Notes on "The Little Prince"

Chapter 1: Introduction and Drawings

• The narrator, when six years old, drew a picture of a boa constrictor that had eaten an elephant.
• Grown-ups only saw it as a hat, indicating their lack of imagination.
• Frustrated with adults, the narrator stopped drawing and focused on school subjects like math and geography.
• As an adult, he became a pilot and flew around the world.
• His plane crashed in the Sahara Desert where he met the little prince.

Chapter 2: Meeting the Little Prince

• The narrator wakes up in the desert to a voice asking him to draw a sheep.
• He meets the little prince, a golden-haired boy who is not scared despite being in a desert.
• The little prince requests a sheep and rejects the narrator's drawings of an elephant in a snake.
• The narrator finally draws a sheep in a box, which satisfies the prince.

Chapter 3: The Little Prince's Planet

• The prince comes from a very small planet.
• The narrator learns about the prince's planet and his love for sunsets.
• The prince explains that he could watch multiple sunsets in one day due to the small size of his planet.
• The narrator describes his plane and the prince's curiosity about it.

Chapter 4: The Flower

• The little prince worries about his flower and if sheep eat flowers.
• He reveals he has a beautiful flower on his planet that he cares for deeply.
• The flower is unique compared to other flowers, making it special.
• The prince reveals he left his planet because his flower didn't need him anymore.

Chapter 5: The Prince’s Journey

• The little prince shares stories of his visits to four different planets and the odd inhabitants he met:
  • King: Lonely and claims authority.
  • Geographer: Obsessed with recording numbers of stars.
  • Lamplighter: Works tirelessly on a small planet.
  • Writer: Considers flowers unimportant.
• The prince feels lonely and decides to travel to Earth.

Chapter 6: Encounter with the Snake

• On Earth, the little prince finds that it is vast and empty.
• He meets a snake who tells him he can help him return to his planet.
• The snake explains that loneliness can exist even among people.

Chapter 7: Discovery of Roses

• The little prince discovers a garden of roses that look like his flower.
• He feels sad realizing his flower is not unique.
• The prince reflects on the value of his flower and the relationship they shared.

Chapter 8: The Fox

• He meets a fox who teaches him about friendship and taming.
• The fox explains how one must invest time to create special bonds.
• The little prince realizes his flower is special because he cares for her.

Chapter 9: The Well

• The narrator and the little prince search for water in the desert.
• They find a well and share a moment of realization about the importance of unseen things.
• The little prince mentions returning to see his flower, which makes the narrator sad.

Chapter 10: The End

• On the last day, the little prince prepares to leave.
• He is bitten by the snake to return to his planet and flower.
• The narrator feels a deep sadness but remembers the little prince’s laughter, keeping his spirit alive within him.

Key Themes

• The importance of relationships and care in friendships.
• The contrast between childlike imagination and adult practicality.
• The significance of seeing beyond the surface to appreciate true beauty.