The Necklace

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Guy de Maupassant describes his main character for several paragraphs but does not identify her by name until later in the short story. Instead, he repeatedly refers to the woman as "she." His initial depiction of the woman identifies her as __________.

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de Maupassant describes French society of the time: "... women have no family rank or social class. With them, beauty, grace and charm take the place of birth and breeding. Their natural poise, their instinctive good taste, and their mental cleverness are the sole guiding principles which make daughters of the common people the equals of ladies of high society. ... as if by accident or fate, [she was] born into a family of _________."

patriarchal

The worldview described in the above quotation ( "... women have no family rank or social class. With them, beauty, grace and charm take the place of birth and breeding. Their natural poise, their instinctive good taste, and their mental cleverness are the sole guiding principles which make daughters of the common people the equals of ladies of high society. ... as if by accident or fate, [she was] born into a family of _________.") is _________ in nature.

housekeeper

Mathilde Loisel "grieves" over the condition of her apartment: the walls, the chairs, the draperies, etc. She even has distain for her ________,

Oriental tapestries, bronze floor lamps, & handsome butlers

She dreams of ___________.

stew (scotch broth)

The fashionable dinner parties in Mathilde's mind "of delicious dishes served on wonderful china ... rosy flesh of trout and wings of grouse" are a sharp contrast to the _______ she serves her husband at supper.

depressed and like she has nothing, is nothing

Mathilde has "a well-to-do friend, a classmate of convent-school days," but she rarely visits her friend because afterward Mathilde feels _________.

an fancy dress

Mathilde's husband is excited when he comes home with an invitation to "an evening reception at the Ministerial Mansion." He is certain his wife will be just as thrilled. However, much to his surprise, "she scornfully tossed the invitation on the table, murmuring, 'What good is that to me?' " Mathilde is irritated and impatient because she does not have _________.

hunting rifle

Selflessly, her husband offers her 400 francs, the amount of money he has saved to buy a new ________.

flowers

Mathilde says she needs to "have a jewel or gem" to wear to the reception or she will "look like a pauper." Her husband suggests wearing ________, but she replies that will merely draw attention to their poverty, and "There's nothing more humiliating than to look poor among a lot of rich women."

diamond

Mathilde likes her husband's next suggestion, to borrow a piece of jewelry from her wealthy friend. Mme. Forestier is happy to lend her friend something fancy to wear. At first Mathilde cannot decide which piece to choose, but soon after finds a perfect ________ necklace "in a black satin box."

wonderful

At the party Mathilde has a ________ time.

dozes

From midnight to 4 am her husband ________.

a shabby wrap

When it is finally time to go home, Mathilde runs "rapidly down the stairs." Her husband calls for her to slow down, but Mathilde dashes quickly into the street because she does not want the wealthy women to see her _________.

The Necklace

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