Transcript Anthology B – the short stories VERONICA

Anthology B – the short stories
THE NECKLACE
Saturday, 18 July 2015
What is this all about?
• Read the story and write a summary of it in no
more than 150 words.
• (You developed this skill in year 10 – remember
to highlight the key events and to write in your
own words.)
• Ideas range from class to the effects of fate...
• What do you think? Discuss this with a partner.
Mme Loisel –character: Why is she
unhappy?
Use the first 52 lines to address this question...
Reason
Supporting quotation Effect
An ordinary family and
background
One of those who “get
themselves born the
daughters of very minor
civil servants”
Charm and beauty, but
poor
Feels herself to be
trapped by society
No chance of a wealthy
marriage
Feels degraded and
undervalued
Mme Loisel – cause or victim of
circumstance? List and reach a
conclusion:
Victim
cause
Her birth is an “error of fate” and she She is vain and frivolous – “she had
deserves more
no fine dresses... And that was all she
cared about”
Her husband is “too careful with his
money”
She is ungrateful to a husband who
does his best
She suffers as a result of the story
and loses her beauty – is this fair?
Victim of pride – refusal to lose face
results in her suffering.
Works hard at the end to
compensate – “quickly and
heroically, she resigned herself to
what she could not alter”
OK, but this does not mean she
didn’t deserve to suffer...
Mr Loisel
• He could be seen as worthy of pity or as pitiful.
Which side of this argument do you subscribe
to?
• Discuss the idea with a partner and prepare to
justify your decision.
Mme Forestier
• How does she treat Mme Loisel?
• How does she respond to the late return of the
necklace?
• At the end, is she sympathetic or ironic?
• What is the irony at the centre of the fake
necklace?
LANGUAGE
• This is a translation, but you do not need to
worry about accuracy and any effects found in
the original text.
• Look for contrasts. Is there a difference between
the language used when Mme Loisel is at the
party or dreaming and when the reality of her
life is described?
• Look a the way character is displayed in direct
speech.
Questions:
• These may well focus on the presentation of
character, probably of one of the LOISELs.
• The question may be very general in tone – how
does the writer make X interesting to the reader
puts the decision about content onto your
shoulders.