Question

Please help me anwser these Comprehension Questions for the necklace. Thank you!

1. Describe the main character. What details does the author provide to establish
Mathilde’s character?
2. What does the husband’s reaction to his wife’s need for a new dress say about him?
3. What does Mathilde hope to gain by telling her friend about the replacement of the necklace?
4. "Do you believe that Mathilde will become less preoccupied with appearances after the revelation of the fake necklace? What textual evidence is there to suggest that she will or will not?"

5. If the climax is at the loss of the necklace we can see that as a turning point in the
development of the main character. If we see the climax as being where the original
necklace is revealed as a fake, there is no such information. Which of these two options will have the greater effect on the reader? Tell why

Answer 1

• The main character in the story is Mathilde. The author provides details of her appearance, such as her "fair and pretty" face, as well as her desire for material possessions and social status. The author also shows her as being discontented with her current life, and her desire for more wealth and prestige.

• The husband's reaction to his wife's need for a new dress says that he is content with their current financial situation and is not willing to spend money on unnecessary luxuries. He is also not willing to go into debt to provide his wife with the material possessions she desires.

• Mathilde hopes to gain sympathy and understanding from her friend by telling her about the replacement of the necklace. She wants her friend to understand the predicament she was in and the pressure she felt to maintain her social status.

• The textual evidence suggests that Mathilde will not become less preoccupied with appearances after the revelation of the fake necklace. Throughout the story, she is shown to be deeply concerned with her social status and material possessions, and the revelation of the fake necklace does not seem to change this.

• The climax where the original necklace is revealed as a fake will have a greater effect on the reader. This is because it exposes the true nature of Mathilde's character and the shallowness of her values, and highlights the contrast between her perceived wealth and reality. It is a turning point in the story and in the development of Mathilde's character.