Class 10 English Chapter 7 Previous Year Questions - The Necklace

Ans: In the beginning of the story, Matilda Loisel is a pretty but discontented woman who constantly dreams of luxury and wealth. She feels unhappy with her modest life and is obsessed with material possessions, beauty, and social status. Her vanity leads her to borrow a diamond necklace to appear rich at a grand party. However, after losing it, her life changes drastically. To repay the debt for the replacement necklace, she works hard for ten long years, doing all the household chores and living in poverty. This struggle transforms her into a strong, hardworking, and humble woman who learns the value of honesty and contentment. Her pride and vanity give way to endurance and maturity.

Ans: When Mme Loisel realised that she had lost Mme Forestier’s diamond necklace, she and her husband searched everywhere but failed to find it. Finally, M. Loisel decided that they must replace it. They visited several jewellers and found a necklace that looked exactly like the lost one, priced at thirty-six thousand francs. M. Loisel used eighteen thousand francs inherited from his father and borrowed the remaining amount on heavy interest from moneylenders. To repay the debt, they dismissed their maid, shifted to a small attic, and lived a life of poverty and hard labour. Mme Loisel did all the household work herself, while her husband worked extra hours. For ten years, they lived a life of hardship and struggle to repay the debt.

Ans: Yes, the sacrifices made by the Loisels were in vain. They spent ten long years in extreme poverty and hard labour to repay the huge debt incurred in replacing the lost necklace. Mme Loisel worked tirelessly, doing all household chores, while M. Loisel took up extra jobs at night to earn money. Their youth and happiness were lost in the struggle. In the end, when Mme Loisel met Mme Forestier after ten years, she discovered that the original necklace was a fake and worth only about five hundred francs. All their suffering and sacrifice had been for nothing. Their misfortune was the result of Matilda’s vanity and her failure to be honest when the necklace was lost.

Ans: Mme Loisel hastily departs from the ball because she feels embarrassed when her husband places a modest wrap on her shoulders. Surrounded by elegantly dressed women in rich furs, she fears being ridiculed for her simple appearance. Her vanity and pride make her flee quickly to avoid humiliation.

Ans: Mme Loisel’s refusal to accept her modest circumstances made her deeply unhappy. She constantly longed for luxury and wealth, ignoring the simple joys of her life. Her discontent led to the loss of the necklace and ten years of misery. The story teaches that contentment brings true happiness, not material wealth.

Ans: Matilda’s husband was excited because the invitation to the Minister’s party was a rare honour for a clerk like him. He thought it would make his wife happy, as it offered her a chance to attend an elite gathering and enjoy a special evening beyond their simple lifestyle.

Ans: M. Loisel managed to buy a new necklace by using the eighteen thousand francs his father had left him and borrowing the remaining amount on heavy interest from moneylenders. He made ruinous promises and raised the entire thirty-six thousand francs needed to purchase the replacement necklace for Mme Forestier.

Ans: Matilda’s primary flaw is her excessive pride and materialism. She is dissatisfied with her simple life and constantly dreams of luxury, wealth, and admiration. Her vanity leads her to borrow a necklace to appear rich, and this desire for social status ultimately brings her years of misery and hardship.

Ans: Matilda is unhappy with her life because she feels she was born for luxury and elegance but is married to a modest clerk. She constantly envies the wealthy, resents her simple home and possessions, and believes she deserves a glamorous lifestyle, which makes her discontented and miserable.

Ans: Matilda feels embarrassed and miserable because she cannot afford a suitable dress to attend the party. Her husband’s concern and helplessness reveal their modest financial condition. The couple’s limited means contrast sharply with Matilda’s desire for luxury, causing her frustration and disappointment.

Ans: (d) The card did not bear her name.

Ans: Matilda suggested that her husband give the invitation card to a colleague whose wife was better fitted out than she was.

Ans: The term ‘economical clerk’ implies that her husband was a low-paid government employee who managed expenses carefully and could not afford extravagance.

Ans: Matilda Loisel is a gorgeous but unhappy young woman who longs to join the wealthy upper class to which she believes her beauty entitles her. Matilda is dissatisfied and ungrateful despite her husband’s selfless efforts to please her and make her happy. When Matilda and her husband receive a party invitation from the minister of education, Matilda finally gets the chance to live her aspirations. In order to look her best for the party, Matilda borrows a diamond necklace from her friend Jeanne Forestier. At the ball, Matilda is a huge hit, but tragedy befalls when she misplaces the necklace. In order to pay for a replacement that ultimately turns out to be a fake, Matilda is obliged to work for ten years. As Matilda struggles with poverty, her beauty begins to fade. Matilda only understands the true worth of contentment at that point and the risk of her constant desire of materialistic things and social status. Thus, if Matilda would have remained content in her own possessions, she would not have to bear such a loss and the subsequent miseries.

Ans: Mme. Loisel always craved for a life of riches, exquisite food, sparkling jewellery, etc. However, she did not have such a life, and it upset her. She envied her childhood friend, Mme. Forestier, because the latter had everything that Matilda desired. She borrowed a necklace from her childhood friend to go to a ball, enjoyed being the center of attention at the ball, but somehow lost the necklace in the end. Mme. Loisel and her husband then had to cut down all their expenses, move to an attic and do menial jobs to pay the loan they took to replace the lost necklace. After ten years of struggle, they were able to pay the debt, but it had aged Mme. Loisel a lot. In the end she was even sadder and more bitter than before. Hence, we can easily conclude that her disposition invites her doom.

Ans: Life is a great mystery. For every individual, this mystery of life comes wrapped in a unique package. For some, it is all riches, comfort, name and fame. For some, it is nothing but sheer hunger, poverty, anguish and an everyday quest for bare survival. One, however, must learn to live within one's means and be content with what one has. Contentment in one’s life is very important to lead a happy and peaceful life. In the light of the story 'The Necklace', we find that Matilda suffered a lot in her life as she was not content in her life. She is of a humble background but dreams of riches and comforts. She is proud of her beauty and wants to be admired. She lost the necklace worn at the ball that was borrowed from her old friend. She had to buy a new one exactly the same, for that she and her husband had to take a loan. Then it took the Loisels a decade to pay back the money they borrowed to buy the necklace. In this way, their life changed. Now Matilda was no longer pretty and beautiful. Her hollow desires led to her disaster.

Ans: Matilda's story teaches us the importance of being responsible and careful in our actions. One small mistake or act of negligence can have significant consequences and lead to ruin. It is essential to pay attention to detail and take responsibility for our actions.
To move on in life, we must learn from our mistakes and take steps to prevent similar situations from happening again. We should prioritize honesty, humility, and contentment over material possessions and social status. It is crucial to appreciate and be grateful for what we have rather than constantly longing for what we do not possess.

Ans: As a reader, I do sympathize with Matilda to some extent. She was born into a modest family and had aspirations for a more luxurious and comfortable life. She believed that she deserved a life filled with riches and was unhappy with her current circumstances.
However, Matilda's actions and choices also contributed to her own downfall. She borrowed a valuable necklace from her friend and lost it, but instead of confessing the truth, she replaced it with a new one and plunged herself and her husband into debt. Her vanity and desire for social status blinded her to the consequences of her actions.
While I understand Matilda's longing for a better life, I also believe that she should have been more responsible and honest. Sympathy can be extended to her for her initial dissatisfaction and longing, but her subsequent actions make it difficult to fully sympathize with her.

Ans: The necklace changed the life of Loisel by plunging him and his wife into debt and poverty. They had to borrow a large sum of money to replace the lost necklace, and it took them ten years of hard work to pay off the debt.

Ans: Mrs. Loisel was quite a beautiful young lady. She always felt that she was born for a family of luxuries than a family of clerks. She was highly ambitious. One day, when her husband shows her the invitation card to the official party, she started thinking about herself as how she can present herself to be the prettiest and most attractive at the party. She was adamant about having some jewels to adorn herself for the ball. Her poor husband was helpless. However, an idea struck him and he suggested her that she could borrow jewels from her rich friend Madam Forestier. Mme Forestier proved to be a true friend of the Loisels by helping her in this hour of need. She easily agreed and placed her jewellery box before Mrs. Loisel to make her choice. She chose a superb diamond necklace, and Mme Forestier happily gave the necklace to her. On the day of the ball, Mrs. Loisel was a great success. She looked the prettiest of all, elegant, gracious, smiling, and full of joy. Everybody noticed her, asked her name, and wanted to be presented. She danced with enthusiasm intoxicated with pleasure, thinking of nothing but all this pleasure. All this was only because of Mme Forestier, who lent her necklace without any hesitation.

Ans: Matilda’s desire to be equally elegant led them to borrow a necklace from their friend. But the loss of the necklace and their inability to inform Mme. Forestier about the incident made them try to replace the lost necklace as much as they could. For that, they required a lot of money, even beyond what their modest living could afford. So, her husband not only gave up his whole life’s savings but also borrowed a huge amount of money. With that, they were able to afford to replace the lost necklace, but it also affected their livelihood. They had to change the way they live, letting go of their maid and living in a rented room in an attic. Matilda also had to learn the odious work of a kitchen, washing the dishes, linen, clothes, etc. She did all the household work like a common woman. She even haggled with the shopkeepers for any chance of saving some money. Completely changing her lifestyle, she learned the hard way, the way of the world. She was unable to take care of herself like she did before, no time for any fancy parties or even meeting with friends. Such was her deplorable condition that when she encountered Mme. Forestier on the road, the other woman was unable to recognize her. While her friend was still young, pretty, and still attractive, Matilda had grown old, haggard, with badly dressed hair, skirts awry, and red hands from all the hard work. 

Ans: Matilda was unhappy in her early married life because she married a poor clerk and lived in poverty. She longed for a luxurious lifestyle with elegant dinners, beautiful clothes, and precious jewels. She compared herself to others while feeling bound in her shabby surroundings. This made her feel dissatisfied with her life.

Ans: Mme. Loisel was always unhappy because she believed that she deserved a life of luxury and wealth. She was dissatisfied with her modest life and constantly longed for material possessions and social status that she did not have.

Ans: Matilda (Mme. Loisel) left the ball in a hurry because she was embarrassed by her shabby wrap, which did not match her elegant ball gown. This shows that Matilda was deeply concerned about her appearance and cared about what others thought of her.

Ans: Matilda was always unhappy after her marriage because she believed that she deserved a life of luxury and wealth. She was dissatisfied with her modest life and constantly longed for material possessions and social status that she did not have.

Ans: M. Loisel tried to make his wife happy by offering to give her four hundred francs to buy a suitable gown for the ball. He had saved up this money to buy a gun for himself, but he selflessly decided to use it to fulfill his wife's desires.

Ans: Mme. Loisel was shocked to know at the end of the story that the necklace she and her husband had replaced with an expensive one, for which they had borrowed a significant amount of money and took ten years to pay off the debt, was actually a cheap imitation necklace.

Ans: Loisel and Matilda arranged the money to buy the necklace by using Loisel's inheritance of eighteen thousand francs and borrowing the rest of the money, which amounted to eighteen thousand francs, at a high rate of interest.

Ans: (a) T refers to Matilda Loisel.
(b) It took them ten years to pay for 'it' because they had to borrow a significant amount of money to replace the lost necklace, and it took them a long time to repay the debt.
(c) Everything.

Ans: Matilda did not want to see her rich friends because their wealth and luxurious lifestyle made her feel inferior and unhappy. She was envious of their social status and material possessions, which she did not have.

Ans: Mme. Loisel was always unhappy because she believed that she deserved a life of luxury and wealth. She was dissatisfied with her modest life and constantly longed for material possessions and social status that she did not have.

Ans: No, M. Loisel did not have an enjoyable evening at the ball. He was bored and half-asleep in one of the little salons since midnight, while his wife was enjoying herself. He did not have the same enthusiasm and desire for a lavish lifestyle as his wife.

Ans: The Loisels reacted with shock and disbelief when they realized that the necklace had been lost. They searched everywhere but could not find it. They were dismayed, disappointed, and bewildered by the unfortunate turn of events.

Ans: The cause of Matilda's ruin was her desire for a life of luxury and her obsession with material possessions. When she lost the borrowed necklace, instead of confessing the truth to her friend, she replaced it with an expensive one. This led to a huge debt that took ten years of hard work to pay off, plunging her and her husband into poverty.

Ans: Matilda was in a hurry to go to her house after the ball because she was embarrassed by her shabby wrap, which did not match her elegant ball gown. She did not want anyone to notice her poor appearance and judged her based on it.

Ans: Matilda was always unhappy because she believed that she deserved a life of luxury and wealth. She was dissatisfied with her modest life and constantly longed for material possessions and social status that she did not have.

Ans: The Loisels replaced the necklace by borrowing a significant amount of money and purchasing a new necklace that was identical to the lost one. They worked hard for ten years to pay off the debt incurred by the purchase of the new necklace.

Ans: (a) Mme. Loisel was sad and disturbed because she did not possess any suitable jewelry to match her dress or the occasion of the ball.
(b) She got a dress ready because she and her husband were invited to a ball organized by M. Loisel's boss, the Minister of Education.
(c) A ball is a formal social gathering where people come together to dance and socialize.

Ans: Matilda changed her lifestyle after the ball because she and her husband had to borrow a significant amount of money to replace the lost necklace. This debt forced them into poverty, and they had to work hard for ten years to pay it off. They had to give up their previous comfortable lifestyle and live a life of struggle and hardship.

Ans: Matilda was sad after the ball because she had lost the borrowed necklace. She was devastated by the loss of such a precious and expensive piece of jewelry. She knew that replacing it would be a significant financial burden for her and her husband.

Ans: Mme. Loisel's sacrifice had all been in vain because the necklace she and her husband had replaced with an expensive one turned out to be a cheap imitation. They had spent years working hard and paying off the debt incurred by the purchase of the new necklace, only to realize that their sacrifice was for naught.

Ans: If I were placed in a situation similar to that of Matilda, where I had lost a borrowed necklace of great value, I would have immediately confessed the truth to my friend and taken responsibility for my actions.
Honesty is the best policy, and it is important to acknowledge and rectify our mistakes. By confessing the truth, I would have shown integrity and a willingness to make amends. This would have prevented the need to replace the lost necklace with an expensive one, saving myself and my husband from the burden of debt.
Furthermore, I would learn from this experience and prioritize honesty, responsibility, and contentment in my life. I would understand the dangers of vanity and the pursuit of material possessions, focusing instead on building meaningful relationships and finding happiness within myself.