Guy de Maupassant

“The Necklace”
1 Theme
What is the theme
Supporting Details
Textual Evidence from the
Theme Analysis
What impact does this theme
of the story? story to support Theme. have on the overall story?
 “Nothing. Only I have no If only they have been contented and
Greediness and pride may lead dress, and therefore I can’t go satisfied with what they already
to a lifelong suffering. to this ball. Give your card to have, they would not suffer at the
some colleague whose wife is end. As Mathilde believed that
better equipped than I.” luxurious things will make her life
 “It annoys me not to have a equal to other rich women, she
single jewel, not a single became ambitious and desired for
stone, nothing to put on. I more.
shall look like distress. I
should almost rather not go at
all.”
 “No; there’s nothing more
humiliating than to look poor
among other women who are
rich.”
 She kept asking: “Haven’t
you any more?”
 He threw over her shoulders
the wraps which he had
brought, modest wraps of
common life, whose poverty
contrasted with the elegance
of the ball dress. She felt this
and wanted to escape so as
not to be remarked by the
other women, who were
enveloping themselves in
costly furs.
 “You must write to your
friend,” said he, “that you
have broken the clasp of her
necklace and that you are
having it mended. That will
give us time to turn round.”
 “We must consider how to
replace that ornament.”

2 The Title:
 How is the title a clue to the theme? Explain how it relates.

3
Plot:
hat are the most important points in the plot? How are these clues to the author’s message? Expla
 4 Characters:
s Madame Loisel, Monsieur Loisel, and Madame Forestier. You can write down things about their appearance,

Madame
Loisel

Monsieur
Loisel

Madame
Forestier
5 Character Development:
How do the traits of the main characters and/or the way they might change offer
clues to the author’s message? Explain.

6 Is there anything in theSymbols and Recurring Elements:

story that is repeated or that could be symbolic? If so,
how could it develop theme? Explain.

7 Setting:
Is the setting important? Could it be used to develop theme? Explain.
 8 Great Quotations:
Find at least two quotes that you think develop theme. Explain why.

9 Literary Elements:
What other Literary Elements can you find in this short story that you have not
already talked about? What impact does these Literary Elements have on the
story? Find two examples. Explain.
10 Short Answer:
The story’s ironic ending is part of what makes this tale so famous. The
author, however, gives a few hints about the tragic twist. Look back over the
story and find an element of foreshadowing. Paraphrase this element of the
story and then explain why you believe it is a good example of foreshadowing.