The Necklace
The Necklace
Extract Based Questions (4 marks each)
Question 1.
Instead of being delighted, as her husband had hoped, she threw the invitation spitefully upon the table murmuring, What do you suppose I want with that?”
(a) Why did her husband hope that she would become happy?
(b) What was her reaction?
(c) What does murmuring means?
(d) Why did Matilda throw the invitation? (1×4=4)
Answer:
(a) He hoped that his wife would be happy on seeing the invitation to party from Minister of Public Instructions.
(b) She got angry and threw the invitation card on table.
(c) speaking in a low and unclear manner.
(d) Because she wanted an attire according to the occasion.
Question 2.
The day of the ball approached and Matilda Loisel seemed sad, disturbed, anxious. Nevertheless, her dress was nearly ready.
(a) Why was Matilda Loisel sad and disturbed?
(b) Why did she get a dress ready?
(c) What is a ball?
(d) Which word means the same as coming? (1×4=4)
Answer:
(a) She was sad and disturbed because she had no jewels.
(b) She got a dress ready to put on the occasion of a ball party, orginised by Minister of Public Instruction.
(c) A dance party.
(d) Approached.
Question 3.
I returned another to you exactly like it. And it has taken us ten years to pay for it. You can understand that it was not easy for us who have nothing.
(a) Who is I?
(b) Why did it take the ten years to pay for it?
(c) Write the antonym of nothing.
(d) Which word in the passage means the same as similar’? (1×4=4)
Answer:
Value Points:
(a) Matilda Loisel.
(b) Had no money had to work hard to collect money to pay for the necklace. \\
(c) Everything.
(d) Exactly.
Detailed Answer:
(a) T is Matilda Loisel.
(b) It look then then years to return the money, collected to pay (as debt) for the lost necklace.
(c) Antonym of nothing is everything.
(d) Exactly means the same as similar.
Question 4.
One evening her husband returned elated bearing in his hand a large envelope. Here, he said, here is something for you.
(a) Why was the husband elated?
(b) What was the reaction from you?
(c) Find the word from the extract that means the same as wrapper.
(d) What is the antonym of elated?
Answer:
(a) The husband was elated as he brought home an invite to the Ministers residence. He knew it would make his wife happy.
(b) You or his wife, unexpectedly, was not the least happy and she made her displeasure very obvious.
(c) Envelope means the same as wrapper from the extract.
(d) Its antonym is sad.
Question 5.
He threw around her shoulders that modest wraps they had carried whose poverty clashed with the elegance of the ball costume. She wished to hurry away
(a) What precedes these fines?
(b) She wished to hurry away. Why?
(c) Which word in the given extract is a synonym of not expensive?
(d) What is the opposite of poverty?
Answer:
(a) These lines follows Matildas success at the ball where she was idolized. Her beauty and elegance was praised by everyone.
(b) She, Matilda did not wish to shatter the illusion of her grandeur that she had so successfully managed to convey others by putting on such a shabby wrap. So, she wished to hurry away to escape the notice of the rich women.
(c) Modest is the synonym of not expensive from the extract.
(d) Its opposite is affluence.
Question 6.
She learned the odious work of a kitchen she seemed old now. She had become strong, hard woman, the crude woman of a poor household.
(a) Who seemed old now? .
(b) What had made her crude?
(c) Which word in the given extract is an antonym to pleasant?
(d) What part of speech is crude in the extract?
Answer:
(a) Matilda seemed old now.
(b) Ten long years of poverty, and a constant struggle and strife for survival had made her crude.
(c) Odious is the antonym of pleasant in the extract.
(d) It is an adjective.
Question 7.
Mme. Forestier was touched and took both her hands as she replied, Oh! My poor Matilda! Mine were false. They were not worth over five hundred francs.
(a) Why was Mme. Forestier touched?
(b) Mine were false. What does mine refer to in these words?
(c) Find the word from the extract that means same as agitated.
(d) What is the opposite of poor?
Answer:
(a) Mme. Forestier was touched by Matildas plight which could have been avoided if only Matilda had told the truth.
(b) Mine refers to the diamond necklace that Mme. Forestier had lent to Matilda.
(c) Touched means the same as agitated from the extract.
(d) Its opposite is rich.
Short Answer Type Questions
Question 1. What would Matilda often dream of?
Answer: Matilda would often dream of all the delicacies, luxuries, elegant dinners, marvelous dishes, rich silver, beautiful dresses, jewels, adoration and a life of glory. She would escape into her dreams from the dullness of her very humble existence.
Question 2. Why did Matilda throw the invitation spitefully?
Answer: Matilda was simply displeased when her husband showed the invitation. She felt humiliated and threw the invitation spitefully as she had nothing beautiful enough to wear to such a grand gathering.
Question 3. Describe Mme. Loisels success at the ball.
Do you think M Loisel had an enjoyable evening at the ball? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer: Mme. Loisel was the center of attention at the ball. Her beauty, her grace, her joy and the gorgeous smile captivated all. Men sought to be presented to her. She danced happily at her conquest of all.
Question 4. What excuse did Loisel put up to explain the delay in returning the necklace?
Answer: Loisel had lost the necklace and needed time to find an identical one. Thus, Loisel wrote a letter to Mme. Forestier with an excuse that the clasp of the necklace was broken and they needed time to get it repaired.
Question 5. How did Loisel manage to pay for the necklace?
Answer: The necklace cost Loisel thirty six thousand francs. Loisel had to chip in his entire inheritance of eighteen thousand francs and the rest he had to borrow from the usurers.
Question 6. How did Mme. Loisel now know the life of necessity?
Answer: To pay the debt of eighteen thousand francs, Loisel let go of their decent living. They lived in impoverished neighborhood. Matilda had to cook, clean, wash, mend, bring water and bargain with the butcher and grocer. Her husband worked day and night to save every sou.
Question 7. Describe Mme. Loisel after ten years.
Answer: Ten years of poverty and hardship steal away Matildas youth and beauty. She becomes a strong and hard woman, who is poorly dressed with untidy hair and red ragged hands.
Question 8. What do you think of M Loisel as a husband? Cite instances from the text to support your answer.
Answer: M Loisel was a caring and supportive husband. Fie sacrificed his wishes and the money he inherited from his father for his wife.
Question 9. Why was Matildas friend astonished to see her at the end of the story?
Why did Jeanne not recognize her friend, Matilda?
Answer: Jeanne, Matildas friend, could not recognize her as she seemed an old and worn out poor woman. Matilda was no longer her former beautiful and Joyous self.
Question 10. Comment on the use of irony in the text.
How had sacrifice of Mme. Loisels been in vain?
Answer: The irony in the story is based on the fact that the Loisel spend 10 years of toil and frugality paying for a necklace which turns out to be a cheap imitation.
Short Answer Type Questions (30-40 words )
Question 1. Why was Matilda always unhappy?
Answer: Matilda was always unhappy because she had been born into a simple family of clerks and married also to a clerk. Thus, her desires to be rich or distinguished or of becoming known were never fulfilled which caused her to be unhappy.
Question 2. Why was Matilda Loisel always unhappy?
Answer:
Value Points:
Matilda Loisel was very pretty considered herself born for a luxurious life.
But in reality she was married petty clerk.
The poverty of her apartment and the lack of fashionable clothes and jewelry too added to her unhappiness. (Any two)
Detailed Answer:
Matilda Loisel was very pretty. She considered herself being born for a luxurious life but the reality differed from her dreams. In reality she was married to a petty clerk and led a very simple life. Her fantasy over ambitiousness made her unhappy.
Question 3. Why did Matilda not want to see her rich friends?
Answer:
Value Points:
Her friends were rich and full of money power but she was married to a simple clerk, had inferiority complex.
Detailed Answer:
Matilda did not want to see her rich friends because she suffered from inferiority complex. She was married to a simple clerk; whereas her friends were rich and full of money power.
Question 4. What was Loisels reaction to his wifes desire for a new dress?
Answer: The Loisels had been invited to a party at the ministers residence. When Matilda told her husband that she wanted a new dress to wear, first of all he asked her to wear whatever she possessed. When she got angry and refused to go to the party at all, he finally agreed to let her buy a new one.
Question 5. Do you think M. Loisel had an enjoyable evening at the ball? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer: I think M. Loisel didnt enjoy much at the ball. In fact, he was not much interested in such parties. He had come there for the sake of his wifes happiness. So when his wife was dancing with enthusiasm, intoxicated with pleasure, he waited for her (but without disturbing her) half asleep in one of the little salons since midnight.
Question 6. How did the Loisel react when they realized that the necklace had been lost?
Answer: As soon as they realized that the necklace had been lost their short-lived happiness degenerated into shock of the worst nightmare. Matilda uttered a cry. Loisel, already half undressed, arose in dismay and went immediately on foot in search of necklace.
Question 7. Why was Matilda sad after the ball?
Answer: The night of the ball had been the realization of a long cherished dream for Matilda, when she was the focus of all the attention and every eye admired her. But the happiness was short-lived and degenerated into shock of the worst nightmare when she discovered that the necklace was missing from her attire. Her mind was ridden with forebodings of how she would face Madame Forestier and pay up for the loss.
Question 8. What was the cause of Matildas ruin?
Answer: Her own discontentment was the cause of her ruin. She always felt that she had been born for better things. So her desires to be rich or distinguished or of becoming known were never fulfilled which caused her to be unhappy and ruined.
Question 9. What changes came into the life of the Loisel after borrowing money?
Answer: After borrowing money, a lot of changes came in the life of the Loisel. They had to do away with the maid and Matilda had to do all the household chores. She had to carry down the refuse to the street and carry water upstairs. She had to do all the shopping from the market after a lot of haggling. Her husband also had to work hard. He worked in the evenings and sometimes even at night. Thus, their life changed drastically.
Question 10. Why could Mrs. Forestier not recognize her friend Matilda at the end of the story?
Answer: Matilda had to work very hard to lead her life. She had become a strong, hard woman, the crude woman of the household. In fact she had started looking old. One Sunday evening, when she was taking a walk in the Champs Elysees, she met Mrs. Forestier who still looked young and pretty. As Matilda had started looking old and haggard, she couldnt be recognized by her.
Question 1. What would Matilda often dream of?
Answer: Matilda would often dream of all the delicacies, luxuries, elegant dinners, marvelous dishes, rich silver, beautiful dresses, jewels, adoration and a life of glory. She would escape into her dreams from the dullness of her very humble existence.
Question 2. Why did Matilda throw the invitation spitefully?
Answer: Matilda was simply displeased when her husband showed the invitation. She felt humiliated and threw the invitation spitefully as she had nothing beautiful enough to wear to such a grand gathering.
Question 3. Describe Mme. Loisels success at the ball.
Or
Do you think M Loisel had an enjoyable evening at the ball? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer: Mme. Loisel was the center of attention at the ball. Her beauty, her grace, her joy and the gorgeous smile captivated all. Men sought to be presented to her. She danced happily at her conquest of all.
Question 4. What excuse did Loisel put up to explain the delay in returning the necklace?
Answer: Loisel had lost the necklace and needed time to find an identical one. Thus, Loisel wrote a letter to Mme. Forestier with an excuse that the clasp of the necklace was broken and they needed time to get it repaired.
Question 5. How did Loisel manage to pay for the necklace?
Answer: The necklace cost Loisel thirty six thousand francs. Loisel had to chip in his entire inheritance of eighteen thousand francs and the rest he had to borrow from the usurers.
Question 6. How did Mme. Loisel now know the life of necessity?
Answer: To pay the debt of eighteen thousand francs, Loisel let go of their decent living. They lived in impoverished neighborhood. Matilda had to cook, clean, wash, mend, bring water and bargain with the butcher and grocer. Her husband worked day and night to save every sou.
Question 7. Describe Mme. Loisel after ten years.
Answer: Ten years of poverty and hardship steal away Matildas youth and beauty. She becomes a strong and hard woman, who is poorly dressed with untidy hair and red ragged hands.
Question 8. What do you think of M Loisel as a husband? Cite instances from the text to support your answer.
Answer: M Loisel was a caring and supportive husband. Fie sacrificed his wishes and the money he inherited from his father for his wife.
Question 9. Why was Matildas friend astonished to see her at the end of the story?
or
Why did Jeanne not recognize her friend, Matilda?
Answer: Jeanne, Matildas friend, could not recognize her as she seemed an old and worn out poor woman. Matilda was no longer her former beautiful and Joyous self.
Question 10. Comment on the use of irony in the text.
or
How had sacrifice of Mme. Loisels been in vain?
Answer: The irony in the story is based on the fact that the Loisel spend 10 years of toil and frugality paying for a necklace which turns out to be a cheap imitation.
Short Answer Type Questions (30-40 words )
Question 1. Why was Matilda always unhappy?
Answer: Matilda was always unhappy because she had been born into a simple family of clerks and married also to a clerk. Thus, her desires to be rich or distinguished or of becoming known were never fulfilled which caused her to be unhappy.
Question 2. Why was Matilda Loisel always unhappy?
Answer:
Value Points:
Matilda Loisel was very pretty considered herself born for a luxurious life.
But in reality she was married petty clerk.
The poverty of her apartment and the lack of fashionable clothes and jewelry too added to her unhappiness. (Any two)
Detailed Answer:
Matilda Loisel was very pretty. She considered herself being born for a luxurious life but the reality differed from her dreams. In reality she was married to a petty clerk and led a very simple life. Her fantasy over ambitiousness made her unhappy.
Question 3. Why did Matilda not want to see her rich friends?
Answer:
Value Points:
Her friends were rich and full of money power but she was married to a simple clerk, had inferiority complex.
Detailed Answer:
Matilda did not want to see her rich friends because she suffered from inferiority complex. She was married to a simple clerk; whereas her friends were rich and full of money power.
Question 4. What was Loisels reaction to his wifes desire for a new dress?
Answer: The Loisels had been invited to a party at the ministers residence. When Matilda told her husband that she wanted a new dress to wear, first of all he asked her to wear whatever she possessed. When she got angry and refused to go to the party at all, he finally agreed to let her buy a new one.
Question 5. Do you think M. Loisel had an enjoyable evening at the ball? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer: I think M. Loisel didnt enjoy much at the ball. In fact, he was not much interested in such parties. He had come there for the sake of his wifes happiness. So when his wife was dancing with enthusiasm, intoxicated with pleasure, he waited for her (but without disturbing her) half asleep in one of the little salons since midnight.
Question 6. How did the Loisel react when they realized that the necklace had been lost?
Answer: As soon as they realized that the necklace had been lost their short-lived happiness degenerated into shock of the worst nightmare. Matilda uttered a cry. Loisel, already half undressed, arose in dismay and went immediately on foot in search of necklace.
Question 7. Why was Matilda sad after the ball?
Answer: The night of the ball had been the realization of a long cherished dream for Matilda, when she was the focus of all the attention and every eye admired her. But the happiness was short-lived and degenerated into shock of the worst nightmare when she discovered that the necklace was missing from her attire. Her mind was ridden with forebodings of how she would face Madame Forestier and pay up for the loss.
Question 8. What was the cause of Matildas ruin?
Answer: Her own discontentment was the cause of her ruin. She always felt that she had been born for better things. So her desires to be rich or distinguished or of becoming known were never fulfilled which caused her to be unhappy and ruined.
Question 9. What changes came into the life of the Loisel after borrowing money?
Answer: After borrowing money, a lot of changes came in the life of the Loisel. They had to do away with the maid and Matilda had to do all the household chores. She had to carry down the refuse to the street and carry water upstairs. She had to do all the shopping from the market after a lot of haggling. Her husband also had to work hard. He worked in the evenings and sometimes even at night. Thus, their life changed drastically.
Question 10. Why could Mrs. Forestier not recognize her friend Matilda at the end of the story?
Answer: Matilda had to work very hard to lead her life. She had become a strong, hard woman, the crude woman of the household. In fact she had started looking old. One Sunday evening, when she was taking a walk in the Champs Elysees, she met Mrs. Forestier who still looked young and pretty. As Matilda had started looking old and haggard, she couldnt be recognized by her.
Long Answer Type Questions (100-120 words & 8 marks each)
Question 1. Why did Matildas husband go out into the cold night, minutes after returning from the ball? Was he successful in his purpose?
Answer: On returning from the ball, Matilda noticed that the necklace, which she had borrowed from Madame Forestier, was missing. They searched for the necklace everywhere. Matildas husband went out into the cold night searching for the lost necklace. He went on foot over the route, filed police complaint, enquired cab offices and even put an advertisement in newspapers, offering a reward. But then, all his efforts went in vain. He was not able to find the lost necklace.
Question 2. What did Loisel do to replace the necklace?
Answer: Loisel had to pay thirty six thousand Francs for the new necklace. To replace the lost necklace, Loisel used eighteen thousand francs which were set aside by Mr. Loisels father. The remaining1-amount was borrowed from moneylenders. In order to repay the borrowed money they went without maid and Matilda did all the household chores whereas Mr. Loisel even worked overtime. In this way, they led a miserable life just to collect enough amount to replace the lost necklace.
Question 3. What was the cause of Matildas ruin? How could she have avoided it?
What could have happened to Matilda if she had confessed to her friend that she had lost her necklace?
Answer:
Value Points:
Matilda was a pretty, young lady who was always unhappy with her life. For the party she had borrowed a necklace. She lost the necklace of Mrs. Forestier. Losing of the necklace was the cause of her ruin. It forced them to spend their saved amount as well as to borrow eighteen thousand francs. She could have easily avoided her ruin if she had confessed the truth to Mrs. Forestier.
Detailed Answer:
Matilda had borrowed a necklace from her friend Madame Forestier to wear in the party. It was a beautiful one and Matilda, a pretty woman, became the center of attraction at the party. All this happiness was short-lived because on reaching home, she discovered that she had lost it. All her efforts to find it were in vain. She and her husband borrowed huge sums of money to replace the necklace and henceforth faced a miserable life. On the other hand, if she had confessed to her friend that she had lost the necklace and had apologized she might have saved her family from a lot of miseries as the necklace was not even worth 500 francs in reality.
Question 4. Why did Matilda change her lifestyle after the ball?
What changes came into the life of the Loisel after the incident of borrowing the necklace?
Answer:
Value Points :
The Loisel had sent away their maid. They changed their lodgings and rented some rooms in an attic. Mme. Loisel did all the cooking, rubbing and cleaning work herself. She brought water and haggled at shops. Mr. Loisel worked evenings and nights. They suffered for ten years.
Detailed Answer:
Matilda had been enjoying thoroughly at the ball and in the pleasure of the moment, she got careless and lost the necklace. All search was in vain and the expensive jewel (or so they thought) had to be replaced. The debt incurred was much beyond their capacity to pay and thus they had to make severe compromises in their lifestyle, foregoing every luxury. Matilda worked laboriously at the household chores while M. Loisel overworked at the office. Thus, they slogged for ten long years to pay up the loan.
Question 5.
How had Mme. Loisels sacrifice all been in vain?
Answer:
The pleasure of looking pretty at the ball proved an expensive bargain for Matilda, as she lost the necklace borrowed from Mme. Forestier. It took Loisels ten long years to pay back the huge sum they borrowed to replace the lost necklace.
Years later, when Matilda saw Mme. Forestier, she disclosed the truth of the lost necklace. She was dumb-founded to discover that it was not a genuine piece of jewelry and had been worth just five hundred francs. All her sacrifices and comprises had been meaningless.
Question 6. What is your opinion about M. Loisel as a husband?
Answer: M. Loisel was a loving husband beyond any doubt. He was aware of his wifes aspirations and so he thought that the invitation to the ball would please her and expressed no offence when she reacted negatively. Instead, he offered his savings to buy her an outfit, suited for the occasion.
Even when Matilda lost the necklace, he cooperated at every step to make up for the loss and made the necessary compromises in his life without complaining.
Question 7. How can you say that Mr. Loisel was a simple man and loved his wife very much?
Answer:
Value Points:
Petty clerk, no showy nature, simple living
loved his wifes simple dress
satisfied, praised her beauty
fulfilled her desire, purchased new dress
not aggressive at the loss of necklace
worked evening and night-paid the amount
Detailed Answer:
He was a petty clerk in the office of the Board of Education. He was neither rich nor distinguished. He didnt have showy nature. He loved simple living, i.e. he loved simple home food, served in ordinary utensils; lived in a simple house with shabby walls and worn chairs. But he didnt have any complaint.
He loved his wife very much and praised her beauty. She was fond of grandeur in life. So he managed to bring her an invitation to attend the ministers party. For that party, he offered her 400 Francs to buy a new dress which he had saved to buy a new gun for himself. When she had lost the necklace at the party, without being aggressive he arranged 36000 Franks for replacing the same. Moreover, he worked evening and night, after his regular job to repay the amount.
Value Based Questions
Question 1. The Necklace reveals that vanity is an evil. It may bring joy for a short period but ultimately it leads to ruin. If you were placed in a situation similar to that of Matilda, what would have you done? Write your views. [Value Based Question]
Answer: The necklace, through the example of Matilda conveys a chore truth that one must value what he has and cherish. His blessings rather than chase illusions in the form of material possessions, because if one lacks contentment then there is no end to the chase.
Matilda should have valued the love of her husband rather than grumble about her unfulfilled aspirations. And to look beautiful, one does not need to borrow expensive jewels; it is the goodness of a person and the way one conducts, makes one beautiful.
Question 2. Contentment is a great wealth. Explain with reference to Matildathe main character of this story. [Value Based Question]
Answer: There is no doubt in saying that mans final goal should be contentment. Human beings can never be happy if they have unlimited desires and wants. This is shown by the character Matilda who was never happy with what she had but always desired for more and more which led her to ruin. Man should find happiness in what he has, rather than running after what he does not have. It could be the cause of his unhappiness and sorrow.
Long Answer (Value Based) Type Questions [8 Marks each]
Question 1. Mme. Loisels disposition invites her doom. Comment in the context of the text you've read.
or
What kind of person is Matilda Loisel? Support your answer giving examples from the story The Necklace.
Answer: Mme. Loisel belongs to a family of clerks. Her existence is quite average. They live on meager income, enough for basic needs but not to fulfill aspirations. She gets married to a clerk and is so caught up with her dreams of wealth and pleasure that she is out of touch with the truths of her real life. In order to keep up appearances just to flatter her pride, she blows up four hundred francs on a gorgeous dress. And, not contented, she goes on borrowing a necklace from her friend. And, all of this is just to impress the wealthy and the rich with her beauty and glamour (even if on loan). No doubt, her pride is flattered and her wish of fine dining, expensive dresses and jewels satisfied but at a great price. Unfortunately, the necklace has lost and the couple has to cough up their entire inheritance and borrow as well to replace it. Repayment of the debt eats away the next ten years of their youth. They live poor. All the house hold chores and cares of a life of poverty visit them. Hence, her disposition invites her doom.
Question 2. Mme. Forestier proved to be a true friend. Elucidate.
Answer: Mme. Forestier turns out to be an interesting character. She plays a very vital role in the story. As a friend to Matilda, we find her to be really genuine as she helps Matilda in the hour of her need. When Mme. Loisel needs to borrow jewels, she turns to Mme. Forestier. Mme. Forestier does not refuse. Displaying her generosity, she opens up the entire array of her jewels for Matilda to choose from. Also, she is considerate when Loisel delay the return of the necklace. Surprisingly, at the end of the story, she concludes the entire narrative.
Without even a moments hesitation, she reveals to Matilda that her necklace was just a fake. She is not at all worried in the light of the fact that she may have to return the necklace. It shows her honesty. Rather, she, like a true friend, feels bad for Matilda at her unnecessary suffering. We find her sympathizing with Mme. Loisel. She is indeed a gem of a friend.
Question 3. Do you think the story is aptly titled? Justify your answer.
Answer: The whole narrative of the story The Necklace revolves around a young woman Matilda, who in her foolish pride borrows a necklace inviting misery and sorrow for herself as well as for her husband. The necklace has lost and the Loisel fall into a tremendous debt. They spend the next ten years of their life in paying debt for the replacement of the lost necklace. Their entire life moves around impoverished everyday saga of misery and hunger and the necklace, in fact, changes the very course of their life. Also, it is against the back drop of the necklace that Matildas pride and dishonesty are highlighted. At the same time, the necklace serves a twist at the end as it turns out to be a fake one. The story is, hence, most aptly titled as the necklace is, in fact, the leading character of this ironic tale of desire, the doom and the tragedy.
Question 1. Why did Matildas husband go out into the cold night, minutes after returning from the ball? Was he successful in his purpose?
Answer: On returning from the ball, Matilda noticed that the necklace, which she had borrowed from Madame Forestier, was missing. They searched for the necklace everywhere. Matildas husband went out into the cold night searching for the lost necklace. He went on foot over the route, filed police complaint, enquired cab offices and even put an advertisement in newspapers, offering a reward. But then, all his efforts went in vain. He was not able to find the lost necklace.
Question 2. What did Loisel do to replace the necklace?
Answer: Loisel had to pay thirty six thousand Francs for the new necklace. To replace the lost necklace, Loisel used eighteen thousand francs which were set aside by Mr. Loisels father. The remaining1-amount was borrowed from moneylenders. In order to repay the borrowed money they went without maid and Matilda did all the household chores whereas Mr. Loisel even worked overtime. In this way, they led a miserable life just to collect enough amount to replace the lost necklace.
Question 3. What was the cause of Matildas ruin? How could she have avoided it?
OR
What could have happened to Matilda if she had confessed to her friend that she had lost her necklace?
Answer:
Value Points:
Matilda was a pretty, young lady who was always unhappy with her life. For the party she had borrowed a necklace. She lost the necklace of Mrs. Forestier. Losing of the necklace was the cause of her ruin. It forced them to spend their saved amount as well as to borrow eighteen thousand francs. She could have easily avoided her ruin if she had confessed the truth to Mrs. Forestier.
Detailed Answer:
Matilda had borrowed a necklace from her friend Madame Forestier to wear in the party. It was a beautiful one and Matilda, a pretty woman, became the center of attraction at the party. All this happiness was short-lived because on reaching home, she discovered that she had lost it. All her efforts to find it were in vain. She and her husband borrowed huge sums of money to replace the necklace and henceforth faced a miserable life. On the other hand, if she had confessed to her friend that she had lost the necklace and had apologized she might have saved her family from a lot of miseries as the necklace was not even worth 500 francs in reality.
Question 4. Why did Matilda change her lifestyle after the ball?
OR
What changes came into the life of the Loisel after the incident of borrowing the necklace?
Answer:
Value Points :
The Loisel had sent away their maid. They changed their lodgings and rented some rooms in an attic. Mme. Loisel did all the cooking, rubbing and cleaning work herself. She brought water and haggled at shops. Mr. Loisel worked evenings and nights. They suffered for ten years.
Detailed Answer:
Matilda had been enjoying thoroughly at the ball and in the pleasure of the moment, she got careless and lost the necklace. All search was in vain and the expensive jewel (or so they thought) had to be replaced. The debt incurred was much beyond their capacity to pay and thus they had to make severe compromises in their lifestyle, foregoing every luxury. Matilda worked laboriously at the household chores while M. Loisel overworked at the office. Thus, they slogged for ten long years to pay up the loan.
Question 5.
How had Mme. Loisels sacrifice all been in vain?
Answer:
The pleasure of looking pretty at the ball proved an expensive bargain for Matilda, as she lost the necklace borrowed from Mme. Forestier. It took Loisels ten long years to pay back the huge sum they borrowed to replace the lost necklace.
Years later, when Matilda saw Mme. Forestier, she disclosed the truth of the lost necklace. She was dumb-founded to discover that it was not a genuine piece of jewelry and had been worth just five hundred francs. All her sacrifices and comprises had been meaningless.
Question 6. What is your opinion about M. Loisel as a husband?
Answer: M. Loisel was a loving husband beyond any doubt. He was aware of his wifes aspirations and so he thought that the invitation to the ball would please her and expressed no offence when she reacted negatively. Instead, he offered his savings to buy her an outfit, suited for the occasion.
Even when Matilda lost the necklace, he cooperated at every step to make up for the loss and made the necessary compromises in his life without complaining.
Question 7. How can you say that Mr. Loisel was a simple man and loved his wife very much?
Answer:
Value Points:
Petty clerk, no showy nature, simple living
loved his wifes simple dress
satisfied, praised her beauty
fulfilled her desire, purchased new dress
not aggressive at the loss of necklace
worked evening and night-paid the amount
Detailed Answer:
He was a petty clerk in the office of the Board of Education. He was neither rich nor distinguished. He didnt have showy nature. He loved simple living, i.e. he loved simple home food, served in ordinary utensils; lived in a simple house with shabby walls and worn chairs. But he didnt have any complaint.
He loved his wife very much and praised her beauty. She was fond of grandeur in life. So he managed to bring her an invitation to attend the ministers party. For that party, he offered her 400 Francs to buy a new dress which he had saved to buy a new gun for himself. When she had lost the necklace at the party, without being aggressive he arranged 36000 Franks for replacing the same. Moreover, he worked evening and night, after his regular job to repay the amount.
Value Based Questions
Question 1. The Necklace reveals that vanity is an evil. It may bring joy for a short period but ultimately it leads to ruin. If you were placed in a situation similar to that of Matilda, what would have you done? Write your views. [Value Based Question]
Answer: The necklace, through the example of Matilda conveys a chore truth that one must value what he has and cherish. His blessings rather than chase illusions in the form of material possessions, because if one lacks contentment then there is no end to the chase.
Matilda should have valued the love of her husband rather than grumble about her unfulfilled aspirations. And to look beautiful, one does not need to borrow expensive jewels; it is the goodness of a person and the way one conducts, makes one beautiful.
Question 2. Contentment is a great wealth. Explain with reference to Matildathe main character of this story. [Value Based Question]
Answer: There is no doubt in saying that mans final goal should be contentment. Human beings can never be happy if they have unlimited desires and wants. This is shown by the character Matilda who was never happy with what she had but always desired for more and more which led her to ruin. Man should find happiness in what he has, rather than running after what he does not have. It could be the cause of his unhappiness and sorrow.
Long Answer (Value Based) Type Questions [8 Marks each]
Question 1. Mme. Loisels disposition invites her doom. Comment in the context of the text you've read.
or
What kind of person is Matilda Loisel? Support your answer giving examples from the story The Necklace.
Answer: Mme. Loisel belongs to a family of clerks. Her existence is quite average. They live on meager income, enough for basic needs but not to fulfill aspirations. She gets married to a clerk and is so caught up with her dreams of wealth and pleasure that she is out of touch with the truths of her real life. In order to keep up appearances just to flatter her pride, she blows up four hundred francs on a gorgeous dress. And, not contented, she goes on borrowing a necklace from her friend. And, all of this is just to impress the wealthy and the rich with her beauty and glamour (even if on loan). No doubt, her pride is flattered and her wish of fine dining, expensive dresses and jewels satisfied but at a great price. Unfortunately, the necklace has lost and the couple has to cough up their entire inheritance and borrow as well to replace it. Repayment of the debt eats away the next ten years of their youth. They live poor. All the house hold chores and cares of a life of poverty visit them. Hence, her disposition invites her doom.
Question 2. Mme. Forestier proved to be a true friend. Elucidate.
Answer: Mme. Forestier turns out to be an interesting character. She plays a very vital role in the story. As a friend to Matilda, we find her to be really genuine as she helps Matilda in the hour of her need. When Mme. Loisel needs to borrow jewels, she turns to Mme. Forestier. Mme. Forestier does not refuse. Displaying her generosity, she opens up the entire array of her jewels for Matilda to choose from. Also, she is considerate when Loisel delay the return of the necklace. Surprisingly, at the end of the story, she concludes the entire narrative.
Without even a moments hesitation, she reveals to Matilda that her necklace was just a fake. She is not at all worried in the light of the fact that she may have to return the necklace. It shows her honesty. Rather, she, like a true friend, feels bad for Matilda at her unnecessary suffering. We find her sympathizing with Mme. Loisel. She is indeed a gem of a friend.
Question 3. Do you think the story is aptly titled? Justify your answer.
Answer: The whole narrative of the story The Necklace revolves around a young woman Matilda, who in her foolish pride borrows a necklace inviting misery and sorrow for herself as well as for her husband. The necklace has lost and the Loisel fall into a tremendous debt. They spend the next ten years of their life in paying debt for the replacement of the lost necklace. Their entire life moves around impoverished everyday saga of misery and hunger and the necklace, in fact, changes the very course of their life. Also, it is against the back drop of the necklace that Matildas pride and dishonesty are highlighted. At the same time, the necklace serves a twist at the end as it turns out to be a fake one. The story is, hence, most aptly titled as the necklace is, in fact, the leading character of this ironic tale of desire, the doom and the tragedy.
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