The Necklace
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Themes
All Themes Reality and Illusion Women and Beauty Ambition, Greed, and Material Possessions Sacrifice, Suffering, and Martyrdom Happiness
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Mathilde Loisel M. Loisel Jeanne Forestier
Symbols
All Symbols The Necklace The Mirror
Literary Devices
All Literary Devices Allusions Dramatic Irony Foreshadowing Genre Imagery Irony Metaphors Mood Personification Setting Similes Situational Irony Style Tone
Quiz
Download PDF
Download Teacher Edition
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The Necklace

by

Guy de Maupassant

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Introduction Intro
Plot Summary Plot
Summary & Analysis
Themes
  • All Themes
  • Reality and Illusion Theme Icon
    Reality and Illusion
  • Women and Beauty Theme Icon
    Women and Beauty
  • Ambition, Greed, and Material Possessions Theme Icon
    Ambition, Greed, and Material Possessions
  • Sacrifice, Suffering, and Martyrdom Theme Icon
    Sacrifice, Suffering, and Martyrdom
  • Happiness Theme Icon
    Happiness
Quotes
Characters
  • All Characters
  • Mathilde Loisel
  • M. Loisel
  • Jeanne Forestier
Symbols
  • All Symbols
  • The Necklace Symbol Icon
    The Necklace
  • The Mirror Symbol Icon
    The Mirror
Lit Devices
  • All Literary Devices
  • Allusions
  • Dramatic Irony
  • Foreshadowing
  • Genre
  • Imagery
  • Irony
  • Metaphors
  • Mood
  • Personification
  • Setting
  • Similes
  • Situational Irony
  • Style
  • Tone
Quiz
Theme Wheel Theme Viz
Download this Chart (PDF)
Download the Teacher Edition
Download this Chart (PDF)

The Necklace Study Guide

It's easy to cite LitCharts for use in academic papers and reports.


MLA

Klempay, Jack. "The Necklace." LitCharts. LitCharts LLC, 26 Feb 2018. Web. 19 Jul 2025.


Chicago

Klempay, Jack. "The Necklace." LitCharts LLC, February 26, 2018. Retrieved July 19, 2025. https://www.litcharts.com/lit/the-necklace.

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