The Address

 L - The Address 

Introduction to "The Address" by Marga Minco

"The Address" is a poignant short story written by Dutch author Marga Minco. The narrative explores themes of loss, memory, and the aftermath of war, particularly focusing on the experiences of Jewish people during and after World War II. Through a simple yet powerful storyline, Minco delves into the emotional impact of displacement and the search for remnants of a lost past. The story is notable for its concise style and the subtle way it conveys deep feelings of sorrow and alienation, making it a significant work in post-war literature.

MAIN CHARACTER 

NARRATOR 

MRS. S- mother

Darling  - a friend  of mother 

Very Short Answer Questions from The Address

Q1. What is the address in the title of the story?

Ans. The address is Number 46, Marconi Street, where Mrs Dorling lives and where the narrator's mother's belongings are stored.

Q2. Who is Mrs Dorling?

Ans. Mrs Dorling is an old acquaintance of the narrator's mother who renewed contact during the first half of the war. She took the mother's belongings to keep them safe.

Q3. How did the narrator introduce herself at Mrs Dorling's door?

Ans. The narrator introduced herself as Mrs S's daughter.

Q4. In which country does the story take place?

Q5. How did the narrator confirm she was at the correct address during her first visit?

Ans. She noticed Mrs Dorling wearing her mother's green knitted cardigan with pale wooden buttons.

Q6. Who opened the door during the narrator's second visit to Marconi Street?

Ans. Mrs Dorling's daughter, a girl of about fifteen, opened the door during the narrator's second visit.

Q7. What did the narrator notice in the passage of Mrs Dorling's house?

Ans. She noticed an old-fashioned iron Hanukkah candle-holder hanging next to a mirror. It had belonged to her family.

Q8. What was the narrator's living situation after the war?

Ans. The narrator lived in a small rented room where shreds of black-out paper still hung along the windows and only a handful of cutlery fitted in the narrow table drawer.

Q9. What did the narrator find on the edge of the woollen tablecloth at Mrs Dorling's house?

Ans. She found a burn mark on the tablecloth that had never been repaired. She had been looking for it, knowing it was there from memory.

Q10. What was the narrator's final decision at the end of the story?

Ans. The narrator resolved to forget the address. She decided she would not return to Number 46, Marconi .

ANSWER THE QUESTIONS 

Q-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.

Q-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.

Q-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.

Q-4 Comment on the significance  of the title  of the story ' The Address ".

Q - 5  War always  brings death and destruction.  What can be done to avoid war? Give  your answer with reference  to the story " The Address ".

Q-6 Draw a character  sketch  of Mrs. S' s daughter.