Short Answer Questions: The Necklace | English Class 10

"The Necklace" is a short story in Class 10 English "Footprints Without Feet" Book about Madame Loisel, a discontented woman who borrows an expensive necklace to wear to a high-society ball but loses it. She and her husband replace the necklace but spend the next ten years paying off their debt, only to discover that the original necklace was a fake. 

Q 1. What, do you think, were the feelings of Madame Forestier when she came to know that Matilda returned her a diamond necklace in place of an artificial one?

After learning that Matilda had returned a diamond necklace instead of the artificial one she had borrowed for the party, it can be inferred that Madame Forestier was likely surprised and taken aback. Perhaps she had not expected such a turn of events and may have felt a range of emotions, including relief that the necklace was returned, disappointment that it was not the original, and possibly even frustration at Matilda's actions. It is possible that Madame Forestier wished Matilda had been honest with her from the beginning, as it could have prevented the situation from escalating.

Q 2. Madame Loisel was intoxicated with pleasure at the ball. Give three reasons to support your answer.

Madame Loisel was completely captivated by the pleasure of the ball, and there are several reasons to support this observation. 

• Firstly, she was enthusiastic and energetic on the dance floor, reveling in the joy of the music and the company around her. 
• Additionally, she received numerous compliments and flattery from those around her, which likely contributed to her sense of elation and satisfaction. 
• Finally, Madame Loisel appeared to be truly radiant and beautiful on this particular evening, exuding elegance, grace, and joy with her every movement and expression. 

Taken together, these factors suggest that Madame Loisel was truly intoxicated with pleasure and delight during the ball.

Q 3. How would you feel if you were in Matilda’s place and had lost somebody’s such a valuable possession?

If placed in Matilda's shoes, losing someone's valuable possession would undoubtedly leave me feeling incredibly anxious and distressed. Like Matilda, I would exhaust all possible efforts to recover the item, searching through every crevice of clothing, seeking help from the police and other relevant authorities, and even putting up advertisements offering a reward. It would be difficult to sleep or think of anything else until the item was found and returned to its rightful owner.

Q 4. What changes occurred in Madame Loisel after 10 years?

• Madame Loisel now knows the horrible life of necessity. She sent away from her maid and learned the odious work of the kitchen. 
• She washed the dishes and the clothes on her own. She took down wastes to the street and brought up the water, stopping at each landing to breathe. They changed their lodging and rented some rooms in the attic.
• She seemed old now and became a strong and hard woman. Her hair badly dressed, her skirts awry, her hands red and spoke in a loud voice.

Q 5. Mme. Loisel lost the necklace that Mme. Forestier had lent her. If it would have been you at Mme. Loisels’ place, what would have been your first and foremost step?

• If I had been at Madame Liosel’s place firstly I would not have borrowed the necklace. I would have been satisfied with the assets that I possessed. 
• Secondly, if I had borrowed and lost it, I would have told that to Madame Forestier. 
• Then I would have known at that very time that it was not a real diamond but an artificial one. Then I would have been saved from being ruined as Madame Loisel’s life had.

Also Check at EduRev: 

• Long Answer Questions: The Necklace
• NCERT Solutions: The Necklace

Q 6. How was Mr. Loisel able to arrange 36,000 francs?

• Loisel's possessed eighteen thousand francs, which his father had left. The rest of the money was borrowed from a whole race of lenders. He made ruinous promises for that, and to repay this debt, they had to change their lodgings. 
• Madame Loisel had to do all the tedious jobs like washing, grocery shopping, and carrying water upstairs by herself. 

Q 7. Why did Mme Loisel go to visit her friend, Mme Forestier?

• Mme Loisel visited her friend Mme Forestier twice. First, she went to her house to borrow a diamond necklace for the ball which she lost the same day. 
• Second, she visited her house to return the necklace that she had bought for 36,000 francs in compensation for the lost necklace.

Q 8. Why did Madame Loisel leave the ball in a hurry? What does it show about her character?

• Madame Loisel left the ball in a hurry because her husband threw the modest wraps around her shoulders, whose poverty clashed with the elegance of the ball costume. 
• She did not want to be noticed by the other woman who was wrapping themselves in rich furs. It shows the hypocrisy and show-off life of Mme Loisel and her dissatisfaction, anger and frustration with life.

Q 9. How did M. Loisel and Madame Loisel manage to buy a diamond necklace to return it to Madame Forester? What were the consequences?

• Mr. Loisel and Madame Loisel spent all their savings i.e. eighteen thousand francs, which his father had saved for him. Rest of the money they borrowed from usurers with ruinous promises. 
• They had to arrange 36,000 francs for the new diamond necklace. All this ruined their life. Mme Loisel had to do all odd jobs to save money. They had to change their lodgings. 
• Mr. Loisel had to work till late at night after office hours, putting the books of some merchant or to copy pages at five soups a page to earn extra money.

Q 10. Why did Matilda change her lifestyle after the ball?

• Matilda borrowed a necklace from her friend for the ball, but she lost it after it. It was a diamond necklace. It completely changed her course of life. 
• She and her husband had to struggle hard to repay the debt taken to buy a new necklace.

Q 11. What kind of a husband was Mr. Loisel? Discuss with reference to the chapter, ‘The Necklace’.
Or
Why do you think that M. Loisel was a loving husband?

• M. Loisel was a simple and poor clerk. He made every effort and sacrifice to make his wife happy. 
• He sacrificed his 400 francs that he had saved to buy a gun for himself in order to buy a new party dress for his wife. It proves that he was a loving husband.

Q 12. Why was Matilda sad after the ball?

Matilda was sad after the ball because she had lost the diamond necklace which she had borrowed from her friend Mme. Forestier. She had to pay a very heavy price for it.

Q 13. How had Mme Lionel’s sacrifices all been in vain?

• Mme. Loisel’s sacrifices proved to be all in vain as Mme Forestier, when she met her after ten years, told her that the necklace was of fake diamonds worth only 500 francs. 

• Poor Loisels had wasted their 10 years to repay the loss of a fake necklace.

Q 14. What did the Losels do to replace the necklace?

• They had to save every single penny in order to repay the huge loan they had taken for the diamond necklace. 
• Mrs. Loisel sent away all the maids and did all the household work by herself. They changed their lodging and shifted to a cheaper rented room.

Q 15. What were the reasons for Matilda’s unhappiness?  

Matilda was a pretty young lady but belonged to a poor family. She was married to a petty clerk. Her poverty and lack of recognition made her angry and unhappy.

Q 16. What was the cause of her ceaseless suffering? 

• Mrs. Loisel was very beautiful. She wanted to lead a life of comfort and luxury. She wanted to enjoy life. But she was married to a clerk. 
• She lived in a simple house and led an ordinary life. This was the cause of her ceaseless suffering.

Q 17. What did her husband bring home one evening? Why was he so elated? 

• One evening, her husband brought home an invitation card. They were invited to a party at the residence of the Minister of Public Instruction. 
• He was so elated because he thought that it would make his wife happy.

Q 18. How did Matilda get the jewels to wear to the ball?

Matilda went to her friend Madame Forestier’s house. She told her the story of her distress. She borrowed a necklace of diamonds from her. In this way, slit: got jewels for the ball.

Q 19. What happened at the ball? Was her dream fulfilled?

At the ball, Madame Loisel was a great success. She was the prettiest of all women. She was full of joy. All the men noticed her and asked her name. Her victory was complete. Her dream was fulfilled.

Q 20. Why was she not delighted to receive the ‘invitation to the party?

Mrs. Loisel wanted to lead a life of luxury. She wanted to attend parties. One day her husband got an invitation to attend a party given by the Minister of Public Instruction. But she did not have a good dress to wear at the party. So she was not happy to get the invitation.

Q 21. Why was her husband saving money?

Her husband was fond of shooting birds. He wanted to take part in shooting larks next summer. Some of his friends were also going shooting. So he was saving money. He wanted to purchase a gun with that money.

Q 22. Why was Matilda married to a clerk?

Matilda belonged to a family of clerks. Her parents were not rich. They did not have a big dowry for Matilda. She had no means to be married to a rich and famous man. So she was married to Loisel who was a clerk.

Q 23. How did Matilda’s husband obtain an invitation to attend the party?

Matilda’s husband was a clerk in the office of the Board of Education. The Minister of Public Instruction was giving a dance party. Clerks were not being invited to the party. But Matilda’s husband tried his best and obtained an invitation to attend the party.

Q 24. Describe Matilda’s experience at the dance party.

Matilda looked very charming at the dance party. All the men at the party looked at her. They asked her name. Everybody wanted to be introduced to her. The officers at the party wanted to dance with her. She danced with joy. She had a great sense of victory.

Q 25. When did the party end? What did Matilda find when she reached home?

The party ended at four o’clock in die morning. Matilda and her husband reached home. Matilda stood before the mirror. She wanted to see heme If again with the necklace. But she was shocked to find that she had lost the necklace.

Q 26. What efforts did Matilda and her husband make to look for the lost necklace?

They looked into the folds of MatiIda’s dress, in the folds of her cloak and in her pockets. Her husband searched the whole route by which they had come home. He returned at seven o’clock. He informed the police. He went to the newspaper’s office to announce a reward. But the lost necklace was not found.

Q 27. How was Mrs. Loisel ‘a mistake of destiny’?

Mrs. Matilda Loisel was very charming and pretty. She appeared to be a lady of high family. But she was born in a family of clerks. As her parents did not have much money, she was married to a clerk. But her thoughts were high. She wanted to enjoy the luxuries of life. So, the writer says that she was a mistake of destiny.’

Q 28. Why did Matilda think that she was born in a family of petty clerks by some error of destiny?

Matilda was a beautiful young lady with high dreams and aspirations. She had no dowry, no hopes, no fame and no wealth. She lost all hopes of marrying a man either rich or distinguished. She believed that she was born into a family of clerks only by some error of destiny. So, she allowed herself to marry a petty clerk in the office of the Board of Education.

Q 29. Why was Matilda always unhappy?
Or
Why did Matilda suffer incessantly?

• Matilda was always unhappy. She was not satisfied with what life and fate had given to her. She believed that she was born in a family of petty clerks through some error of destiny. 
• She dreamt of a big and grand house, marvellous dishes, good dresses and jewels. She hated to give an image of poverty. But the harsh realities of life made her unhappy and dissatisfied with her lot.

Q 30. What things tortured and angered Matilda?
Or
Do you think that the deep divide between her grand dreams and ordinary living was the cause of her unhappiness? What did she dream of?

• Matilda (Mrs Loisel) was not among those who take or accept life what it is. She was never satisfied with her lot. Her humble family background didn’t match with her grand dreams. 
• She believed that she was born for all delicacies and luxuries of the world. Her dreams were beyond her means. She dreamt of a big and grand house, marvellous dishes, costly clothes and jewels. 
• The harsh realities of life dashed her to the ground from the seventh heaven of her dreamy world. Hence, she suffered and remained dissatisfied.

Q 31. Why didn’t Matilda like to visit her rich friend?

• Matilda or Mrs Loisel always dreamt of things that were beyond her means. She dreamt of a grand house, costly dishes, good dresses and jewels. She was disillusioned that she couldn’t get them. 
• When she visited her rich friend, she really suffered because she became intensely conscious of her poverty in the presence of her fortunate and rich friend. She suffered so much when she returned to her modest and miserable surroundings.

Q 32. Why did Matilda throw the invitation card spitefully upon the table?
Or
Why did Matilda ask her husband to give the invitation card to some colleague?

• One evening, Matilda’s husband returned home carrying in his hand a large envelope. She drew out a printed card quickly but threw it on the table spitefully. It was an invitation for a ball arranged by the Minister of Public Instruction. 
• She complained that she didn’t have a suitable dress for that grand occasion. She asked him to give that invitation to some colleague whose wife was better fitted out than her.

Q 33. How did Mr. Loisel meet the demand for a suitable costume for his wife for going to the ball?

• Matilda refused to go to the ball without having a suitable costume for the occasion. Her husband asked her to wear the dress that she wore while going to the theatre. When Matilda reacted strongly, he asked how much a suitable costume would cost. 
• She replied that it would cost 400 francs. Mr Loisel turned pale. He had saved 400 francs to buy a gun for him to shoot larks. But he bowed down and agreed to give 400 francs to have a pretty dress.

Q 34. What and why did Matilda (Mrs. Loisel) put up another demand after her husband gave her 400 francs for buying a pretty dress?

• Mrs. Loisel’s demand of having a suitable costume was fulfilled and her dress was almost ready. But then, she put forward another demand. She was vexed not to have a jewel. She had nothing to adorn herself with. 
• She didn’t want to present a poverty-stricken look of herself amidst rich ladies. She ridiculed the idea of wearing natural flowers. She needed some jewels to adorn herself.

Q 35. How was Matilda’s demand of adorning herself with jewels fulfilled?

• Mrs. Loisel was adamant about having some jewels to adorn herself for the ball. Her poor husband felt helpless. However, an idea struck him. He told her that she could borrow jewels from her rich friend Madame Forestier. 
• Madame Forestier easily agreed and placed her jewellery box before Matilda to make her choice. In the end, Matilda chose a superb diamond necklace and Madame Forestier happily gave the necklace to her friend.

Q 36. What made Matilda a grand success at the ball?
Or
How did Matilda perform at the ball and why did men want to be introduced to her?

It was a great test for Matilda to present herself at the ball. And she was a grand success there. She was the prettiest of them all. She was elegant, graceful and full of joy. She danced with enthusiasm. All the men noticed such a wonderful lady, asked her name and wanted to be introduced to her.

Q 37. Why did Mr. Loisel have to put on his clothes to go out into the cold at night, minutes after returning from the ball? Did he succeed in getting what he searched for?

Matilda had lost the diamond necklace that she had borrowed from Madame Forestier, at the ball. When it was not found in the folds of her dress, in the folds of the cloak, in pockets, everywhere, Mr. Loisel went out. He went over the track in search of the lost necklace. No, he didn’t succeed in finding what he had been searching for in the cold night.

Q 38. How did Mr. and Mrs. Loisel replace the lost necklace and gave that to Madame Forestier? 

• When they had lost all hopes of getting the lost necklace, Mrs. and Mr. Loisel decided that they must replace the jewel. In a shop, they found a necklace which seemed to them exactly like the one they had lost. They could get it for 36000 francs. 
• Mr. Loisel had 18000 francs which his father had left. They borrowed the rest of the money. They bought the new necklace and returned it to Madame Forestier.

Q 39. Why and how did the Loisels spend the horrible and miserable life of necessity?

• Loiselle had heavy debts on their heads. To pay them off, they had to lead a very hard and even miserable life. They sent away from their maid. They changed their lodgings and rented some rooms in the attic. 
• Matilda learned the odious work of a kitchen. She washed the dishes and soiled linen. She took down the refuse to the street. She clothed like an ordinary woman and did all odd jobs herself. 
• Mr. Loisel put the books of some merchants in order. He did copying at five sous a page. It took ten years to pay off all the debts.

Q 40. Why didn’t Madame Forestier recognize Matilda? How did both the ladies look?

• One day, Matilda was taking a walk in the Champs-Elysees. She suddenly saw a woman walking with a child. It was Madame Forestier. She was still young, pretty and still attractive. 
• But Mrs. Loisel looked just the difference. Her face was telling her story. She had so much changed that Madame Forestier couldn’t recognise her. She could only say, “Oh! my poor Matilda! How you have changed!”

Q 41. Why did Matilda say to Madame Forestier ” and all because of you?”

Madame Forestier couldn’t recognise Matilda as she had changed so much during those years. Mrs. Loisel told her that she had to spend really some hard days. And Madame Forestier herself was responsible for her misery. Then, she told her the whole story of the lost necklace and how they suffered as they had to pay off the debts.

Q 42. Matilda and her husband suffered to pay off the debts which they took on their heads for a false necklace. Comment. Do you find the ending of the story unexpected and ironic?

In the end, Madame Forestier told Matilda that the necklace which she lent to her and for whose replacement they had to suffer so much, was really a false one. The ending of the play is quite unexpected but logical. It is ironic as well. The necklace that bought so much min and miseries to Matilda and her husband turned out to be a false one.

Q 43. What was the greatest mistake of Mrs. Loisel that became the cause of their miseries? Could she have averted it?

The greatest blunder that Matilda committed was that she didn’t take her friend into confidence. She should have told the whole story as it had happened. That would have pacified Madame Forestier quite easily as the necklace she lent to her friend was not of real diamonds but false ones.

Q 44. How did the hack driver take the young lawyer for a ride literally and metaphorically on his first visit to New Mullion?

• Certainly, both the main characters of the story are totally different. Bill or Lutkins manoeuvres and plots under the garb of friendliness. 
• The narrator is outwitted and deceived due to his gullibility. Bill (Lutkins) knows how to confuse and misdirect the narrator’s search for Oliver Lutkins. He befriends the lawyer convincing him that he is the only person in New Mullion who can help him in finding out Oliver Lutkins. 
• He overpowers the narrator’s capacity for reasoning and thinking. The narrator becomes a soft target of cunning Lutkins. He allows giving Lutkins all the space and time that he needed to plan out and scheme things. The narrator became just a willing puppet in Bill’s hands. 
• Actually, he danced to his tunes. Bill’s pretensions clouded the narrator’s wisdom and sense of discretion. Bill (Lutkins) was not a crook and fraud but an honest man full of human values for him. The cunning Lutkins had the last laugh. When the narrator served summons, Lutkins and his mother laughed as if he were a seven-year-old boy.

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