilot about his travels to other
planets, where he met strange and wonderful characters.
Chapter 4
The little prince's first stop was on a planet inhabited by a
king. The king was a lonely and arrogant man who demanded that everyone obey
him. The little prince was not impressed by the king, and he soon left the
planet.
Chapter 5
The little prince's next stop was on a planet inhabited by a
vain man. The vain man was obsessed with his appearance, and he demanded that
everyone admire him. The little prince was not impressed by the vain man, and
he soon left the planet.
Chapter 6
The little prince's next stop was on a planet inhabited by a
drunkard. The drunkard was addicted to alcohol, and he could not explain why he
drank. The little prince was saddened by the drunkard, and he soon left the planet.
Chapter 7
The little prince's next stop was on a planet inhabited by a
businessman. The businessman was obsessed with counting stars, but he did not
understand why they were important. The little prince was not impressed by the
businessman, and he soon left the planet.
Chapter 8
The little prince's next stop was on a planet inhabited by a
lamplighter. The lamplighter was responsible for lighting and extinguishing a
single lamp on his planet. The little prince was impressed by the lamplighter's
dedication, but he was also saddened by his loneliness.
Chapter 9
The little prince's next stop was on a planet inhabited by a
geographer. The geographer was responsible for studying the planets, but he had
never actually left his own planet. The little prince was disappointed by the
geographer's lack of curiosity, and he soon left the planet.
Chapter 10
The little prince's final stop was on Earth. The little prince
landed in the desert, where he met the fox. The fox taught the little prince
about the importance of friendship and love. He also taught the little prince
that the most important things in life are invisible to the eye.
The fox also told the little prince about the
importance of taming. To tame something is to create a bond with it, to make it
unique and special to you. The little prince tamed the fox, and the two of them
became close friends.
Chapter 11
The little prince eventually realized that he
needed to return to his home planet and to his rose. He said goodbye to the
fox, and he promised to never forget him.
Chapter 12
The little prince found a snake who agreed to bite
him and send him back to his home planet. The pilot was saddened to see the
little prince go, but he knew that it was time for him to return home.
Conclusion
Le Petit Prince is a timeless classic that continues to resonate with
readers of all ages. It is a story that teaches us about the importance of
imagination, creativity, love, friendship, and seeing the world through the
eyes of a child.
The Little Prince is a
heartwarming and philosophical tale about the importance of friendship, love,
and imagination. The little prince's journey to Earth teaches him valuable
lessons about the world and about himself. He learns that the most important things
in life are often invisible to the eye, and that true happiness is found in
simple things like spending time with loved ones and appreciating the beauty of
nature.
The novel's timeless themes continue to resonate with readers of all ages today. It is a story that reminds us to cherish the important things in life and to never lose our sense of wonder.
 by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry){kind=link}
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