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English | Class 11th | Snapshots | NCERT
The Address | Lesson 2 | Summary | Questions and Answers |
Short Summary
“The Address”
by Marga Minco is a poignant story about loss, memory, and the aftermath of
war. It follows a young Jewish woman who, after surviving the Holocaust,
returns to her hometown to retrieve belongings left with her mother’s
non-Jewish acquaintance, Mrs. Dorling, before the family was deported. Visiting
the address her mother had once given her, she finds Mrs. Dorling living
comfortably with her family's possessions, yet cold and dismissive towards her.
The visit brings back painful memories of her pre-war life, yet she
feels alienated from her old belongings, which now seem strange in someone
else’s home. Ultimately, she decides not to reclaim them, symbolizing a break
with her painful past and a choice to let go and move forward. The story
explores themes of trauma, the disconnection of war survivors from their
pre-war lives, and the challenges of rebuilding after immense loss.
Reading
With Insight
Question 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?
Answer: The statement, “I thought that no one had come back,” hints at the tragic context of the story, suggesting that the narrator’s family, and perhaps many others, were expected not to survive the war. It indicates the immense loss and displacement caused by the Holocaust and implies that the narrator’s survival is unexpected. This statement reflects the grim reality that many families and individuals were lost, and their belongings were appropriated by others, revealing a tone of sorrow and abandonment.
Question 2. The story is divided into pre-War and
post-War times. What hardships do you think the girl underwent during these
times?
Answer: During pre-war times, the girl’s family
lived with a sense of normalcy, with strong connections to their home and
belongings. However, as the war began, the family likely faced persecution,
forced deportation, and the trauma of separation. In the post-war period, the
narrator faces the emotional toll of returning to a home that no longer exists
as she remembers it, compounded by the alienation and coldness from those who
now possess her family’s belongings. The war has stripped her not only of her family
and belongings but also of a sense of belonging and identity.
Question 3. Why did the narrator of the story want to
forget the address?
Answer: The narrator wishes to forget the
address because it symbolizes a painful link to her past, one filled with loss
and betrayal. When she sees her family’s possessions in Mrs. Dorling’s house,
it feels unfamiliar and upsetting, as if her memories have been tainted by the
indifference of those who took over her belongings. Forgetting the address is a
way of moving on and letting go of her painful past, as holding onto it only
brings back memories of loss and the difficult realization that her pre-war life
is gone.
Question 4. ‘The Address’ is a story of human predicament
that follows war. Comment.
Answer: The Address captures the human
predicament that follows war, particularly for survivors who have lost
everything. War not only destroys lives but also shatters relationships,
identity, and belonging. The narrator’s experience shows the deep disconnection
and alienation felt by those returning to places that no longer resemble what
they left behind. The indifference of people like Mrs. Dorling, who viewed her
family’s belongings as mere possessions, highlights the moral and ethical
breakdowns that often accompany conflict. This story reflects the painful
reality that, for many survivors, the end of war does not bring closure but
rather a lifelong struggle to reconcile with loss and rebuild.
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