“The Necklace” - Paris in the 19th Century
(Social Classes)
th
Link to social classes in Paris during the 19 Century:
http://gallery.sjsu.edu/Paris/social_classes/upper/index.html
Pre-reading Activity:
Answer the following questions about the social classes in Paris during the 1800s, and remember, check the appropriate
links for the answers.
The Upper Class:
1. How did upper class Parisian women often spend their time?
2. What was visually notable about upper class Parisian women?
The Middle Class:
1. What caused an explosion in middle class population in Paris during the 1800s?
2. How did artists depict middle class Parisian women during the 1800s?
The Lower Class:
1. What skills were primarily used by the lower class Parisians during the 1800s?
2. What were some of the jobs lower class Parisian women held during the 19th
century?
Once you are finished with the questions, click on one of the classes (upper, middle, lower)
and click on the “Learn more about ______ class women.” Once on the new page, read the
article and look at the hyperlinked art work depicting each class of women. Write a brief
summary of what you learned about each class of women.