Short Questions and Answers
1. What would Matilda often dream off?
Answer: Matilda would often dream of all the delicacies, luxuries, elegant dinners, marvellous dishes, rich silver, beautiful dresses, jewels, adoration and a life of glory. She would often escape into her dreams from the dullness of her very humble existence.
2. Why did Matilda throw the invitation spitefully?
Answer: Matilda was simply displeased when her husband showed the invitation. she felt humiliated and threw the invitation spitefully as she had nothing beautiful enough to wear to such a grand gathering.
3. How did Loisel try to make his wife happy?
Answer: When Loisel told his wife about the invitation of party, she said that she had not have a dress to wear. But he offered her to buy a new dress as he had money and suggested her to borrow a necklace from her friend to wear in the party. Hearing this, she became satisfied and contended.
4. Describe Mme Loisel’s success at the ball or do you think M. Loisel had an enjoyable evening at the ball? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer: Mme Loisel was the centre of attraction at the ball. Her beauty, her grace, her joy and the gorgeous smile captivated all. Men sought to be presented to her. She danced happily at her conquest of all.
5. What excuse did Loisels put up to explain the delay in returning the necklace?
Answer: Loisels had lost the necklace and needed time to find an identical one. Thus, Loisels wrote a letter to Mme Forestier with an excuse that the clasp of the necklace was broken and they needed time to get it repaired.
6. How did Loisels manage to pay for the necklace?
Answer: The necklace cost Loisels thirty six thousand francs. Loisel had to chip in his entire his inheritance of eighteen thousand francs and the rest he had to borrow from the usurers. This cost them a fortune and they had to spend the rest of their lives in misery and poverty.
7. How did Mme Loisel now know the life of necessity?
Answer: To pay debt of eighteen thousands francs, Loisels let go of their decent living. They lived in impoverished (poor) neighbourhood. Matilda had to cook, clean, wash, mend, bring water and bargain with the butcher and grocer. Her husband worked day and night to save every sou.
8. Describe Mme Loisel after ten years.
Answer: Ten years of poverty and hardship steal away Matilda’s youth and beauty. She becomes strong and and hard woman, who is poorly dressed with untidy hair and reg ragged hands. As she has to live a hard life after the lost necklace of Mme Forestier that she returned and it cost her a fortune.
9. What do you think of M. Loisel as a husband? Cite instances from the text to support your answer.
Answer: M. Loisel a caring and supportive husband. He sacrificed his wishes and the money inherited from his father for his wife. He spent all his savings and borrow money to buy a similar necklace to return.
10. Why was Matilda’s friend astonished to see her at the end of the story?
Answer: Jeanne, Matilda’s friend , could not recognise her as she seemed an old and worn out, poor woman. Matilda was no longer her former beautiful and joyous self. She had lost her charm and was living an unfortunate life.
11. Comment on the use of irony in the text or how had sacrifice of Mme Loisel’s been in vain?
Answer: The irony in the story is based on the fact that the Loisels spend 10 years of toil and frugality paying for a necklace which turns out to be a cheap imitation. It was like a shock for Loisels as they had sacrificed their lives to return the necklace which was worthless.
12. Why did Matilda (Mme Loisel) leave the ball in a hurry? What does it show about her character?
Answer: Matilda left the ball in a hurry because she did not want to be seen with the ordinary wrap that she carried, as its poverty contrasted with the elegance of the other ladies, who were wrapping themselves in rich furs. This shows that she only wants to keep up appearances just to flatter her pride without being in touch with the real truth of her life.
Long Questions and Answers
1. Mme Loisel’s disposition invites her doom. Comment in the context of the text you have read.
Answer: Mme Loisel belongs to a family of clerks. Her existence is quite average. They live on meagre income, enough for basic needs but not to fulfil aspirations. She gets married to a clerk and is so caught up with her dreams of wealth and pleasure that she is out of touch with the truths of her real life. In order to keep up appearances and just to flatter her pride, she borrows four hundred francs on a gorgeous dress. And , not contended, she goes on borrowing a necklace from her friend and all of this is just to impress the wealthy and the rich with her beauty and glamour (even if on loan). No doubt, her pride is flattered and her wish of fine dining, expensive dresses, jewels satisfied but at a great price.
Unfortunately, the necklace is lost and the couple has to cough up their entire inheritance and borrow as well to replace it. Repayment of the debt eats away the next ten years of their youth. They leave poor. All the household chores and cares of a life of poverty visit them. Hence, her disposition invites her doom.
2. Mme Forestier proved to be a true friend. Elucidate.
Answer: Mme Forestier turns out to be an interesting character. She plays a very vital role in the story as a friend to Matilda, we find her to be really genuine as she helps Matilda in the hour of her need. Mme Loisel needs to borrow jewels, she turns to Mme Forestier. Mme Forestier does not refuse. Displaying her generosity, she opens up the entire array (arrangement) of her jewels for Matilda to choose from. Also, she is considerate when Loisel delayed the return of the necklace. Surprisingly at the end of the story, she concludes the entire narrative.
Without even a moment’s hesitation, she reveals to Matilda that her necklace was just a fake. She is not at all worried in the light of the fact that she may have to return the necklace. It shows her honesty. Rather, she like a true friend, feels bad for Matilda at her unnecessary suffering. We find her sympathising with Mme Loisel. She is a gem of a friend.