The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant(Intermediate)

Once upon a time, in a quaint village in France, there lived a woman named Mathilde Loisel. She was beautiful and charming, but she had no dowry, no prospects, and no way of being known or loved by any rich and distinguished man. So she married a humble clerk in the Ministry of Education, Monsieur Loisel.

Mathilde always dreamed of a life filled with luxury and elegance. She longed for grand palaces, magnificent gowns, and sparkling jewels. But her reality was a modest apartment and a simple life. She often felt unhappy and discontented.

One evening, Monsieur Loisel came home with a triumphant smile, holding a large envelope. "Mathilde, my dear," he said, handing her the envelope, "we have been invited to a grand ball at the palace!"

Mathilde's eyes sparkled with excitement, but then she frowned. "What do you want me to wear to such an event?" she sighed. "I have nothing suitable."

Monsieur Loisel was taken aback. "Why, the dress you wear to the theater," he suggested. "It's very nice."

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Mathilde shook her head. "No, that dress is not suitable for such a grand occasion. And I have no jewels to wear with it," she said, distressed.

Monsieur Loisel thought for a moment and then said, "Why don't you go to your friend, Madame Forestier, and ask her to lend you some jewels? She has many."

Mathilde brightened at the idea and hurried to Madame Forestier's house. "Jeanne," she said, "could you please lend me some jewels for the ball?"

Madame Forestier smiled and opened a large jewelry box. "Of course, Mathilde. Choose whatever you like."

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Mathilde's eyes fell upon a stunning diamond necklace. "This one! It's perfect!" she exclaimed.

Madame Forestier happily lent her the necklace, and Mathilde returned home overjoyed.

On the night of the ball, Mathilde wore a beautiful gown and a dazzling necklace. She felt like a princess and was admired by everyone. She danced all night, basking in the attention and compliments. It was the happiest night of her life.

But when Mathilde and her husband returned home, she realized with horror that the necklace was missing. "Oh no! The necklace! It’s gone!" she cried.

They searched everywhere but couldn't find it. "We must replace it," Monsieur Loisel said. They went from jeweler to jeweler until they found a necklace that looked exactly like the one Mathilde had borrowed. It was very expensive, but they bought it anyway.

Mathilde returned the new necklace to Madame Forestier, who didn’t notice any difference. But to pay off the debt, the Loisels had to sell their house and move to a smaller place. Monsieur Loisel took on extra jobs, and Mathilde worked as a maid.

Years passed, and Mathilde aged prematurely due to the hard work and stress. One day, she met Madame Forestier on the street. Madame Forestier still looked young and beautiful.

"Hello, Mathilde! It’s been so long. How have you been?" Madame Forestier asked.

Mathilde hesitated but then decided to tell her the truth. "Jeanne, I have something to confess. I lost the necklace you lent me and replaced it with a new one. We've been paying off the debt for the past ten years."

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Madame Forestier looked at her friend in shock and pity. "Oh, Mathilde! My necklace was just a piece of costume jewelry. It wasn’t worth much at all."

Mathilde was stunned. All those years of hard work had been for a necklace that wasn’t even real.

And so, Mathilde learned some important lessons. She realized that being honest can lead to better outcomes, that failing to admit a mistake right away can result in severe consequences, and that vanity and obsession with appearances can ruin one's life. With these lessons in mind, she strove to live a better life from then on.

And so, dear reader, always remember: honesty, humility, and contentment are the true treasures in life.

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Words and Idioms

Study it with Flashcard

https://quizlet.com/kr/919505375/the-necklace-by-guy-de-maupassant-flash-cards/?i=3en6ue&x=1jqt

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quaint (adjective) - charmingly old-fashioned

village (noun) - a small town or community in the countryside

dowry (noun) - money or property brought by a bride to her husband at marriage

prospects (noun) - chances or opportunities for success or wealth

distinguished (adjective) - successful, authoritative, and commanding great respect

humble (adjective) - having or showing a modest or low estimate of one's own importance

clerk (noun) - a person employed in an office to perform administrative duties

elegance (noun) - the quality of being graceful and stylish in appearance or manner

modest (adjective) - unassuming in the estimation of one's abilities or achievements

discontented (adjective) - dissatisfied, especially with one's circumstances

triumphant (adjective) - having won a battle or contest; victorious

ball (noun) - a large formal gathering for social dancing

palace (noun) - a large and impressive house, especially one used for official or ceremonial purposes

sparkle (verb) - to shine brightly with flashes of light

suitable (adjective) - right or appropriate for a particular person, purpose, or situation

distressed (adjective) - suffering from anxiety, sorrow, or pain

gown (noun) - a long, elegant dress worn on formal occasions

dazzling (adjective) - extremely bright, especially so as to blind the eyes temporarily

compliment (noun) - a polite expression of praise or admiration

replace (verb) - to put something new in place of something old or lost

debt (noun) - something, typically money, that is owed or due

maid (noun) - a woman employed to do domestic work

prematurely (adverb) - occurring or done before the usual or proper time; too early

confess (verb) - admit or state that one has committed a crime or is at fault in some way

costume jewelry (noun) - jewelry made of inexpensive materials, intended to look like real jewelry

vanity (noun) - excessive pride in or admiration of one's own appearance or achievements

obsession (noun) - an idea or thought that continually preoccupies or intrudes on a person's mind

humility (noun) - a modest or low view of one's own importance; humbleness

contentment (noun) - a state of happiness and satisfaction

Advanced Words

charming (adjective) - pleasant or attractive

prospects (noun) - the possibility or likelihood of some future event occurring

discontented (adjective) - dissatisfied, especially with one's circumstances

triumphant (adjective) - feeling or expressing jubilation after having won a victory or mastered a difficulty

distressed (adjective) - suffering from extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain

dazzling (adjective) - extremely impressive, beautiful, or skillful

bask (verb) - lie exposed to warmth and light, typically from the sun, for relaxation and pleasure

stunned (adjective) - so shocked that one is temporarily unable to react; astonished

severe (adjective) - very great; intense

admired (verb) - regarded with respect or warm approval

taken aback - surprised and confused

bask in the attention - to enjoy the attention

aged prematurely - to age before the usual or expected time

in shock and pity - feeling both surprised and sympathetic

confess - to admit the truth about something

sparkled with excitement - showing visible signs of excitement

felt like a princess - felt very special and admired

all those years of hard work - indicating a long period of effort and labor

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Questions

1. What event makes Mathilde excited at the beginning of the story?

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a) Receiving a promotion

b) Moving to a new house

c) Receiving an invitation to a ball

d) Finding a new job

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2. Why does Mathilde visit Madame Forestier?

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a) To borrow a book

b) To borrow some jewels

c) To invite her to the ball

d) To ask for advice

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3. How do Mathilde and her husband replace the lost necklace?

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a) They find it in their house

b) They buy a new one

c) They borrow another one

d) They tell Madame Forestier the truth

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4. What does Mathilde discover about the necklace when she finally confesses to Madame Forestier?

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a) It was very expensive

b) It was a family heirloom

c) It was made of costume jewelry

d) It had been found

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5. What does the diamond necklace symbolize in the story?

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a) Love and friendship

b) Wealth and status

c) Honesty and integrity

d) Simplicity and contentment

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6. What lesson does Mathilde learn by the end of the story?

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a) Hard work always pays off

b) It's important to be content with what you have

c) Always save money for emergencies

d) Trusting friends is the key to happiness

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AP-Test Style Writing Topics

1. Analyze the character of Mathilde Loisel in "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant. Discuss how her dreams and desires impact her life and the choices she makes. Use evidence from the text to support your analysis.

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2. Discuss the role of irony in "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant. How does the author use irony to enhance the story's themes and message? Provide specific examples from the story to illustrate your points.

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3. Examine the theme of appearance versus reality in "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant. How do the characters' perceptions of wealth and status influence their actions and ultimately lead to their downfall? Use textual evidence to support your argument.

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Answer Keys

1. c) Receiving an invitation to a ball
2. b) To borrow some jewels
3. b) They buy a new one
4. c) It was made of costume jewelry
5. b) Wealth and status
6. b) It's important to be content with what you have

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Sample AP-Test Style Writing Responses

1. Mathilde Loisel, the protagonist of "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant, is a complex character driven by her dreams and desires for a life of luxury and elegance. Her character is defined by her dissatisfaction with her modest life and her yearning for wealth and status. Mathilde's dreams of grandeur and her sense of entitlement significantly impact her life and the decisions she makes, ultimately leading to her downfall.

From the beginning of the story, Mathilde is depicted as someone who feels she was born for a better life than the one she leads. She believes she deserves to live in opulence, surrounded by beautiful things and admired by everyone. This longing for a luxurious lifestyle is evident when she reacts to the invitation to the grand ball. Instead of being excited about the opportunity, she is immediately distressed because she feels she has nothing suitable to wear, showcasing her deep-seated insecurity and desire for external validation.

Mathilde's decision to borrow the diamond necklace from Madame Forestier is a direct result of her aspirations. She wants to appear wealthy and glamorous at the ball, even if it means pretending to be something she is not. Her joy at the ball, where she basks in the attention and compliments, highlights her vanity and the importance she places on appearances.

However, Mathilde's dreams and desires have severe consequences. When she loses the necklace, her pride prevents her from admitting the truth to Madame Forestier. Instead, she and her husband buy a replacement, plunging them into a decade of hardship and poverty. This drastic change in their circumstances is a direct result of Mathilde's initial desire to maintain an illusion of wealth.

In the end, Mathilde's realization that the necklace was a piece of costume jewelry and not worth the years of toil and suffering is a bitter irony. Her dreams of luxury led her to a life far worse than the one she originally despised. Through Mathilde's character, Maupassant illustrates the dangers of vanity and the importance of being content with what one has. Mathilde's story is a poignant reminder that the pursuit of superficial desires can lead to devastating consequences.

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2. Irony plays a crucial role in "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant, enhancing the story's themes and delivering its message with a powerful impact. Maupassant employs situational irony throughout the narrative to highlight the discrepancy between appearance and reality, as well as the consequences of vanity and materialism.

The first instance of irony occurs when Mathilde receives the invitation to the grand ball. Instead of being delighted by the opportunity, she is distressed because she lacks a suitable dress and jewelry. This reaction is ironic because what should have been a joyous occasion becomes a source of anxiety due to her vanity and obsession with appearances. Her desire to look wealthy and elegant overshadows the excitement of attending such a prestigious event.

The most significant irony in the story is the twist at the end. After losing the borrowed necklace, Mathilde and her husband replace it with an expensive one, plunging themselves into debt and hardship. They work tirelessly for ten years to repay the debt, enduring a life of poverty and struggle. The ultimate irony is revealed when Mathilde confesses to Madame Forestier, only to learn that the original necklace was a piece of costume jewelry, worth a fraction of the replacement. This revelation is devastating, as it underscores the futility of their sacrifices and the hollowness of Mathilde's pursuit of superficial wealth.

Maupassant uses this irony to underscore the themes of the story. The discrepancy between appearance and reality is a central theme, as Mathilde's perception of wealth and status leads her to make choices based on false values. The irony of the necklace's true value highlights the superficial nature of her desires and the consequences of valuing appearances over substance.

Additionally, the story's ironic conclusion reinforces the message about the dangers of vanity and materialism. Mathilde's vanity leads her to borrow the necklace in the first place, and her obsession with maintaining a facade of wealth results in a far worse fate than she initially feared. The irony serves to criticize the societal pressures that equate worth with material possessions and the personal flaws that drive individuals to conform to these pressures.

Through the skillful use of irony, Maupassant delivers a poignant critique of vanity and materialism, illustrating how the pursuit of superficial desires can lead to one's downfall. The story's ironic elements enhance its themes, making the moral lessons more impactful and memorable.

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3. The theme of appearance versus reality is central to "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant, influencing the characters' actions and ultimately leading to their downfall. Mathilde Loisel's perception of wealth and status drives her to make decisions based on superficial values, resulting in a life of hardship and regret.

Mathilde's dissatisfaction with her modest life stems from her belief that she deserves a more glamorous and luxurious existence. She is envious of those who possess the wealth and status she covets, and she yearns to be part of that world. This longing is evident when she receives the invitation to the grand ball. Instead of being excited about the opportunity, she is distressed because she feels she cannot attend without looking wealthy and elegant.

Her obsession with appearances leads her to borrow a diamond necklace from Madame Forestier, as she believes it will help her fit in with the affluent attendees. Mathilde's perception of wealth and status is so strong that she is willing to go to great lengths to create the illusion of belonging to that world. Her joy at the ball, where she basks in the attention and admiration, underscores her belief in the importance of appearances.

However, the reality of Mathilde's situation becomes painfully clear when she loses the necklace. Instead of admitting the truth to Madame Forestier, she chooses to replace the necklace with an expensive one, plunging herself and her husband into debt. This decision is based on her perception that admitting the loss would be humiliating and ruin her reputation.

The irony of the story is revealed when Mathilde learns that the original necklace was a piece of costume jewelry, worth a fraction of the replacement. This revelation highlights the theme of appearance versus reality, as the necklace that symbolized wealth and status was, in reality, an inexpensive imitation. Mathilde's downfall is a direct result of her failure to recognize the difference between appearance and reality.

Through the characters' actions, Maupassant critiques the societal values that equate worth with material possessions. Mathilde's perceptions of wealth and status lead her to make choices that ultimately result in a life of poverty and regret. The story serves as a powerful reminder of the dangers of valuing appearances over reality and the consequences of living a life driven by superficial desires.

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