The Necklace Class 10 Important Questions: CBSE English (Footprints Without Feet) Chapter 7

1. How does Mathilde Loisel’s desire for luxury lead to her downfall in the story?

Mathilde borrows the necklace from Madame Forestier because she is unhappy with her simple life and longs for luxury and fortune. This choice starts a series of circumstances that ultimately lead to her demise; she loses the necklace and works to replace it for the next ten years while living in poverty. A terrible conclusion results from her inability to appreciate life's small pleasures due to her conceit and shallowness.

2. What role does Mathilde’s husband play in the story?

Despite their limited resources, Mathilde's husband is a dedicated and caring man who makes an effort to grant her wishes. In an attempt to earn her approval, he offers to let her borrow the necklace and gives her money for a new attire. However, he takes on the duty of restoring the necklace after it is lost, and they both go through a difficult ten years. In contrast to Mathilde, who is dissatisfied and materialistic, he is practical and comfortable.

3. Discuss the symbolism of the necklace in the story.

The necklace represents superficial appearance, riches, and position. For Mathilde, wearing it will make her feel important and increase her status, hence it is a vanity item. But in the end, it is discovered that the necklace is a fake, signifying how Mathilde's quest for superficiality drives her to make a choice that permanently alters her life. It also illustrates how worldly possessions can cause needless misery and how appearances can be deceitful.

4. How does Mathilde’s reaction to losing the necklace contribute to the development of the plot?

Mathilde reacts with dread and desperation after losing the jewellery. Her 10 years of suffering begin when she and her husband hastily decide to replace the jewellery without telling Madame Forestier the truth. They borrow money, work numerous jobs, and live in poverty as a result of her initial inability to accept responsibility for her errors, all of which irrevocably change their lives. This decision propels the story to its sad and ironic climax.

5. How does the twist at the end of the story affect your understanding of the characters?

The last twist emphasises the subject of deceit and consumerism by revealing that the jewellery Mathilde had taken was a cheap replica. It demonstrates how Mathilde's fixation on appearances caused her to live in poverty for ten years over a purchase that was not worth the cost. This irony questions the notion that riches and position are reliable measures of happiness and shows how the characters' behaviours were predicated on incorrect notions.

6. What does the story suggest about the importance of contentment in life?

According to the story, happiness depends on contentment. Mathilde makes choices based on illusory wishes for wealth because she is unable to appreciate the life she has, which includes a devoted spouse and simple comforts. The narrative suggests that contentment with one's situation is the key to a meaningful existence and that consumerism and superficiality only lead to sadness and suffering.

7. What is the significance of the ten years Mathilde spends in poverty?

Mathilde learns a severe lesson about reality and hard labour throughout her ten years of poverty. Her arrogance and the decisions she took are directly responsible for the time of pain. She changes during this period from a lady who was formerly fixated on luxury to one who has come to appreciate hard work and modesty. The ten years stand in for the expensive price of superficiality and the permanent effects of her behaviour.

8. How does the story use irony to convey its message?

Dramatic irony is loaded in the story, particularly in the final twist. The necklace was discovered to be a poor copy, which contrasts with Mathilde's assumption that it is made of diamonds and has enormous value. This irony highlights the story's criticism of materialism by demonstrating how deceptive appearances can be and how pursuing wealth and status may result in needless suffering.

9. What is the role of Madame Forestier in the story?

The events of the story are sparked by Madame Forestier. Mathilde was initially motivated to borrow the jewellery by her wealth and prestige. It is not until the very end that Madame Forestier realises the difficulty the necklace brings. Her persona acts as a reminder of how material belongings may affect one's sense of happiness and self-worth, as well as a symbol of the wealth gap.

 10. How does the setting contribute to the themes of the story?

The setting is crucial in emphasising the themes of materialism and social class, especially the contrast between Mathilde's little flat and the opulent ball. The ball symbolises the world Mathilde aspires to but will never fully enter, and her acts are motivated by her desire to belong to a higher social class. The setting highlights the perils of chasing flimsy illusions at the expense of reality and heightens the irony.

11. How does the theme of vanity play a central role in Mathilde’s actions?

Mathilde's decisions are motivated by her vanity. She feels that her value is dependent on appearances, thus she is unhappy with her modest life and yearns for luxury. Because of her vanity, she borrows the jewellery and then makes choices that lead to a decade of adversity. The damaging nature of the vanity theme illustrates how a fixation with appearance and status may have disastrous results.

12. What does the story say about the value of material possessions?

The value placed on material items is criticised in the novel. Mathilde's fixation on the necklace and her conviction that it would improve her social standing is indicative of how much value she places on appearances. The conclusion, however, makes clear that the necklace's actual worth lay not in its price but rather in the lessons discovered from the event, demonstrating that worldly belongings frequently do not provide genuine contentment or happiness.

13. What is the significance of the ending of "The Necklace"?

The ending is important because it shows how pointless Mathilde's activities were. She finds out after ten years of suffering that the jewellery she gave up so much for was not nearly as valuable as she had assumed. This irony draws attention to the topics of materialism and illusion and implies that contentment on the inside, rather than outward appearances or worldly belongings, should be the basis for pleasure.

14. How does the author use characterization to highlight the theme of the story?

To draw attention to the difference between Mathilde's petty desires and her husband's contentment, Maupassant employs characterisation. While her husband is realistic, charitable, and happy with their humble lifestyle, Mathilde is shown as conceited, materialistic, and unhappy. The story's themes of the dangers of vanity and the importance of simplicity are emphasised by this contrast.

15. What lesson can readers learn from the story "The Necklace"?

The moral of the story is that materialism and the desire for appearances can cause needless misery. It highlights how crucial it is to be happy with what one has and avoid evaluating one's value by looking at outward signs of affluence. The narrative also demonstrates how openness and communication could have averted the catastrophe, demonstrating how lying frequently results in more damage.

Important Points From Class 10 English Footprints Without Feet Chapter 7: The Necklace

1. Young Mathilde Loisel is unhappy with her modest life and longs for luxury and fortune. She feels that material belongings and social standing determine her value.

2. Mathilde is first disappointed because she has nothing to wear when her husband, a clerk, receives an invitation to a prominent gala. Even after receiving money from her spouse to purchase new clothing, she still feels unfulfilled in the absence of jewellery.

3. In an attempt to look more glitzy and improve her status, Mathilde takes a stunning diamond necklace from Madame Forestier, a wealthy friend, to wear to the ball.

4. Although Mathilde has a good time during the ball, she discovers afterwards that the necklace is gone. She and her husband make the costly decision to replace it with a replica in a panic.

5. The Loisels spend the following ten years in poverty in order to pay off the loan for the replacement jewellery. Mathilde puts in a lot of labour, and their comfortable lifestyle abruptly shifts to one of hardship.

6. Following a decade of hard labour, Mathilde reunites with Madame Forestier and confesses the necklace's disappearance. The original necklace was a fake, and it was only worth a small portion of what they had paid to replace it, Madame Forestier suddenly tells her.

7. The narrative emphasises how Mathilde's preoccupation with appearance and her vanity caused her to make decisions that caused her and her husband needless pain and suffering.

8. The story challenges materialism and the notion that happiness is derived from material possessions and social standing. It demonstrates that inner attributes and contentment, not flimsy material belongings, are what truly matter.

Benefits of Important Questions for Class 10 English Footprints Without Feet Chapter 7: The Necklace

• Important questions focus on the central themes of the story such as materialism, vanity, and the consequences of superficial desires. 

• Students can make sure they are ready for both short- and long-answer test questions by practising the important questions. This preparation makes it easier to confidently and clearly respond to a variety of queries.

• Students' writing abilities, including organisation, logic, and clarity, are enhanced when they respond to lengthy questions. This is an essential exam, when receiving high marks requires well-organised, thorough answers.

• Character analysis is frequently covered in important questions, such as Mathilde Loisel's and her husband's characteristics, which aid students in understanding how the characters' personalities and deeds influence the plot. This enhances their capacity to compose thorough responses grounded in character development.

• The story teaches important life lessons about materialism, vanity, and the fallout from fleeting ambitions. Students are frequently asked to consider these lessons in light of important questions, which prompt them to consider how they relate to their own lives.

Conclusion 

Guy de Maupassant's **"The Necklace"** teaches an important lesson about the dangers of materialism and vanity. After enduring needless suffering due to her quest for wealth and prestige, Mathilde Loisel learns that the necklace she held in such high regard was a fake. The novel leaves readers with a moving reflection on the effects of mismatched priorities by highlighting the value of honesty, contentment, and prioritising inner traits over outward appearances. Vedantu’s important questions FREE PDF for this chapter helps students understand key points and prepare well for exams by focusing on the main themes and ideas from the story.

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