The Necklace By Guy De Maupassant Answer Key
Introduction
The Necklace is one of the most famous short stories ever written. It was written by Guy de Maupassant in 1884 and has been adapted into several films and plays. The story is about a woman named Mathilde Loisel who borrows a necklace from a friend to wear to a party. The necklace gets lost, and Mathilde spends ten years paying off the debt she incurred to replace it. The story has a surprise ending that has become a classic twist in literature.
Characters
The Necklace has three main characters: Mathilde Loisel, her husband, Monsieur Loisel, and Madame Forestier. Mathilde Loisel is the protagonist of the story. She is a beautiful young woman who dreams of a life of luxury and elegance. Monsieur Loisel is her husband, a clerk who is content with his simple life. Madame Forestier is Mathilde's wealthy friend who lends her the necklace.
Plot Summary
The Necklace is set in Paris in the 19th century. Mathilde Loisel is a beautiful young woman who is married to a clerk. She is unhappy with her simple life and dreams of a life of luxury and elegance. When her husband receives an invitation to a fancy party, Mathilde is excited but realizes that she has nothing to wear. She borrows a beautiful diamond necklace from her friend Madame Forestier and attends the party. The necklace gets lost, and Mathilde spends ten years paying off the debt she incurred to replace it. When she finally runs into Madame Forestier and tells her what happened, Madame Forestier reveals that the necklace was a fake, worth only a fraction of the cost of the replacement.
Themes
The Necklace explores several themes, including the dangers of materialism and the consequences of dishonesty. Mathilde Loisel is obsessed with material possessions and spends years paying off a debt she incurred to replace a necklace that was not even real. Her dishonesty in not telling Madame Forestier that the necklace had been lost also has consequences.
Symbols
The necklace itself is a symbol of the dangers of materialism. Mathilde Loisel is so obsessed with the necklace that she loses sight of its true value and spends years paying off a debt she incurred to replace it. The necklace also represents the theme of appearance versus reality. It appears to be a valuable piece of jewelry, but in reality, it is worthless.
Style
Guy de Maupassant is known for his realistic and naturalistic style of writing. His stories often feature ordinary people and their struggles in everyday life. The Necklace is no exception, with Mathilde Loisel's desire for a life of luxury and elegance being a common theme in Maupassant's work.
Analysis
The Necklace is a classic example of a short story with a surprise ending. The story builds to a climax when Mathilde Loisel loses the necklace, and the reader expects a resolution in which she finds it. The surprise ending, in which the necklace is revealed to be a fake, is a twist that has become a classic in literature.
Critical Reception
The Necklace has been widely acclaimed as one of the greatest short stories ever written. It has been praised for its realistic and naturalistic style, as well as its portrayal of ordinary people and their struggles in everyday life. The surprise ending has also been praised as a classic twist in literature.
Teaching Resources
The Necklace is commonly taught in high school English classes. There are several lesson plans and teaching resources available online, including discussion questions, writing prompts, and activities to help students understand the themes and symbols in the story.
Conclusion
The Necklace is a classic short story that explores themes of materialism, appearance versus reality, and the consequences of dishonesty. It is widely acclaimed as one of the greatest short stories ever written and has been adapted into several films and plays. The surprise ending has become a classic twist in literature and is a testament to the skill of Guy de Maupassant as a writer.
