“The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant – Study Guide, Literary Analysis, and
Exam Preparation Notes
Why does the invitation her husband brings home displease Madame Loisel? - ANS ✔✔The
invitation Madame Loisel displeases her because she doesn't have a dress to wear for the ball
she was invited to.
Why does Madame Loisel borrow a necklace from her friend, Madame Forestier? - ANS
✔✔Madame Loisel borrows a necklace from her friend, Madame Forestier because she kept
complaining that she didn't have any jewelry.
How do the lives of the Loisels change after the necklace is lost? - ANS ✔✔After the necklace is
lost the Loisels have to work for ten years to pay for a 36,000 francs one. Madame Loisel has to
become a "maid" and M. Loisel has to work two jobs.
What does Madame Loisel eventually discover about the necklace? - ANS ✔✔Madame Loisel
eventually discovers that the necklace Madame Forestier gave her is fake and really 500 francs.
At the beginning of the story, why is Madame Loisel dissatisfied with her life? - ANS ✔✔At the
beginning of the story Madame Loisel is dissatisfied with her life because she marries a minor
civil servant and doesn't have the things she desires like jewelry and dresses.
"Unable to afford jewelry, she dressed simply; but she was as wretched as a declassee, for
women have neither caste nor breeding- in them beauty, grace, and charm replace pride of
birth," (Maupassant 201).
How are the things Madame Loisel values different from the things her husband values? - ANS
✔✔Madame Loisel values a lavish, rich life while her husband values a simple easy life.
Madame Loisel is not satisfied with her life while her husband is satisfied with whatever they
have.
, "'Ah, a good homemade beef stew! There's nothing better,'" (Maupassant 201).
In what essential way are Madame Loisel and her husband alike? - ANS ✔✔Both Madame Loisel
and her husband are trustworthy, respecting, dedicated to each other and hardworking.
"'And it took us ten years to pay for it. You can imagine it wasn't easy for us, since we were quite
poor," (Maupassant 206).
What does the borrowed necklace represent? Why is it a good symbol for Madame Loisel? -
ANS ✔✔The borrowed necklace represents that Madame Loisel has no jewelry. It is a good
symbol at the party because people see her and what she wears. They think she is rich. It also
symbolises her averice/materialism
"All the men were looking at her, inquiring her name, asking to be introduced to her,"
(Maupassant 5).
A dynamic character is one that changes and develops emotionally, mentally, or morally
throughout the story. Explain why Madame Loisel is, or is not a dynamic character. Use two
examples from the story to prove you are correct. - ANS ✔✔Madame Loisel is a dynamic
character because in the beginning of the story she was feeling bad for herself and complaining
about what she doesn't have. At the end of the story Madame Loisel has to pay for the new
necklace and she works hard and becomes a little more hardheaded.
"And, clad like a poor woman, she went to the fruiterer, to the grocer, to the butcher, a basket
on her arm, haggling, insulted, fighting for every wretched halfpenny of her money,"
(Maupassant 9).
Define irony. What is ironic about the ending of this story? - ANS ✔✔Irony is a contrast between
an expected outcome and the actual outcome or between appearance and reality. The end of
the story is ironic because you would expect the necklace to be real and cost a lot of francs, but
it really only costs 500 francs.
Exam Preparation Notes
Why does the invitation her husband brings home displease Madame Loisel? - ANS ✔✔The
invitation Madame Loisel displeases her because she doesn't have a dress to wear for the ball
she was invited to.
Why does Madame Loisel borrow a necklace from her friend, Madame Forestier? - ANS
✔✔Madame Loisel borrows a necklace from her friend, Madame Forestier because she kept
complaining that she didn't have any jewelry.
How do the lives of the Loisels change after the necklace is lost? - ANS ✔✔After the necklace is
lost the Loisels have to work for ten years to pay for a 36,000 francs one. Madame Loisel has to
become a "maid" and M. Loisel has to work two jobs.
What does Madame Loisel eventually discover about the necklace? - ANS ✔✔Madame Loisel
eventually discovers that the necklace Madame Forestier gave her is fake and really 500 francs.
At the beginning of the story, why is Madame Loisel dissatisfied with her life? - ANS ✔✔At the
beginning of the story Madame Loisel is dissatisfied with her life because she marries a minor
civil servant and doesn't have the things she desires like jewelry and dresses.
"Unable to afford jewelry, she dressed simply; but she was as wretched as a declassee, for
women have neither caste nor breeding- in them beauty, grace, and charm replace pride of
birth," (Maupassant 201).
How are the things Madame Loisel values different from the things her husband values? - ANS
✔✔Madame Loisel values a lavish, rich life while her husband values a simple easy life.
Madame Loisel is not satisfied with her life while her husband is satisfied with whatever they
have.
, "'Ah, a good homemade beef stew! There's nothing better,'" (Maupassant 201).
In what essential way are Madame Loisel and her husband alike? - ANS ✔✔Both Madame Loisel
and her husband are trustworthy, respecting, dedicated to each other and hardworking.
"'And it took us ten years to pay for it. You can imagine it wasn't easy for us, since we were quite
poor," (Maupassant 206).
What does the borrowed necklace represent? Why is it a good symbol for Madame Loisel? -
ANS ✔✔The borrowed necklace represents that Madame Loisel has no jewelry. It is a good
symbol at the party because people see her and what she wears. They think she is rich. It also
symbolises her averice/materialism
"All the men were looking at her, inquiring her name, asking to be introduced to her,"
(Maupassant 5).
A dynamic character is one that changes and develops emotionally, mentally, or morally
throughout the story. Explain why Madame Loisel is, or is not a dynamic character. Use two
examples from the story to prove you are correct. - ANS ✔✔Madame Loisel is a dynamic
character because in the beginning of the story she was feeling bad for herself and complaining
about what she doesn't have. At the end of the story Madame Loisel has to pay for the new
necklace and she works hard and becomes a little more hardheaded.
"And, clad like a poor woman, she went to the fruiterer, to the grocer, to the butcher, a basket
on her arm, haggling, insulted, fighting for every wretched halfpenny of her money,"
(Maupassant 9).
Define irony. What is ironic about the ending of this story? - ANS ✔✔Irony is a contrast between
an expected outcome and the actual outcome or between appearance and reality. The end of
the story is ironic because you would expect the necklace to be real and cost a lot of francs, but
it really only costs 500 francs.
