The Necklace
What item does the main character lose?
A necklace
Where is this poem set?
In a market/bazaar in India
What news does Mrs Mallard receive at the beginning of the story?
Her husband is dead.
How has the speaker become 'disabled'?
Fighting in the war as a soldier.
What is the poem about?
The difficult reality that hope must prevail despite the worst conditions possible.
What does she find out years after she lost the expensive necklace?
It was a fake.
What does the word 'unknown' suggest about the girl and her identity?
It suggests that she is not cared about and is considered unimportant to all those who pass by in the market.
How does Mrs Mallard’s reaction to the news change as the story progresses?
She feels free and excited for her new life.
What does the speaker feel by the end of the poem?
The blood-dunked crusts of shredded bread
It is futile or pointless to prioritise wealth over anything else.
Give an example of one cultural symbol referenced in the poem.
Henna, Shalwar Kameez, bright colours.
Why do you think Mrs Mallard feels a sense of freedom after hearing that her husband has died?
Because women weren't able to have the same freedoms that men had whilst being married.
What does the speaker miss about his old life?
Freedom, the attention of women.
Why does Harrison use rhyme throughout the poem?
To reflect the young couples and the growth of young love in even the worst conditions.
What does the text suggest about identity?
Identity is so much more than our status in society and how much money we have.
It helps create a sensory experience that seems to awake the speaker from their past experiences and make them realise the importance of culture.
How does the open window represent her freedom?
It reflects her new-found access to nature and new beginnings
What does the phrase 'waiting for the dark' suggest?
He is passive to whatever comes to him, he has given up all hope.
What does the symbolism of light represent?
It represents hope and how their hope fades and is weak in parts but also strong with the new generation.