The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant is a short story, which focuses on the differences between appearance and reality. Here, we’ll talk more about the story, plot, the central conflict, characters, themes, and symbols. In The Necklace study guide, you will also learn about the genre and the author’s message.
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The Necklace: Summary & Analysis
The Necklace (French: La Parure) is a short story written by Guy de Maupassant in 1884. The story became an instant success, as most of the other works written by Guy de Maupassant. In the article, you’ll see its brief summary and analysis.
The Necklace is an astonishing short story capturing readers’ attention with its realistic plot and an unexpected twist in the end. This article will focus on describing The Necklace’s characters. We’ll analyze the vital figures of the story in more depth.
The Necklace is a sensational story with an unexpected twist in the end. In the article, we will discuss two themes of The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant. The literary analysis will show their importance for a better understanding of the story.
The Necklace is one of the most famous short stories that talks about a woman whose dreams of wealth got shattered. The author uses several literary devices, such as metaphors or symbolism, to enhance the reader’s perception.
The Necklace: Essay Topics & Samples
Writing an essay can be a challenge, even from the very beginning. Coming up with an eye-catching and exciting idea might be a bit of a process. Therefore, we have prepared a list of topics on The Necklace to choose from.
Historical Context of Necklace
To better understand the story’s historical context, we will briefly discuss Guy de Maupassant’s biography.
The Necklace’s author was born in Normandy, France, and did not attend school until the age of thirteen. After graduating, he started studying law at university. He had to interrupt his studies as he became a soldier during the Franco-Prussian war. Guy de Maupassant decided not to return to the university later but started working as a clerk in the Ministry of Education. After resigning from the Ministry of Education, he became a promising novelist.
The short story The Necklace (“La Parure”) was published in 1884 in the Paris newspaper, and the next year it was included in the author’s collection of short stories. It became an instant success—a tale about a lost diamond necklace shocked the readers by its unexpected ending.
Guy de Maupassant wrote The Necklace in the style of Realism and Naturalism. Realists and Naturalists often described individuals from lower or middle classes, people who were familiar to the reader of that time. The author’s purpose was to show the real world as it was.
The short story, as a literary genre, emerged in the 19th century. The magazine culture influenced its popularity. The possibility to publish stories in magazines created new opportunities for writers. Readers could follow their favorite authors, and writers could gain more inspiration. Maupassant’s The Necklace attracted a lot of attention. Authors commented on the tale, used the unexpected ending technique, and wrote Maupassant’s biography.
