Page 1 :
CLASS – 9, , SUBJECT- ENGLISH, LITERATURE, , UNIT – 1.5, , LESSON – “NECKLACE”, , BACKGROUND, The Necklace" or "The Diamond Necklace" is an 1884 short story by French, writer Guy de Maupassant. It is known for its twist ending (Ironic ending), which, was a hallmark of de Maupassant's style. The story was first published on 17, February 1884 in the French newspaper Le Gaulois., , SUMMARY OF THE LESSON, , Mathilde Loisel is the pretty and charming daughter of a family of modest, means. Her family is unable to afford a dowry and so she is married to M. Loisel,, a clerk who works for the Ministry of Education. Because she is beautiful,, Mathilde feels that she has been short-changed in life: she is dismayed by the, shabbiness of her apartment and her humble maid, and she constantly dreams of, luxurious apartments and lavish dinners to escape the pedestrian reality of her, own daily existence., Hoping to cheer her up, M. Loisel gets them invited to a party hosted by the, Minister of Education. However, Mathilde initially refuses the invitation,, complaining that she doesn’t have anything to wear. M. Loisel generously agrees, to give her 400 francs to buy a new dress, the exact amount he had been, setting aside to purchase a rifle in order to go hunting with his friends on the, plains of Nanterre. Mathilde buys the dress, but that still isn’t enough: now she, wants a jewel or a gem to wear over it. At her husband’s suggestion, Mathilde, pays her wealthy friend Jeanne Forestier a visit to borrow some jewellery., Mathilde looks through every piece in her friend’s magnificent jewel box, finally

Page 2 :
settling on an expensive-looking diamond necklace. Admiring her reflection in, the mirror, Mathilde is finally happy., , Mathilde is a huge success at the party, drunk with pleasure as she is admired, by the other guests. However, disaster strikes when she loses the necklace, during the carriage ride home. The Loisels look everywhere for the lost, necklace and file a police report, but without any luck. Too ashamed to admit, the loss of the necklace to Mme. Forestier, the Loisels decide to replace it with, a similar one costing 40,000 francs. M. Loisel has 18,000 francs that he, inherited from his father but is forced to borrow the rest, asking for loans, from friends and making ruinous deals with moneylenders and loan sharks. Once, the money is raised, the Loisels purchase the replacement and return the, necklace to an unsuspecting Mme. Forestier., The following years are difficult for both Mathilde and her husband as they, struggle to settle their debts. After dismissing their maid and renting a garret, apartment, M. Loisel takes on a night job balancing accounts and copying, documents, while Mathilde learns to do the heavy housework and chores of a, working woman. This period of hardship takes its toll on Mathilde, who loses her, once-remarkable beauty but consoles herself with the memory of the night of, party when she was still beautiful and admired. After ten long years, the, terrible debt is finally repaid., One day while taking a walk on the Champs Elysées, Mathilde sees Mme., Forestier, who is still young-looking and beautiful. Mme. Forestier barely, recognizes her old friend, remarking how much she has changed. Now that the, debt has been settled, Mathilde decides to tell Mme. Forestier the whole story,, proud that she had been able to replace and pay for such an expensive necklace., However, Mme. Forestier is dismayed to inform her that all this suffering was, for nothing—Mathilde bought a diamond necklace to replace hers, but the, original was only costume jewellery worth, at most, 500 francs.

Page 3 :
THEME OF THE LESSON, One of the themes within "The Necklace" is the dichotomy of reality versus, appearance. Madame Loisel is beautiful on the outside, but inside she is, discontented with her less-than-wealthy lifestyle. Mathilde is gripped by a, greed that contrasts with her husband's kind generosity. She believes that, material wealth will bring her joy, and her pride prevents her from admitting to, Madame Forestier that she is not rich, and that she has lost the necklace she, borrowed., Because of her pride and obsession with wealth, Mathilde loses ten years of her, life and spends all of her savings on replacing the necklace, only to find out that, the original necklace was a fake to begin with—a falsely wealthy appearance,, just like Madame Loisel herself.[2], The story demonstrates the value of honesty; if Mathilde had told the truth to, Madame Forestier, she would likely have been able to easily replace the, necklace and enjoy the prosperity she wanted but never had., , ‘SAMPLE ANSWERS OF THE SIDE QUESTIONS ARE GIVEN , SO THAT YOU CAN, UNDERSTAND WHAT KIND OF ANSWERS YOU SHOULD WRITE., , Question: Why was Mathilde married to 'minor official'?, Answer: Since Mathilde born in a family of clerks and consequently belonged to, the middle class section of the society, she was wedded to a 'minor official'., She let herself get married to a 'minor official' as she did not have any means, to get married to an Aristocrat., , Question: Write a few lines about what Mathilde has and what she dreamt, about?, Answer: Mathilde was born in a middle class family and lived in a pitiful,, inadequately outfitted house. She didn’t have any jewellery or gems because she, was unable to afford them. All she had was plain simple dresses as it was hard, to manage the cost of better things. She had great fantasies for an amazing,

Page 4 :
palatial mansion, with immense rooms and welcoming little spaces for perfumed, afternoon talks with dear ones. She would so have liked to delight, desired to be, envied, to be charming and looked for after., Mathilde imagines of being a girl of high society and fashion. To beautify her, personality and to crave the justification of other rich people she always, dreams for expensive and luxurious jewellery., , Question: Why did Mathilde weep with misery after visiting her schoolmate?, Answer: Mathilde wept with wretchedness in the wake of visiting her classmate, because she was jealous., She no longer sought to visit there for the reason that she suffered so much, when she came back home. For entire day afterwards she would blubber with, sadness, regret, depression and wretchedness since she begrudged her, companion for preparing all the extravagant of life., , Question: What did the envelope hold?, Answer: The envelope held a invitation, decorated with words, “The Minister of, Public Instruction and Madame Georges Rampouneau, ask the honor of M. and, Mme Loisel’s company. Monday evening, January 18, at the Minister’s residence.”, , Question: Why did Mathilde go to her friend's house and tell her of her, distress?, Answer: Mathilde go to her friend's house because she didn’t own any jewellery, or gems to wear in the ministry function., Mathilde was going with her husband to the ministry ball. He had saved 400, francs so he could purchase another weapon and go chasing in the fall. Be that, as it may, he gives the cash all to her to purchase another dress. Mathilde, in, any case, is as yet troubled as the gathering approaches since she doesn't have, any gems to wear with her dress. Her better half suggest flower necklace,, however she rejects that thought and says it doesn't do to look poor among rich

Page 5 :
ladies. Her husband at that point proposes she get a bit of gems from her, friend Madame Forestier., Mathilde thinks this is a brilliant thought and identifies with Madame Forestier, her pain at having no gems to wear to the ministry occasion. Madame Forestier, is thoughtful and discloses to her she can pick whatsoever she loves from her, gem box., , ** YOU SHOULD COMPLETE ALL THE SIDE QUESTION OF BOTH THE PARTS., ALSO YOU WILL COMPLETE QUESTION WHICH ARE IN PAGE – 25 (Q.1 TO Q.5)