The Necklace

The Necklace

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Literary Analysis: Character and Characterization

A character is a person, an animal, or even an object that participates in the action and experiences the events of a literary work. Writers communicate what characters are like through characterization.

Literary Analysis: Character and Characterization

There are two main types of characterization:

• Direct characterization: The writer tells readers what a character is like.

• Indirect characterization: The writer gives readers clues to a character. The writer might show the character’s behavior, present the character’s words and thoughts, describe the character’s physical appearance, or reveal what other characters say or think about the character. Often, when a writer uses indirect characterization, it is up to the reader to draw logical conclusions about the character’s personality and motivations.

Open Ended

Briefly explain how each excerpt from the story helps to characterize one or more of the characters.

She suffered constantly, feeling that all the attributes of a gracious life, every luxury, should rightly have been hers.

Open Ended

She looked at him, irritated, and said impatiently: “I haven’t a thing to wear. How could I go?”

Open Ended

“Well, all right, then. I’ll give you four hundred francs. But try to get something really nice.”

Open Ended

Madame Forestier said in a faintly waspish tone: “You could have brought it back a little sooner! I might have needed it.”

Open Ended

Madame Loisel started to tremble. Should she speak to her? Yes, certainly she should. And now that she had paid everything back, why shouldn’t she tell her the whole story?

Reading: Ask Questions to Analyze Cause and Effect

A cause is an event, action, or feeling that produces a result. An effect is the result produced. As you read, ask questions to analyze cause and effect. Examining these relationships helps you follow the logic that moves a story forward.

Multiple Choice

Which city is the setting for "The Necklace"?

• London
• Paris
• Rome
• New York

Multiple Choice

At the beginning of the story, what is the cause of Madame Loisel's constant unhappiness?

• her marriage
• her desire to be wealthy
• her poor health
• her wish for more friends

Multiple Choice

What literary technique is illustrated by this passage from Maupassant's story?
She would have so loved to charm, to be envied, to be admired and sought after.

• irony
• symbolism
• direct characterization
• indirect characterization

Multiple Choice

What conclusion might you draw about Madame Loisel's character, based on the life she wants to live?

• She enjoys working.
• She has simple needs. 
• She cares most about her relationships.
• She cares most about material things.

Multiple Choice

What conclusion can you draw about Monsieur Loisel, based on his treatment of his wife?

• He cares a lot about his wife's happiness.
• He has grown tired of his wife's complaints.
• He cares too much about unimportant things.
• He enjoys accompanying his wife to fancy receptions.

Multiple Choice

Which word best describes Madame Loisel's friendship with Madame Forestier?

• equality
• companionship
• sympathy
• envy

Multiple Choice

Where does Madame Loisel lose Madame Forestier's necklace?

• at Madame Forestier's house
• during a visit to the library
• on a trip
• at the ball

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a direct effect of Madame Loisel's loss of the necklace?

• a bitter quarrel with Madame Forestier
• divorce from Monsieur Loisel
• the couple's move from the city to the countryside
• a life of poverty and hard physical labor

Reorder

Reorder the following

• Monsieur Loisel receives an invitation for a reception at the Ministry.

• Madame Loisel borrows the necklace.

• Madame Loisel writes her friend a letter to explain the delay in returning the necklace

• Madame Loisel meets Madame Forestier on the Champs Elysées.

1

2

3

4

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4

Multiple Choice

Which of the following literary elements is prominent in the story's ending?

• metaphor

• irony

• flashback

• point of view

Multiple Choice

Which best describes Madame Loisel's feelings at the end of the story? 

• happiness

• indifference

• astonishment

• fear

Multiple Choice

Which word most nearly means the same as rueful as it is used in this sentence?

The very sight of the little Breton girl who cleaned for her awoke rueful thoughts

and the wildest dreams in her mind.

• cheerful

• angry

• sorrowful

• pleasant

Multiple Choice

Which sentence uses the word disheveled correctly?

• At the ball, Madame Loisel looks disheveled in her fine gown and necklace.

• Monsieur Loisel brings home a disheveled invitation to a grand reception.

• Years of hard labor had resulted in Madame Loisel’s disheveled appearance.

• Madame Loisel yearns for a disheveled life, complete with elegant furnishings.