Name______Date______

The Necklace

1.Do you feel sorry for Mathilde? Why or why not?

No, she's ungrateful, gold digger- we may feel a little bit sorry for her at the end.

2.As the story begins, why is she unhappy with her life? B)Do you think the author wants us to sympathize with her unhappiness at this time, why or why not?

She doesn't think she has enough $ B. No, he makes her act like a spoiled brat.

3.How does Madame Loisel respond to the invitation to the special event? How is this ironic?She doesn't want to go/she cries B. We expected her to be happy.

4.How is Madame Loisel different from her husband?He's content and giving. She's unhappy and selfish

5.What symbolic meaning does the necklace have as she wears it?status, beauty, high class

6.A)How does Madame Loisel change over the ten years she works to pay off the necklace?

B) What actually causes her to change? So, is she a static or dynamic character?

A.becomes hard, poor, strong, more appreciative B. her situation changes her and makes her not ungrateful anymore. She's dynamic

7.How is the ending of the story ironic?We didn't expect the necklace to be fake.

8.Why do people place so much value on material possessions?It makes them feel good. They think it will make them happy.

9.What kind of irony is presented in this story?situational irony

10.What kind of gender stereotypes are present in the text? What evidence do you have to support that stereotype?

Man-he brings $, tries to make her happy, not emotional

Woman-she doesn't work, emotional/hysterical, needs $ to be happy

11.How does Maupassant characterize Mathilde that makes readers dislike her?

makes her a brat, selfish, spoiled

12.Do you think Mathilde’s marriage is good, bad, or just okay? What evidence do you have to support this?

Bad--He gives, gives, and gives. She just takes and takes. Plus, she is ungrateful and he's content.