The Necklace

At the beginning of "The Necklace," why is Mathilde constantly unhappy?

• Her husband is unkind

• She longs for trivial things

• She has no friends

What does Loisel's treatment of his wife most clearly reveal about the character?

• He cares far too much about material things.

• He has grown tired of his wife's complaints.

• He cares deeply about his wife's happiness.

What underlying meaning does this phrase "her heart begin to beat with an immoderate desire. Her hands tremble as she took it" mean?

• The necklace was nothing of what she wanted.

• The necklace got her attention.

• The necklace was the one she was looking for.

Which of the following words is closest to the meaning to homage?

• honor

• satisfaction

• relief

Read the following excerpt from "The Necklace". This episode occurs as the Loisel's get ready to leave the party.

He brought her wraps so that they could leave and put them around her shoulders - the plain wraps from her everyday life whose shabbiness jarred with the elegance of her evening dress. She felt this and wanted to escape quickly so that the other women, who were enveloping themselves in their rich firs, wouldn't see her.

Loisel held her back.

"Wait a minute. You'll catch cold out there. I'm going to call a cab."

But she wouldn't listen to him and went hastily downstairs.

What underlying meaning does the coat most likely represent in this story?

• Madame Loisel's embarrassment over her situation in life.

• Madame Loisel's ecstatic enjoyment of the good things in life.

• Madame Loisel's failure to appreciate the good things in life.

How does Monsieur Loisel react to the party?

• He despises the party and the people who attend it.

• He enjoys the party thoroughly and does not want to leave.

• He becomes tired and bored with the party after awhile.

Which event demonstrates the SURPRISE ending in "The Necklace"?

• Madame Forestier tells Madame Loisel that the necklace that had been lost was a fake that was worth very little.

• Madame Loisel tells Madame Forestier that she had had a very hard life because she had to replace the lost necklace.

• Madame Loisel does not recognize her old friend Madame Loisel because Madame Loisel has aged so much.

The amount of money Loisel's father left him which he used to pay for replacement of the lost necklace.

• Thirty six francs

• Eighteen thousand francs

• Five hundred francs

If you were Loisel, what advice would you have given Mathilde instead of borrowing from her friend?

Do you think Mathilde was a better wife during the days of poverty than during the days of prosperity?