English Language & Literature — CBSE Class 10 board question

The twist at the end of The Necklace is a shocking revelation. After Matilda and her husband spend ten gruelling years repaying a debt of thirty-six thousand francs to replace the lost diamond necklace, she meets Mme Forestier and proudly tells her the truth. Mme Forestier is stunned and replies that the original necklace was fake — made of false diamonds worth no more than five hundred francs. The Loisels had sacrificed ten years of their lives in poverty for something that was almost worthless.

Source: The Necklace, Chapter 7

---

• The examiner expects you to clearly state what the twist is (the necklace was fake/false) and why it is ironic (ten years of hardship for a near-worthless item).
• Mention the key figures: 36,000 francs paid vs. 500 francs actual worth — this contrast shows the scale of the irony.
• Use the word "irony" or describe the cruel irony; it strengthens your answer for 3 marks.
• Do not retell the whole story — focus only on the ending twist.