Class 10 English Chapter 7 Question Answers - The Necklace

Short Answer Type Questions

Q2. Why did Matilda not like to visit her rich friend?
Ans: Matilda did not enjoy visiting her rich friend because she felt an inferiority complex. Each time she went, she became dejected and disappointed due to her own poverty. She often compared her modest living conditions to her friend's luxurious lifestyle. Additionally, Matilda lacked beautiful clothes and jewellery, which made her feel out of place. This is why she preferred to avoid such visits.

Q3. Why is Matilda unhappy with her life?
Ans: Matilda is unhappy with her life because she constantly feels that she is meant for luxury and elegance. The poor condition of her home, with its shabby walls and worn-out chairs, deeply frustrates her. These surroundings remind her of what she lacks, intensifying her feelings of discontent.

Q4. Her husband is kind and loving. Do you agree? Give examples to support your answers.
Ans: He is a kind and loving husband who prioritises his wife's happiness. For instance, he spent his hard-earned savings, which he had saved for years, to buy her a beautiful dress for a big party, instead of indulging in his own hobby. When she lost a costly necklace, he went to great lengths, even borrowing money, to replace it. His dedication is evident as he works tirelessly without causing any trouble at home, showing his commitment to their relationship.

Q5. What had Matilda’s husband saved the money for? Why did he then part with his savings?
Ans: Matilda's husband had saved a significant amount of money, specifically four hundred francs, to purchase a gun for himself. However, when Matilda insisted on having a new dress for a party, he chose to sacrifice his savings. He used the money he had saved to buy her a suitable costume.

Q6. What was the cause of Matilda’s ruin? How could she have avoided it?
Ans: Matilda's downfall stemmed from her unrealistic aspirations and focus on material possessions. She failed to live within her means, which led to her ruin. By being more practical and understanding her husband's feelings, she could have avoided this tragic outcome.

Q7. What did Mme. Forestier tell Matilda about the reality of her Necklace?
Ans: After losing the borrowed necklace, Matilda replaced it with a diamond necklace that cost thirty-six thousand francs. However, Mme Forestier later revealed that her original necklace was fake and worth only about five hundred francs.

Q8. What changes came into the life of Loisels after the necklace was lost?
Ans: After losing the necklace, the Loisels faced significant changes in their lives. They had to move to a cheaper room and let go of their servant. Matilda took on all the household chores, including shopping, fetching water, and washing clothes. Her husband worked late into the evenings and nights to repay their debt. This challenging lifestyle lasted for ten years, during which Matilda became a strong, hard woman, reflecting the struggles of their new life.

Q9. Why was Mme Forestier shocked to hear Matilda’s story?
Ans: Mme Forestier was shocked to hear Matilda's story because, during their encounter, she barely recognised Matilda due to her aged appearance. Matilda explained that she had endured many hardships after losing the diamond necklace borrowed from Mme Forestier. To her astonishment, Matilda revealed that she had spent ten years repaying a replacement necklace, only for Mme Forestier to inform her that the original necklace was actually false and worth only five hundred francs.

Q10. Do you think Matilda’s over-ambitious nature was the cause of her miseries?
Ans: Matilda's overambitious nature indeed contributed to her avoidable miseries. In an attempt to present herself as a wealthy woman, she borrowed a necklace from a friend. Her troubles began when she lost this necklace, leading to a series of unfortunate events.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q12. On inability to accept our circumstances may lead to an unhappy life. Explain with reference to the story “The Necklace”.
Ans: Many people struggle to accept their circumstances, which can lead to an unhappy life. Instead of recognising their situation, they often complain and wish for a different life. In the story The Necklace, Matilda Loisel exemplifies this mindset. She is discontent with her husband and dreams of a luxurious life. Her constant frustration prevents her from finding solutions and ultimately complicates her situation. When Matilda borrows a necklace for a party and then loses it, her inability to accept her reality leads to a series of unfortunate events. Instead of facing the truth, she chooses to hide her mistake, which results in years of hardship. This story illustrates how failing to accept our circumstances can ruin our lives.

Q13. 'Love is blind' is a phrase that was justified by Monsieur Loisel in the lesson 'The Necklace'. Substantiate the answer from the story you have read in about 100 – 120 words.
Ans: Love is blind is exemplified through Monsieur Loisel's actions in 'The Necklace'. His unwavering desire to please his wife, Matilda, highlights this concept. Despite her constant dissatisfaction, he remains devoted. When Matilda laments her lack of a dress for the party, he willingly gives her money to buy one. Later, when she frets over not having jewellery, he encourages her to borrow a necklace from Madame Forestier. This eagerness to make Matilda happy ultimately leads to their downfall when she loses the necklace. Monsieur Loisel takes on the burden of replacing it, sacrificing ten years of hard work without complaint. His own desires are overshadowed by his commitment to Matilda’s happiness, illustrating that love can sometimes blind one to personal needs and consequences.

Q14. 'The Necklace' reveals that vanity is an evil. It may bring joy for short period but ultimately it leads to ruin. If you are placed in a situation similar to that of Matilda, what would you have done? Express your views.
Ans: Vanity can be a destructive force, as shown through Matilda's character in the story. She was proud of her beauty and believed she deserved a life filled with luxuries and fine things, despite being born into a modest family. This sense of entitlement led to her downfall. If I found myself in a situation like Matilda's, I would prioritise the love and support of my husband over material possessions. Instead of insisting on an expensive dress for the party, I would choose to appreciate what I already had. I would not borrow a costly necklace from a friend, which ultimately caused the Loisels significant hardship. By valuing our relationship and living within our means, I could have spared us both from the struggles that Matilda faced.

Q15. What changes came in the lifestyle of Matilda after she had lost the necklace?
Ans: After losing the necklace, Matilda and her husband, Mr Loisel, faced a difficult life for ten long years to repay the borrowed money. They began by sending away their maid and moved to a smaller, rented attic. Matilda had to learn the burdensome tasks of household life, which included washing dishes, greasy pots, and laundry. She often used her hands to scrub the dirty items, and each morning, she took out the rubbish and fetched water, stopping to catch her breath along the way. With limited funds, she haggled with shopkeepers for lower prices. Once known for her beauty and elegant dresses, Matilda now appeared aged and worn. Her hair was unkempt, her clothes were shabby, and her hands were rough from hard work. She spoke loudly and washed floors with large buckets of water. During these years, her husband worked evenings and nights to make ends meet, often doing tedious tasks like copying documents. This challenging lifestyle lasted a decade, and by the end, they had repaid their debt. However, Matilda had transformed into a strong, hardened woman, reflecting the struggles of her new life. Occasionally, she would reminisce about the glamorous evening when she wore the necklace, pondering how different her life might have been had she not lost it.

Q16. At the end of the ten years, they had restored all. What had Matilda and her husband restored and at what cost?
Ans: Matilda lost the necklace she had borrowed from her wealthy friend, Mme Forestier. Despite their efforts to find it, they were unsuccessful. Consequently, they decided to replace the necklace with a new one. M. Loisel spent his entire savings and borrowed money to buy a similar necklace, which cost thirty-six thousand francs. To repay this debt, they drastically reduced their expenses. They let go of their maid and moved to an attic, while M. Loisel worked evenings and nights, earning money by putting merchants' books in order and doing copying at five sous a page. This challenging lifestyle lasted for ten years, and by the end, they had restored all their debts.

Q17. Matilda would not have suffered much if she had confessed the loss of necklace. Do you think our mistakes become more serious if we try to cover them?
Ans: Yes, a small mistake can make our lives miserable. People who are open-minded and speak the truth tend to be much happier. A minor error made by Matilda changed her life entirely. If she had confessed to losing Madam Forestier’s necklace, her life would have taken a different path. A confession could have brought her peace of mind. Matilda would have quickly learned that the necklace was not real but an imitation. The hard work she put into repaying the borrowed necklace could have been avoided. This story teaches us an important lesson: we should not delay in admitting our mistakes.

Q18. Our inability to accept our limitations may lead to an unhappy life. Analyze with reference to the story ‘The Necklace’.
Ans: Many people struggle to accept their limitations, which can lead to an unhappy life. In the story The Necklace, we see how Matilda Loisel embodies this struggle. She is dissatisfied with her life and constantly yearns for luxury and wealth. Instead of appreciating her circumstances, she grumbles and wishes for something different. Matilda's frustration stems from her belief that she deserves a more glamorous life. This discontent drives her to borrow a necklace for a party, which she ultimately loses. Rather than seeking a solution, she complicates her life further by not admitting her mistake. This decision leads to years of hardship, demonstrating how failing to accept our reality can result in a tragic outcome.

Q19. The course of the Loisels’ life changed due to the necklace. Comment.
Ans: The course of the Loisel family’s life drastically changed due to the necklace. After losing the original necklace, they replaced it with a new one, which forced them to borrow a significant amount of money. This decision led them to make severe lifestyle changes, including sending away their maid and moving to a small attic. Matilda, now responsible for household chores, took on the burdens of daily life. She washed dishes, cleaned soiled linen, and even carried refuse to the street each morning. Clothed like a working-class woman, she shopped at the grocer's, butcher's, and fruiterer's, haggling to save every sou of their limited money. Meanwhile, Loisel worked late into the evenings, organising merchants' books, and took on additional copying work at a low rate. This challenging life continued for ten years, during which they struggled to repay their debts. By the end of this period, they had finally restored their financial situation, but the toll on Matilda was evident. She had aged significantly, becoming a hardened woman, reflecting the harsh realities of their life. Occasionally, she would reminisce about the glamorous evening when she wore the necklace, pondering how different their lives might have been had she not lost it.

Q20. What would have happened to Matilda if she had confessed to her friend that she had lost her necklace?
Ans: If Matilda had confessed to her friend that she had lost her necklace, she might have faced less trouble than she did after replacing it. Although her friend would likely have been angry, she would probably have asked Matilda to replace it and provided details about where she bought it and its cost. This would have revealed to Matilda that the jewels were not real diamonds, meaning the replacement would have been much cheaper. Consequently, Matilda could have saved herself and her husband from the significant difficulties they endured, leading to a much easier life for them.