Madame Loisel is the protagonist; in broad strokes, society and social standing function as antagonists.
Major Conflict
Madame Loisel wants to wear an expensive necklace to a party, but after she loses Madame Forestier's necklace, she and her husband must work to pay off the cost of a new one.
Climax
Madame Forestier reveals that the original necklace had been a fake.
Foreshadowing
Maupassant writes that the Loisels found a necklace that "seemed to them exactly like the one they had lost"(p.36). He pointedly avoids saying that the new necklace was exactly the same as the old one.
Understatement
N/A.
Allusions
N/A.
Imagery
Before getting an invitation to a fancy party, Madame Loisel imagines the lives of the rich in great detail.
Paradox
N/A.
Parallelism
N/A.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A.
Personification
N/A.
The Necklace Questions and Answers
The Question and Answer section for The Necklace is a great
resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.
Mathilde fantacizes about all of the things she does not have and feels herself entitled to.... wealth, a large home, delicious foods, beautiful clothing, and exquisite jewelry. Though, I cannot speak for the author, I believe he wants his...
In 'The Necklace', the author initiially uses slow pacing to amplify the tension. When Mathilde loses the necklace, the pace quickens as she hurriedly tries to repay her debt.
The Necklace study guide contains a biography of Guy de Maupassant, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.
The Necklace literature essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant.
