CBSE Class 10 English The Necklace NCERT Solutions

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NCERT Solutions PDF Class 10 PDF

This section provides detailed NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English, Chapter 7, 'The Necklace'. It delves into the character of Mathilde Loisel, exploring her discontentment, dreams of luxury, and the consequences of her vanity. The solutions cover the plot points, including the loss of the borrowed necklace, the subsequent decade of hardship to repay the debt, and the eventual revelation about the original necklace. Students will find explanations of the characters' motivations, the central conflict, and the moral lessons embedded in the story. These solutions are designed to help students grasp the nuances of the narrative, analyze character development, and prepare effectively for their English examinations by offering clear, step-by-step answers to all chapter-related questions.

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BoardCBSE
ClassClass 10
SubjectEnglish
Session2026
LanguageEnglish
TypeNCERT Solutions
Chapter7. The Necklace

Chapter summary

NCERT Solutions for 'The Necklace' (Chapter 7) for Class 10 English offer a deep dive into the story's themes of pride, materialism, and social ambition. The solutions analyze Mathilde Loisel's character, her dissatisfaction with her ordinary life, and the disastrous consequences of her desire for wealth and status. They cover the events leading to the loss of a borrowed necklace, the immense struggle to replace it, and the ironic twist at the end. This resource helps students understand the narrative arc and the moral implications of the characters' choices.

Learning outcomes

  • Understand the character traits of Mathilde Loisel and her husband.
  • Analyze the theme of materialism and its consequences.
  • Explain the plot development and the significance of the necklace.
  • Identify the causes of Mathilde's downfall and how it could have been prevented.
  • Evaluate the impact of pride and dishonesty on one's life.
  • Summarize the key events and the moral of the story.

Topics covered

Paper topics

  • Character Analysis of Mathilde Loisel
  • Character Analysis of M. Loisel
  • Theme of Materialism
  • Theme of Pride and Vanity
  • Social Ambition
  • Consequences of Dishonesty
  • The Plot of 'The Necklace'
  • The Lost Necklace
  • Repayment of Debt
  • Irony in the Story
  • Moral Lessons
  • Mathilde's Ruin

Important topics

  • Mathilde's Character and Discontentment
  • The Loss and Replacement of the Necklace
  • The Ten Years of Hardship
  • The Irony of the Fake Necklace
  • Themes of Pride and Materialism
  • Moral Lessons on Contentment

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Questions and Solutions

Question 1.

What kind of a person is Mme Loisel and why is she always unhappy?
Solution: Mme Loisel is depicted as a young woman who, despite being pretty and outwardly ordinary, is deeply discontented with her life. She comes from a humble background but harbors dreams of immense wealth, luxury, and social admiration. Her unhappiness stems from the stark contrast between her aspirations and her meagre reality. She feels she is meant for a more opulent existence and is constantly frustrated by her inability to attain the riches and comforts she craves, leading to her perpetual dissatisfaction and anger.

Question 2.

What kind of a person is her husband?
Solution: Mathilde Loisel's husband, M. Loisel, is presented as a simple, contented, and caring individual. He works as an ordinary clerk and is satisfied with his modest life and profession. His caring nature is evident in his excitement to share the prestigious dinner invitation with his wife, hoping it will bring her happiness, even though it means extra effort and expense for them.

Question 3.

What fresh problem now disturbs Mme Loisel?
Solution: After her husband secures a coveted invitation to a grand ball and Mathilde spends a significant amount of money on a beautiful new dress, a new problem arises. Mathilde becomes deeply distressed because she realizes she possesses no suitable jewelry to wear with her elegant attire. This lack of a "fine" jewel makes her feel incomplete and unworthy of attending such a prestigious event, causing her considerable anxiety.

Question 4.

How is the problem solved?
Solution: The problem of Mathilde's lack of jewelry is resolved through her husband's suggestion and her friend's generosity. Initially, M. Loisel suggests she wear fresh flowers, an idea Mathilde dismisses scornfully. He then proposes that she borrow some jewelry from her wealthy friend, Mme Forestier. Mathilde agrees, and Mme Forestier kindly lends her a magnificent diamond necklace, which perfectly complements Mathilde's dress and resolves her immediate crisis.

Question 5.

What do Mr and Mme Loisel do next?
Solution: Tragically, after the ball, the Loisels discover that the borrowed diamond necklace is missing. They are devastated and immediately begin a frantic search. M. Loisel retraces their steps, contacts the police, visits cab offices, and they even place an advertisement in newspapers offering a reward for the necklace's return. Despite their exhaustive efforts and considerable expense, all attempts to find the lost necklace prove futile.

Question 6.

How do they replace the necklace?
Solution: With all other options exhausted and facing the daunting prospect of telling Mme Forestier about the lost necklace, the Loisels decide to replace it. They embark on a plan to buy an identical necklace. M. Loisel uses his inheritance of eighteen thousand francs and borrows the remaining amount needed. Together, they manage to purchase a new diamond necklace for a total of thirty-six thousand francs and return it to Mme Forestier, believing the crisis is averted.

Question 1.

The course of the Loisel's life changed due to the necklace. Comment.
Solution: The loss and subsequent replacement of the necklace drastically altered the Loisels' lives for the worse. The enormous debt they incurred to buy the replacement necklace took them a grueling ten years to repay. During this decade, they were forced to move from their comfortable apartment to a small attic room in a poor district. Mathilde had to endure a life of hard labor, performing all household chores herself – cooking, cleaning, washing, and mending – and constantly bargaining to save money. M. Loisel also worked long hours, taking on extra jobs in the evenings and at night. This period of relentless toil and poverty, driven by the need to repay their debt, fundamentally changed their lifestyle and prospects.

Question 2.

What was the cause of Matilda's ruin? How could she have avoided it?
Solution: Mathilde's ruin was primarily caused by her deep-seated pride, her insatiable desire for a life of luxury and social status beyond her means, and her subsequent dishonesty. Her inability to accept her modest circumstances and her constant yearning for wealth blinded her to the value of what she already had. She could have avoided this tragic outcome by cultivating contentment with her life, being honest with Mme Forestier immediately after losing the necklace, and understanding that true happiness does not solely depend on material possessions or social standing.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing Mathilde's initial dissatisfaction with genuine hardship.
  • Underestimating the long-term consequences of dishonesty and pride.
  • Failing to connect Mathilde's desire for luxury with her eventual ruin.
  • Overlooking the husband's role and sacrifices in the story.

Revision tips

  • Focus on Mathilde's character arc from discontent to hardship and eventual realization.
  • Analyze the symbolism of the necklace and its impact on the Loisels' lives.
  • Discuss the moral lessons about contentment and honesty with a study partner.
  • Practice summarizing the story's key events and the final ironic twist.
  • Consider how Mathilde could have avoided her ruin by making different choices.

Practice MCQs

Q1. What was Mathilde Loisel's primary source of unhappiness?

Q2. What did Mathilde's husband do to please her regarding the invitation?

Q3. Who lent Mathilde the necklace for the party?

Q4. What was the immediate consequence of losing the necklace?

Q5. What was the ultimate revelation about the original necklace?

Frequently asked questions

Who is Mathilde Loisel and why is she unhappy in 'The Necklace'?

Mathilde Loisel is the protagonist of the story. She is portrayed as a young woman who is pretty and charming but deeply unhappy because she feels she was born into the wrong social class. She constantly dreams of a life filled with luxury, wealth, and admiration, which she believes she deserves.

What problem does Mathilde face after receiving the invitation to the ball?

After Mathilde gets a beautiful new dress for the ball, she faces the problem of not having any suitable jewelry to wear with it. This causes her great distress, as she feels she cannot attend the prestigious event without looking her best.

How do Mathilde and her husband try to solve the problem of the lost necklace?

After realizing the necklace is lost, they first search extensively for it. When their search fails, they decide to replace it by buying a new one. This involves borrowing a large sum of money, pooling M. Loisel's inheritance, and taking on significant debt.

What was the ultimate cause of Mathilde's ruin?

Mathilde's ruin was caused by her excessive pride, her constant dissatisfaction with her modest life, her desire for unattainable luxury, and her dishonesty in not immediately revealing the loss of the necklace to Mme Forestier. Her materialistic aspirations led her to borrow money for a replacement, plunging her into a decade of hardship.

How could Mathilde have avoided her tragic fate?

Mathilde could have avoided her ruin by learning to be content with her circumstances, appreciating what she had, and being honest from the start about losing the necklace. If she had been truthful, she might have discovered the original was a fake and avoided the immense debt and hardship.

What is the main moral or lesson of 'The Necklace'?

The story 'The Necklace' teaches a powerful lesson about the dangers of vanity, materialism, and social ambition. It emphasizes the importance of contentment with one's situation and the severe consequences of dishonesty and pride.

Important links

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