• THE ADRESS

CONTENT:-
[Link] Page
[Link]
[Link] of Author
[Link] of the Poem
[Link] Map
[Link] (The Rain as a Character)
[Link] in 2 Parts
[Link]-framed Questions (Lower, Middle,
HOTS)
[Link] of Questions (MCQs, Extract
COVER PAGE
Title: “The Address”
Author: Marga Minco
Name: Rohan Singh
Class: 11 C
TH

Roll no.: 24
Date: 8/11/2024
 INTRODUCTION TO AUTHOR

The author of the story The Address is Marga

Minco a Dutch journalist &writer
Birth-
Marga Minco was born on 31 March 1920
Ginnekan Bavel, Netherlands
Style-
Marga is know for her work that explores the
Holocaust
Themes –
This short story is a poignant account of a
daughter who goes in search of her mother’s
belongings after the War, in Holland. When
she finds them, the objects evoke memories
of her earlier life. However, she decides to
leave them all behind and resolves to move
on.
 INTRODUCTION ( THE
ADDRESS )
The Address" is a short story by Marga Minco
that narrates the poignant journey of a young
woman returning to her former home in Holland after
World War II, seeking to reclaim her mother's
belongings from a woman who now occupies the
house, highlighting the emotional turmoil and
difficulty of confronting the aftermath of war and the
loss of one's past life; the story is particularly
impactful as it explores the theme of displacement
Key
and points about
the struggle tothe introduction
reconnect of identity
with one's
Central
"The
amidst theme :The story revolves around the
Address":
devastation.
protagonist's attempt to retrieve her mother's
possessions from a stranger who now lives in her old
home, highlighting the complex emotions of loss, grief,
and the difficulty
Character : of moving on after war.
The protagonist, a young woman who lost her mother during the war, is deeply affected by the
trauma and seeks a connection to her past through the remnants of her old life
Symbolism of the address :

The address itself represents a glimmer of hope, a tangible link to the past that the
protagonist desperately wants to reclaim.
MIND MAPS
 CHARACTERS
Mrs.S
A simple, devout Jewish woman who took
great pride in her household items. She
was a victim of the war in Holland, which
forced her to part with her belongings
and ultimately led to her death.
[Link]
A selfish and potentially dishonest
character who represented the harsh
realities of war and the potential for
human greed. She wore the daughter’s
mother’s cardigan, which hinted at her
keeping the belongings for herself.
The Narrator
A young woman who was determined to
reclaim a piece of her past by retrieving
 EXPLANATION IN 2 PARTS
After ringing the doorbell of Mrs. Dorling who lived at Number 46, Marconi Street,
the protagonist was given a cold reception and Mrs Dorling took much time to
recognize her. Mrs Dorling had thought everyone in the protanogist’s family was
dead and asked if anyone else had come along with her. Mrs Dorling refused to
let the protagonist inside her home and told her to come back sometime later.
The protagonist recognized her mother’s green cardigan which Mrs Dorling was
wearing. She decided to go back to the train station and thought about her
mother and how she told her about Mrs. Dorling who was an acquaintance of
hers. During the war, Mrs Dorling would visit their house and take their
possessions with her as she didn’t want them to get lost if they ever left the
place. Mrs. Dorling had a broad back.
The protagonist decided to go to Mrs Dorling’s home to get back their
belongings. When she rang the bell, Mrs. Dorling’s daughter
answered the door. She let her in and asked her to wait in the living
room. When they were crossing the passage, the protagonist noticed
their Hanukkah candle stand that they had never used because it had
been unmanageable. When she reached the living room, she was
horrified as she saw all her mother’s things that were arranged in a
tasteless manner. The furniture was ugly and the room had a muggy
smell and it made her disinterested and she wanted to leave the
place. Mrs. Dorling’s daughter offered her a cup of tea and the
protagonist noticed the old table cloth that had a burn mark on it.
When the girl was showing her the silver fork and spoons that
actually belonged to the protagonist, she jumped up and walked out
of the house. She decided not to visit the place again as it brought
back memories of the past and hence, she decided to forget the
address.
 Self-Framed Questions with Answers (Three Levels)
Lower order questions (Recall and Comprehension)
1. ‘Have you come back?’ said the woman. ‘I thought that no one had come back.’
Does this statement give some clue about the story? If yes, what is it?
Ans: The quoted statement gives us a clue about the story. It means that the two families
were acquaintances who knew each other and stayed nearby. During the war, many families
left the land to take refuge in another place while some of the families stayed back at the
same place. Mrs. Dorling thought that the family of Mrs. S died during the war and that is why
she gave such a cold reaction to the girl who came to visit her.
2. The story is divided into pre-War and post-War times. What hardships do you
think the girl underwent during these times?
Ans: The story is based on the pre-War and post-War period. The family of the girl was rich
before the war and they had valuable possessions in their house. When the war started, Mrs.
Dorling established contact with them and started visiting them again. She started taking the
possessions with her whenever she would visit as she believed if they would leave the place,
such things should not be wasted. The girl suffered a lot, her mother died and she had to live
in a rented place. She found it really difficult to go back to the place where her childhood was
spent and she wanted her belongings back. When she went to meet Mrs. Dorling, she noticed
how the things were arranged in a tasteless manner. She could no longer connect to them
and she lost her interest in them and partly she was afraid. The girl finally decided to leave
the house and forget the address.
3. Why did the narrator of the story want to forget the address?
Ans: Mrs. Dorling kept the valuable items in her house until the war was over as she didn’t
want them to lose during the war in case they decided to leave the place. Her mother gave
her the address of Mrs. Dorling ’46, Marconi Street’. She remembered the address and
decided to visit her anyway. She was afraid to visit the place again as it brought back many
past memories. When she saw all the possessions, they were arranged in a tasteless manner
and she lost interest in them. She could not connect with the things and thought that she
would not stay at the house any longer, she would destroy the good memories she had with
those items. She finally decided to forget the address and not to go back to that place.
4. ‘The Address’ is a story of human predicament that follows war. Comment.
Ans: The war always brings a lot of suffering to human beings. It brings them both
destruction and death. ‘The Address’ is based on the same theme. During the war, all the
belongings were taken by Mrs. Dorling who promised to keep them safe. The mother of the
protagonist died and all the possessions were left with the acquaintance. Years later the girl
decided to visit the house whose address was given by her mother years ago. The woman
showed no sympathy to her and took the time to even recognize her. She thought everyone
in her family had died. The girl wanted to take back her belongings. She didn’t allow the girl
to enter the house. She seemed like a woman who didn’t have any human emotions. So, the
war leaves the world desolated and it cannot be healed.
 Middle order Questions
Q1. ‘Have you come back?’ said the woman. ‘I thought that no one had come
back.’ Does this statement give some clue about the story? If yes, what is it?
Answer. Yes, the statement in question gives us a hint about the story. It clearly
demonstrates that the lady to whom the young girl had paid a visit already knew her and did
not want to meet her.
Q2. Why did the narrator of the story want to forget the address?
Answer. The narrator of the story is a young girl, a victim of war. The war had left her a
desolate soul. But the narrator appears to be a very optimistic sort of girl. After paying a
tributary visit to see her long-serving household articles, she decided to forget everything
about her past, even the address, as she wanted to start anew. Everything associated with
her past was no longer valuable to her.
Q3. Why did the narrator go to Number 46, in Marconi Street?
Answer. Number 46, in Marconi Street was the address, where the valuable possessions of
her household were supposedly lying safe. So the narrator went there to see, touch, and
remember them once more.
Q4. Comment on the title of Marga’s story The Address.
Answer. The story has aptly been given the title, ‘The Address’. The entire plot revolves
around Mrs Dorling’s address, 46 Marconi Street. She had taken all of the narrator’s mother’s
valuables. After the war, the narrator returned to that address twice. However, she had a bad
experience. She eventually resolved to forget about that address.
Q5. How did the narrator and Mrs Dorling recognise each other?
Answer. Mrs Dorling’s door was knocked on by the narrator. Mrs Dorling recognised her and
even inquired as to how she had survived the war. But she did not let the narrator enter her
house. Mrs Dorling was recognised by the narrator because of the cardigan she was wearing.
It belonged to her mother.
Q6. Why did the old possessions of the narrator lose their value?
Answer. When life returned to normalcy after the war, the narrator decided to visit her old
possessions at Number 46, Marconi Street. But once she arrived, the items lost their value,
first because they were arranged in an unappealing manner. Second, and more importantly,
the items were linked to relationships that no longer existed. So the narrator felt justified in
leaving them behind.
Q7. What was the narrator’s reaction as she found herself in front of her old
household things?
Answer. As she stood in front of her old household items, the narrator felt horrified and
oppressed. She also felt estranged from those things because they were arranged in a
tasteless and strange environment.
 Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS)
 Q1. ‘The Address’ is a story of human predicament that follows war.’ Comment.
Answer. Yes, it’s quite aptly said that ‘The Address’ is a poignant story of human
predicament that follows war. The story appears to be about the loss of a young girl after
the war in Holland. Mrs S’s daughter led a very happy and peaceful life with her family
during the pre-war period.
She had large vases, silver cutlery, antique plates, crockery, Hanukkah candle-holder,
pewter plates, and a white pot with a gold border on the lid in her home. To put it another
way, the girl had nothing to complain.
Then the fatal war broke out, and a mysterious old acquaintance named Mrs Dorling, who
lived at Marconi Street No. 46, appeared out of nowhere. She ‘assisted’ the protagonist’s
mother in keeping their household belongings safe. She took all of their belongings to her
own house and never looked back. Losses for the poor girl were also unafraid to fall on her.
War wreaked havoc on her not only material but also emotional life. She had lost all of her
relationships, her home, and everything else associated with her happy past life. She felt
like a lost soul when she went to look at her old possessions. She was so depressed that she
left the place, never to return. War made her so severed that she resolved to erase the
address from her memory.
Q2. Give a pen portrait of the narrator.
Answer. The narrator lives in Holland. Her life has changed dramatically since the liberation war. She
enjoyed a happy life with her family. She had all the belongings in her house to make life comfortable
and cozy. The liberation war in Holland brought a sea-change in her life. She used to have everything to
cling to; relatives and possessions; now she doesn’t. She even had to leave her house. She now lives in
a rented small room, attempting to tie up the loose ends of her life.
Following the war, life had resumed its normal course. She became curious to see and touch her old
belongings that were safe in house No. 46 on Marconi Street. She took a train and went there. Mrs.
Dorling, on the other hand, refused to acknowledge her. The girl had no choice but to return. But again
she tried. Mrs Dorling’s fifteen-year-old daughter opened the door this time. The narrator discovered her
old familiar things lying in an unsightly manner in a strange environment. She was shocked and
oppressed. She made the decision to forget her past and begin her life anew with a rented room and
less cutlery.
The narrator’s final resolve talks about her optimistic view about life. Life has to go on. Better forget the
sour past to make your future a bit easier.
Q3. Who was Mrs Dorling? What did the narrator learn about her from her mother?
Answer. Mrs Dorling was an old friend of the narrator’s mother, Mrs S. While the narrator was away at
college, Mrs. Dorling unexpectedly called upon the old friend. She gained her friend’s trust. She was
interested in her friend’s belongings. She must have mentioned that she might lose all of her silver and
antiques during the war. She proposed taking the risk herself. She transported all of those items to her
home in bags and suitcases. During one of her visits home, the narrator learned about Mrs Dorling and
her address. She remembered the address her mother had given her. She wanted to see, touch, and
remember her mother’s belongings at the end of the war.
So, she visited Mrs Dorling’s house but got a very cold welcome. The dishonest Mrs Dorling kept all
precious things to herself.
What were the narrator’s experience and reaction when she went to Mrs Dorling’s house a
second time?
Answer. During her first visit to Marconi Street, the narrator had a bad experience. Mrs Dorling gave
her a cold shoulder. But the narrator’s desire to see and touch her belongings did not fade. She decided
to try a second time. Mrs Dorling’s daughter opened the door this time. The mother had left. Her
daughter led the narrator inside a room. The narrator found herself in the midst of familiar things which
were scattered in a tasteless way all around. The sight oppressed her. The candle holder and the woolen
tablecloth caught her eye. In that small, musty room, she noticed her mother’s beautiful tea set and
silver cutlery being used by that family.
Mrs Dorling had no idea how to use those priceless items. All those things oppressed her now. She
decided to leave the house at the earliest. Her belongings brought back memories of her previous life,
and she was now living in a small rented room. So she resolved to forget her belongings as well as Mrs
Dorling’s address.
Q6. Give a brief character-sketch of Mrs S’s daughter.
Answer. The narrator was a young Jewish girl living with her mother in Holland. When World War II
broke out, the Nazi army began evacuating all Jews from Europe. The narrator and her mother became
very insecure. During this time, an old friend of Mrs S befriended her and offered to keep all of her
valuable possessions in her safe custody. Mrs S was a noble and trusting lady. She allowed Mrs Dorling
to take away her precious antiques and cutlery etc. The narrator had some doubts about Mrs Dorling
but her mother silenced her.
The narrator survived the war and returned to her hometown. Now her mother was dead, her house
belonged to someone else and she had no worldly possessions. Still, she was content to be alive and
attempting to build a life for herself. One day she felt an urge to go to Mrs Dorling’s house and see all
her mother’s precious belongings. But when she discovered that Mrs Dorling had kept all of her
mother’s beautiful possessions in a deplorable manner and was even using them, the narrator lost all
interest in them. She returned to her own rented room, feeling detached, and decided to restart her life.
She was a strong and self-assured young lady.
 Extract Based Questions
A. Perhaps I was mistaken, I thought, perhaps it isn’t her. I had seen her only
once, fleetingly, and that was years ago. It was most probable that I had rung
the wrong bell. The woman let go of the door and stepped to the side. She was
wearing my mother’s green knitted cardigan. The wooden buttons were rather
pale from washing. She saw that I was looking at the cardigan and half hid
herself again behind the door. But I knew now that I was right.
1 Name the chapter.
A) The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse
B) The Address
C) Ranga’s Marriage
D) Albert Einstein at School
Ans. B) The Address
2 Who is the author of The Address?
A) Alphonse Daudet
B) Tishani Doshi
C) Marga Minco
D) William Saroyan
Ans. C) Marga Minco
A. Perhaps I was mistaken, I thought, perhaps it isn’t her. I had seen her only
once, fleetingly, and that was years ago. It was most probable that I had rung
the wrong bell. The woman let go of the door and stepped to the side. She
was wearing my mother’s green knitted cardigan. The wooden buttons were
rather pale from washing. She saw that I was looking at the cardigan and half
hid herself again behind the door. But I knew now that I was right.

3 Who opened the door?

A) Mrs. S
B) Mrs. S’s daughter
C) Mrs. Dorling
D) None of these
Ans. C) Mrs. Dorling
4 Find out the synonym of the word ‘Pale’ from the following?
A) Greenish
B) Yellowish
C) Brownish
D) Reddish
Ans. B) Yellowish
B. ‘Have you come back?’ said the woman. ‘I thought that no one had come
back. ‘Only me.’ A door opened and closed in the passage behind her. A musty
smell emerged. ‘I regret I cannot do anything for you. I’ve come here specially
on the train. I wanted to talk to you for a moment.’ ‘It is not convenient for me
now,’ said the woman. ‘I can’t see you. Another time.’ She nodded and
cautiously closed the door as though no one inside the house should be
disturbed.
1 Who is the speaker of the line “Have you come back”?
A) Mrs. S
B) Mrs. Dorling’s daughter
C) Mrs. S daughter
D) Mrs. Dorling
Ans. D) Mrs. Dorling
2 Why did the narrator go to Mrs. Dorling’s home?
A) To take her money back
B) To take her dresses back
C) To meet her
D) To have a look at the things once owned by her mother
B. ‘Have you come back?’ said the woman. ‘I thought that no one had come
back. ‘Only me.’ A door opened and closed in the passage behind her. A
musty smell emerged. ‘I regret I cannot do anything for you. I’ve come here
specially on the train. I wanted to talk to you for a moment.’ ‘It is not
convenient for me now,’ said the woman. ‘I can’t see you. Another time.’ She
nodded and cautiously closed the door as though no one inside the house
should be disturbed.
3 What was the address of Mrs. Dorling’s home?
A) House no. 45, Marconi Street
B) House no. 46, Marconi Street
C) House no. 47, Marconi Street
D) House no. 48, Marconi Street
Ans. B) House no. 46, Marconi Street
4 What does the word ‘musty’ mean?
A) Stale
B) Unclean
C) Dusty
D) All of these
C. As I walked slowly back to the station I thought about my mother, who had
given me the address years ago. It had been in the first half of the War. I was
home for a few days and it struck me immediately that something or other
about the rooms had changed. I missed various things. My mother was
surprised I should have noticed so quickly. Then she told me about Mrs
Dorling. I had never heard of her but apparently she was an old acquaintance
of my mother, whom she hadn’t seen for years. She had suddenly turned up
and renewed their contact.
1 What made the narrator turn up to the station?
A) Mrs. Dorling’s recognising her
B) Mrs. Dorling’s abusing her
C) Mrs. Dorling’s not recognising her deliberately
D) Mrs. Dorling’s recognising her deliberately
Ans.C) Mrs. Dorling’s not recognising her deliberately
2 Where did the war take place?
A) In Armenian
B) In Assyria
C) In Holland
D) In France
C. As I walked slowly back to the station I thought about my mother, who had
given me the address years ago. It had been in the first half of the War. I was
home for a few days and it struck me immediately that something or other
about the rooms had changed. I missed various things. My mother was
surprised I should have noticed so quickly. Then she told me about Mrs
Dorling. I had never heard of her but apparently she was an old acquaintance
of my mother, whom she hadn’t seen for years. She had suddenly turned up
and renewed their contact.
3 Why had Mrs. Dorling renewed her contact with Mrs. S?
A) For true relationship
B) For being her friend
C) For taking her belongings
D) For printing counterfeit money
Ans. C) For taking her belongings
4 What does the word ‘Acquaintance’ mean?
A) Known one
B) Unknown one
C) Stranger
D) None of these
 D. Every time she leaves here she takes something home with her,” said my
mother. ‘She took all the table silver in one go. And then the antique plates
that hung there. She had trouble lugging those large vases, and I’m worried
she got a crick in her back from the crockery. My mother shook her head
pityingly. I would never have dared ask her. She suggested it to me herself.
She even insisted. She wanted to save all my nice things. If we have to leave
here we shall lose everything, she says.
 1 Why did Mrs. Dorling take all their belongings?
A) With a lame excuse of keeping them safe
B) With a lame excuse of destroying them
C) With a lame excuse of recycling them
D) With a lame excuse of burning them
Ans. A) With a lame excuse of keeping them safe
 2 What does the narrator mean by ‘Silver’?
A) Silver Spoons
B) Silver Hanukkah
C) Silver Bed
D) All of these
Ans. A) Silver Spoons
D. Every time she leaves here she takes something home with her,” said my
mother. ‘She took all the table silver in one go. And then the antique plates
that hung there. She had trouble lugging those large vases, and I’m worried
she got a crick in her back from the crockery. My mother shook her head
pityingly. I would never have dared ask her. She suggested it to me herself.
She even insisted. She wanted to save all my nice things. If we have to leave
here we shall lose everything, she says
.3 Why did Mrs. S have to give everything to [Link]?
A) For they could leave the country anytime
B) For they could be arrested by local police
C) For they could be given new things in place of old ones
D) For they were dealing in drugs
Ans. A) For they could leave the country anytime
4 What does the word ‘Lugging’ mean?
A) Carrying with ease
B) Carrying with difficulty
C) Carrying with comfort
D) None of these
Ans. B) Carrying with difficulty
E. After my first visit in vain to Mrs Dorling’s house I decided to try a second time. Now a girl of about fifteen opened
the door to me. I asked her if her mother was at home. ‘No’ she said, ‘my mother’s doing an errand. ‘No matter, I
said, ‘I’ll wait for her.’ followed the girl along the passage. An old-fashioned iron Hanukkah candle- holder hung next
to a mirror.
1 Who opened the door for the second time?
A) Mrs. Dorling’s daughter
B) Mrs. Dorling’s husband
C) Mrs. Dorling’s mother
D) Mrs. Dorling
Ans. A) Mrs. Dorling’s daughter
2 What does the word ‘Errand’ mean?
A) To bathe
B) To eat out
C) To go out for regular works
D) To sit out
Ans. C) To go out for regular works
3 Find out the synonym of ‘Old-fashioned’ from the following?
A) Mint
B) Obsolete
C) Modern
D) Replicated
Ans. B) Obsolete
4 Who was the real owner of the Hanukkah hung over there?
A) Mrs. Dorling
B) Mrs. S
C) Mrs. Dorling daughter
D) None of these
Ans. B) Mrs. S
 Mix Question ( Fill ups, MCQ, Questions &
Answers)
What literary devices are prominently used in "The Address"? Provide examples.
Answer:
•Imagery: Vivid descriptions of the old house and surroundings create a strong visual
impression. For example, the detailed depiction of the overgrown garden evokes a sense of
abandonment.
•Symbolism: The address symbolizes the protagonist's past and the memories associated
with it.

9. Discuss the emotional journey of the protagonist.

Answer: The protagonist undergoes a profound emotional journey from anticipation and
longing to disappointment and acceptance. Initially driven by nostalgia, she hopes to
reconnect with cherished memories. However, upon arrival, she confronts the changes and
possible absence of what she once knew, leading to a mix of sadness and acceptance of the
irreversible passage of time.

10. What is the significance of the story’s title, "The Address"?

Answer: "The Address" symbolizes more than just a physical location; it represents the
1. Who is the narrator of the story "The Address"?
a) Mrs. Dorling
b) The narrator's mother
c) The narrator herself
d) A third-person observer
Answer: c) The narrator herself
2. Why did Mrs. Dorling visit the narrator’s family during the war?
a) To give them shelter
b) To collect their valuable belongings for safekeeping
c) To invite them to her home
d) To offer financial assistance
Answer: b) To collect their valuable belongings for safekeeping
3. What was the address that the narrator’s mother gave her?
a) Marconi Street, No. 46
b) Baker Street, No. 12
c) Marconi Street, No. 22
d) Maple Street, No. 40
Answer: a) Marconi Street, No. 46
4. How did Mrs. Dorling react when the narrator visited her?
a) She warmly welcomed her
b) She pretended not to know her
c) She returned all the belongings immediately
d) She refused to open the door
Answer: b) She pretended not to know her
5. What did the narrator notice when she entered Mrs. Dorling's house?
a) It was empty and abandoned
b) Her family’s belongings were being used
c) Mrs. Dorling was trying to sell the items
d) The house was full of strangers
Answer: b) Her family’s belongings were being used
6. Why did the narrator decide not to take back her belongings?
a) She felt they had lost their emotional value
b) Mrs. Dorling refused to return them
c) She had no place to keep them
d) The belongings were damaged
Answer: a) She felt they had lost their emotional value
7. What theme is explored in "The Address"?
a) Family and love
b) Loss, memory, and post-war trauma
c) Revenge and justice
d) Greed and betrayal
Answer: b) Loss, memory, and post-war trauma
8. What was the narrator’s emotional state when she left Mrs. Dorling’s house?
a) Relieved and happy
b) Disappointed and heartbroken
c) Angry and vengeful
d) Content and peaceful
Answer: b) Disappointed and heartbroken
 The protagonist went to _________ (Mrs.
Dorling's) house to retrieve her family’s
belongings.
 Mrs. Dorling had taken the items, saying they
would be _________ (safe) with her during
the war.
 The narrator recognized her
mother’s _________ (teapot/green-knitted
cardigan) at Mrs. Dorling’s house.
 Mrs. Dorling lived at _________ (Number 46,
Marconi Street).
 The narrator felt that the objects had lost
their _________ (emotional value) and
decided to leave them behind.
 Mrs. Dorling’s daughter opened the door but
did not show much _________
(interest/empathy) in the narrator’s story.
 The mother told the narrator to
remember _________ (the address) in case
they needed to collect the items later.
THANKS