Class 10 : English – Lesson 26. The Necklace
EXPLANATION & SUMMARY
💠 Explanation
🌟 Introduction to the Lesson
“The Necklace,” by Guy de Maupassant, is a short story from Class 10 NCERT Footprints Without Feet. It tells the tragic tale of Matilda Loisel, a young woman dissatisfied with her modest life. Her longing for wealth and glamour leads her to borrow a necklace for a ball, but losing it changes her destiny forever.
📚 About the Author
Guy de Maupassant (1850–1893) was a French short story writer, famous for his realism and use of irony. His works often explore themes of vanity, fate, and human weakness, making him one of the greatest short story masters.
💡 Setting / Context
The story is set in 19th-century Paris, where social class and appearance determined status. It reflects the struggles of middle-class families who aspired for recognition in a society that valued wealth and luxury.
🎭 Key Sections / Episodes
Matilda’s Discontent: Though married to a simple clerk, Matilda dreams of a life of riches and admiration.
The Ball Invitation: Her husband secures an invitation to a grand party, but Matilda feels humiliated without fine clothes or jewellery.
Borrowing the Necklace: To look elegant, she borrows a diamond necklace from her friend Madame Forestier.
The Loss of the Necklace: After a night of glory, Matilda realizes she has lost the necklace, leading to panic.
Years of Hardship: To replace it, she and her husband work tirelessly in poverty for ten years, sacrificing everything.
The Twist Ending: At last, Matilda learns the necklace was fake and worthless.
🖋️ Tone, Style, and Devices
The tone is tragic with sharp irony. Maupassant uses situational irony (the worthless necklace), contrast (dream vs. reality), and symbolism (the necklace as vanity and illusion). His realistic narration makes the story impactful.
🕊️ Themes and Takeaways
Vanity and Pride: Blind desire for luxury leads to suffering.
Appearance vs. Reality: What looks valuable may be worthless.
Irony of Fate: A moment’s vanity can change a lifetime.
Sacrifice and Regret: Misplaced values bring needless misery.
💠 Summary
“The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant narrates the story of Matilda Loisel, a woman unhappy with her modest life. Longing for glamour, she borrows a diamond necklace from Madame Forestier to attend a ball. She is admired at the party but loses the necklace afterward. To replace it, Matilda and her husband endure ten years of poverty and hard work. In the end, she learns the necklace was fake and worth nothing. The story highlights vanity, pride, and the cruel irony of fate.
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PASSAGE
PASSAGE
“Matilda was a pretty young lady, born into a family of clerks. She was married to a petty clerk in the Ministry of Education. She was simple but unhappy with her modest life. She dreamed of riches, luxuries, and admiration, believing she was destined for something grand. Her discontent grew whenever she saw wealthy women adorned with jewels and fine clothes.”
💠 (Short Answer – 30 words)
Why was Matilda unhappy with her life?
Answer: Matilda was unhappy because she longed for riches, luxury, and admiration, but her modest marriage to a petty clerk gave her no access to the glamorous life she desired.
💠 (Multiple Choice)
What was Matilda’s husband’s profession?
A. Merchant
B. Clerk in the Ministry of Education
C. Lawyer
D. Shopkeeper
Answer: B. Clerk in the Ministry of Education
💠 (Fill in the blank)
Matilda was born into a family of __.
Answer: clerks
💠 (Fill in the blank)
Matilda believed she was destined for something __.
Answer: grand
💠 (Assertion and Reason)
Assertion (A): Matilda was content with her modest life.
Reason (R): She dreamed of wealth and luxuries.
A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
C. A is false, but R is true.
D. Both A and R are false.
Answer: C. A is false, but R is true.
💠 (Short Answer – 30 words)
What does the passage reveal about Matilda’s character?
Answer: The passage reveals Matilda as vain, dreamy, and dissatisfied with her modest life, constantly longing for wealth, admiration, and grandeur instead of accepting her reality.
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OTHER QUESTIONS: –
🔴 Q1. Who is the author of The Necklace?
🔵 Answer: Guy de Maupassant.
🔴 Q2. Who was Matilda married to?
🔵 Answer: She was married to a petty clerk in the Ministry of Education.
🔴 Q3. Why was Matilda unhappy with her life?
🔵 Answer: She felt she was born for luxury and grandeur, but lived a modest, middle-class life.
🔴 Q4. From whom did Matilda borrow the necklace?
🔵 Answer: She borrowed it from her wealthy friend Madame Forestier.
🔴 Q5. Why did Matilda wish to borrow jewellery for the ball?
🔵 Answer: She wanted to look elegant, admired, and equal to wealthy women at the party.
🔴 Q6. How did Matilda look at the ball?
🔵 Answer: She looked graceful, charming, and was admired by everyone for her beauty and elegance.
🔴 Q7. How did Matilda lose the necklace?
🔵 Answer: She discovered it missing after returning from the ball, likely lost on the way home.
🔴 Q8. What sacrifices did Matilda and her husband make to repay the debt?
🔵 Answer: They dismissed their maid, shifted to a small room, borrowed money, and toiled hard for ten years to repay the replacement cost.
🔴 Q9. How did Matilda’s life change after the loss of the necklace?
🔵 Answer: She became rough, aged, and weary due to a decade of poverty and hard work.
🔴 Q10. Why is the ending of the story ironic?
🔵 Answer: After years of suffering, Matilda learned that the original necklace was fake and worthless.
🔴 Q11. What message does Maupassant convey through the story?
🔵 Answer: He shows how vanity, pride, and desire for status can ruin lives, while contentment is a greater virtue.
🔴 Q12. Describe Matilda’s character with reference to the story.
🔵 Answer: Matilda was pretty but vain and dissatisfied, always dreaming of wealth. Her pride and obsession with appearances led to her suffering and ultimate downfall.
🔴 Q13. How is The Necklace a story of irony?
🔵 Answer: It is ironic that Matilda, who wanted to appear rich for one night, ended up living in misery for ten years—only to find the necklace was fake.
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