Class 10 English - CBSE
Supplementary: The Necklace
Supplementary: The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant is a powerful short story about Matilda Loisel, a woman consumed by vanity and dissatisfaction with her modest life. Borrowing a diamond necklace to attend a high-society party, she loses it and spends ten agonizing years of grueling poverty to replace it, only to discover at the end that the original necklace was a cheap imitation. This chapter is a staple for CBSE Class 10 board exams as it teaches profound lessons about truth, contentment, and the dangers of pride, frequently appearing in reading comprehension and character sketch questions.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Greed and Dissatisfaction
Matilda's constant yearning for a luxurious life she cannot afford sets the entire tragic chain of events into motion.
Irony of Fate
The story employs situational irony, highlighted by the shocking twist that ten years of hardship were wasted on a fake necklace.
Honesty and Integrity
Despite their poverty, Matilda and her husband choose the honorable path of replacing the lost jewelry rather than running away from debt.
Appearance vs. Reality
The story contrasts outward appearances—like the fake diamond necklace and Matilda's brief night of high-society glamour—with harsh realities.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In CBSE Class 10 English Board Exams, this chapter typically carries 3 to 5 marks. Questions are usually long-answer type focusing on character sketches of Matilda or Monsieur Loisel, or value-based questions analyzing the irony at the end of the story.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main message of The Necklace?
The story teaches us to be content with what we have and warns against the destructive nature of vanity, false pride, and materialism.
Why didn't Madame Forestier realize the necklace was returned late?
Madame Forestier didn't open the jewel box when Matilda returned it, and she only lent it casually, never checking its authenticity.
How did Matilda's life change after losing the necklace?
Matilda and her husband had to dismiss their maid, rent a garret, wear cheap clothes, and work multiple jobs for ten years to pay off massive debts.
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