The Necklace
ENGLISH WORKSHOP
PART -II
1. Complete the following table.
No. | Utterance | Who said it | To whom | When |
---|---|---|---|---|
(a) | “I touched it in the hall at the ministry.” | Mathilde Loisel | Her husband | When they realized the necklace was lost after the party. |
(b) | “It will give us time to look some more.” | Loisel (Mathilde’s husband) | Mathilde | When they decided to write a note to Madame Forestier after losing the necklace. |
(c) | “I might have needed it.” | Madame Forestier | Mathilde | When Mathilde returned the replacement necklace. |
(d) | “You must have made a mistake.” | Madame Forestier | Mathilde | When Mathilde approached her on the Champs Élysées years later. |
(e) | “Well, I lost it.” | Mathilde Loisel | Madame Forestier | During their conversation on the Champs Élysées, explaining the past. |
(f) | “Mine was an imitation.” | Madame Forestier | Mathilde | At the end, revealing the truth about the original necklace. |
2. Write what you think about the following thoughts and actions of Mathilde:
(a) Mathilde despaired over the loss of her necklace.
- It shows how much she valued her appearance and the borrowed luxury.
- Her despair was natural but also exaggerated due to her pride.
(b) Mathilde wrote a note to her friend as dictated by her husband.
- It was a smart move to buy time and avoid immediate trouble.
- It shows she relied on her husband’s quick thinking.
(c) Mathilde and her husband decided to replace the necklace.
- This was a brave and honest decision, though risky.
- It reflects their sense of responsibility despite the huge cost.
(d) Mathilde returned the diamond necklace to her friend.
- It was the right thing to do, but she should have been honest about the loss.
- Her pride stopped her from telling the truth.
(e) Mathilde did not tell her friend about the loss and replacement.
- This was a mistake driven by fear and shame.
- It caused her unnecessary suffering for years.
(f) Mathilde worked very very hard to pay the debt.
- It shows her determination and strength to fix her mistake.
- She sacrificed her comfort, which was admirable.
(g) Mathilde and her husband paid off the debt in ten years.
- It proves their hard work and teamwork to overcome the problem.
- It’s impressive how they managed such a big burden.
(h) Mathilde told her friend about the lost necklace.
- This was bold and honest, showing she had matured.
- It gave her a chance to release her burden and pride.
3. Form pairs. Discuss how ‘Part II’ of the story could have been different. Write your storyline in the form of bullets showing the main events.
- Mathilde notices the necklace is missing at the party and tells Madame Forestier right away.
- Madame Forestier laughs and says it’s fake, worth only 500 francs.
- Mathilde and her husband feel relieved and don’t buy a replacement.
- They save their money and avoid years of hardship.
- Mathilde learns to value honesty and lives a simpler, happier life.
4. Imagine what must have happened after Mathilde’s friend discovered that the diamonds were real. Do you think she would return the necklace to Mathilde? Would that make Mathilde happy?
- Madame Forestier might feel shocked and guilty knowing Mathilde suffered for a fake necklace.
- She could return the real necklace to Mathilde as a kind gesture.
- Mathilde might feel bitter at first, thinking her hard work was for nothing.
- But she might also feel relieved and happy to have something valuable after all.
- It could give her mixed feelings-joy for the gift, but regret for the lost years.
5. Discuss the following and write about each in your own words in 5-6 lines.
(a) What would you do, if something like this happens to you? If I lost something valuable that wasn’t mine, I’d feel scared but tell the owner the truth right away. Honesty is better than hiding it and suffering later. I’d try to find it first, like Loisel did, by retracing my steps. If I had to replace it, I’d work hard but ask for help from family or friends. I wouldn’t let pride ruin my life like Mathilde did. It’s a tough lesson, but I’d face it bravely.
(b) What opinion do you form about Mathilde’s husband from her story? Mathilde’s husband, Loisel, seems kind and understanding. He gave up his savings for her dress, showing he cared about her happiness. When the necklace was lost, he stayed calm and took action to find it. He worked hard for ten years to pay the debt, proving his loyalty and strength. He’s a supportive man who deserved more appreciation from Mathilde.
(c) Which events in the story (Part I and Part II) changed Mathilde’s life? In Part I, borrowing the necklace and losing it at the party changed Mathilde’s life. It pushed her into debt and hardship. In Part II, replacing the necklace and working ten years to pay it off transformed her completely. She went from dreaming of luxury to living in poverty. Finally, learning the necklace was fake made her rethink her choices and pride.
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