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NCERT Notes Class 11 English Snapshots Chapter 2 The Address: ‘The Address’ is a story by Marga Minco about a girl who returns to her old home after the war to find her family’s belongings. Her mother had given her an address before she passed away. When she meets Mrs. Dorling, the woman who now has the things, the girl realizes the items no longer have the same meaning. The story shows how war changes people and how hard it can be to move on. In this blog, we’ll provide simple notes to help you understand the story and its main ideas. You can also download a free PDF of the notes for quick revision.
Table of Contents
Explore Notes of Class 11 English Hornbill
About the Story
‘The Address’ is a short story about a young Jewish girl who comes back to her hometown in Holland after World War II. Before the war, her family’s belongings were taken by a woman named Mrs. Dorling when they were sent away by the Nazis. The girl hopes to get those items back. When she meets Mrs. Dorling, she finds that things don’t mean the same to her anymore. The story shows how war can change people, how painful memories can be, and how hard it is to move on from the past.
Main Characters in the Chapter
Understand the people who play a role in this chapter.
The Narrator (Young Jewish Girl)
- A Jewish girl who survived World War II.
- She’s sad but strong, trying to find her family’s things.
- Wants to remember her family through their stuff.
Mrs. Dorling
- A woman who knew the narrator’s mom.
- Seems nice at first, but acts cold and selfish.
- Keeps the narrator’s family things for herself.
Detailed Summary
The story begins with the narrator recalling a time during the war when her family had to leave their home due to dangerous circumstances. Before they left, a woman named Mrs. Dorling offered to keep their valuables for safekeeping. This woman was a friend of her mother’s, and the narrator’s family trusted her. Here’s a detailed summary to help you understand the story better.
Returning to the Past
After surviving World War II, the narrator returns to her hometown in Holland. She visits 46, Marconi Street, the address her mother gave her years ago, where Mrs. Dorling lives. Mrs. Dorling had taken the narrator’s family’s belongings—furniture, cutlery, clothes, and antiques—claiming she would “save” them when the family was deported by the Nazis. The narrator hopes these items will help her reconnect with her lost family.
First Encounter with Mrs. Dorling
During her first visit, the narrator knocks on Mrs. Dorling’s door. Mrs. Dorling opens it but pretends not to recognize her, showing no warmth. The narrator notices her mother’s green knitted cardigan on Mrs. Dorling, which stirs painful memories. Mrs. Dorling refuses to invite her in or discuss the belongings, claiming they are “safe.” Feeling hurt and rejected, the narrator leaves without pressing further.
Second Visit to the House
Determined to face her past, the narrator returns to the house later. This time, Mrs. Dorling’s daughter opens the door and invites her inside. The narrator sees her family’s possessions—tablecloths, silver forks, and antique plates—scattered around the house. However, they feel out of place in this unfamiliar setting. The daughter, unaware of their true owner, casually mentions using the items, which deepens the narrator’s sense of loss. The objects no longer carry the warmth of her family’s memories.
Decision to Let Go
Overwhelmed by the disconnection she feels, the narrator realizes that reclaiming these belongings won’t heal her pain or bring her family back. She decides to leave the house and let go of the past. The story ends with her walking away from 46, Marconi Street, choosing to move forward despite her grief. This quiet act of courage marks her emotional growth.
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Key Themes
These central ideas make the story meaningful and relevant for students.
Loss and Grief: The narrator’s loss of her family and home reflects the devastating impact of the Holocaust, showing how survivors cope with deep sorrow.
Memory and Material Possessions: The family’s belongings symbolize cherished memories, but the story questions whether objects can truly preserve the past.
Letting Go: The narrator’s decision to abandon the belongings teaches that healing often requires releasing painful attachments.
Impact of War: The story illustrates how war destroys lives, families, and trust, leaving survivors to rebuild emotionally and physically.
Human Nature: Mrs. Dorling’s selfishness contrasts with the narrator’s resilience, highlighting different responses to the crisis.
Analysis of The Address Notes
This section breaks down the story’s literary elements to help with exam answers.
Plot: The narrator makes two visits to Mrs. Dorling to recover her family’s belongings. The story builds from hope to disappointment, culminating in her decision to let go, emphasizing emotional resolution over action.
Setting: Set in post-war Holland, primarily at 46, Marconi Street. The house, filled with the narrator’s belongings, feels cold and alien, mirroring her inner turmoil.
Point of View: Written in the first-person perspective, the story immerses readers in the narrator’s emotions, making her pain and growth vivid.
Narrative Style: Marga Minco uses simple, concise language to convey complex emotions, creating a realistic and impactful narrative.
Tone: The tone is melancholic and reflective, with a shift toward acceptance at the end, reflecting the narrator’s emotional journey.
Genre: A realistic short story with elements of post-war literature, focusing on personal and historical trauma.
Literary Devices
These techniques enhance the story’s emotional depth.
Symbolism: The belongings (e.g., cardigan, tablecloth) represent the narrator’s family and past, while their misuse symbolizes the disruption caused by war.
Imagery: Descriptions of the cluttered, “tasteless” arrangement of objects in Mrs. Dorling’s house evoke the narrator’s sense of alienation.
Irony: Mrs. Dorling claims to “save” the belongings, but her refusal to return them reveals her selfish motives.
Contrast: The warmth of the narrator’s memories contrasts with the cold reality of Mrs. Dorling’s house, emphasizing her loss.
Important Points
- Authored by Marga Minco, a Dutch writer whose works often reflect her experiences as a Jewish survivor of World War II.
- Set in Holland after World War II, during a period of recovery and rebuilding.
- Reflects the struggles of Jewish families who faced persecution during the Holocaust.
- The address, 46, Marconi Street, symbolizes the narrator’s confrontation with her past.
- The narrator’s choice to let go highlights her resilience and emotional maturity.
Important Definitions
Clear explanations of important terms in the chapter.
- Holocaust: The systematic genocide of Jews and others by the Nazis during World War II, forming the story’s historical context.
- Deportation: The forced removal of people, often to concentration camps, as experienced by the narrator’s family.
- Belongings: Personal possessions with emotional significance, like the narrator’s family items.
- Alienation: A sense of disconnection or not belonging, felt by the narrator in Mrs. Dorling’s house.
- Resilience: The ability to recover from adversity, shown by the narrator’s decision to move forward.
Explore Notes of Class 11 English Hornbill
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FAQs
The story is about loss, memories, and moving on. It shows how the narrator deals with the pain of war and finds the strength to let go and start fresh.
Mrs. Dorling is cold and selfish, which shows how some people acted badly during the war. Her behavior is very different from the narrator, who stays strong and kind.
She understands that the things don’t feel like hers anymore in someone else’s house. By leaving them, she can let go of the past and begin to heal.
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