CBSE Class 10 Footprints NCERT Solutions: The Necklace

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NCERT Solutions PDF Class 10 PDF

This chapter focuses on "The Necklace," a story exploring themes of desire, dissatisfaction, and the consequences of deceit. The NCERT Solutions delve into the character of Mathilde Loisel, a woman consumed by her longing for a life of luxury, which ultimately leads to her downfall. The solutions analyze her personality, her husband's supportive nature, and the pivotal moments in the story, including the loss of a borrowed necklace and the subsequent decade of hardship to repay the debt. It also examines the choices made and their impact, offering insights into how different decisions could have altered the characters' fates. These solutions are designed to help students grasp the narrative's nuances and prepare effectively for their exams.

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

Chapter summary

Chapter 7, "The Necklace," NCERT Solutions provides a detailed analysis of the story's characters and plot. It focuses on Mathilde Loisel's discontentment, her desire for wealth, and the devastating consequences of losing a borrowed necklace. The solutions explore the sacrifices made by her and her husband to replace the lost item, highlighting the theme of pride and its destructive potential. It also considers alternative outcomes had Mathilde been honest about the loss, offering a comprehensive understanding of the narrative's moral and thematic elements.

Learning outcomes

  • Understand the character traits of Mathilde Loisel and her husband.
  • Analyze the theme of dissatisfaction and its consequences.
  • Explain the impact of pride and deceit on one's life.
  • Evaluate the choices made by the characters and their outcomes.
  • Identify the moral lessons presented in 'The Necklace'.

Topics covered

Paper topics

  • Character Analysis of Mathilde Loisel
  • Character Analysis of Monsieur Loisel
  • Theme of Dissatisfaction and Desire
  • Consequences of Pride and Deceit
  • The Lost Necklace
  • Financial Hardship and Sacrifice
  • Social Class and Materialism
  • The Importance of Honesty
  • Moral Lessons from the Story

Important topics

  • Mathilde's character and motivations
  • The impact of losing the necklace
  • The decade of hardship and its causes
  • The story's central moral message

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Questions and Solutions

Read and Find Out - Question 1

What kind of a person is Mme Loisel – why is she always unhappy?
Solution: Mme. Loisel is portrayed as a woman who is perpetually dissatisfied with her life. She lives in a world of daydreams, constantly imagining herself in luxurious surroundings and enjoying the finer things in life. Her unhappiness stems from this disconnect between her aspirations and her reality. She overlooks the simple joys and comforts of her actual life, focusing instead on what she believes she deserves, which makes her constantly discontent.

Read and Find Out - Question 2

What kind of a person is her husband?
Solution: Mme. Loisel's husband is depicted as a simple, kind-hearted, and considerate man. He is an ordinary individual who works diligently and seems content with his life. His primary concern is his wife's happiness, and he makes efforts to please her, such as obtaining an invitation to the ball and suggesting ways to solve her problems, even if it means sacrificing his own comfort.

Read and Find Out - Question 1

What fresh problem now disturbs Mme Loisel?
Solution: After her husband managed to get her an invitation to the prestigious ball and she bought a beautiful new dress, Mme. Loisel faced a new problem. She realized she had no suitable jewelry to wear that would complement her dress and her appearance. She felt that without jewels, she would look shabby and inferior among the wealthy guests, which deeply upset her.

Read and Find Out - Question 2

How is the problem solved?
Solution: The problem of lacking jewelry was solved when Mme. Loisel's husband suggested she ask her wealthy friend, Mme. Forestier, if she could borrow some pieces. Mme. Loisel visited Mme. Forestier, who kindly agreed and presented a large jewel case from which Mme. Loisel could choose whatever she liked.

Read and Find Out - Question 1

What do M. and Mme Loisel do next?
Solution: Upon realizing that the diamond necklace was missing after the ball, M. and Mme. Loisel immediately began a frantic search. They retraced their steps from the ball, checked their clothes, and tried to recall if it could have fallen out in the cab they took. When their initial search proved fruitless, Loisel went to the police and the cab companies to report the loss and offered a reward in newspapers, hoping to find it. Meanwhile, Mme. Loisel wrote to Mme. Forestier, claiming the necklace's clasp was broken and that she was getting it repaired, buying them time while they desperately sought the original necklace.

Thinking about the text - Question 1

The course of the Loisels' life changed due to the necklace. Comment.
Solution: The loss of the borrowed necklace drastically altered the Loisels' lives. To replace the expensive diamond necklace, they borrowed a significant amount of money, plunging them into debt. This forced them to make drastic changes: they dismissed their servant, moved to a smaller, cheaper apartment in an attic, and took on arduous physical labor. Mme. Loisel learned to do all the housework, including cooking, cleaning, and laundry, while her husband worked long hours in the evenings and at night doing clerical work. This life of poverty and relentless toil continued for ten long years until they finally managed to repay all their debts, completely transforming their lifestyle from one of modest comfort to one of extreme hardship.

Thinking about the text - 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 dissatisfaction with her life and her insatiable desire for luxury and social status. She was never content with what she had and constantly yearned for a life of wealth and glamour. This led her to borrow a necklace she couldn't afford and then lose it, resulting in a decade of poverty and hard labor to replace it. She could have avoided this ruin by being content with her modest life, appreciating what she had, and perhaps being honest with her friend Mme. Forestier about the loss instead of attempting to replace it secretly.

Thinking about the text - Question 3

What would have happened to Matilda if she had confessed to her friend that she had lost her necklace?
Solution: If Mathilde had confessed to her friend Mme. Forestier that she had lost the necklace, her situation might have been significantly less dire. Mme. Forestier, being a friend, might have understood and perhaps offered a more lenient solution. It's possible the necklace was not as valuable as they assumed, or Mme. Forestier might have been willing to accept a lesser amount for the loss or even help them find a way to manage the situation without the extreme hardship the Loisels endured for ten years. Honesty could have saved them from a decade of poverty and back-breaking labor.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing Mathilde's desire for luxury with genuine need.
  • Underestimating the long-term consequences of a single mistake.
  • Failing to recognize the importance of honesty and contentment.

Revision tips

  • Focus on Mathilde's character arc and the reasons for her unhappiness.
  • Trace the chain of events from borrowing the necklace to the decade of hardship.
  • Consider the 'what if' scenarios presented in the questions.
  • Summarize the story's central message about contentment and honesty.

Practice MCQs

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

Q2. What did Mathilde's husband suggest when she had no jewels for the party?

Q3. Who did Mathilde borrow the necklace from?

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

Q5. How long did it take for the Loisels to repay the debt for the new necklace?

Frequently asked questions

What is the main theme of 'The Necklace'?

The main themes of 'The Necklace' are dissatisfaction with one's life, the destructive nature of pride and materialism, and the severe consequences of dishonesty and deceit.

Why was Mathilde Loisel always unhappy?

Mathilde was always unhappy because she felt she was destined for a life of luxury and was deeply dissatisfied with her ordinary circumstances and lack of wealth.

What drastic measures did the Loisels take after losing the necklace?

They borrowed a large sum of money to buy an identical replacement necklace, which led them to dismiss their maid, change their lodgings to an attic, and endure ten years of grueling work and poverty to repay the debt.

How could Mathilde have avoided her ruin?

Mathilde could have avoided her ruin by being honest with her friend Mme Forestier about losing the necklace. This might have led to a less severe outcome, possibly involving a lesser cost or a more manageable solution.

What does the story teach us about borrowing and appearances?

The story teaches us that trying to maintain a false appearance by borrowing or pretending can lead to immense hardship. It highlights the importance of contentment with what one has and the value of honesty.

Important links

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