Plot & Structure
Why does Mathilde need to borrow jewelry before attending the party?
She wants to appear wealthy and fashionable because she is embarrassed by her modest circumstances.
What character trait best describes Mathilde at the beginning of the story?
A. Content
B. Ambitious
C. Generous
D. Fearless
B. Ambitious and dissatisfied
What type of irony occurs when Mathilde spends years repaying an expensive replacement necklace only to discover that the original necklace was worth very little?
Situational irony.
What is a theme of The Necklace?
Appearances don't always match reality.
Mathilde believes she deserves a more luxurious life. Which detail BEST supports this idea?
A. She enjoys spending time with her husband.
B. She is upset by the modest furnishings and clothing she has.
C. She works hard after losing the necklace.
D. She visits Madame Forestier.
B. She is upset by the modest furnishings and clothing she has.
What event ultimately causes Mathilde and her husband to spend ten years repaying their debt?
Mathilde loses the borrowed necklace and replaces it with an expensive one
What does Mathilde's reaction to receiving the invitation reveal about her character?
She is dissatisfied with her social position and believes she deserves a wealthier, more luxurious life.
At the end of the story, Madame Forestier knows something that Mathilde does not. What does the reader eventually learn?
The original necklace was an imitation worth very little.
Which statement best expresses a theme of the story?
A. Mathilde wants expensive things to make her feel more important.
B. People should never borrow jewelry if they are irresponsible.
C. Obsession with appearances can lead people to make destructive choices.
D. Rich people have better lives than people with lower wealth.
C. Obsession with appearances can lead people to make destructive choices.
What can readers infer about Mathilde's values based on her reaction to the invitation?
A. She values education above everything else.
B. She values social status and appearance.
C. She values hard work.
D. She values friendship.
B. She values social status and appearance.
What event serves as the climax of the story?
The necklace is lost and Mathilde and her husband decide they must replace it, setting them on the path to years of poverty.
How does Mathilde change during the ten years after losing the necklace?
She becomes hardworking, practical, and physically worn down by her difficult life.
Why is it ironic that Mathilde's desire to appear wealthy ultimately makes her extremely poor?
She wants to look rich, but her attempt to maintain that appearance causes her to lose her financial security.
How does Mathilde's reaction to the invitation help develop the theme of appearance vs. reality?
She cares more about appearing wealthy than accepting the reality of her circumstances, which ultimately contributes to her suffering.
Why does Maupassant describe Mathilde imagining an elegant life filled with luxury?
A. To show that Mathilde has a vivid imagination and has big dreams for herself
B. To establish the setting of the story
C. To reveal her dissatisfaction and desire for a higher social position
D. To explain why she dislikes Madame Forestier and is jealous of her wealth
C. To reveal her dissatisfaction and desire for a higher social position
How does the loss of the necklace change Mathilde's life?
It forces her to give up the comfortable life she had and spend years working to repay the debt.
Maupassant describes Mathilde working hard for years to repay the debt. What does this action reveal about her?
She is capable of perseverance and responsibility, even though these qualities were less visible earlier in the story.
The irony of the necklace's true value help develop which theme in the story?
It emphasizes the dangers of valuing appearances and social status over reality.
How do the consequences of Mathilde's decision to replace the necklace contribute to the story's theme?
Her attempt to preserve her appearance of wealth results in years of hardship, showing the destructive consequences of prioritizing appearances.
Which event BEST demonstrates that Mathilde is willing to sacrifice greatly to preserve her appearance?
A. She attends the party wearing the borrowed necklace.
B. She borrows the necklace to give the appearance of wealth.
C. She and her husband spend ten years repaying the replacement necklace.
D. She visits Madame Forestier in hopes that she can be more like her.
C. She and her husband spend ten years repaying the replacement necklace.
Why does Maupassant have Mathilde discover the truth about the necklace only after ten years?
It creates dramatic irony and emphasizes the tragic consequences of Mathilde's concern with appearances.
Is Mathilde a completely selfish character? Use at least two details from the story to defend your answer.
No. Although she is obsessed with wealth and appearances, she also accepts responsibility for the lost necklace and works for years to repay the debt.
What are the three kinds of irony?
situational, dramatic, verbal
Which theme is best supported by both Mathilde's dissatisfaction at the beginning and the revelation at the end?
A. Hard work always leads to success.
B. People should be grateful for what they have.
C. Physical beauty is more important than wealth.
D. Wealth is necessary for happiness.
B. People should be grateful for what they have.
Maupassant ends the story by revealing that the original necklace was an imitation. What combination of literary techniques makes this ending particularly effective?
A. Characterization and setting
B. Foreshadowing and symbolism
C. Irony and surprise
D. Dialogue and exposition
C. Irony and surprise