The Necklace Class 10 Question answers are given here. The language used is easy to understand and answers are comprehensive. This chapter is from ‘Footprints without feet’ prescribed for class 10.

Click here more such materials on Class 10 textbook ‘Footprints without Feet’.

‘The Necklace’ NCERT Solutions

READ AND FIND OUT (Page 39)  

1. What kind of a person is Mme Loisel—why is she always unhappy?

Ans. Mme Loisel is a beautiful lady. She is born in a clerk’s family. Her husband is also a clerk in the office of the Board of Education. But she has lofty aspirations and wishes to enjoy all delicacies and luxuries. But she is pained to see the shabby walls of her apartment and the worn chairs. All these things tortured her and made her unhappy.  

2. What kind of a person is her husband?

Ans. Her husband is a clerk who intends to keep his wife happy. He is economical but he suffers because of his wife’s conduct and wishes. He sacrifices his own dreams to buy a party dress for his wife. He wants to buy a gun but he buys a dress for his beloved wife. It shows that he is a simple and loving husband. 

READ AND FIND OUT (Page 41)  

1. What fresh problem now disturbs Mme Loisel?

Ans. Mme Loisel buys a new dress for the ball but she has no jewels to adorn herself with. It disturbs Mme Loisel.  

2. How is the problem solved? Ans. Matilda’s husband reminded her of her friend Mme Forestier. She was rich and could lend her some jewellery. Mme Loisel goes to her friend for the jewellery. Mme Forestier readily agrees to lend her necklace of diamonds that Matilda likes. 

READ AND FIND OUT (Page 42)  

1. What do M. and Mme Loisel do next?

Ans. M and Mme Loisel look in the folds of the dress, cloak and pockets for the necklace. Loisel goes over the track where they went on feet to find it. He goes to the police and the cab offices and puts an advertisement in the newspapers, offering a reward. But nothing came out of it.  

2. How do they replace the necklace?

Ans. They replace the necklace by purchasing exactly the same necklace. They have to pay 36000 francs for the new diamond necklace. He possesses eighteen thousand francs and borrows the rest from the moneylenders.  

THINK ABOUT IT  

1. The course of the Loisel’s life changed due to the necklace. Comment.

Ans. Undoubtedly, the necklace changed the course of the life of Loisel. Mme Loisel now knew the horrible life of necessity. They had to send away the maid and changed their lodgings. They rented some rooms in an attic. She had to do all the household work. She washed the dishes, the soiled linen, their clothes and dishcloths. She suffered for ten years because of her irresponsible behaviour. M Loisel worked in the evenings, putting the books of some merchants in order, and at nights he often did copying at five sous a page. Poverty made Matilda a strong, hard woman and the crude woman of the poor household. She now looked an old woman of a poor family.  

2. What was the cause of Matilda’s ruin? How could she have avoided it?

Ans. Matilda’s lofty aspirations and unrealistic dreams were the causes of her ruin. One must not run after material possessions. It is rightly said that appearances are always deceptive. One should not give undue importance to the physical beauty. One should be pragmatic and should cut one’s coat according to one’s cloth. She could have avoided it easily. Her husband suggested to her to use flowers but she refused to do so. She was not a practical lady. If she had understood her husband’s feelings, she could have avoided it.  

3. What would have happened to Matilda if she had confessed to her friend that she had lost her necklace?

Ans. Matilda would have saved her family from ruin if she had confessed to her friend that she had lost her necklace. Mme Forestier might have demanded 500 francs for the loss of the necklace. One should always remember that telling a lie affects the liar’s life. One should learn the art of accepting one’s mistakes. She should have felt sorry to her friend and the rich friend might not have minded the loss altogether.  

4. If you were caught in a situation like this, how would you have dealt with it?

Ans. I believe that to err is human. Human beings are social animals who need to interact with others. But a person who becomes the victim of superiority or inferiority complex makes his life a hell. I feel that I would have confessed the loss without any hesitation. 

TALK ABOUT IT  

1. The characters in this story speak in English. Do you think this is their language? What clues are there in the story about the language its characters must be speaking in?

Ans. The characters in the story speak in English. But this is not their language. There are many clues in the story to prove it. The characters speak French because the story was originally written in French. It is translated into English. The clues are given below:

• Names of characters – Mme Loisel, Mme Forestier, George Ramponneau
• Currency – franc, sou
• Walk in the Champs Elysees

2. Honesty is the best policy.

Ans. Rightly said that honesty is the best policy. If a man is honest, he is respected as he is trusted that he will not do anything wrong intentionally. Honesty always pays in the end. We should recognise that dishonesty and deception never pay in the long run. They cause troubles to others and also malign our image. It is selfishness to cheat people. We should learn to be content with our means and be honest in our approach towards others.

3. We should be content with what life gives us.

Ans. It is a great virtue that we should be content with what life has given us. Life does not give equal to all people. Some are born great while some are born in poverty. We should not overlook the fact that life is not same for all people. It is different for different people with different situations. We should respect the life given to us and be content by doing our best in getting the things in a rightful way