The Address Class 11 English Snapshot

• "The Address" by Marga Minco narrates the emotional journey of a daughter who visits the house of Mrs. Dorling, a woman who had taken her mother’s belongings during the war under the pretext of safeguarding them.
• The protagonist recognizes the belongings but feels disconnected from them due to their unfamiliar surroundings and tasteless arrangement.
• Despite her initial curiosity, she decides to leave the past behind, realizing that memories hold more value than objects.
• The story highlights themes of memory, loss, and emotional detachment caused by the trauma of war.

The protagonist, a young woman, visits 46 Marconi Street in Holland, carrying the address her mother had given her during the war. She meets Mrs. Dorling, who fails to recognize her initially. Mrs. Dorling had taken the family’s valuable possessions, claiming she wanted to keep them safe during the war.

When the protagonist enters the house, she sees her family’s belongings arranged in an unfamiliar and tasteless manner. Items that once symbolized warmth and comfort now evoke discomfort and alienation. The musty smell, the oppressive atmosphere, and the disconnection from the past leave her disheartened.

In a flashback, the protagonist recalls how Mrs. Dorling frequently visited her home during the war, taking away silverware, antique plates, and other valuable items. Her mother trusted Mrs. Dorling’s intentions, believing the possessions would be returned when they were safe to reclaim.

During her second visit, the protagonist meets Mrs. Dorling’s daughter, who invites her into the living room. Surrounded by her family’s belongings, she feels an emotional detachment and decides not to reclaim them. She resolves to forget the address and move on, recognizing that memories, not objects, preserve the essence of her past.

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Conclusion

The story reflects the psychological impact of war on individuals and their relationships with the past. It conveys how material possessions lose their meaning when detached from the memories and emotions they once represented. The protagonist’s decision to let go of the belongings symbolizes her acceptance of loss and her determination to embrace the future.

The central theme of "The Address" is the emotional scars left by war, particularly the pain of loss and the disconnect from one’s past. It explores how material objects, when removed from their original context, fail to evoke the same emotions. The story also highlights the resilience of the human spirit in overcoming grief and moving forward.

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Message

The story emphasizes the importance of letting go of the past and cherishing memories over material possessions. It teaches that true value lies in emotional connections, not in physical objects, and underscores the need for closure and healing after traumatic experiences.

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Difficult Words

• poignant – causing a strong feeling of sadness or regret
• evoke – to bring to mind
• chink – a narrow opening
• fleetingly – for a moment
• musty – having a damp smell
• bay window – a window that projects outwards
• enamel – a smooth hard coating
• jamb – the side post of a door or window
• lugging – dragging something heavy
• vases – decorative containers for flowers
• crick – a muscle spasm
• beckoned – signaled with a gesture
• endured – survived
• cumbersome – heavy or difficult to carry
• horrified – filled with fear
• scarcely – hardly
• antique – old and precious
• fancied – liked
• pewter – a metal made of tin and lead