English Resource
Q1. Matilda has just returned back from her brief encounter with Mme. Forestier where she gets to know the truth about the necklace being a fake. Write a conversation between her and Loisel on her reaction to this revelation and the lesson that she learnt from the entire episode.
Mme. Loisel : Today, when I was walking in the Champs-Elysees, I chanced upon Mme. Forestier. She didn't recognize me at first because my appearance has greatly altered since we lost the necklace. So I told her the truth about how losing her necklace has brought us misery.
ReplyDeleteM. Loisel : Oh, what happened after she found out the truth? Did she get angry at us for not informing her?
Mme. Loisel : No, quite the opposite happened, she was actually touched. But you will not believe my word when I tell you what she told me about the necklace. She told me that the necklace was not actually a diamond necklace but merely a fake worth less than five hundred francs.
M. Loisel : Oh my god! And to think that we spent ten long years trying to repay our debts by living a life of deprivation. Had we told her honestly that we had lost her necklace then we wouldn't have had to spend our days in poverty.
Mme. Loisel : I agree. But if I had not craved a life of luxury, and had been humble, satisfied and grateful for the life that I was living, we would have never gone to the ball at the Minister's with Mme. Forestier's necklace. If I had been less greedy and had not obsessed over the material desires of life then you would still possess your inheritance.
M. Loisel: But what is the point of regretting what happened in the past and tormenting ourselves further by thinking about an alternate future? We cannot change what has passed. The only thing that we can control is our future, so we must take every action only after considering its consequences for the smallest of actions can change the course of our lives.
Saumya Dwivedi
Class 10 E
Saumya, well written! Apt and precise as well!
DeleteSaumya, include one more set. A dialogue usually has four sets.
DeleteM.loisel: What happened, my dear? is everything fine?
ReplyDeleteMme loisel: I saw Mme. forestier today, as cheery as ever.. She couldn't recognize me at first. after all, my youth.. wasted in washing dishes.. Ah the countless times i've dreamt of living a life like hers...It seems that she has a child now too..
M.loisel: My dear, albeit we lost 10 years of our life trying to pay her back.. we have many more years ahead of us.. I'm sure we'll make the most of it.. besides, you look as young as ever
Mme loisel: Well, You've been chanting that prayer for years now i bet my hat off it won't ever come true.. maybe we were never meant to find happiness... either way... I chatted with her a bit. Told her about the necklace, and how we spent 10 years trying to repay the debt..
M. Loisel: She didn't take it the wrong way, did she?
Mme loisel: no, no, in fact, her eyes were full of pity.. Never in a thousand life times would one ever think of this happening... the necklace was just a fake.. not worth over 500 franks..
M.loisel: My lord! I cannot believe this! we toiled for years trying to pay a fortune for the replacement.. If only we had enough courage to own up to our mistake..
Mme.Loisel: I agree.. Im sure she would've understood and forgiven us, thats what friends do.. we shouldve told her...
M Loisel: My dear, 'we could've', 'if only' they're just possibilities.. we cannot keep regretting one mistake for the rest of our lives... I know, these 10 years seem like waste.. but we have to stand up and rebuild what was broken.. A new life, a better one
Mme loisel: yes, i suppose you're right and this time i promise i'll be happy no matter How or where we live... after all, thats what caused us this misery.. I guess, i've learnt my mistake.. it isn't money that has the power to lighten up our lives.. maybe its just the light within us..
M Loisel: Find it, my dear, and the good old potpie will taste like the exquisite foods served at elegant dinners...
Tanya Katre
10A
'it isn't money that has the power to lighten up our lives.. maybe its just the light within us..'
DeleteWell stated Tanya!
Tanya, for 5 marks, include only four sets.
You could interchange the sequence of the first set. (Mme L- I saw Mme Forestier today... M Loisel- What happened...) This will give it a slight introduction.
Matilda seats herself for dinner opposite her husband who butters his bread when she bitterly says "I met Mme. Forestier today while I saw taking a walk at Champs-Elysees. She looks as wonderful as ever. We didn't speak much but it was enough to devastate me. The 'diamond' necklace I borrowed from her to wear to the minister's ball was false. In fact, it wasn't worth more than 500 francs." She then broke down in tears.
ReplyDeleteM. Loisel looked stupefied. He took a moment to gather himself and replied,"What is the matter? We have paid off our debts and we have been content ever since, until now."
Mme Loisel: For 10 years, we worked and worked to pay back debt. We didn't have a maid; I washed the dishes, the soiled linen, brought up the water and started dressing like a commoner. I no longer look the way I used to. I look like a hag, like the commoner that I am. And for what? To reimburse Mme Forestier for a necklace that wasn't even real. She didn't even recognise me!
M. Loisel: You are as beautiful today as you were 10 years ago. Besides, these years have made us strong. It has shown how truly resilient we are. We have shown true mettle. There is barely any point in crying over spilled milk. It is time for us to move on, to salvage what is left of our life. The last ten years may have been full of hardships, but we have never been as content.
It would be nice if you could include your name as well.
DeleteYour content is good!
Just a few tips. A dialogue begins with the dialogue set. (4 sets) Avoid writing the introduction in the form of a paragraph and then the dialogue sets. Do mention what Matilda has learned as well. Does she agree with her husband or think otherwise.
Krisha Janaswamy, 10 A. Ok ma'am, I will incorporate that.
DeleteM. Loisel returned home to find Matilda deep in thought, tucked away at a corner of their lodgings.
ReplyDeleteLoisel - You look a little pale, Matilda. Are you alright?
Matilda - No, I am most certainly not alright. I was taking a walk in the Champs-Elysees today, when I met Mme Forestier walking with her child. I decided to tell her everything then and there, so that I could take the guilt off my shoulders for once and for all. But when I did tell her, she said...she said...
Loisel - What did she say, my dear? Let it not get to your head. It was quite rude of her, if I were being honest. This whole misery arose because of her necklace...
Matilda - No no, nothing like that. She said..that the diamonds were false! (breaks down in tears)
Loisel - What!? B-B-But how can that be?
Matilda - Yes, it's true! Oh, to think that we would not have had to do all that torturous work had I told her before that I had lost the necklace! Oh, it was all a waste! Ten years gone up in smoke!
Loisel - Now we mustn't think like that Matilda. Nothing you ever learn goes to waste. Mme Forestier may be rich and healthy, but when an adversity comes she is sure to crumble, while you wouldn't, because you already know what it is like to go through one. She wouldn't know how to bravely face the problem like you did, or learn the odious work of a kitchen like you did.
Matilda (whispering softly) - But will it? Will such a milestone ever fall in the path of a wealthy woman as herself?
Loisel - Wishing that an adversity befalls someone can quite frankly be equal to bringing an adversity upon yourself.
Matilda - No, I hadn't meant that....but if I had told the truth...if I had not gone to get a necklace in the first place..
Loisel - Yes, Matilda you were a tad bit proud to begin with. And you were afraid that Mme Forestier would be furious if you told her that you lost the necklace. So was I. We both acted imprudently and thus paid the price. That's how it works. We always pay for our actions, whether we like it or not. And the whole time we forgot the simple fact that though Mme Forestier was wealthy, she was still your friend. So she might not have jumped at us to begin with.
Matilda (with a far off look in her eyes) - I was always unhappy. I always yearned for more luxuries, without realizing that I should be glad of what I did get. I realize my mistake now. Say, is it possible...I don't mean to sound selfish, but is it possible to get that necklace back and sell it to get some money? We could return the original money later..
Loisel - I don't know, maybe. But I think you should just go and ask her this time (smiles). But even if she refuses, you should not be downcast, because this whole episode has taught us both an extremely valuable lesson. So next time, even if the problem is greater than what we have handled, even if we feel like we've lost everything; we'll still go on steady at heart and more than that, steady in truth.
Siya Vinith Varghese
Delete10 E
Siya, well done!
DeleteNote: (4 sets) You could concise some points/ Avoid too many fillers in the dialogue. Begin with a dialogue set not a paragraph.
Loisel- What wrong Matilda? You look a bit worried.
ReplyDeleteMatilda- Today the most unexpected thing happened. While walking in Champs Elysees, I met Mme Forestier as happy as ever. She has a child now too. At first, I debated whether or not I should approach her, and when I did, she could not recognize me at all. Of course, she wouldn’t, I spent ten years washing dishes, doing household chores, and oh the times we have changed our lodgings.
Loisel- Well, what’s the matter with that. It’s fine if she couldn’t recognize you…
Matilda(interrupts)- Oh that’s not it, I decided to tell her the truth about the necklace so that I could lift a burden of guilt off my shoulder and when I did she said…
Loisel- What did she say? Well if we look at it from a different point of view, it was her necklace that started all the problems. If she was angry or rude at you...
Matilda- No nothing like that happened, the opposite happened. She was touched that I told her the truth and spent so many years to retrieve her necklace. At first, I was bewildered but then she went on to explain that the necklace was a fake.
Loisel- What?! How is it possible?
Matilda- Yes it is true! Ten years all gone into the drain! All a waste… (sobs)
Loisel- Now now dear, what has happened has happened. We can’t change it but what we can do is never make the same mistake again. Don’t be so self-centered again. Always be content with what we have and don’t be greedy.
Matilda- You are right. I should have not been blown away by all the exquisite dishes and riches. Looks like everything happens for a reason and this time the reason was for me not to be selfish.
Sanjam Bedi
10-B
Good content Sanjam!
DeleteInclude 4 sets of dialogue only. Avoid ending sentences with ellipses. Complete the statement in every dialogue.
Loisel: What happened Matilda?You look very worried and surprised.What is the matter , come sit down and tell me all about what happened.
ReplyDeleteMatilda:Today i experienced à plethora of mixed emotions , i chanced upon by Mme Forestier in Champs Elysees who was very happy.She couldn't recognise when she saw me as my face has lost its youth in repaying the huge debt of buying à diamond necklace and returning it to Mme Forestier.I was afraid if I should come up to her and have à chat but …
Loisel: So what if she didn't recognise you , that's alright , at least you returned the necklace if u didnt have returned it then it would be à different situation but what happened?
Matilda:When i approached her she was startled to see me in such à state , I told her the truth of the entire situation that I had purchased à diamond necklace to replace hers to remove the burden of guilt on me.
Loisel:When you said that was she infuriated or arrogant about this situation and tell you that you were not honest and careless or what was the situation?!?
Matilda:She was rather sweet and told me something that hit me hard and blew me into à depression zone, she said that the DIAMONDS WERE FAKE!!! They costed less than 500 francs.
Loisel; What!! Is that true , how is that possible , that means you worked 10 years to repay à fake diamond necklace ??!?
Matilda : (Depressed)Yes that's the truth , all this has happened because of my greed to wear à necklace and taught me that appearances are often deceiving. I feel so low but I learnt à good lesson today.
Loisel: Don't say that it was your mistake, everybody has the feeling to look good but honesty must have been your side instead of hiding the truth , but what à waste of time and so much hard work.
Matilda: But I am happy this happened and shoes me the correct path and the life of à rich girl as well as à poor one.À wise one must have money in their head but not in their heart.
~Kriishh Gada