Skip to main content
Super TutorResources
Chapter 20 of 40
Revision Notes

A String of Beads — Revision Notes

ICSE · Class 10 · English Literature-Treasure Chest ( Poems and Short Stories)

A String of Beads revision notes for ICSE Class 10 English Literature-Treasure Chest: 4 topics in quick points.

56 questions30 flashcards5 concepts

Interactive on Super Tutor

Studying A String of Beads? Get the full interactive chapter.

Quizzes, flashcards, AI doubt-solver and a step-by-step study plan — built for revision notes and more.

Try Super Tutor — Free

Free trial, no card needed.

A flowchart illustrating the key events and ironic twists in W. Somerset Maugham's 'A String of Beads', showing the cause-and-effect relationships.
Super Tutor

One of 5 illustrations for A String of Beads in Super Tutor — alongside flashcards, concept maps and practice questions.

See them all

Key Topics to Revise

1

Plot Overview

  • Miss Robinson, a governess in Miss Granger's household, buys a string of beads on Regent Street for fifteen shillings.
  • She thinks the beads are imitation pearls, but Count Borselli recognizes them as real pearls.
  • Count Borselli says they are worth at least fifty thousand pounds.
2

Characters

  • Miss Robinson is the central character, though not the narrator.
  • She is pretty, well-dressed, cheerful, and honest.
  • She returns the pearls calmly and without drama.
3

Themes and Message

  • Irony of fate is the central theme of the story.
  • Honesty is rewarded, but in a surprising and indirect way.
  • The story criticizes social snobbery and class prejudice.
4

Important Quotes and Their Meaning

  • "She ought to keep them. I don't see why she should return them." shows Miss Granger's clear advice to keep what is not hers.
  • "They are worth at least fifty thousand pounds." shows the shock value of the pearls and raises the moral stakes.
  • "She went to Cannes." is a short sentence that carries strong irony because an honest act leads to a holiday that causes her dismissal.

Get complete notes with diagrams and examples

Full Notes

Key Concepts

Miss Robinson is the central characterThe narrator is a firstMiss Granger is the hostessCount Borselli is the Italian countThe jeweler had received the real

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the important topics in A String of Beads for ICSE Class 10 English Literature-Treasure Chest ( Poems and Short Stories)?
Key topics in A String of Beads include Plot Overview, Characters, Themes and Message, Important Quotes and Their Meaning. Study these first, then practise questions on each for the ICSE Class 10 board exam.
How should I revise A String of Beads for the ICSE Class 10 board exam?
Learn the core ideas first, then work through the 56 practice questions on A String of Beads. Revise definitions regularly and use flashcards for quick recall before the exam.

Sources & Official References

Content is aligned to the official syllabus. Refer to the board website for the latest curriculum.

More resources for A String of Beads

All ICSE Class 10 English Literature-Treasure Chest ( Poems and Short Stories) Revision Notes

For serious students

Get the full A String of Beads chapter — start free.

Quizzes, flashcards, an AI doubt solver and a study plan for ICSE Class 10 English Literature-Treasure Chest ( Poems and Short Stories). Free to start, no card needed.

Try Super Tutor Free
Try this chapter free