Literary Analysis of “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant

Introduction

• Introduce the story and its author.
• Provide a brief summary of the plot.
• Identify the themes and motifs of the story.

Body

• Theme of materialism: Mathilde’s desire for material possessions leads her to make a foolish mistake that has devastating consequences.
• Motifs of social class and wealth: The story explores the social class divide between Mathilde and her wealthy friends. The necklace is a symbol of wealth and status, and Mathilde’s desire for it reflects her own social aspirations.
• Irony: The story is full of irony, which is used to highlight the themes of materialism and social class. For example, Mathilde’s desire for the necklace leads her to lose everything she has, including her husband’s respect.
• Character development: Mathilde’s character undergoes a significant transformation over the course of the story. She begins as a materialistic and shallow woman, but she eventually learns the value of humility and simplicity.

Conclusion

• Summarize the main points of the analysis.
• Discuss the significance of the story’s themes and motifs.
• Evaluate the story’s literary merits.

Works Cited

• Maupassant, Guy de. “The Necklace.” The Necklace and Other Stories. Translated by Roger L. Greaves, Oxford University Press, 1994, pp. 1-19.

Word Count: 2000

Additional Notes:

• This outline is just a starting point, and you may need to add or remove sections depending on the focus of your analysis.
• Be sure to cite any sources that you use in your analysis.
• You may want to consider using a literary criticism framework to help you organize your ideas.
• The conclusion should summarize the main points of your analysis and discuss the significance of the story’s themes and motifs.