Class 10 English - UP
Supplementary: The Necklace
Supplementary: The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant is a powerful short story included in the Class 10 English syllabus for Uttar Pradesh (UPMSP) students. It tells the tragic tale of Matilda Loisel, a dissatisfied young woman who borrows a diamond necklace to attend a high-society party, only to lose it. To replace it, she and her husband spend ten grueling years paying off heavy debts, living in poverty, only to discover at the end that the original necklace was a cheap imitation. This chapter teaches crucial life lessons about greed, vanity, and the dangers of false pride, making it a favorite for board exam questions.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Matilda's Discontentment
Matilda is born into a poor family but dreams of wealth, luxury, and elegance, leading to constant unhappiness with her simple life.
The Invitation
Her husband secures an invitation to an upscale ministerial ball, which Matilda refuses to attend until she gets a costly dress and borrows jewelry.
The Loss of the Necklace
After a night of triumph and beauty at the party, Matilda realizes the diamond necklace is missing from her neck.
Ten Years of Hardship
The couple replaces the necklace with a genuine one costing 36,000 francs, plunging them into a decade of exhausting physical labor and debt.
The Ironical Twist
When Matilda finally meets Madame Forestier years later and confesses, she learns the borrowed necklace was worth at most five hundred francs.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Uttar Pradesh (UPMSP) Class 10 English board exams, supplementary reader chapters like 'The Necklace' typically carry around 4 to 6 marks. Questions usually include one short answer type question (around 30-40 words) and sometimes a long answer type question (around 60-80 words) focusing on character sketches, themes, or the ironical climax of the story.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Matilda unhappy with her life at the beginning of the story?
Matilda was unhappy because she believed she was born for all the fine luxuries of life, yet she lived in a modest home with ordinary comforts due to her humble background.
What sacrifices did Matilda and her husband make to replace the necklace?
They dismissed their maid, rented a garret room, did heavy housework, and Mr. Loisel worked extra jobs day and night for ten years to pay off all the borrowed money.
What is the main irony at the end of 'The Necklace'?
The ultimate irony is that Matilda and her husband ruined the best years of their youth repaying a huge debt for a diamond necklace that was actually artificial and of very little value.
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