Studying literature becomes easier when you practice important questions with answers. The Address by Marga Minco, part of NCERT Snapshots for Class 11, is a story about war, memory, and the futility of clinging to material possessions.
In this blog, we present The Address questions and answers that will help you understand the text clearly and prepare for exams. These carefully selected questions and answers of The Address cover character sketches, themes, central idea, and important points so that you can revise effectively and score well.
Summary of The Address
Marga Minco’s The Address is a story about loss, memory, and the impact of war. The narrator, a young Jewish girl, returns after World War II to reclaim her family’s belongings that had been entrusted to Mrs. Dorling. When she visits Mrs. Dorling’s house at 46 Marconi Street, she is treated coldly and denied entry at first.
On her second visit, she sees her mother’s possessions arranged in an unfamiliar setting, which makes her feel disconnected and uneasy. The objects, once full of memories, now seem meaningless without her loved ones.
Realizing that reclaiming them cannot bring back her past, the narrator quietly leaves, understanding that memories and emotions matter more than material possessions. The story highlights the futility of clinging to objects after loss and the importance of letting go to heal.
Read the complete Summary of The Address.
Class 11 The Address Question and Answer (Short)
Q1. Who is the author of The Address?
The story is written by Dutch author Marga Minco, whose works often focus on the trauma and aftermath of World War II.
Q2. Who is the narrator of the story?
The narrator is a young Jewish girl who returns to her homeland after surviving World War II.
Q3. Why did the narrator visit Mrs. Dorling’s house?
She wanted to reclaim her family’s valuable possessions that her mother had entrusted to Mrs. Dorling before the war.
Q4. Where did Mrs. Dorling live?
Mrs. Dorling lived at 46, Marconi Street, the address the narrator remembered.
Q5. How did Mrs. Dorling behave on the narrator’s first visit?
Mrs. Dorling behaved coldly and refused to recognize the narrator, shutting the door on her face.
Q6. Who opened the door on the narrator’s second visit?
On the second visit, Mrs. Dorling’s teenage daughter opened the door and let the narrator in.
Q7. What did the narrator see inside the house?
She saw her mother’s belongings—furniture, silverware, and crockery—arranged in unfamiliar surroundings, which felt strange and painful.
Q8. Why did the narrator feel disconnected from the objects?
The objects, once tied to warm family memories, now appeared meaningless and alien in Mrs. Dorling’s home.
Q9. Why did the narrator decide not to take back her belongings?
She realized that possessions could not bring back her family or heal her trauma, so she chose to leave them.
Q10. How did Mrs. Dorling’s daughter behave with the narrator?
She was polite and curious, unknowingly showing the narrator her old possessions while chatting casually.
Q11. Why did the narrator’s mother trust Mrs. Dorling?
Her mother believed Mrs. Dorling was helping by keeping their belongings safe during the war.
Q12. What is the significance of the address 46, Marconi Street?
It symbolizes the narrator’s attempt to reconnect with her lost past and memories through her possessions.
Q13. How is Mrs. Dorling portrayed in the story?
Mrs. Dorling is shown as cold, selfish, and opportunistic. She took advantage of the narrator’s mother’s trust.
Q14. What is the central idea of The Address?
The central idea is that material possessions lose meaning without emotional connections, and memories matter more than objects.
Q15. How does the story reflect the impact of war?
It shows how war destroys families, homes, and emotional bonds, leaving behind only painful memories and emptiness.
Q16. Why does the narrator feel uneasy in Mrs. Dorling’s house?
Because her mother’s belongings, once comforting, seemed strange and alien in the unfamiliar environment.
Q17. What lesson does the story teach?
It teaches that true comfort lies in memories and relationships, not in material possessions.
Q18. Why is Mrs. Dorling considered insensitive?
She pretends not to recognize the narrator, refuses warmth, and treats the possessions as her own, ignoring the narrator’s pain.
Q19. How is the title The Address justified?
The entire story revolves around the address—46 Marconi Street—where the narrator hopes to reclaim her past, only to realize its futility.
Q20. Why is The Address important for students to study?
It helps students understand war’s emotional impact, the futility of materialism, and the importance of letting go of the past to heal.
More Important Resources for CBSE Exam:
| CBSE Board: All details | CBSE Class 11 Commerce Subjects |
| CBSE Full Form | CBSE Class 11 English Syllabus |
| All about CBSE Class 11th | Class 11th Hornbill Syllabus |
| CBSE Class 11 Economics Syllabus |
Class 11th The Address Questions and Answers (Long)
Q1. Describe the narrator’s experience during her visits to Mrs. Dorling’s house. What did she realize?
The narrator visited Mrs. Dorling’s house at 46 Marconi Street to reclaim her family’s belongings, which her mother had entrusted during the war. On the first visit, Mrs. Dorling was cold and unwelcoming, refusing to recognize her. On the second visit, the narrator was allowed inside by Mrs. Dorling’s daughter. She saw her mother’s possessions, like furniture, crockery, and silverware, arranged in unfamiliar surroundings.
Instead of comfort, these objects brought her pain and uneasiness. They reminded her of her family but seemed alien in the new environment. She realized that material possessions had lost their emotional value without her loved ones. Finally, she decided not to take anything back, understanding that true connection lies in memories, not objects.
Q2. How does The Address highlight the futility of material possessions in the absence of loved ones?
The story shows that objects lose meaning when disconnected from the emotions and people tied to them. The narrator expected her mother’s possessions to comfort her after the war. However, when she saw them in Mrs. Dorling’s house, they appeared strange, cold, and empty.
Instead of reviving happy memories, they reminded her of her loss. The silverware, crockery, and furniture were the same, yet they carried no warmth in the new setting. The narrator realized that reclaiming these objects could not heal her trauma or bring back her family. By choosing to leave them behind, she accepted that memories and emotions are more valuable than possessions. The story thus emphasizes that material wealth cannot replace love, relationships, and the emotional bonds that give life true meaning.
Q3. Discuss the character of Mrs. Dorling. How does she represent opportunism and insensitivity?
Mrs. Dorling is portrayed as a practical yet selfish woman. During the war, she took away the narrator’s family’s valuable possessions under the pretext of safekeeping. However, her real intention seemed to be to use them for her own household. After the war, when the narrator visited her, Mrs. Dorling pretended not to recognize her and behaved coldly. She denied warmth and compassion, even though she knew the narrator had suffered immense loss.
Her behavior reflects opportunism, as she benefited from another family’s suffering, and insensitivity, as she ignored the narrator’s emotional pain. Through her character, the story shows how war not only brings destruction but also exposes selfishness and moral weakness in people. Mrs. Dorling becomes a symbol of materialism and indifference in contrast to the narrator’s sensitivity and emotional depth.
Q4. How does the narrator’s disconnection from her belongings reflect the trauma of war?
The narrator’s disconnection from her belongings represents how war destroys not just lives but also the emotional bonds attached to ordinary objects. Before the war, her family’s possessions were part of a warm household filled with love. After returning from the war, she saw the same objects in Mrs. Dorling’s house, but they no longer evoked comfort. Instead, they felt alien, stripped of their original meaning.
This disconnection reflects the deeper trauma of war—the loss of family, home, and emotional security. Survivors like the narrator are left with only painful reminders, not the warmth of their past. The story emphasizes that war breaks the continuity of life, turning once-precious possessions into hollow symbols of suffering. This trauma forces the narrator to realize that clinging to the past cannot bring peace.
Q5. Why does the narrator finally decide not to take back her mother’s possessions?
The narrator decides not to take back her mother’s possessions because they no longer hold the same emotional meaning. Seeing them in Mrs. Dorling’s house, surrounded by unfamiliar settings, made her realize that their value lay in the memories of her family, not in the objects themselves. Reclaiming them could not bring back her lost loved ones or heal the trauma of war. Instead, it would only prolong her grief.
By leaving without taking anything, the narrator chose emotional closure over material recovery. This decision symbolizes maturity, acceptance of loss, and the understanding that healing requires letting go. The story conveys that memories and values are more important than possessions, and clinging to objects from the past cannot restore what is truly gone.
Q6. How does the story show the impact of war on individuals and families?
The story reflects the devastating impact of war on personal lives. The narrator, a Jewish girl, lost her family and home due to the war. Returning afterward, she found only painful memories and broken connections. Families like hers had to entrust their possessions to others, often leading to betrayal, as seen with Mrs. Dorling.
The narrator’s sense of alienation when she saw her belongings in another house highlights how war uproots not just people but also their sense of belonging and identity. Her inability to reclaim comfort from these objects symbolizes the permanent scars left by war. It shows that war robs individuals of their loved ones, their homes, and even the emotional meanings attached to ordinary things, leaving behind emptiness and disconnection.
Q7. Justify the title The Address with reference to the story.
The title The Address is highly significant as the entire story revolves around 46, Marconi Street—the address of Mrs. Dorling’s house. It becomes a symbol of the narrator’s attempt to reconnect with her past and retrieve her family’s possessions. However, the address also represents disappointment, betrayal, and the futility of holding on to material things. The narrator’s visits to this address help her realize that possessions cannot bring back lost relationships. Ultimately, the address signifies the emotional journey of moving from hope to realization and acceptance. The simplicity of the title reflects the depth of the story, showing how a simple location embodies loss, memory, and the painful process of letting go.
Q8. How does Marga Minco use simple narration to deliver a powerful message in the story?
Marga Minco employs a straightforward, first-person narrative style to convey the deep emotions of loss and disconnection. The language is simple, yet the emotions behind the words are powerful. By focusing on everyday objects like crockery, silverware, and furniture, she highlights how ordinary items become symbols of memory and loss. The narrator’s plain recounting of her visits and her quiet realization make the story relatable and authentic.
Minco avoids exaggeration, letting the simplicity of the narrative reflect the emptiness left by war. This restrained style makes the message—about the futility of material possessions and the importance of emotional connections—more impactful. The story shows that profound truths can be conveyed through simplicity, allowing readers to feel the depth of the narrator’s pain and her journey toward acceptance.
Q9. What role do memories play in the narrator’s life? How do they shape her decisions?
Memories are central to the narrator’s experience. Initially, they motivate her to visit Mrs. Dorling’s house, as she hopes her mother’s belongings will bring back a sense of comfort. However, when she sees the objects in unfamiliar surroundings, memories make her realize that their value lies in the emotions tied to her family, not in the objects themselves. These painful reminders shape her decision to leave without taking anything. She understands that clinging to possessions cannot restore the past.
Instead, memories in her heart are what truly preserve her connection to her loved ones. Thus, memories shape both her disappointment and her final acceptance, guiding her toward healing by letting go of material objects and holding on to emotional bonds.
Q10. What is the message of The Address? How is it relevant in today’s world?
The story conveys that material possessions are meaningless without emotional connections. Love, relationships, and memories are more valuable than wealth or objects. The narrator’s realization that taking back her family’s possessions would not heal her trauma emphasizes the futility of clinging to material things after loss. This message remains relevant today, in a world where people often prioritize material success over emotional well-being. The story reminds us that true happiness lies in relationships and values, not in possessions. It also underlines the importance of compassion, as Mrs. Dorling’s insensitivity worsened the narrator’s pain. In modern times, when materialism dominates, The Address teaches us to prioritize empathy, values, and memories over objects.
Read the chapter-wise summaries of Class 11 English here:
Character-Based Question Answer from The Address Class 11
Q1. Give a brief character sketch of the narrator.
The narrator is sensitive, thoughtful, and emotionally attached to her past. Surviving the war, she returns to reclaim her family’s belongings but realizes they have lost meaning without her loved ones. She matures into someone who values memories over material possessions.
Q2. How is Mrs. Dorling portrayed in the story?
Mrs. Dorling is practical but selfish and insensitive. She takes the narrator’s family’s belongings during the war and later pretends not to know her. Her coldness and opportunism highlight human greed and indifference.
Q3. Describe the narrator’s mother.
The narrator’s mother is trusting and kind-hearted. She handed over family possessions to Mrs. Dorling, hoping to preserve them. Her character represents warmth, love, and the emotional connection that the narrator deeply misses after the war.
Q4. What role does Mrs. Dorling’s daughter play?
Mrs. Dorling’s daughter is innocent and polite. She lets the narrator in and unknowingly reveals the old possessions. Her casual attitude contrasts with the narrator’s deep emotional pain.
Q5. How do the narrator and Mrs. Dorling differ?
The narrator values emotions, memories, and integrity, while Mrs. Dorling is materialistic, cold, and opportunistic. Their stark contrast emphasizes the story’s message about compassion and the futility of material possessions.
Theme-Based Question Answer from The Address Chapter
Q1. What is the central idea of The Address?
The central idea is that material possessions lose meaning without the people and emotions tied to them. Memories and values matter more than wealth or objects.
Q2. How does the story reflect the impact of war?
It shows how war uproots families, destroys emotional security, and leaves behind emptiness. Survivors face painful memories while others exploit their suffering.
Q3. What lesson does the story teach?
It teaches that clinging to material things cannot heal trauma. True comfort lies in memories, love, and letting go of the past.
Q4. Justify the title The Address.
The address—46 Marconi Street—becomes the narrator’s link to her past. It represents her search for lost possessions and her realization that reclaiming them is futile.
Q5. How does the story explore memory and loss?
The narrator’s memories bring back the pain of losing her family. She realizes objects cannot replace love, and true remembrance lies in emotional bonds, not in material recovery.
Important Questions from The Address in Class 11 English
- Who is the narrator of The Address? What is her purpose in visiting Mrs. Dorling’s house?
- Describe the behavior of Mrs. Dorling when the narrator visited her.
- Where did Mrs. Dorling live? Why is her address significant in the story?
- What did the narrator see inside Mrs. Dorling’s house? How did she feel?
- Why did the narrator decide not to take back her family’s possessions?
- Justify the title The Address.
- How does the story reflect the impact of war on individuals and families?
- What is the central idea of The Address?
- Give a character sketch of Mrs. Dorling.
- What lesson does the story teach about material possessions and memories?