The Necklace Past Paper PDF

The Necklace – Guy De Maupassant SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS Q1. 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...

The Necklace – Guy De Maupassant SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS Q1. 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. Q2. 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. Q3. Why did Matilda throw the invitation card spitefully upon the table 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. Q4. How did Mr. Loisel meet the demand of 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 because 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 5. What made Matilda a grand success at the ball? 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. Q6. How did Mr. and Mrs. Loisel replace e lost necklace and gave that to Madam Forestier? Ans. 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 Madam Forestier. Q7. Why and how did the Loisels spend the horrible and miserable life of necessity? Ans. Loisels had heavy debts on their heads. To pay them off, they had to lead a very hard and even miserable life. They sent away their maid. They changed their lodgings and rented some rooms in the attic. Matilda learnt 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. Ql. Draw a pen-portrait (character-/ sketch) of Matilda (Mrs. Loisel) in about 100-200 words. Ans. Matilda or Mrs. Loisel was quite a beautiful young lady. Some error of fortune gave her birth in a family of petty clerks. She was highly ambitious and dreamy. Her dreams were impractical and beyond her means. She had to suffer a lot for her acts. But suffering and misfortunes only ended in making her a better human being. She struggled hard like an ordinary maid. She started doing all household works herself. She started living within her limits. She helped her very caring husband in saving money. It was a joint effort. They were successful in paying off all their debts in ten years. Matilda was born with a misconception. She thought, very wrongly, that she was born to enjoy all delicacies and luxuries of the world. She dreamt of a grand house, costly dishes, trendy dresses and glittering jewels. Matilda was not rich. But she didn't want to present a poverty-stricken image of her amidst rich ladies. She was a self- respecting woman. She refused to go to the ball without a suitable dress and jewels. One blunder of Matilda led to her ruin and sufferings. She lacked humility. She must have gone and confessed before Madam Forestier that she had lost her necklace. She should have avoided unnecessary suffering to herself and to her husband. Much was done about nothing. Had she done so, she could have maintained her beauty and youth as Madam Forestier did. Q2. What was the single mistake that ruined the Loisels' lives and brought them so much sufferings? Could they have avoided such a situation? Or How did a false necklace bring unnecessary struggles and sufferings to Loisels? Could a better understanding have avoided them? Give a reasoned answer. Ans. It is true that a single mistake can change the course of one's life. This is exactly what happened to Matilda. Wearing a suitable costume and adorning herself with borrowed jewels didn't bring any reversal of fortunes for Loisels. But hiding the fact that she had lost Madam Forestier's necklace and not taking her into confidence was indeed a big blunder. It was the greatest mistake that Matilda had ever made in her life. She unnecessarily brought suffering to them for nothing. They had to pay 36000 francs to buy a replacement of Madam Forestier's necklace. For ten long years, Matilda had to work like an ordinary maid doing all her household work herself. Mr. Loisel had to do extra works in the evenings and nights to save money. Of course, the Loisels could have averted such an unfortunate situation. Madam Forestier was an obliging, helpful and forgiving lady. She was rich but not arrogant. She would have easily forgiven her for losing her necklace. After all, the jewels were false. And much was done and suffered just for nothing!