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Introduction

Matilda, the protagonist, is a selfish young woman. Because she was born into a family of clerks and because they could not afford a dowry, she is now married to a clerk despite having always sought a wealthy spouse. The minister’s wife and her minister’s husband are invited to a party at the minister’s home. However, Matilda lacks the fancy attire and accessories required to attend this event. Her spouse suggests she go shopping for a new outfit and contact a mutual acquaintance for some jewels. After borrowing some accessories from a pal, she heads out to the party. What happened next teaches the sad woman an important lesson.

The Necklace Short Summary

Matilda and her husband M. Loisel had an apartment and Matilda was dissatisfied and unhappy with her life. Her parents had to give her away to a board of education clerk since they couldn’t afford a dowry. Matilda was also envious of her wealthy acquaintance Mme. Jeanne Forestier, so she avoided seeing her whenever possible. She would get upset and cry for days after visiting her. When he was in office, the minister of public instruction once invited her spouse to a party at his home.

Necklace

Saddened by the fact that she’d brought absolutely nothing suitable for such an extravagant party, she left early. Her husband gave her $400 he’d been saving for a pistol so he and his buddies could go hunting. She was let down by the purchase because she couldn’t accessorise the dress with anything else she already had. Friend “Mme. Forestier,” her husband said, would be a good source for some jewels.

Mme. Loisel’s visit to her pal’s place. They were given free rein to choose whatever struck their fancy. This diamond necklace was Matilda’s choice. They then proceeded to the celebration. Soon after they left, she discovered she was missing her necklace and began to panic. When she and her husband went shopping for new jewellery, they found a comparable one for “36 000 francs,” despite his suggestion that she explain the issue to their mutual acquaintance. The good news is that M. Loisel was able to borrow the remaining funds after inheriting “18000 francs” from his father.

It took them ten years to repay all of the debts, and during that time, a lot happened. Matilda’s health declined as she was compelled to take on all of the housework. Matilda’s friend Jeanne, whom she ran into on the way, revealed that the necklace was a fake and not worth even “500 francs”

About the author

French author Henri René Albert Guy de Maupassant’ (5 August 1850 – 6 July 1893) is regarded as a master of the short story genre, and a member of the naturalist school of writers”

Conclusion

The story conveys the message  that “honesty is the best policy.” If Matilda had been honest with her friend about the necklace, she would have saved herself from living a terrible life

The Necklace Question Answer

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

Ans: The Loisels had to pay back the money they borrowed to buy the jewellery over the course of ten years. It had a dramatic impact on their daily lives. They were uprooted and sent to the city’s worst neighbourhoods. Matilda had to do everything from shopping for food and bartering with the butcher and grocer on her own because she had no servants or other help. The couple’s debt forced the husband to put in long hours. The jewellery affected their lifestyle in this way.

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

Ans: The cause of Matilda’s downfall is her arrogance, her desire for materialistic things, and her dishonesty. By developing a sense of acceptance for her existing circumstance and satisfaction with what she had, she may have prevented it.

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

Ans: Matilda could have avoided her doom if she had been honest and truthful. She would have learned that the necklace was a fake that only cost “500 francs” if she had been brave enough to tell her friend the truth about it. She wouldn’t have used her husband’s entire inheritance and taken out a loan for “18,000” to replace it. She would have saved herself and her husband from ten years of poverty.

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

Ans: Above all, I would have tried to avoid falling prey to my ego and ambitions. If I had been in that position, I would have told the truth and accepted the consequences. For me, being honest was the best course of action.

Extra Questions of the Necklace Class 10

1. The Necklace: What Does It Mean?

Ans: Having to repay the debt for the necklace’s loss is a constant reminder of the life “Madame Mathilde Loisel” yearns for but can’t have, and so she wears the necklace as a reminder of that. Because of her desire to live that way, she meets an untimely death.

2. What were Loisel’s thoughts on her destiny?

Ans; Mme Loisel was the type of lady who had plenty, but she wasn’t content with it. She always believed that she was destined to enjoy all the fineries and comforts, but by some strange twist of fate, she was born into a family of clerks.

3. How does the necklace depict greed?

Ans:  Mathilde picks the most expensive-looking necklace from Mme. Forestier’s jewellery box is out of greed, and the massive debt she and her husband pay to replace the lost necklace can be understood as a logical result of that greed.

Introduction

The renowned poem “Fire and Ice,” written by American poet Robert Lee Frost, depicts human passion. The poet equates the destructive forces of fire and ice, suggesting that these two elements may be responsible for the end of the planet on occasion. The poem is relatively straightforward, but its meaning runs deep.

The poet’s skill makes the reader question the poem’s more profound meaning. The poet suggests that desire and hate, represented by fire and ice, may one day lead to the world’s end. Despite initial satisfaction, the yearning for more is ingrained in the human condition. And the same holds for hatred. The poet employs a symbolic reading of these two elements to demonstrate how specific actions can bring about the world’s end.

Summary of the poem 

Robert Frost’s “Fire and Ice” is a timely poem with profound relevance in today’s society. The poem opens belligerently as if the world’s end will come about due to fire or ice.

Fire and ice

In this metaphor, fire represents desire and is seen as the first possible path to destruction. The speaker knows that desire can cause a lot of damage, so they warn against it indirectly. So, humanity might destroy the planet out of sheer enthusiasm, fury, violence, avarice, and bloodlust.

This passage from the poem, “But if it had to perish twice,” gives us an unambiguous impression that the devastation might occur twice. The poet chooses ice as his instrument of self-destruction this time.

In the same way, fire can travel quickly through a community, and so can hate, which is a frigid emotion. Ice represents the cold, complex, and unyielding side of human nature.

The end of the world can be brought about by the self-destruction of humanity when either of these extreme emotions, fire or ice, is allowed to take over.

We learn from the poem that we need to reign in our feelings. When people are consumed by their desires and hatred, they are unable to consider the feelings of others.

For a peaceful and joyful world, it is the responsibility of every person to master their feelings and avoid using them as harmful tools. This factor can make living difficult and contribute to the global disorder we see today.

About the poet

Robert Lee Frost was an American poet who wrote about regular people in ordinary situations.

Some of Robert Frost’s most well-known works include: “The Gift Outright,” “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,” “Birches,” “Mending Wall,” “The Road Not Taken,” and “Nothing Gold Can Stay.”

Robert Frost

Conclusion

The poem “Fire and Ice” by Robert Frost speaks to our current global climate. The poet claims that the downfall of the planet may be attributed to two emotions: want and hate. The poem likens these two extremes of human feeling to fire and ice, each of which can be used destructively if not managed.

Thinking About the Poem – Textbook Question Answer

1. Several scenarios for the “end of the world” have been proposed. When do you anticipate the end of the world to place, if at all? Have you ever imagine what would happen if the sun either grew so cold that it froze solid or so hot that it exploded?

Ans:I think it will fade out at some point. No one can predict how or when that day will come. To be honest, I have given it some consideration. A blazing sun will have worldwide repercussions and might even trigger global warming. In the event that the temperature fell, all life would perish. But if the sun ever got hot or cooled down, the earth would be in shambles.

2. For Frost, what do “fire” and “ice” stand for ? Here are some ideas: Greed, avarice, cruelty, list, conflict, fury, intolerance, rigidity, insensitivity, coldness, indifference, hatred. 

Ans: Frost equates them to very distinct concepts. Here are several examples: As a metaphor, fire represents greed, ardour, hostility, and fury. A representation of anger, hardness, intolerance, rigidity, and insensitivity, “ice” can take in many forms.

3. What is the rhyme scheme of the poem ? How does it help in bringing out the contrasting ideas in the poem ?

Ans: The rhyme scheme of the poem is : a, b, aa ; b, c, b, c, b.

By dividing them, it aids in highlighting the opposing ideas. “Fire and Ice” are represented by various notions. In both stanzas, they are given a different rhyme system.

Fire and Ice Class 10 Extra Questions

1. How does the speaker use figurative language to emphasize their point?

Ans: To put it simply, figurative language is a mode of expression that avoids the literal interpretation of words. Figurative language, most often found in the use of parallels and exaggerations, is employed to add artistic flair to a piece of writing or speech, or to simplify a complex concept.

2. What is the significance of the title “Fire and Ice”?

Ans: Fire in this poem represents desire, while ice represents hatred. There is indeed a belief in the Bible that the world will end in fire, but there is also a belief, written by scientists, that the world will end in ice, due to hate. 

3. “I’ve experienced desire/I hold with those who favor fire”, the poet writes. Why does he say that?

Ans: The poet is aware of the fervour of desires and passions in love. He is well aware  that our unbridled passions, rage, and desires eventually lead to our demise. He also agrees with others who think that the real reason for the end of the world is “fire,” which is a metaphor for unrestrained passions and wants.