“The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant
Vocabulary: Define and label the part of speech for the
following words. Make flashcards.
1. Rueful
2. Askew
3. Gamut(3rd definition)
4. Incessant
5. Aghast
6. Dowry
7. Pauper
8. Exorbitant
9. Adulation
10. Privation (What is the antonym) we had this earlier.
“The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant
1. Rueful (adjective)showing or feeling regret for something
done
2. Askew (adjective)not straight : at an angle
3. Gamut (noun)a range or series of related things
“The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant
4. Incessant (adjective)continuing without stopping : not stopping
5. Aghast (adjective)
shocked and upset
6. Dowry (noun)
money or property that a wife or wife's
family gives to her husband when the wife
and husband marry in some cultures
“The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant
7. Pauper (noun)
a very poor person who has no money
to pay for food, clothing, etc.
8. Exorbitant (adjective)
going far beyond what is fair,
reasonable, or expected : too high,
expensive.
“The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant
9. Adulation (noun)
excessive or lavish admiration or flattery
10. Privation (noun) (What is the
antonym) we had this earlier.
a lack or loss of the basic things that
people need to live properly
“The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant
Quick Write for 10 minutes:
Recall a time in your life in which you
had lost something important. Discuss
what it was, how you lost it, when it
happened, and why you lost it.
Describe in detail how your body felt
while you were trying to recall where
the object might be. (Do a word count
at the end)
“The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant
EQ: 1. The quote “Honesty is the best policy” is a
common saying. Why do some people ignore this good
advice?
2. Is having expensive possessions a sign of success?
Explain and support.
3. Does a person’s physical appearance reveal his or her
personality? Explain and support
4. Should people repay their debts at all costs? Explain
Read “The Necklace” on pgs. 333-342.
Answer Critical Thinking Questions #’s 1-3 on pg. 342.
“The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant
1. On pg. 333 in the third paragraph, describe the
Loisels’ apartment room and discuss how it differs
or contrasts from Mathilde’s day dreams.
2. On pg. 334 in the 5th paragraph to the end of
the page, how does Mathilde respond to the
invitation to the ball? Why does she respond this
way?
3. On pg. 336, in the quote that begins “Her eyes
wandered”, why does Mathilde have so much
trouble deciding on the jewelry she is going to
borrow? What does this tell you about her
character?
“The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant
4. Why do you think Mathilde chose a diamond necklace
to borrow? What does it symbolize for her?
5. On pg. 337 at the bottom of the page, beginning,
“When she left the party” when the couple is leaving the
ball, discuss how this action parallels the story of
Cinderella? Describe the effect of the world of wealth
colliding with the Loisel’s drab real world.
6. How has the necklace symbol at the beginning of the
story changed at the end of the story?
7. Define Dynamic Character. Discuss how Mathilde fits
the definition with her attitude on life at the end of the
story.
8. The quote “She played her part, however, with sudden
heroism.” Is this Direct Characterization or Indirect?
Why?
9. Situational Irony is when the reader thinks the story
will end one way, but instead it ends the opposite of what
was expected. Discuss the irony at the end of the story.
10. The Loisel’s live on a street called the Rue des Martyrs
which in English translates to “The Avenue of the
sufferers.” A martyr is someone that suffers for a cause
they believe in. How is it ironic that they live on this
street?
11. What is the theme of “The Necklace?”