Footprints Without Feet · Chapter 7
NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English: The Necklace
by Guy de Maupassant
"The Necklace" is one of the most discussed short stories in world literature, and the Footprints Without Feet reader brings its sharp irony directly into the Class 10 classroom. Guy de Maupassant tells the story of Matilda Loisel, a woman who feels she deserves a far grander life than the modest one she has, and whose decision to borrow a glittering necklace for one evening of admiration leads to ten years of poverty and hard labour. The final twist, delivered in just a few devastating lines, forces readers to reconsider everything that came before. This NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Footprints Without Feet Chapter gives Myclass24 students a complete chapter breakdown, a free downloadable PDF, structured tables for revision, and answers to the questions most often asked about this story.
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Chapter Focus: Vanity, Sacrifice, and a Devastating Twist
Matilda's dissatisfaction is the engine of the entire story. She does not lack a comfortable home or a devoted husband; she lacks the luxury and admiration she believes she is entitled to. When she borrows what she thinks is a diamond necklace and loses it at the party, she and her husband sacrifice their financial future, working tirelessly for a decade to repay a debt for a piece of jewellery that, the final lines reveal, was never genuinely valuable at all. Also read NCERT Solutions for Class 10 and NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English.
The story's power lies in this structural irony: years of suffering caused by something that was, all along, an illusion. Class 10 exam questions often ask students to trace Matilda's transformation from a vain young woman to a hardened, prematurely aged labourer, or to explain how the story's final twist changes the reader's understanding of everything that happened before it. A strong answer always connects Matilda's character flaws to the consequences she faces, rather than treating the ending as a simple shock.
Quick Character Guide
| Character | Role in the Story | Key Trait |
|---|---|---|
| Matilda Loisel | The central character; longs for wealth and admiration | Vain, dissatisfied, later hardworking and resilient |
| Monsieur Loisel | Matilda's devoted, hardworking husband | Patient, sacrificing, practical |
| Madame Forestier | Matilda's wealthy friend who lends the necklace | Generous, unaware of the necklace's true value at the time |
Themes and Quick Facts at a Glance
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Genre | Classic short fiction with a famous twist ending |
| Setting | Late nineteenth-century Paris, France |
| Central Theme | Vanity, dissatisfaction, and the irony of sacrificing reality for appearances |
| Key Irony | Ten years of poverty are spent repaying a necklace that turns out to be costume jewellery |
| Character Arc | Matilda moves from vanity and discontent to humility shaped by hardship |
| Common Exam Tags | ironycharacter transformationtwist endingextract-based Q&A |
Questions
Who is the author of The Necklace?
The story is written by Guy de Maupassant, a renowned French author celebrated for his mastery of the short story form.
What is the twist ending of The Necklace?
Matilda discovers, after years of repaying its cost, that the necklace she borrowed and lost was made of fake diamonds and was worth far less than she and her husband sacrificed to replace it.
Why does Matilda borrow the necklace in the first place?
She wants to feel elegant and admired at a party, and borrows what she believes is a valuable necklace from her wealthier friend to compensate for her own modest appearance.
Is The Necklace important for the Class 10 CBSE exam?
Yes. It is one of the most frequently tested chapters, particularly for questions on irony, character change, and the consequences of vanity.
NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Footprints Without Feet Chapter 7: The Necklace – FAQs
Mathilde Loisel's longing for wealth and social status drives the entire plot of the story. Although she lives a comfortable life, she constantly feels dissatisfied because she dreams of expensive clothes, elegant parties, and a luxurious lifestyle. Her desire to appear wealthy leads her to borrow a necklace for a grand event. When the necklace is lost, she and her husband spend years repaying a debt to replace it. The chapter illustrates how excessive materialism can cloud judgment and create unnecessary hardships. Mathilde's experiences demonstrate the consequences of valuing appearances more than reality.
The necklace serves as the central symbol of the story and represents illusion, pride, and social ambition. Mathilde believes the necklace will help her appear wealthy and admired among high society. However, when it goes missing, it becomes the cause of years of struggle and sacrifice. The shocking revelation at the end—that the original necklace was an imitation—adds irony to the narrative. The necklace symbolizes how appearances can be deceptive and how people often suffer because of assumptions and vanity. Through this object, the author delivers a powerful lesson about contentment and reality.
The ending is considered ironic because Mathilde and her husband spend ten years working tirelessly to replace a necklace they believed was extremely valuable. They endure financial hardship, physical exhaustion, and a dramatic decline in their standard of living. After finally repaying the debt, Mathilde learns that the original necklace was actually a fake and worth only a small fraction of what they paid. This unexpected twist changes the meaning of the entire story. The irony highlights the dangers of pride, assumptions, and the desire to impress others at any cost.
The chapter teaches several valuable lessons about honesty, contentment, and the consequences of vanity. Mathilde's dissatisfaction with her life leads her to make decisions that ultimately bring years of suffering. Readers learn that comparing oneself to others often creates unhappiness and unrealistic expectations. The story also emphasizes the importance of honesty, as Mathilde never tells the truth about losing the necklace. Had she done so, the outcome might have been very different. Overall, the chapter encourages students to appreciate what they have and to make thoughtful decisions rather than acting out of pride.