The Necklace | Story 1 | Short Stories | English 10th | Summary | Questions and Answers |

 

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English | Class 10th | Tulip Series |

 

The Necklace | Story 1 | Short Stories | English 10th | Summary | Questions and Answers |

 

Short Summary

            "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant is a short story about Mathilde Loisel, a woman who is dissatisfied with her modest life and dreams of wealth and luxury. When her husband secures an invitation to a fancy ball, Mathilde borrows a beautiful diamond necklace from her wealthy friend, Madame Forestier, to wear to the event. After the ball, she realizes she has lost the necklace. To replace it, she and her husband buy an identical one for a huge sum, plunging them into debt.

They spend the next ten years living in poverty to repay the debt. In the end, Mathilde learns from Madame Forestier that the original necklace was actually a fake, worth only a fraction of what they spent. The story highlight’s themes of vanity, pride, and the devastating consequences of deceit and materialism.

 

Thinking about the Text

Question 1. The course of the Loisel’s' life changes due to the necklace. Comment.

Answer: The Loisels' life drastically changes after Mathilde loses the borrowed necklace. To replace it, they incur a massive debt, forcing them into a decade of poverty and hard labour. This event transforms their comfortable but modest life into one of relentless hardship, all because of a single moment of carelessness and pride.

Question 2. What was the cause of Matilda's ruin? How could she have avoided it?

Answer: Mathilde's ruin was caused by her vanity and desire for a lifestyle beyond her means. Her need to appear wealthy led her to borrow the necklace, and her pride prevented her from admitting she lost it. She could have avoided ruin by being honest with Madame Forestier about the loss, which would have revealed the necklace's true, modest value.

Question 3. What would have happened to Matilda if she had confessed to her friend that she had lost her necklace?

Answer: If Mathilde had confessed to her friend that she had lost the necklace, she would have discovered that the necklace was a fake, worth only a small fraction of what she and her husband spent on a replacement. This honesty would have spared them from years of unnecessary hardship and poverty.

Question 4. If you are caught in a situation like this, how will you deal with it?

Answer: If caught in a situation like this, I would choose to be honest and confess the mistake immediately. Admitting the truth can prevent misunderstandings, lead to quicker resolutions, and often avoids the severe consequences that can arise from hiding the truth.

Question 5. Draw a character sketch of Matilda.

Answer: Mathilde Loisel is a vain and materialistic woman who is deeply dissatisfied with her modest life. She constantly dreams of wealth, luxury, and social status, which blinds her to the comforts she already has. Her desire to appear affluent leads to her downfall, as she borrows a necklace to impress others. However, Mathilde is also determined and hardworking, as seen when she endures years of poverty to repay the debt caused by replacing the lost necklace. Despite her flaws, Mathilde’s character elicits both sympathy and a cautionary lesson about the dangers of vanity and pride.

 

Language Work

These are the notes about starting a new hobby in Gestalt Public School.

Read them and complete the information below.

NOTES

New Club: The Caravan.

Aim: Understanding and enjoying nature.

Activities: Fortnightly hiking trips or expeditions to neighbouring woods, hills, countryside.

Membership: Classes IX to XII.

Preliminary discussion in Common room on August 20th after school hours, interested students can sign up.

Permission granted by the principal.

The school is planning …………... The aim of the club will be ……………… and activities include ……………... Membership of the new club will be open only to students of classes IX to XII. ……………. ……………………….. ………….. On August 20th at 2.30 p.m. Interested students are welcome ……………………………

The principal has granted permission for the new club.

Answer:

The school is planning new hobby club. The aim of the club will be to make students understand and enjoy nature and the activities include fortnightly hiking trips or expeditions to neighbouring woods, hills countryside. Membership of the new club will be open only to students of classes IX to XII. Preliminary discussion will be held in the Common Room on August 20th at 2.30 p.m. Interested students are welcome sign up for the discussion.

The principal has granted permission for the new club.

 

Make notes from the following news report:

In an unprecedented space tragedy, the U.S space shuttle Columbia, carrying an Indian born American astronaut Kalpana Chawla and six others, broke apart in flames as it streaked over Texas towards its landing strip on Saturday, 1 February, 2003 killing all the seven on board. The shuttle lost contact with NASA at about 9.a.m. (19.30 hrs 1ST) as it came in for landing. It was flying at an altitude of over 200,000 feet and traveling at over 20,000 kms per hour when ground control lost contact with the shuttle. Columbia had lifted off on 16 January, 2003 from the Kennedy Space Centre, Florida. It has stayed in Orbit for 16 days and the seven-member crew conducted 80 experiments before it began its downward journey, which ended in the tragedy. This was Columbia's 20th Space Flight and the shuttle was said to be good for 100 flights.

Answer:

Notes on the Space Tragedy Involving Shuttle Columbia

1. Event: Unprecedented space tragedy

    Date: 1 February 2003

    Shuttle: U.S. space shuttle Columbia

2. Casualties:

    Total: 7 astronauts

    Notable: Indian born American astronaut Kalpana Chawla

3. Incident Details:

    Location: Over Texas, during descent

    Time of Contact Loss: 9 a.m. (19:30 hrs IST)

    Altitude & Speed:

      Altitude: Over 200,000 feet

      Speed: Over 20,000 km/h

4. Mission Details:

    Launch Date: 16 January 2003

    Launch Site: Kennedy Space Center, Florida

    Duration: 16 days in orbit

    Experiments: 80 conducted by the crew

5. Shuttle History:

    Flight Number: 20th space flight of Columbia

    Expected Durability: Shuttle was deemed good for 100 flights

6. Outcome:

    Shuttle broke apart during re-entry

    All crew members perished

 

Following are the notes about the Bactrian camel found in Ladakh. Develop a paragraph of about 100-150 words from these notes:

Zoological Name:       Camelus Bactrianus.

Herbivore          :        Prefers grass leaves and shrubs but will eat dry vegetation and salt bush that other mammals avoid.

Habitat              :        Grassland, valleys and mountainous areas.

Life Span           :        40 years.

Description

Length               :        10 feet.

Height               :        7 feet.

Weight               :        1500 pounds.

Appearance       :        Light to dark brown coat, short in summer with thin manes on chin, shoulder, hind legs and humps. Winter coat longer, thicker and darker.

Adaptations      :        Snow shoe effect prevents sinking in sand, long legs allow camel to travel long distances easily. Two humps contain 36 kgs of fat to be used when food is scarce.

Status               :        Endangered.

Answer:

The Bactrian camel, scientifically known as *Camelus Bactrianus*, is a herbivore that primarily feeds on grass, leaves, and shrubs but can also survive on dry vegetation and salt bushes that other mammals typically avoid. Native to the grasslands, valleys, and mountainous regions, the Bactrian camel has an impressive life span of around 40 years. It measures about 10 feet in length, stands 7 feet tall, and weighs approximately 1,500 pounds. The camel's coat ranges from light to dark brown, with a shorter, thinner coat in the summer and a longer, thicker, darker coat in the winter. Adapted to harsh environments, the Bactrian camel’s feet have a snowshoe effect that prevents sinking in the sand, and its long legs enable it to travel long distances. The two humps on its back store up to 36 kilograms of fat, which the camel can use when food is scarce. Despite its remarkable adaptations, the Bactrian camel is currently classified as endangered.

 

Writing Work

1. What are the things that are important to you to make you happy in life?

Answer: The things that are important to me for happiness include meaningful relationships, a sense of purpose, and personal growth. Being surrounded by loved ones who offer support and joy is crucial. Having a purpose, whether through work, hobbies, or helping others, gives life direction and fulfilment. Additionally, the ability to learn, grow, and pursue passions contributes to a sense of accomplishment and happiness. Maintaining good health and experiencing moments of peace and contentment are also vital for overall well-being.

2. Write a short paragraph on 'We Should Be Content with What Life Gives Us.' You may write for or against the given topic.

Answer:

For:

Being content with what life gives us is essential for happiness and peace of mind. Contentment allows us to appreciate the blessings we have rather than constantly yearning for more. When we focus on gratitude, we can find joy in simple pleasures and avoid the stress and dissatisfaction that comes from always wanting more. Contentment doesn’t mean complacency; it means recognizing the value of what we have while still striving for personal growth. By being content, we cultivate a positive outlook and build a more fulfilling life.

Against:

While contentment can bring peace, it’s important not to become too complacent with what life gives us. Striving for more can drive progress and lead to a richer, more fulfilling life. If we settle too quickly, we might miss opportunities for improvement, growth, or achieving our dreams. Discontent, when channelled constructively, can be a powerful motivator for change, innovation, and personal development. It’s through challenging ourselves and seeking better that we make the most of our potential and create a life we truly desire.

 

Discussion

1. This story is interesting because of the surprise ending. Do you propose a different ending to the story? Work in groups and try and think of another ending.

Answer:

Here’s an alternative ending to "The Necklace":

After losing the necklace, Mathilde decides to tell Madame Forestier the truth immediately, confessing her mistake and offering to repay the cost over time. Madame Forestier, moved by Mathilde’s honesty, reveals that the necklace was actually a fake and was worth very little. She laughs off the incident and tells Mathilde not to worry about replacing it.

Relieved, Mathilde returns home with a newfound appreciation for her life and the importance of honesty. She learns to value what she has rather than longing for what she doesn’t. This experience humbles Mathilde, and she becomes more content with her modest life. Over time, Mathilde and her husband save enough money to improve their living conditions slightly, but Mathilde remains grounded and grateful, never forgetting the lesson she learned from the lost necklace.

This alternative ending preserves the moral lesson of the original story while showing how honesty and humility can prevent unnecessary hardship.

 

Suggested Reading

• The Dowry by Guy de Maupassant

• A Cup of Tea by Katherine Mansfield

• The Bet by Anton Chekov