In this short story, the narrator recounts her experiences in post-war Holland, specifically her search for her mother's belongings which were taken during the war for safekeeping by a woman named Mrs. Dorling. The journey to recover her family's possessions is also symbolic of her attempts to reconnect with her past and memories.
The story begins with the narrator visiting the house of Mrs. Dorling, who was entrusted with her mother's belongings during the war. When the narrator arrives, Mrs. Dorling does not recognize her, and initially refuses to let her in. However, the narrator insists that she is Mrs. S's daughter and was once told by her mother to remember the address where their belongings were stored.
The narrator reflects on her mother's relationship with Mrs. Dorling, who insists on keeping their precious items safe from harm. Over time, Mrs. Dorling took various items, such as silverware and antique plates. While the narrator's mother trusts Mrs. Dorling, the narrator remains sceptical.
Returning to the present, the narrator decides to visit the address again, and this time, Mrs. Dorling's daughter lets her in. The narrator is overcome with emotion as she recognizes all her mother's possessions around the house. However, the items are haphazardly placed in unfamiliar surroundings, and she feels that they have lost their connection to her family's past.
The story concludes with the narrator choosing to leave her mother's belongings behind and deciding to forget the address. She comes to the realization that the objects lose their meaning when they are disconnected from their original context and memories. It is also implied that she recognizes the challenges of fitting the items into her limited living space, but ultimately, the decision to move on and forget the past is her way of reclaiming control over her own life.
The Address - Snapshots - Class 11 - CBSE English
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About the Author - The Address | Snapshots | Class 11 Literature | CBSE English
Marga Minco, born as Sara Minco on March 31, 1920, in Ginneken, the Netherlands, is a renowned Dutch author. She adopted the pen name "Marga Minco" early in her writing career. Minco's work is highly regarded for its exploration of the human experience, particularly during and after World War II.
Having lived through the German occupation of the Netherlands during the war, Minco's writing often reflects the themes of loss, displacement, and the struggle for identity in the face of adversity. Her works capture the profound impact of war on individuals and society, highlighting the emotional and psychological turmoil that accompanies such experiences.
Minco's most famous work is the semi-autobiographical novella "Het bittere kruid" (translated as "The Bitter Herb" or "Bitter Herbs"). Published in 1957, it chronicles the life of a Jewish family in Amsterdam during the war. The novella garnered critical acclaim and established Minco as a significant voice in Dutch literature.
Summary - The Address | Snapshots | Class 11 Literature | CBSE English
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Themes - The Address | Snapshots | Class 11 Literature | CBSE English
1. Memory and Loss:
Memory is a central theme in the story, as the narrator grapples with the memories elicited by her mother's belongings. The loss experienced during and after the war greatly impacts the narrator, who seeks to reconnect with her past by attempting to recover her family's possessions. However, she ultimately realizes that memories cannot be reclaimed through physical objects when they are removed from their original context.
2. Identity and Disconnection:
As the narrator confronts her family's scattered possessions, she also confronts a sense of disconnection from her own identity. The items....
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Plot - The Address | Snapshots | Class 11 Literature | CBSE English
I. Introduction
- The protagonist receives her mother's address during the WWII, mentioning Mrs. Dorling.
- The protagonist notices that some things are missing from their home.
II. First encounter with Mrs. Dorling
- The protagonist ....
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Important Lines - The Address | Snapshots | Class 11 Literature | CBSE English
1. “There is my daughter,” said my mother. She beckoned to me. The woman nodded and picked up the suitcase under the coat-rack.
- This line is important because it shows the first time the protagonist sees Mrs. Dorling, indicating the start of their connection.
2. ‘In Marconi Street,’ said my mother. ‘Number 46. Remember that.’
- This line is significant because .....
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Back Questions - The Address | Snapshots | Class 11 Literature | CBSE English
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‘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?
This statement indeed uncovers key elements of the story, as it reflects Mrs. Dorling's shock and discomfort at the unexpected arrival of the narrator. She had never anticipated that anyone from the narrator's family would survive the war and return to reclaim their possessions. This unexpected visit threw her plans into disarray, as she had intended to keep the valuable items indefinitely. In a desperate bid to maintain control over the belongings, she opts to feign ignorance, showing no recognition of the narrator. The narrator, seeking to reclaim her mother's items, finds herself met with cold indifference from Mrs. Dorling. This stark encounter embodies the impacts of war on interpersonal relationships and personal belongings, depicting the lengths people will go to protect what they've come to consider their own.
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The story is divided into pre-war and post-war times. What hardships do you think the girl underwent during these times?
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Why did the narrator of the story ‘The Address’ wants to forget the address?
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‘The Address’ is a story of human predicament that follows war. Comment.
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Extra Questions - The Address | Snapshots | Class 11 Literature | CBSE English
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What was the narrator in the story “The Address” in search of? Why?
In the story "The Address" by Marga Minco, the narrator is in search of her mother's belongings. The mother had given her belongings to a woman named Mrs. Dorling during the war in hopes of preserving them if they were forced to flee their home.
The reason the narrator seeks these belongings is two-fold:
- The belongings represent a tangible connection to her past and to her mother. The possessions evoke strong memories of her life before the war, a time of relative peace and normalcy that sharply contrasts with her current post-war reality.
- She's also driven by curiosity. After the war, as life began to regain some semblance of normalcy, her interest in these objects grew. She wanted to see, touch, and remember them, hoping they would provide a sense of familiarity and connection lost in the upheaval of war.
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What kind of reception did the narrator get in NO. 46, Macroni Street?
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Why did the narrator have doubts about the address?
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How did the author realise that she had come to the right address?
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Why did the lady at 46, Marconi Street refuse to see the narrator?
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Was the narrator right in noticing the changed state of the rooms in her mother’s house? Why was it so?
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Why did the narrator’s mother allow Mrs. Dorling to take away many precious things from their home?
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What made Mrs. Dorling carry away the narrator’s mother’s belongings—greed or true concern? How can you say so?
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The narrator’s mother failed to see through the clever manipulation of Mrs. Dorling? Why?
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What were the narrator’s thoughts while she was on her way back from her first visit to 46, Macroni Street?
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The narrator was initially hesitant of going to ‘the address’. Why?
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What was the narrator’s perception of her mother’s belonging’s lying with Mrs. Dorling? Why was it so?
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‘I stopped, horrified. I was in a room I knew and did not know’. Why did the narrator feel horrified?
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Justify the title of the story ‘The address
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Quiz - The Address | Snapshots | Class 11 Literature | CBSE English
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