The Necklace

Character traits, fluency, vocabulary, plot, mood, characters’ motivation, theme, critical thinking, argument writing 

Based on a famous French short story, the play tells the story of a vain woman whose life is derailed when she loses a borrowed necklace. It evokes questions about how vanity, pride, dishonesty, and fate can all have serious, and unexpected, consequences.

The play has nine chronological scenes. The last two take place 10 years after the rest.

The play includes some challenging academic vocabulary, such as squalor and aspires, and one French word, bonjour.

The play takes place in 19th century France, a setting that will be unfamiliar to most students.

• Project or distribute the vocabulary activity sheet to preview challenging words.
  Highlighted words: squalor, aspires, exquisite, humiliating, tapestries, stunned, poverty, debt, haggard
• As a class, look at the title, subtitle, and illustration on pages 20-21. Invite students to predict how a “glittering treasure” might change Matilda’s life.
• Call on a volunteer to read aloud the Up Close box on page 21 to set a purpose for reading.
  

• Go over the pronunciation of characters’ names provided in the character list on page 21. 
• Read the first line of the play aloud. Explain that bonjour means “hello” in French. Ask: What is the setting of the play?
• Assign parts and read the play aloud as a class. After reading, discuss the close-reading and critical-thinking questions.
  

Close-Reading Questions

• Based on Scene 1, what is Matilda like? Support your answer with details from the text. (character traits)
  Matilda is vain; her appearance is very important to her. She thinks she deserves more than she has. She says, “If only my surroundings were as pleasing as my face!” This shows she thinks she’s pretty, but her home is too drab for her, even though the maid describes it as “lovely.” 
• In Scene 2, how does Matilda’s reaction to the invitation differ from what Pierre expected? What can you conclude about Pierre in this scene? (character traits)
  Pierre expected Matilda to be thrilled by an invitation to the ambassador’s ball, but instead she is upset that she doesn’t have a fancy dress to wear. You can conclude that Pierre adores Matilda and will do anything to make her happy. He agrees to spend most of their savings on a gown.
• While looking through Jeanne’s jewelry, Matilda asks, “Is there anything else?” What does this tell you about Matilda? How does it connect to the description of her in Scene 1? (character traits)
  This question shows that Matilda always wants better, showier things for herself. It connects to the description of her as never satisfied.
• How do the events and the mood in Scene 5 contrast with those of Scene 6? (plot/mood)
  In Scene 5, Matilda dances and everyone admires her. The mood is happy, like a dream come true. Everything changes in Scene 6 when Matilda realizes the necklace is lost. The mood changes to panic.
• Why do you think the Loisels decide to replace the necklace instead of telling Madame Forestier what happened? Do you think they did the right thing? (characters’ motivation)
  The Loisels might have been too proud or embarrassed to admit they lost the necklace. Or they might have felt it was their duty to replace it. Answers will vary.
• How has Matilda changed in Scene 8? Do you think she might appreciate anything about her new life? (character)
  Matilda now lives in poverty, works hard, and has lost her beauty. But she doesn’t complain anymore, even though her life is much more drab and difficult than before. She might feel relieved that she no longer wishes to be someone she’s not.
• Guy de Maupassant, the author of the story this play is based on, is known for twists—or big surprises—at the end of his stories. How does this play have a twist ending? (plot)
  In the end, Matilda finds out that the necklace she and Pierre worked so hard to replace was a fake and worth very little.
  

Critical-Thinking Questions

• What lessons do you think this play teaches? (theme)
  Answers will vary. Students might suggest that it shows the danger of greed and vanity, since Matilda’s desire to look wealthy led to her borrowing, and losing, the necklace. They might also say it shows the consequences of not telling the truth. If the Loisels had told Jeanne the necklace was lost, they would have learned it was fake before working for 10 years to replace it. 
• What role do you think luck plays in the events of the play? (critical thinking) Answers will vary. Some students may say it was bad luck that the necklace got lost, leading to years of hardship for the Loisels. Others may say it was Matilda’s fault in the first place for borrowing the necklace rather than being satisfied with what she had.
  

• Have students complete the character traits activity. They should then respond to the writing prompt on page 25.
  

• Make a connection! Have students read this issue’s fiction, “The Space Rock.” Then share this quote from the Roman philosopher Seneca: “It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor.” Hold a discussion on what Daddy in the story and Matilda in the play would say about the quote.