BY GUY DE MAUPASSANT

“The Necklace”

Anticipation Guide

Do not consider the truth of each of these statements; consider whether or not you agree or disagree with them. Lying is acceptable in some situations; you should

always lie to save face.

Life sometimes hands you cruel situations; the best thing to do when this happens is to keep your suffering to yourself and find a way to get by.

Material goods like clothing and cars, are extremely important to being happy. Money can’t buy happiness but it definitely makes it easier to be happy.

Vocabulary

Rueful: Feeling pity

Disheveled: Untidy

Aghast: Overwhelming shock

Adulation: Excessive devotion

Pauper: Poor person

Chic: Stylish

Dowry: Money and goods a wife

brings into the marriage

Usurer: A person who loans money

Vexation: Irritation

Literary Terms

Setting: Where the story takes place Example: an apartment in France

Protagonist: The main character Example: M. Loisel – he is always trying to please his

wife

Diction: Style of speaking Example:

Literary Terms

Mood: How the story makes the reader feel Example: frustrated or displeased

Theme: The whole point of the story/the moral Example: “Be grateful for what you have.”

Characters

Madame Loisel Direct: pretty, attractive Indirect: constantly displeased; never happy with

anything

Madame Forestier Direct: fashionable Indirect: laid back, “cocky”

Monsieur Loisel Direct: worn out Indirect: aims to please

Reading Questions

Why did M. Loisel expect his wife to be pleased to receive the invitation from the Minister of Education? Because she would get to go to a party and she was

always complaining about not going out.

Describe Mme Loisel’s reaction on reading the invitation. She gets upset because she has “nothing to wear”

Reading Questions

Why had M.Loisel been saving 400 Francs? For a rifle

Compare and contrast the life of Mme. Loisel before and after the disappearance of the necklace. Before she was ungrateful but very pretty and

attractive; she didn’t appreciate what she had nor realize how wonderful her life really was. After she lost it, she turned ugly and lost everything; she finally became grateful because she had nothing left and realized what she finally lost!

Reading Questions

Why was Mme. Loisel anxious to hurry away from the ball? Because her husband only had a “raggedy” coat for

her to wear and it clashed with her beautiful outfit

What efforts were made to fine Mme. Forestier’s necklace? The Loisels retraced their steps until they realized it

was probably in the cab. Then they went around to different jewelry shops to try and find a duplicate.

Reading Questions

Describe how the Loisel’s life changed after they paid for the new necklace. They were poor and had to move to an attic apartment; they

were forced to fire their maid and do manual labor.

What was Mme Forestier’s reaction when seeing Mme Loisel before she figured out who she was? She was disgusted and surprised because a “poor” woman

knew her.

What was Mme Forestier’s raciton when the necklace was returned? Nonchalant – she said something about “what if I had

actually needed it?” She tries to act like she cares about the necklace, but she doesn’t.

Reading Questions

Do you think Mme Loisel recognized good quality jewelry? Explain. No; she thought the necklace was real but it was a

fake. She was a “wanna be.”

Why was Mathilde unhappy with her life at the opening of the story? Nothing was ever good enough; she thought she

deserved to life a royal life.

Reading Questions

Do you think M. Loisel enjoyed the ball? Why? Yes – because his wife was finally happy. No – because

he was bored by the “show” everyone was putting on.

How did M. Loisel contribute to the cost of the new necklace? He went to loan sharks, borrowed money, sold things,

moved, worked odd jobs and fired his maid.