CHARACTERS
FEELINGS
EVENTS
OBJECTS
SYMBOLS
SYMBOLS
VOCABULARY
100
Who is the main character of the story?
Mathilde Loisel
100
How did Mathilde feel at the party?
She was very happy, elegant, and the prettiest of them all.
100
When did Mathilde and her husband leave the party?
They left at about four in the morning.
100
What did Mathilde borrow from Madame Forestier?
A diamond necklace
100
What does the word "franc" mean?
Old French currency.
200
What was her husband's job?
He was a clerk at the Ministry of Education.
200
What was her husband’s first reaction to the loss?
He was frightened and immediately started searching for the necklace.
200
What daily chores did Mathilde have to do?
She cooked, cleaned, washed clothes, carried water, and took out trash.
200
What does the attic symbolize in the story?
Poverty and sacrifice.
200
What is another word for "clerk"?
Office worker.
300
Who lent Mathilde the diamond necklace?
Madame Forestier.
300
What did Madame Forestier say when Mathilde returned the necklace?
She said coldly, “You should have brought it back sooner. I might have needed it.”
300
How long did they live this hard life?
10 years
300
What do Mathilde's red hands symbolize?
Hard work and the physical cost of pride.
300
What kind of life did Mathilde dream of?
A life full of luxury, beauty, and admiration.
400
Why didn't Mathilde visit Madame Forestier very often?
Because Madame Forestier was rich, and Mathilde felt jealous.
400
Why was Mathilde unhappy even though she had a loving husband?
Because she cared more about luxury than love.
400
Where did they look for the lost necklace?
They searched everywhere, traced their steps, and went to the police, newspapers, and cab companies.
400
What does the necklace represent now, at the end?
The price of vanity and social ambition.
400
What is the main moral of the story?
Be grateful for what you have.
500
What does Mathilde's behavior show about her personality?
She was proud, materialistic, and never satisfied.
500
What does the story teach about chasing appearances?
It can lead to unhappiness and regret.
500
What question does the story end with?
"What would have happened if she had not lost that necklace?..."
500
How does the lost necklace connect to the story's irony?
It was probably fake, meaning all their suffering was for nothing.
500
How does Maupassant criticize society in this story?
He shows that obsession with wealth and status leads to misery.