Class 10 English Chapter 7 Question Answers - The Necklace

"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. 

Q1: 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?

Ans: 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.

Q2: How does the writer’s use of the literary device—a twist in the tale—towards the story’s end impact the narrative of The Necklace?

Ans: The twist at the end of the story has a significant impact on the narrative. The discovery that the lost necklace was just an imitation and not a valuable piece completely changes the story’s direction. This twist adds irony and emphasizes the theme of materialism. It leaves a strong impression on our understanding of the characters' decisions and the consequences of unchecked desire. The twist turns the story into a cautionary tale, making us think about the true value of our ambitions.

Q3: Briefly state how Matilda invited ‘a dreadful life of necessity’ into her family. 

Ans: Matilda, born into a middle-class family, was unhappy with her simple life and longed for luxury. Ignoring her husband's advice to wear natural flowers, she borrowed a necklace and lost it. This led to her downfall, as her dissatisfaction with what she had brought about a life of poverty and hardship while trying to repay the debt for the lost necklace.

Q4: Madam Loisel now knew the horrible life of necessity. Do you think Madam Loisel accepted this change willingly? Give two reasons in support of your answer. 

Ans: Yes, Madam Loisel came to know the harsh reality of a life of necessity after losing the necklace, which drastically changed their lives. She had to do all the household chores herself, as they could no longer afford a maid, and even carried garbage to the street on her own. Additionally, she had to wash dishes and haggle while shopping in the market. Although it was difficult for her to accept this new reality, she understood that she had to endure it to repay the debt they had incurred.

Q5: Madame Loisel was intoxicated with pleasure at the ball. Give three reasons to support your answer.

Ans: 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. 

Q6: What changes occurred in Madame Loisel after 10 years?

Ans: 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.

Also Check at EduRev: 

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

Q7: Why did Madame Loisel leave the ball in a hurry? What does it show about her character?

Ans: 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.

Q8: How did M. Loisel and Madame Loisel manage to buy a diamond necklace to return it to Madame Forester? What were the consequences?

Ans: 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.

Q9: Why do you think that M. Loisel was a loving husband?

Ans: 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.

Q10: How did Mr. Loisel meet the demand for a suitable costume for his wife for going to the ball?

Ans: 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.

Q11: How was Matilda’s demand of adorning herself with jewels fulfilled?

Ans: 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.

Q12: What did the Losels do to replace the necklace?

Ans: 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.

Q13: What was the cause of her ceaseless suffering? 

Ans: 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.

Q14: How did Matilda perform at the ball and why did men want to be introduced to her?

Ans: 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.

Q15: 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?

Ans: 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.

Q16: What did her husband bring home one evening? Why was he so elated? 

Ans: 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.

Q17: Why and how did the Loisels spend the horrible and miserable life of necessity?

Ans: 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.

Q18: Why didn’t Madame Forestier recognize Matilda? How did both the ladies look?

Ans: 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!”

Q19: Why was she not delighted to receive the ‘invitation to the party?

Ans: 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.

Q20: How did Matilda’s husband obtain an invitation to attend the party?

Ans: 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.

Q21: Describe Matilda’s experience at the dance party.

Ans: 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.

Q22: When did the party end? What did Matilda find when she reached home?

Ans: 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.

Q23: What efforts did Matilda and her husband make to look for the lost necklace?

Ans: 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.

Q24: How was Mrs. Loisel ‘a mistake of destiny’?

Ans: 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.’

Q25: Why did Matilda think that she was born in a family of petty clerks by some error of destiny?

Ans: 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.

Q26: Why was Matilda always unhappy?

Ans: 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.

Q27: Why didn’t Matilda like to visit her rich friend?

Ans: 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.

Q28: Why did Matilda ask her husband to give the invitation card to some colleague?

Ans: 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.

Q29: Why was Madam Loisel shocked to know at the end of the story?

Ans: Madam Loisel, who had borrowed a necklace from Madam Forestier, to wear at the minister’s ball, had lost it by the time she was back home. Both her husband and she could not find it and decided to replace it with a new one. This cost them thirty six thousand francs and ten years in toil and suffering. At the end of the story, she was shocked to know from Madam Forestier that her necklace (diamond one) was fake and did not cost over five hundred francs.

Q30: Why did Matilda not want to see her rich friends?

Ans: Matilda did not want to see her rich friends because she suffered from inferiority complex. She was married to a simple clerk; whereas her friends were rich and full of money power.

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