CHAPTER 2: THE ADDRESS (Marga Mincoy

About the Author

writer., Bora
Marga Minco (pseudonym of Sara Menco, born 31 March 1920) is a Dutch journalist and
in Ginneken to an Orthodox Jewish family, Minco began work as a trainee journalist. In the earlv nart
of World War II Minco lived in Breda. Amersfoort, and Amsterdam. She contracted a mild form ot
tuberculosis and ended up being treated in hospitals in Utrecht and Amerstoort. In the autumn of 194)
she returned to Amsterdam and her parents, who were forced by the German occupiers to move into
the city's Jewish Quarter.
Later in the war, Minco's parents, her brother, and her sister were alldeported, but having escaped arrest
herself she spent the rest of the war in hiding and was the family's only survivor.
Main Theme
The story is set against the background of World War II. The narrator was the daughter of Mrs S. They
were Jews living in Germany and in perpetual danger of being imprisoned and persecuted. Most Jews
were leaving their homes and going away to safer places.
Mrs Dorling, a neighbour of Mrs S, used tovisit them often. She suggested that Mrs S should leave her
antiques and precious possessions in her care because she might have to leave in a hurry. Mrs Dorling
carried away suitcases and bags full of antiques, crockery and cutlery of Mrs S's family.
After the war, the narrator came back to the town, but did not feel like visiting Mrs Dorling immediately.
After some time, she decided to go to the address 46, Marconi Street. Mrs Dorling met her, recognised
her, but did not allow her inside the house because she was afraid that the visitor wouldclaim her mother's
possessions.
The narrator visited the family a second time and was greeted by the fifteen-year-old daughter of Mrs
Dorling. She saw her fanmily possessions all around the room. The girl told her they had eaten in those
antique plates. The woollen table cloth had remained unrepaired even after many years. Seeing her family's
precious possessions in unfamiliar environment, the narrator suddenly did not desire to have them back.
She left without waiting for Mrs Dorling. She felt it would be easy to forget the address 46, Marconi Street.
Word-Meaning
Fleetingly: for a short time; Mlusty: having a stale smell; Crick: a painful stiff feeling in the neck;
Beckoned: signalled somebody; Cumbersome:large and heavy; Muggy snmell:foul smell due to dampness
and humidity; Pewter: a grey alloy of tin with copper and antimony; Jingling: a sound like small bells
ringing; A handful of cutlery: a small number of spoons, forks, etc

TEXTUAL QUESTIONS
Reading with Insight
1. "Have youcome back?" said the woman. "I thought that no one had come back." Does this statement
give somne clue about the story? If yes, what is it?
Ans. Yes, the statement gives us several clues about the story I thought that no one had come back
suggests that the family had perished in war. This prepares the reader for the background of war.
The return of the narrator is not pleasant to the speaker as she showed no sign of recognition.
The war was just over and she had not expected the narrator to return. She had recognized the girl
(narrator) otherwise why should she say, "Have you come back?" Besides, the reader gets a clue
that narrator and her mother left the town during the war.
 1. The story The Address" is divided into pre-war and nost-war times. What hardships do you tnnk
he girl underwent during these times?
The story The Address' deals with pre-war and nost-war times. Total chaos and disharmony prevailed
in pre-war timeS. Betore that war the narrator's mother had many valuable possessions, sucn as
silver crockery. valuable paintings, antique plates, ete. It was war time when the family lived under
the tensionof losing their lives and belongings. The threat of war made them leave their hometown
and go away. hey leIt their valuables in Mrs Dorling's custody who trusted them to return their
valuables after the war ended. They suffered during the war and the post-war period. The narrator
came back alone without her family. Her carlicr wealth and luxurious lifestyle had vanished. Now
she lived in asmall room and had no place to keep her mother's possessions. She thought of going
to Mrs Dorling's house when normalcy returned, But when she went to Mrs Dorling's house, she
refused to recognize her and expressedsurprise at her being alive. She did not have enough bread
to cat. The menmories and associations of earlier life were too painful to recall.
1 Why did the narrator finally decide to forget the address?
precious
Ans. The narrator wanted to forgetthe address because she did not want to take back her family's
possessionsthe antiques, silver, paintings, etc.from Mrs Dorling
she saw them in
Initially, she had gone to 46, Marconi Street to take back her belongings, but when desire to have
attachment and
a different setting, used carelessly and crudelyshe no longer felt theexperience that she did not even
them back as she had felt earlier. In fact, she was so repelled by her
that address.
wait for Mrs Dorling and came away. She felt it would be easy to forget
that follows war. Comment.
4. The Address is a story of human predicament
Address' states indirectly the human predicament that follows war. The narrator's family had
Ans. The
comfort before the war. During the war they lived under constant threat and
enjoyed luxury and
toplace.
were displaced eventually. They moved from place alone. The family was probably lost. Instead
Mrs S's daughter, returned
After the war, the narrator, troubledher that she could
small room. The experiences of war so
of her big house she lived in a
not feel secure for a long time.
who suffers the most during war.
It is the ordinary human being

SOLVED OUESTION BANK

Multiple-choice Questions
choosing the best of the given options.
by
AnSwer the following questions possessions on the pretext of
away Mrs S's (b) selling them
I. Mrs Dorling took
(a) using them (d) needing them
(c) keeping them safe because
Ans. (c) keeping them safe house hurriedly
decided to leave Mrs Dorling's
* 1he author for her train
(a) she was getting late mother's belongings
interest in her
(0) she had lost meet Mrs Dorling
(c) she didn't want to
(d) she was hungry
in her mother's belongings
Ans. (b) she had lost interest
 said. «Another time" to the author?
3. What did Mrs Dorling mean when she
(a) She will meet her properly the next time.
(b) They will have tea next time.
(c) She willreturn her things next time.
(d) They willtalk about her mother next time.
Ans. (a) She will meet her properly the next time.
While sharing the address of Mrs Dorling, her mother had told her -"Remember that". Why?
4.
(a) Mrs Dorling, her only friend lived there.
address after the war.
(b) Her daughter was to reclaim the family belongings from this
(c) They had been invited by Mrs Dorling over tea.
(d) The author would be shifting there after the war was over.
Ans. (b) Her daughter was to reclaim the family belongings from this address after the war.
5. Which is the strangest thing about Mrs Dorling's character?
(a) She was an opportunist and liar.
(b) Even her family didn't know the truth about Mrs S's things.
(c) She was initially trustworthy but later became selfish.
(d) She was truly helpful to Mrs S.
Ans. (b) Even her family didn't know the truth about Mrs S's things.

G Reference-to-Context Questions
Read the following extracts and choose the correct option to the questions asked.
1. Well, you knew my mother?' Iasked.
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.
(a) What does Mrs Dorling mean by this when she says: I thought that no one had come back"?
(i) She thought that everyone in Mrs S's family was dead.
(ii) She thought that Mrs S had left her homeland for good.
(ü) She thought that Mrs S's family had abandoned allhopes to retrieve their things.
(iv) She was happy to see Mrs S's daughter.
(b) Why does the author say "Only me"?
(i) She had travelled alone to see Mrs Dorling.
(ü) Probably, her family had become immigrants.
(iii) Only the author had returned to her motherland.
(iv) Only the author had survived the war in her family.
(c) The word 'musty' can be perfectly replaced with
(d) What was the probable reason for the musty smell that lingered in the house?
Ans. (a) () She thought that everyone in Mrs S's family was dead
(b) (iv) Only the author had survived the war in her family
(c) stale
(d) The family usually remained behind closed doors.
 home with said
her' my mother 'She took all the table silver
sheleaves here she takes
something those large vases, and I'm
iime hung there. She had trouble lugging
Andthenthe antique plates that
2
Ereny
jnone
gO.
got a crickin her
back fromthe crockery.'
worried.she
Acrick in her back' is?
do youthink to
(a) What
She took all the table silverin one go," 'table silver refers
the statement
(b) In
plates were (iv) peculiar
(c) The antique (iü) old-fashioned (ii) vintage true?
()ancient
in the paragraph, which of these statements is
of the last line
Based onyour understanding
was genuine.
(i) The mothersconcern
trickster.
(ii) Mrs. Dorling was a
concern was unfounded.
(iüi) The mother's
Dorling's reality.
(i) The author knew about
Ans. (a) a sprain silver
solid
(b) cutlery made of
(c) (ii) vintage
(i) The mother's concern was genuine. Initially after the Liberation I was absolutely
(d) go there. confronted
remembered it. But had waited a long time towas also rather afraid ofit. Afraid of being cupboards
3. Ihad stored stuff, and naturally I longer existed; which were hidden away in
not interested in allthat
belonged to a connection that no again; which had endured all
those
with things that had in their place
and waiting in vain until they were put back
and boxes 'things. afraid of?
vears because they were also rather afraid of it'. What was she
that she was
(a) The author says confronting MrsDorling.
afraid of
(i) She was involvement of the police.
(ii) She feared the loss.
anguish caused by her profound
of the
(iü) She was scared involved in a court case.
want to get were things"?
(iv) She did not mean by "which hadendured all those years because they
does the writer painful isolation could not be 'put back' after being pried open.
(b) What
loss and
(i) Her own had preciousmemories of her family attached to them.
stored stuff
(iü) The
endure isolation for long because they are non-living.
can
(iii) Things backthe things in cupboards and boxes.
(iv) She wanted to put
connection that no longer existed" refer to?
does A
(c) What sentence,the word 'it' refer to
opening
(d) Inthe her profound loss.
i scared of the anguish caused by
Shewas
Ans. (a) own loss and painful isolation could not be 'put back' after being
pried open.
(b)
(i) Her
connect with her happy past
the
(c)
Dorling's address
(d) Mrs.
room | knew and did not know. I found myself in the midst of things I did want to see again but
in a
was oppressed
4. /
which
me in the strange atmosphere. Or because of the tasteless way everything was aranged,
because ofthe ugly
furniture or the muggy smell that hung there, I don't know; but Iscarcely dared to look
aroundme.
284 Together wicko EnglishCore-11
author mean by this?
(a) Iwas in a room Iknew and did not know. What does
(i) She saw unfamiliar things in familiar surroundings.
(ii) She did not recognize the things she saw.
(ii) She did not want toremember anything.
() She saw her family possessions in unfamiliar surroundings.
(b) The author feels 'oppressed' in the strange atmosphere. Why?
live it.
() It was ugly and muggy in stark contrast with how her mother used to
(ii) The room was a tasteless mess and the girlwas unpleasant.
(iüi) TheDorling family didn't care for the valuable things.
(i) The room was poorlyventilated and badly lit.
(c) What does "I scarcelydared to look around me" mean?
(d) The things were arranged tastelessly most probably because they
Ans. (a) (iv) She saw her family possessions in unfamiliar surroundings.
(b) () Itwas ugly and muggy in stark contrast with how her mother used to have it.
(c) She was already horrified and shocked.
(d) were not appreciated.
5. Iwouldn't go back there because the objects that are linked in your memory with the familiar life of former
times instantly lose their value when, severed from then, you see them again in strange surroundings. And
what should ihave done with them in a small rented room where the shreds of black-out paper still hung
along the windows and no more than a handful of cutlery fitted in the narrow table drawer?
Iresolved to forget the address. Of all the things I had to forget, that would be the easiest.
(a) The expression severed from them" refers to
(b) What does the shreds of black-out paper" refer to?
(c) "Of all the things I had to forget, that would be the easiest" is means that
() forgetting about Mrs Dorling was the easiest
(iü) forgetting abouther personal loss was tough compared to forgetting thevaluables.
(iüi) forgetting about her family possessions was not hard
(iv) she will have to live with her memories
(d) Based on your understanding of the paragraph, which of these statements is TRUE?
()) 'Strange surroundings' refers to the war.
(ü) Strange surroundings' refers to the Dorling's house.
(iüi) 'Strange surroundings' refers to her own rented accommodation.
(iv) 'Strange surroundings' refers to her mother's house before the war.
Ans. (a) being detached with the valuables of her family.
(b) the remnants of war and its agony.
(c) (i) forgetting about her personal loss was tough compared to forgetting the valuables.
(d) (iü) 'Strange surroundings' refers to the Dorling's house.

s Short Answer Type Questions

L. Deseribe the first visit of Mrs S'sdaughter to the house of Mrs Dorling.
Ans. Mrs S'sdaughter found Mrs Dorling's house and rang the bell. Mrs Dorling opened the door but was
not happy to see the visitor. She rudely said that people who had left did not return. She did not
allow the visitor tocome in and closed thedoor saying she could not do anything for her.
 Literature Textbook and Supplementary Reading Text 285
Why do you think Mrs Dorling, knowingly refused to recognize the narrator when she
went to meet
after years? INCT 2014|
Ans. Mrs Dorling had removed many valuables and antiques from the narrator's familyon the pretext of
taking care of them. Now, that the narrator, the daughter of Mrs S, had come to claim them, Mrs
Dorling did not wish to return them. Therefore, she refused to recognize her.
3. How did the narrator realise that she had come tothe right address?
Ans. The narrator knew that she had come to the right address because the woman who opened the door
was wearing her mother's green cardigan.
4, Who was Mrs Dorling? Why did she visit Mrs S's house frequently?
Ans. MrsDorling was merely an acquaintance of Mrs S. Mrs S belonged to a wealthy Jewish family and all
her possessionswere beautiful and of great value.
The Second World War broke out and the Jews were persecuted everywhere. The Germans were in
control.Jews had to leave their homes and possessions behind to savetheir lives. In this background
Mrs Dorling revived her acquaintance with Mrs S and carried away suitcases and sackfuls of precious
things saying she wanted 'to save' all the nice things.
5. Whydid MrsS ask her daughter to remember the address of Mrs Dorling?
Ans. Mrs Dorling had taken the valuable possessions of Mrs Sfor safe keeping. Mrs Swanted her daughter
to remember the address so that she could claim their belongings some day after the war.
6. How did the narrator in The Address' come to know that the cutlery was silver?
Ans. In her conversation with Mrs Dorling's daughter, the narrator realised that Mrs Dorling had stolen
her family's valuable possessions. She remembered that her mother had asked her to polish the silver
cutlery.
7. What were the narrator's feelings initially about the things that had been left with Mrs Dorling?
as 'the things
Ans. The narrator was not interested in claiming the things that were stored with Mrs Dorling
had lost during
were lifeless possessions. They were not inmportant as dear and loved ones whom she
they would remind
that
the war. Her mother did not survive after the war. Moreover, she was afraid
her of her past.
Iknew and did not know"? [HOTS]
8. Why does the narrator say, "Iwas in a room
precious possessions of her family. They were
Ans. All around in Mrs Dorling's home the narrator saw the
known to her, their environment was tasteless
displayed in an ugly setting. Though the things were
and crude.
S?
was Mrs Dorling taking care of the antiques and other things she had taken from Mrs
9. How She
did not take good care of the antiques, and other things she had taken from Mrs S. and
Ans. Mrs Dorling manner. She did not even know that the spoons, knives
arranged the things in a very taskless
of silver.
Torks she was using every day were made
for Mrs Dorling on her second visit?
10. Why did the narrator not wait which
went the second time to 46, Marconi Street, she noticed the Hanukkah
Ans. When the narrator familiar woollen table cloth, a painting,
the teapot and the
Delonged to her family, the antiques, herarranged in atasteless way and handled carelessly.
They were
SIver cutleryof her family. want those beautiful things. She did not want to
meet
suddenlv did not
She was filled with disgust and
Mrs Dorling and left the house.
want to forget the address?
11. Why did the narrator of the story she did not want to take back her
family's precious
forget the address because
hIS. The narrator wantedto from Mrs Dorling.
POSsessiOns--the antiques, silver, paintings, etc.
 Ans. Ans. Ans. Ans. 286
Describethe 3. L 12.
2. 1.
not because antiques. priceless
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Therefore, and after Mr
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explain her How theDorling
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Mrs lifestyle have Mrs Dorling she had
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earlier.
came 46,
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and noticed convenient
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and
suddenly
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table door and extremely Dorling specially all her was and to In
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ouse, the these was into 46, the her family.not come their for taken
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narrator to
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had they family of forget the
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did she Mrs intention city that
46. doorstep. that her several She at asthe but
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not recognized possessions 46, she toStreet? leftprobably
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Dorling's Why understanding the where address.
rconi things she that
refusedto get under that when
give a when Marconicould and
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and
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her she busy she she she
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any walls her could like to her lived
wait
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So themothers came recognize get
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who back you Mrs She lived her :
did the do she
 lived living. address found address resolved similarly items.
Mrs.Mrs.Darling thenot submits
it all in no and things?
suitcases wastheeverything
experience
[HOTS| address of She to were of her
made and were had full
insecurity. valuables pettiness
and house. in does
house Shewhich easiest. She luxurious they of valuable
but willingly
family
circumstances Germans Dorling the
poSsessions.the
was
dead.
The she
The family
ironicallyAddress",household
Mrs. husband
possessions
away her all painfulin about house address
and her
forget narrator.
family the visits
Jewish lives. justified. way the address.
appreciated her writing. of
carried into of probably
andearlier and
The
Mrs easiest the insensitive to be war.Their
forget silver. family.the and withbut *The Darling the neglect
daughter herSheunpleasan
their fear
wealthy things.
daughter
of mother's
would
resolved the theto shabbiness back from andher;protest.
extraordinary everywhere. the of her the life of
saveand
be the because to madewasseen
luxury. on her given back story
pieces stuff and things bully
cannot be decidedaddress
after family
resemble inflicted not forgetluxurious things Mrs. S's
a to S nice S's household
and
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belongedbehindthe Mrs life. daughter's She livedmother andthe her in person
with behaviour immediately The all value painful
persecuted
all admit address be
of
care new
the comfort cutlery tasteless. war
narrator
of and getting house
both
when not Pearson
What
would forgetting alone.at Dorling things
symbolic past and is and
acquaintance
poSsessions
save not that Their beautiful the latergenerally
Day'
S even good her her everyday her herin valuable finds
S? Mrs Dorling's Dorling's of did pain the the
about in son
Mrs 'to address living town
and because the and ofunpleasantness
element Mother's
Mrs.
S. value.
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Her reader
Dorling's dark leave her Darling shabby,
of conduct?
Mrs Jewsand continue a Their the
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Dorling's to between unpleasant etc. Pearson.
of great homes Mrs She Mrs did to the was brings narrator
back Her Address'.
ugly
after to life,
very in servant the
the
acquaintancerevived she had antiques.
daughter decided carries
pieces,
smell,unpleasant
Dorling's and
things. forgetting crudeness
saying meanness.
ofMrs
Dorling to before ate
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remember. newMrs. This
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justify Besides, her the
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exceedingly
was narratorthat the of all
S
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MrsDo Dorling to the war, Address' Dorling
address family'sso too
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The sackfuls
Second intention
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did
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J. Ans. 5. Ans. 6. Ans. 7. Ans. 8. Ans.