Question

writing instructions
target writing level: advanced

revisit \the necklace\ by guy de maupassant. in an explanatory essay, identify the plot elements that are found in a narrative arc: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.

questions to consider:
what events from the plot align with which element?
what was the primary conflict?
was there a complication in resolving the conflict?
what was the impact of the resolution?

write at least 150 words.

\the necklace\
by guy de maupassant

Explanation:

To answer this, we analyze "The Necklace" using narrative arc elements. Exposition introduces Mathilde's dissatisfaction with her middle - class life. Rising action includes her borrowing the necklace, attending the party, and losing it. The climax is when she realizes the necklace is lost. Falling action shows her and her husband working to replace it. Resolution is when they pay off debts and learn the necklace was fake. The primary conflict is Mathilde's desire for luxury vs. her reality. The complication is the necklace's loss, leading to years of hardship. The resolution's impact is Mathilde's transformation and the irony of the fake necklace. We structure this into an explanatory essay, ensuring it's at least 150 words, covering each plot element, conflict, complication, and resolution impact.

Answer:

To write the explanatory essay:

Exposition

In "The Necklace", the exposition introduces Mathilde Loisel, a woman of middle - class status who is deeply dissatisfied with her life. She yearns for the luxury and elegance that she believes she is deprived of, constantly comparing her situation to the wealthy lifestyle she desires. Her husband, a clerk, tries to please her but is unable to fulfill her dreams of opulence.

Rising Action

The rising action begins when Mathilde's husband brings home an invitation to a high - society ball. Mathilde is initially upset as she has nothing suitable to wear. Her husband gives her money to buy a dress, and then she borrows a beautiful diamond necklace from her friend Madame Forestier. She attends the ball, enjoying the attention and feeling like she has finally achieved the luxury she craves. However, after the ball, as she and her husband are leaving, she realizes that the necklace is missing.

Climax

The climax occurs at the moment when Mathilde and her husband fully comprehend that the necklace is lost. This is a turning point as it sets in motion the events that will drastically change their lives. They search everywhere for the necklace but to no avail.

Falling Action

In the falling action, Mathilde and her husband decide to replace the necklace. They take on a huge amount of debt, borrowing money from various sources at high interest rates. They then spend the next ten years working tirelessly to pay off this debt. Mathilde's appearance and lifestyle change completely; she becomes a worn - out, hard - working woman, far from the elegant lady she once aspired to be. Her husband also has to take on extra jobs to make ends meet.

Resolution

The resolution comes when, after ten years of hardship, Mathilde runs into Madame Forestier. She decides to tell her the truth about the necklace. Madame Forestier then reveals that the necklace was a fake, worth only a fraction of what they had paid to replace it. This revelation brings the story to a close, highlighting the irony of the situation.

The primary conflict in the story is Mathilde's internal conflict between her desire for a luxurious life and her actual middle - class reality. The complication in resolving the conflict is the loss of the necklace, which leads to a decade of suffering as they try to replace it. The impact of the resolution is profound. Mathilde, who once dreamed of luxury, has now been humbled by her experiences. She has learned the value of hard work and the futility of her former desires. The irony of the fake necklace also serves as a commentary on the pursuit of material wealth and the consequences of vanity.