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What is the connotation of the word *common* as it is used in the excerpt from “The Necklace”?

The other, not recognizing her, shoulder astonishment being spoken so familiar to you by this *common* person.

A. Typical

B. Unrefined

C. Unexceptional

User Crawfobw
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2 Answers

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The word *common* can be pejoratively used to mean 'rude and unpolished in looks, manners, or speech'. It can probably be replaced with the word vulgar in this excerpt. Accordingly, the connotation of the word *common* as it is used in “The Necklace” would be B. Unrefined.

User Pragya
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Answer:

B. Unrefined

Step-by-step explanation:

Are you sure your quote is correct?

The copy of the story I found has the following version of the excerpt:

"The other, astonished to be familiarly addressed by this plain good-wife, did not recognize her at all, and stammered:

"But—madame!—I do not know—You must have mistaken.""

Of the three answer choices, the second one, in my opinion, works best.

A little earlier in the story, we read this about Mathilde:

"Mme. Loisel looked old now. She had become the woman of impoverished households—strong and hard and rough. With frowsy hair, skirts askew, and red hands, she talked loud while washing the floor with great swishes of water."

Unrefined (i.e. uncultured, not characterized by good taste or manners) would definitely be a good word to describe Mathilde Loisel.

User John Small
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