The Necklace

At the beginning of “The Necklace,” why is Madame Loisel constantly unhappy?

• Her husband is unkind.

• She longs to be wealthy.

• Her health is often poor.

• She longs for more friends.

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At the beginning of “The Necklace,” what is the most likely conclusion that readers can draw about Madame Loisel’s character, based on the life she desires?

• She enjoys working.

• She has simple needs.

• She cares primarily about her husband.

• She cares primarily about material things.

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In “The Necklace,” what does Monsieur Loisel’s treatment of his wife most clearly reveal about his character?

• He cares deeply about his wife’s happiness.

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

• He cares far too much about material things.

• He enjoys accompanying his wife to fancy receptions.

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Why is Mathilde hesitant to wear the flowers her husband suggests?

• She thinks they are too expensive.

• She feels they are too plain and make her look poor.

• She is allergic to them.

• She prefers wearing jewelry.

Read this excerpt from 'The Necklace.' This episode occurs as the Loisels 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 furs, 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 aspect of Madame Loisel’s character does the coat most likely represent in this story?

• her embarrassment over her situation in life

• her failure to appreciate the good things in life

• her ecstatic enjoyment of the good things in life

• her indifference to her own health and well-being

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Part A - In 'The Necklace,' how does Monsieur Loisel react to the party?

• He is embarrassed by his wife’s plain clothing.

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

• He becomes tired and bored with the party after a while.

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

Part B- Which passage from the story best supports the answer to Part A?

• “Why, I thought you’d be pleased, dear. You never go out and this would be an occasion for you, a great one! I had a lot of trouble getting it. Everyone wants an invitation: they’re in great demand and there are only a few reserved for the employees. All the officials will be there.”

• The day of the party arrived. Madame Loisel was a great success. She was the prettiest woman there—resplendent, graceful, beaming, and deliriously happy. All the men looked at her, asked who she was, tried to get themselves introduced to her. All the minister’s aides wanted to

  waltz with her. The minister himself noticed her.

• When she left the party, it was almost four in the morning. Her husband

  had been sleeping since midnight in a small, deserted sitting room, with

  three other gentlemen whose wives were having a wonderful time

• 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.

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In “The Necklace,” what decision do the Loisels make after they fail to find the lost necklace?

• They decide to replace it.

• They decide to flee the country.

• They decide to buy a cheap imitation.

• They decide to admit they lost the necklace.

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Part A - In 'The Necklace,' what is Madame Loisel’s attitude toward the sacrifices that she and her husband must make as they work to replace the necklace?

• gracious and happy

• careless and irresponsible

• enthusiastic and eager

• determined and courageous

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Part B - Which excerpt from 'The Necklace' best supports the answer to Part A?

• Unable to afford jewelry, she dressed simply: but she was as wretched as a déclassée, for women have neither caste nor breeding—in them beauty, grace, and charm replace pride of birth.

• All these things that another woman of her class would not even have noticed, tormented her and made her angry. The very sight of the little Breton girl who cleaned for her awoke rueful thoughts and the wildest dreams in her mind.

• She danced enraptured—carried away, intoxicated with pleasure, forgetting everything in this triumph of her beauty and the glory of her success, floating in a cloud of happiness formed by all this homage, all this admiration, all the desires she had stirred up—by this victory so complete and so sweet to the heart of a woman.

• Madame Loisel came to know the awful life of the poverty-stricken. However, she resigned herself to it with unexpected fortitude. The crushing debt had to be paid. She would pay it.

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