The Necklace

Q: What does M. Loisel sacrifice to give his wife money for a dress?

Money he had saved to buy a gun for hunting trips. The passage explicitly states he had saved the 400 francs to buy a gun for hunting parties with friends.

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Chapter Notes

Overview

This chapter is a short story by Guy de Maupassant about a beautiful but discontented woman, Matilda Loisel, who borrows a diamond necklace to attend a grand ball, loses it, and spends ten years in poverty to replace it, only to discover the original was a fake. It exists in the syllabus to teach students about the consequences of pride, vanity, and dishonesty, and the irony of fate. The one big idea a student must walk away with is that discontentment and a lack of honesty can lead to unnecessary suffering and ruin, and that appearances are often deceptive.

Key Concepts (12)

Matilda Loisel (Mme Loisel)

The protagonist of the story, a pretty young woman born into a family of clerks, who is unhappy because she feels she was born for luxury and delicacies but is married to a petty clerk and lives a simple life.

e.g. Like a student who is unhappy with their ordinary school bag because they see others with expensive branded bags, Matilda suffers because she cannot afford the luxuries she craves.

M. Loisel (Monsieur Loisel)

Matilda's husband, a petty clerk in the office of the Board of Education, who is content with his simple life and loves his wife, often trying to please her despite his limited means.

e.g. He is like a father who saves money for a family trip but gives it up to buy his daughter a dress for a special occasion, showing his selfless love.

Mme Forestier (Jeanne Forestier)

Matilda's rich friend and former schoolmate at the convent, who lends Matilda the diamond necklace for the ball and later reveals the necklace was fake.

e.g. She is like a wealthy friend who lends a classmate a fancy watch for a school event, not knowing the classmate will lose it.

The Necklace

A diamond necklace that Matilda borrows from Mme Forestier to wear to the Minister's ball, loses, and replaces with a real one costing thirty-six thousand francs, only to learn it was a fake worth only five hundred francs.

e.g. It is like a borrowed designer handbag that turns out to be a high-quality replica, but the borrower spends years paying for a real one.

Irony

A literary device where the outcome of events is the opposite of what was expected; in this story, Matilda's desire to appear wealthy leads to ten years of poverty, and the necklace she sacrificed everything for was fake.

e.g. A student who cheats on a test to get good marks ends up failing because they are caught, while the honest student who studied hard passes.

Vanity

Excessive pride in one's appearance or achievements; Matilda's vanity makes her refuse to attend the ball without jewels, leading to her borrowing the necklace and her subsequent ruin.

e.g. A person who spends their entire month's salary on branded clothes to impress others at a party, only to struggle for the rest of the month.

Pride

A feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one's own achievements; Matilda's pride prevents her from confessing the loss of the necklace to Mme Forestier, leading to a decade of hardship.

e.g. A student who breaks a school projector but does not admit it, and instead secretly pays for repairs with their pocket money for months.

Poverty

The state of being extremely poor; after losing the necklace, Matilda and her husband descend into a life of poverty, living in an attic, doing all household chores, and working tirelessly for ten years.

e.g. A family that loses its savings due to a medical emergency and has to sell their house and move to a small rented room, with everyone working odd jobs.

Discontentment

A state of dissatisfaction; Matilda's constant discontentment with her simple life is the root cause of her actions and eventual ruin.

e.g. A student who is unhappy with their 90% marks because a friend scored 95%, and so they waste time worrying instead of celebrating their achievement.

Sacrifice

Giving up something valued for the sake of something else; M. Loisel sacrifices his savings for a gun to buy Matilda a dress, and both sacrifice ten years of their lives to repay the debt for the replacement necklace.

e.g. A parent who works extra shifts to pay for their child's tuition fees, giving up their own leisure time.

Honesty

The quality of being truthful; Matilda's lack of honesty in confessing the loss of the necklace to Mme Forestier leads to her ruin. The story suggests that honesty would have saved her from ten years of hardship.

e.g. If a student accidentally tears a library book, being honest and reporting it immediately saves them from a larger fine or penalty later.

Fate

The development of events beyond a person's control; the story highlights how a small thing (losing a necklace) can ruin or save one's life, as reflected in Matilda's reflection: 'How small a thing will ruin or save one!'

e.g. Missing a bus by one minute can lead to meeting an old friend on the next bus, changing the course of your day.

How It Works

Matilda's Discontentment and Suffering

Matilda is born into a family of clerks but feels she was born for luxury.
She marries a petty clerk and suffers incessantly from the poverty of her apartment, shabby walls, and worn chairs.
She dreams of elegant dinners, shining silver, and exquisite food while her husband enjoys simple meals like potpie.
She avoids visiting her rich friend Mme Forestier because the contrast makes her weep for days from despair and disappointment.

💡 Students often forget that Matilda's suffering is self-inflicted — she is not actually poor, but she feels poor because she compares herself to the rich. The text says she 'suffered incessantly' from things that were not objectively terrible.

The Invitation and Preparation for the Ball

M. Loisel brings home an invitation to a grand ball at the Minister's residence.
Instead of being delighted, Matilda throws the invitation spitefully, saying she has nothing to wear.
M. Loisel offers to buy her a dress, and after hesitating, she asks for 400 francs — his savings for a hunting gun.
He agrees, and she gets a pretty dress, but then she is vexed because she has no jewels to adorn herself.
M. Loisel suggests natural flowers, but she refuses, saying it would be humiliating to look shabby among rich women.
He then suggests borrowing jewels from Mme Forestier, which delights Matilda.

💡 Students often miss that Matilda's problem is not just the lack of a dress or jewels — it is her fear of appearing 'poverty-stricken' in front of rich women. Her vanity is the driving force.

Borrowing the Necklace and Attending the Ball

Matilda visits Mme Forestier and is allowed to choose from a large jewel-case.
She tries on bracelets, a pearl collar, and a Venetian cross, but is not satisfied.
She discovers a superb diamond necklace in a black satin box and is ecstatic.
She borrows the necklace and attends the ball, where she is the prettiest of all — elegant, gracious, smiling, and full of joy.
She dances with enthusiasm, intoxicated with pleasure, thinking of nothing but admiration and victory.
She leaves the ball at four in the morning, and her husband throws modest wraps around her shoulders, which clash with her elegant costume.
She hurries away to avoid being noticed by other women in rich furs.

💡 Students often forget that Matilda's triumph at the ball is short-lived and ironic — her moment of glory is immediately followed by the loss of the necklace. The text says she was 'intoxicated with pleasure' but this intoxication blinds her to her responsibility.

The Loss of the Necklace and the Search

After returning home, Matilda removes her wraps before the glass for a final view of herself and realizes the necklace is gone.
She and her husband search the folds of the dress, cloak, and pockets, but find nothing.
M. Loisel retraces their steps on foot, goes to the police and cab offices, and puts an advertisement in the newspapers offering a reward.
They wait all day in bewilderment, but no news comes.
M. Loisel, older by five years, declares they must replace the jewel.

💡 Students often miss the detail that M. Loisel suggests writing to Mme Forestier that the clasp is broken to buy time. This shows his quick thinking but also their dishonesty from the start.

Replacing the Necklace and the Decade of Debt

They find a chaplet of diamonds in a shop that seems exactly like the lost one, valued at 40,000 francs but available for 36,000.
M. Loisel has 18,000 francs from his father's inheritance and borrows the rest from usurers and lenders, making ruinous promises.
They buy the new necklace for 36,000 francs and Matilda returns it to Mme Forestier, who does not open the box.
To repay the debt, they send away the maid, change lodgings to an attic, and live a life of horrible necessity.
Matilda does all the household work: washing dishes, washing linen, taking down refuse, bringing up water, and haggling at the grocer's, butcher's, and fruiterer's.
M. Loisel works evenings putting merchants' books in order and nights copying at five sous a page.
This life lasts for ten years, at the end of which they have restored all.

💡 Students often forget that Matilda becomes a 'strong, hard woman, the crude woman of the poor household' — her beauty and grace are completely destroyed by the hardship. The text says she 'did her part, however, completely, heroically.'

The Revelation of the Truth

One Sunday, Matilda takes a walk in the Champs-Elysees and sees Mme Forestier, still young, pretty, and attractive.
Matilda decides to speak to her and confess everything since the debt is paid.
She approaches Mme Forestier and reveals that she lost the necklace and replaced it with a real one, taking ten years to pay for it.
Mme Forestier, touched, takes her hands and reveals that the original necklace was false, worth only five hundred francs.

💡 This is the climax and the ultimate irony. Students must understand that Matilda's ten years of suffering were completely unnecessary. The story ends with a twist that underscores the theme of deceptive appearances.

Exam Traps — Don't Make These Mistakes

⚠ Blaming Matilda's husband for her ruin

✗ Matilda's ruin was caused by her husband because he gave her the invitation and bought her the dress.

→ The husband acted out of love and a desire to please his wife. He did not force her to borrow the necklace or to lose it. The root cause is Matilda's own vanity, pride, and discontentment.

✓ Matilda's ruin was caused by her own vanity and discontentment. She was never satisfied with what she had, and her desire to appear wealthy led her to borrow the necklace. Her pride prevented her from confessing the loss, leading to ten years of hardship.

⚠ Calling the necklace 'diamond' when it was fake

✗ Matilda lost a diamond necklace and replaced it with a real diamond necklace.

→ The necklace Matilda borrowed was not a real diamond necklace; it was a fake made of paste, worth only 500 francs. The replacement she bought was a real diamond necklace worth 36,000 francs.

✓ Matilda borrowed a necklace that appeared to be made of diamonds but was actually a cheap imitation worth only 500 francs. She replaced it with a real diamond necklace costing 36,000 francs, only to discover later that the original was fake.

⚠ Confusing the cost of the replacement necklace

✗ The replacement necklace cost 40,000 francs.

→ The shop valued the necklace at 40,000 francs, but the Loisels were able to buy it for 36,000 francs. The text says: 'It was valued at forty thousand francs. They could get it for thirty-six thousand.'

✓ The replacement necklace was valued at 40,000 francs but was purchased for 36,000 francs.

⚠ Thinking Matilda confessed immediately

✗ Matilda told Mme Forestier about the loss of the necklace the next day.

→ Matilda did not confess the loss immediately. Instead, she and her husband tried to find the necklace, then wrote to Mme Forestier that the clasp was broken to buy time, and eventually replaced it without telling her the truth. She only confessed ten years later after the debt was paid.

✓ Matilda did not confess the loss of the necklace to Mme Forestier. She and her husband replaced it secretly and returned the new necklace. She only revealed the truth ten years later, after the debt was fully repaid.

⚠ Assuming Matilda learned her lesson

✗ After ten years of hardship, Matilda became a better person and was happy.

→ The text says Matilda became a 'strong, hard woman, the crude woman of the poor household.' She still sometimes sat by the window and thought of the ball where she was so beautiful and flattered, showing she still longed for that life. Her 'proud and simple joy' at the end is only because she thinks the debt is paid, not because she has changed her values.

✓ Matilda's ten years of hardship made her coarse and hard, but she did not truly learn the lesson of contentment. She still nostalgically remembered the ball. Her final joy was based on the mistaken belief that she had overcome her misfortune, not on genuine personal growth.

Compare & Contrast

Attitude towards life and contentment

Matilda Loisel

M. Loisel

Matilda is discontented, vain, and always dreaming of luxury, while M. Loisel is content with his simple life, enjoys simple pleasures like potpie, and is practical and loving.

Value and appearance

The borrowed necklace (fake)

The replacement necklace (real)

The borrowed necklace was a fake worth only 500 francs but looked like a real diamond necklace, while the replacement was a genuine diamond necklace worth 36,000 francs. This contrast highlights the irony of the story: Matilda sacrificed ten years for a fake.

Exam Focus

Marks pattern: This chapter typically appears in the board exam with 2-3 MCQs (1 mark each), 1 short answer question of 2-3 marks (e.g., character sketch or theme), and 1 long answer question of 5 marks (e.g., 'What was the cause of Matilda's ruin? How could she have avoided it?' or 'Comment on the course of the Loisels' life due to the necklace.').

Most asked: Character sketch of Matilda Loisel · Character sketch of M. Loisel · Theme of vanity and its consequences · Irony in the story (especially the ending) · The cause of Matilda's ruin and how she could have avoided it · The value of honesty and contentment

Don't skip: Long answer question (5 marks) on the cause of Matilda's ruin and how she could have avoided it.; Long answer question (5 marks) on the irony in the story, especially the ending.; Short answer question (3 marks) on the character of Matilda or M. Loisel.

One-Line Revision (read aloud before the exam)

Matilda Loisel is a pretty but discontented woman who suffers because she feels she was born for luxury but is married to a petty clerk.
M. Loisel is a loving, content, and self-sacrificing husband who gives up his savings for a gun to buy Matilda a dress for the ball.
Matilda borrows a diamond necklace from her rich friend Mme Forestier to wear to the Minister's ball.
At the ball, Matilda is the prettiest of all and dances with joy, but she loses the necklace on her way home.
Instead of confessing the loss, Matilda and her husband replace the necklace with a real one costing 36,000 francs.
To repay the debt, the Loisels live in poverty for ten years, doing all household work and working extra jobs.
After ten years, Matilda meets Mme Forestier and confesses the truth, only to learn the original necklace was fake, worth only 500 francs.
The story is a classic example of irony: Matilda's desire to appear wealthy leads to real poverty, and the necklace she sacrificed everything for was worthless.
The central themes are vanity, pride, dishonesty, and the deceptive nature of appearances.
Matilda's ruin could have been avoided if she had been honest with Mme Forestier about losing the necklace.
M. Loisel's character shows patience, love, and responsibility, as he works tirelessly to repay the debt.
The story teaches that contentment with what one has is more valuable than chasing material luxuries.
The twist at the end reveals that the Loisels' ten years of suffering were completely unnecessary.
Matilda's pride prevented her from confessing, which is the key turning point that leads to her ruin.
The story is set in Paris and reflects the social class divisions and materialism of 19th-century France.

MCQs — 10 Questions with Answers

Q1. Why does Mme Loisel allow herself to marry a petty clerk despite her desires?

A. She had no dowry, no hopes, and no means of marrying a rich or distinguished man ✓
B. She loved the clerk and wanted to marry him for his character
C. Her family forced her to marry him against her wishes
D. She wanted to teach him how to become wealthy

Answer: A — The text states she was born into a clerk's family with no dowry or hopes, so she had to marry within her social class.

Q2. What does M. Loisel sacrifice to give his wife money for a dress?

A. His promotion at the office
B. Money he had saved to buy a gun for hunting trips ✓
C. His annual salary bonus
D. A family inheritance he received

Answer: B — The passage explicitly states he had saved the 400 francs to buy a gun for hunting parties with friends.

Q3. Why is Mme Loisel unhappy even after getting a new dress for the ball?

A. She thinks the dress is too plain and unfashionable
B. She has no jewels to adorn herself with and fears looking poor ✓
C. She is afraid of meeting her rich friend at the party
D. She realizes the party will be boring and uninteresting

Answer: B — She states: 'I am vexed not to have a jewel...I would prefer not to go to this party.'

Q4. Which detail shows the depth of Mme Loisel's emotional connection to the borrowed necklace?

A. She wore it casually without much concern
B. Her hands trembled as she took it out and she was ecstatic when wearing it ✓
C. She complained it was too heavy to wear all evening
D. She asked if she could buy it instead of borrowing it

Answer: B — The text describes how her hands trembled, she was ecstatic, and she fell upon her friend's neck embracing her with passion.

Q5. What is the central irony revealed at the end of the story setup?

A. Mme Loisel dances too much and gets tired
B. The necklace is borrowed, not owned by Mme Loisel
C. The borrowed necklace is lost just after the successful ball ✓
D. M. Loisel falls asleep during the ball

Answer: C — The irony is that Mme Loisel's greatest triumph at the ball immediately leads to her greatest loss.

Q6. How does Mme Forestier respond when asked to lend her jewels?

A. She refuses because the jewels are too precious
B. She agrees immediately and tells Mme Loisel to choose any piece ✓
C. She agrees but makes Mme Loisel promise to return them within a week
D. She offers to lend only imitation jewels instead

Answer: B — Mme Forestier opens her jewel case and says 'Choose, my dear' without any hesitation or conditions.

Q7. What can be inferred about M. Loisel's character from his reaction to his wife's tears?

A. He becomes angry and scolds her for being ungrateful
B. He is confused and concerned, stammering while trying to comfort her ✓
C. He leaves the room without trying to help her
D. He tells her she is being foolish and unreasonable

Answer: B — When he sees his wife weeping, he stammers repeatedly 'What is the matter?' showing his concern and attempt to understand.

Q8. Why does Mme Loisel initially reject wearing natural flowers to the ball?

A. Flowers were not fashionable in that era
B. She finds flowers uncomfortable to wear all evening
C. She feels it would give her a shabby appearance among wealthy women ✓
D. Her husband specifically told her not to wear flowers

Answer: C — She states: 'there is nothing more humiliating than to have a shabby air in the midst of rich women.'

Q9. What does the text reveal about Mme Loisel's feelings when she discovers the necklace is missing?

A. She remains calm and decides to search for it the next morning
B. She utters a cry, indicating shock and panic upon the discovery ✓
C. She blames her husband for not watching her more carefully
D. She decides to confess immediately to Mme Forestier

Answer: B — The passage states: 'Suddenly she uttered a cry. Her necklace was not around her neck.'

Q10. What does Mme Loisel's behavior at the ball suggest about the effect of material possessions on her?

A. She becomes humble and grateful for simple things
B. She becomes completely transformed — joyful, confident, and intoxicated with admiration ✓
C. She feels anxious and uncomfortable the entire evening
D. She worries about the borrowed necklace throughout the party

Answer: B — The text states she was 'the prettiest of all — elegant, gracious, smiling and full of joy' and 'intoxicated with pleasure.'

Flashcards

Why does Mme Loisel suffer even though she marries a clerk?

She suffers because she was born with desires for luxury and delicacies but lacks the wealth to satisfy them, making her unhappy with her simple life.

What problem does Mme Loisel face when her husband brings home the invitation?

She has no suitable dress to wear to the grand ball and feels ashamed of her poverty.

How much money does M. Loisel give his wife for a dress?

He gives her 400 francs, which was the amount he had saved to buy a gun for hunting trips.

What fresh problem disturbs Mme Loisel even after she gets the dress?

She becomes anxious because she has no jewels to adorn herself with and fears looking poor among rich women at the ball.

Who does M. Loisel suggest Mme Loisel ask for jewels?

He suggests she ask her rich friend Mme Forestier to lend her some jewels.

What necklace does Mme Loisel choose to borrow from Mme Forestier?

She chooses a superb necklace of diamonds set in a black satin box.

What is Mme Loisel's greatest success at the ball?

She becomes the prettiest woman at the ball, receives admiration from all the men, and dances with enthusiasm and joy.

What does Mme Loisel discover when she returns home from the ball?

She discovers that the diamond necklace she borrowed is missing from around her neck.

What does M. Loisel's character reveal about his values?

He is selfless and supportive, sacrificing his own desires and money for his wife's happiness without complaint.

Why is Mme Loisel initially reluctant to visit her rich friend Mme Forestier?

She avoided visiting because it caused her great suffering when she returned, reminding her of the luxuries she could not have.

Important Board Questions

Based on the extract, describe Mme Loisel's character in two or three sentences. Why does she remain unhappy despite being married? [2 marks]

Identify: (1) She was born into poverty but desires luxury; (2) She suffers incessantly from material discontent; (3) She is ungrateful for what she has and envies those richer than her.

Why does Mme Loisel initially reject the ball invitation? How does her husband try to help solve her problems? Explain with reference to the text. [3 marks]

Show: (1) She has no suitable dress and feels ashamed; (2) Husband gives 400 francs from his savings; (3) When she worries about jewels, he suggests asking Mme Forestier; (4) His actions reveal his selfless, supportive nature despite financial sacrifice.

Analyze Mme Loisel's transformation during the ball. What does this reveal about the relationship between material possessions and human happiness? Support your answer with textual evidence. [5 marks]

Show the contrast: (1) Before: anxious, sad, viewing herself as poverty-stricken; (2) During ball: 'prettiest of all, elegant, gracious, full of joy, intoxicated with pleasure'; (3) This shows materialism temporarily creates false happiness; (4) The immediate loss of the necklace afterward creates the central irony; (5) Argue that true happiness cannot be built on borrowed possessions or external validation.

Assertion-Reason Questions for The Necklace

Q1. Assertion (A):

Mme Loisel was unhappy in her marriage because her husband was unkind and unsupportive.

Reason (R):

The text shows her husband willingly gave her 400 francs for a dress and suggested borrowing jewelry from her friend, demonstrating his care and support.

Answer: D — A is false but R is true — The assertion is false—her unhappiness stemmed from her humble circumstances and social position, not her husband's lack of kindness. The reason is true and shows he was actually supportive. Since the assertion is false but reason is true, the answer is C.

Q2. Assertion (A):

Mme Loisel's obsession with material possessions and social status was the root cause of her constant unhappiness.

Reason (R):

She suffered from the poverty of her apartment, desired elegant dinners and jewels, and felt humiliated among wealthy women, showing that her desires exceeded her means.

Answer: A — Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A — Both the assertion and reason are true, and the reason correctly explains why she was unhappy—her materialistic desires and concern with status exceeded her actual circumstances. This is the correct cause-and-effect relationship stated in the passage.

Q3. Assertion (A):

Mme Loisel's husband was a selfish and uncaring person who did not understand his wife's needs.

Reason (R):

He wanted her to wear her theater dress to the Minister's ball and suggested wearing flowers as jewelry.

Answer: D — A is false but R is true — The assertion is false because the husband showed care by giving her money and solving her problems. The reason is also not accurate—his suggestions, though simple, came from a place of trying to help with limited resources. Both are false, making the answer D.

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Case-Based Questions (CBQ) for The Necklace

Case Study:

Priya is a talented student from a middle-class family who dreams of attending an exclusive school event where she will meet students from wealthy families. She is unhappy at home, constantly comparing her simple clothes with her wealthier classmate Anjali's designer outfits. When invited to a special gala, Priya refuses to attend at first, saying she has nothing appropriate to wear. Her parents, though financially struggling, decide to buy her a beautiful dress by saving money that was meant for other purposes. Priya feels temporarily happy at the event when other students compliment her appearance, but this happiness is short-lived. She returns home, removes her dress, and realizes she has felt the same emptiness return.

Q1. How is Priya's character similar to Mme Loisel's?

A. Both are married women with financial problems
B. Both are unhappy because they compare themselves to wealthier people and base their happiness on external validation ✓
C. Both have unsupportive family members
D. Both lose valuable possessions at social events

Answer: B

Q2. What does Priya's parents' sacrifice for the dress resemble in 'The Necklace'?

A. Mme Loisel's decision to borrow jewelry
B. Mme Loisel's husband sacrificing his hunting money for her dress ✓
C. Mme Forestier's generosity in lending the necklace
D. Mme Loisel's unhappiness before the ball

Answer: B

Q3. What lesson does Priya's experience teach us about the nature of happiness?

A. Happiness comes from attending exclusive events
B. Happiness is impossible for people from middle-class families
C. Happiness requires expensive clothing and accessories
D. Happiness based solely on others' admiration and external appearances is temporary and hollow ✓

Answer: D

Q4. If Priya had lost her borrowed dress at the event, what would be the most likely consequence?

A. She would face financial and emotional consequences similar to those that would befall Mme Loisel ✓
B. Her parents would easily replace it with a better one
C. Anjali would help her buy a new dress
D. She would realize the importance of material possessions

Answer: A

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Previous Year Questions (PYQ) for The Necklace

Real CBSE board exam questions from past papers — free to attempt.

CBSE 2026 · Set 31/1/1 · 5 marks

Mme Loisel was a great success. She was the prettiest of all – elegant, gracious, smiling, and full of joy. All the men noticed her, asked her name and wanted to be presented. She danced with enthusiasm, intoxicated with pleasure, thinking of nothing but all this admiration, this victory so complete and sweet to her heart.

(i) How is 'success' perceived by Matilda?

CBSE 2026 · Set 31/3/1 · 5 marks

(i) How is "success" perceived by Matilda?

CBSE 2026 · Set 31/1/1 · 6 marks

In 'The Necklace', Madam Loisel spends years repaying a debt for a necklace that was never valuable. How does this irony expose the illusion of wealth and the consequences of chasing appearances?

CBSE 2026 · Set 31/1/1 · 3 marks

How does Matilda face 'the horrible life of necessity'?

CBSE 2026 · Set 31/1/1 · 6 marks

Analyze, how the theme of appearance versus reality is developed in 'The Necklace' through Matilda's life choices and their consequences.

CBSE 2026 · Set 31/2/1 · 6 marks

The inability to accept one's real circumstances led to suffering and an unhappy life, as reflected through the character of Matilda in 'The Necklace'. Analyze.

CBSE 2026 · Set English_communicative · 4 marks

The great night duly arrived, moonlit and cloudless. A platform had been constructed in a comfortable and conveniently placed tree, and thereon crouched Mrs. Packletide and her paid companion, Miss Mebbin. A goat, gifted with a particularly persistent bleat, such as even a partially deaf tiger might be reasonably expected to hear on a still night, was tethered at the correct distance. With an accurately sighted rifle and a thumbnail pack of patience cards the sportswoman awaited the coming of the quarry.

(i) On what kind of night did the event take place? (ii) What does the writer mean when he says "such as even a partially deaf tiger might be reasonably expected to hear on a still night"? (iii) Where was the platform constructed? (iv) Which word in the passage is closest in meaning to the following phrase: A person or animal being hunted or looked for.

CBSE 2025 · Set 31/1/1 · 6 marks

Matilda's character embodies the journey of change or progression throughout the story, encapsulating the transformations she endured as a consequence of her experiences, trials, and engagements with other characters. In the light of the above information, trace the transformation seen in Matilda's character in the story.

CBSE 2025 · Set 31/1/2 · 2 marks

What does the phrase 'luxurious qualities' in paragraph (2) tell you about the silk fabric? Write in 40 words with evidence from the text.

CBSE 2025 · Set 31/2/1 · 3 marks

Why does Mme Loisel hastily depart from the ball when her husband places a modest wrap on her shoulders?

CBSE 2025 · Set 31/2/3 · 3 marks

Why does Mme Loisel hastily depart from the ball when her husband places a modest wrap on her shoulders ?

CBSE 2023 · Set 31/1/1 · 6 marks

Those who are satisfied with what they have are happy in life. Those who aspire more than what they can afford ruin their life. Matilda was one such person. If she were content with her life she would have led a happy life. Elaborate on the basis of the chapter 'The Necklace.'

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