Skip to main content
Super TutorResources
Chapter 20 of 40
QuestionsNotesFlashcardsSummaryFormulasQuizConceptsSyllabusPlan
Syllabus

A String of Beads

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

Complete topic list for A String of Beads in ICSE Class 10 English Literature-Treasure Chest ( Poems and Short Stories). Key concepts, sub-topics, and what to focus on for board exams.

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 syllabus and more.

Try Super Tutor — Free

1,000+ Class 10 students started this chapter today

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

This is just one of 5+ visuals inside Super Tutor's A String of Beads chapter

Explore the full set
4 Topics · ICSE Class 10 English Literature-Treasure Chest ( Poems and Short Stories)

Topics in A String of Beads

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.

Key Concepts

Central concept: Irony, social comedy, and the reversal of fortune in a story of honesty and class snobbery

Miss RobinsonThe NarratorMiss GrangerCount BorselliThe JewelerThe PearlsHonestyClass and propriety

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 Key Elements of A String of Beads, A String of Beads - Complete Story Overview, Story Themes and Literary Elements Overview. These are the concepts ICSE Class 10 examiners draw on most — study them first, then practise related questions.
How to score full marks in A String of Beads — ICSE Class 10 English Literature-Treasure Chest ( Poems and Short Stories)?
Understand the core concepts first, then work through the 56 practice questions available for this chapter. Revise formulas and 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 40 chapters — ICSE Class 10 English Literature-Treasure Chest ( Poems and Short Stories) Syllabus

For serious students

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

Quizzes, flashcards, AI doubt-solver and a step-by-step study plan for ICSE Class 10 English Literature-Treasure Chest ( Poems and Short Stories).

Try Super Tutor Free
Try the full chapter — Free