If you're a Class 11 student looking to understand the story The Address by Marga Minco from the NCERT Snapshots textbook, this post is just for you. Here, you'll find a simple and clear summary, important word meanings, and exam-style questions and answers. This guide will help you do well in your school tests and final exams. All answers are written in easy English suited for CBSE and other boards that follow the NCERT syllabus.
Summary of The Address by Marga Minco
The story The Address is about a young girl who returns to her old home after the war. She wants to find some of her family’s things that were left behind. Before the war, her mother had trusted a woman named Mrs Dorling to keep their valuable items safe. But when the girl visits Mrs Dorling after the war, she does not receive a warm welcome.
Mrs Dorling acts strange and does not want to let her in. Later, the girl visits again when Mrs Dorling is not home. Her daughter opens the door and lets her in. Inside, the girl sees her mother’s things – the tablecloth, cutlery, plates, and other items. But instead of feeling happy, she feels out of place. These objects, once full of warmth, now feel cold and lifeless.
The girl realises that no object can bring back her past. She decides to leave everything behind and not return to the address again. The story shows how war changes everything, even simple things like a spoon or a chair.
Word Meaning of The Address by Marga Minco
Below are the meanings of some difficult words and phrases from the story The Address. These will help you understand the chapter better.
| Word / Phrase |
Meaning |
| War memorial |
A place built to remember those who died in war |
| Muttered |
Spoke in a low and unclear voice |
| Stern |
Serious and strict-looking |
| Beckoned |
Made a gesture to call someone over |
| Maroon |
A dark reddish-brown colour |
| Hanukkah |
A Jewish festival celebrated in winter |
| Cutlery |
Knives, forks, and spoons |
| Woollen table-cloth |
A piece of fabric made of wool used on a table |
| Familiar |
Known or recognised |
| Shabby |
Old and in bad condition |
| Embroidered |
Decorated with thread patterns |
| Mantelpiece |
A shelf above a fireplace |
| Tumult |
Noise and confusion |
| Successor |
A person who takes over after someone else |
| Sunk into |
Sat deep in something (like a chair) |
| Cupped my hand |
Shaped my hand like a bowl |
Questions and Answers of The Address by Marga Minco
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:
Yes, this line gives us a clear clue. It shows that something bad happened in the past, most likely during the war. The woman (Mrs Dorling) thought that the narrator and her family did not survive. This tells us that the story is about someone returning after a long, painful time, looking for something or someone from their past.
2. The story is divided into pre-War and post-War times.
What hardships do you think the girl underwent during these times?
Answer:
Before the war, the girl and her mother had to give their belongings to Mrs Dorling for safekeeping. It must have been hard to part with those familiar things. During the war, the girl and her mother faced danger, fear, and loss. After the war, the girl returned alone. Her mother had died. She had no proper home, no family, and even when she tried to get her things back, she was not treated kindly. The objects, instead of bringing comfort, made her feel worse. This shows how deeply the war had hurt her life.
3. Why did the narrator of the story want to forget the address?
Answer:
The narrator wanted to forget the address because it reminded her of pain, loss, and the past. Even though her mother’s belongings were in that house, they no longer felt like hers. The house was different, the woman was cold, and the objects brought no happiness. The past could not return, so the narrator chose to let go of it and move on.
4. ‘The Address’ is a story of human predicament that follows war. Comment.
Answer:
Yes, the story shows how war breaks people’s lives. The narrator lost her home, her mother, and even the comfort of her family’s old things. She was left with memories and sadness. Mrs Dorling, who was once trusted, acted selfishly. People changed. Objects lost their meaning. The story tells how war not only destroys buildings and lives, but also feelings, trust, and memories. It shows the pain people carry, even after the fighting is over.
Important Questions from The Address by Marga Minco
These questions are based on both facts and understanding. They include Very Short Answer (VSA), Short Answer (SA), and Long Answer (LA) types, as per Class 11 exam pattern.
Very Short Answer Questions (VSA)
(Answer in one sentence)
1. What did Mrs Dorling wear when the narrator saw her after the war?
Answer: She wore a green coat and opened the door only a little.
2. Who gave Mrs Dorling the family’s belongings?
Answer: The narrator’s mother gave them to Mrs Dorling.
3. What was the narrator’s reaction when she saw the old things in the house?
Answer: She felt like a stranger and wanted to leave.
4. Why was the narrator not recognised by Mrs Dorling’s daughter?
Answer: Because they had never met before and the narrator had changed.
Short Answer Questions (SA)
(Answer in 30–40 words)
5. Describe the atmosphere in Mrs Dorling’s house when the narrator visited the second time.
Answer: The house felt strange and lifeless. Though the objects were familiar, the warmth was missing. The narrator felt uneasy and disconnected.
6. How does the narrator describe the cutlery at Mrs Dorling’s house?
Answer: She says the spoons, forks, and knives were all silver and once used daily in her own home. Now, they looked dull and out of place.
7. Why did the narrator not tell Mrs Dorling’s daughter who she really was?
Answer: She did not want to talk about the painful past. She also knew that even if she explained, the girl might not understand.
Long Answer Questions (LA)
(Answer in 100–120 words)
8. Why do you think Mrs Dorling refused to let the narrator in when she first came?
Answer: Mrs Dorling may have felt guilty for keeping the narrator’s family’s things. She might have hoped the family would never return. When the narrator came back, she feared she’d be asked to return the items. Her cold behaviour showed that she didn’t want to deal with the past or take responsibility.
9. What kind of relationship do you think the narrator’s mother had with Mrs Dorling?
Answer: The narrator’s mother trusted Mrs Dorling enough to give her valuable household items during the war. This shows that they shared some level of understanding. However, it is also possible that the mother was desperate and had no one else to rely on. It wasn’t a close friendship, as the narrator herself barely remembered the woman.
10. How does The Address show that material things cannot replace lost people and emotions?
Answer: In the story, the narrator sees all the things that once belonged to her family—plates, cutlery, tablecloths—but they no longer bring comfort. Instead of joy, these objects make her feel sad and empty. They remind her of what she has lost—her home, her mother, and a life that is gone. This shows that things cannot bring back feelings, memories, or people. Some losses are beyond repair.
The Address by Marga Minco – Summary in Hindi
द एड्रेस – हिंदी में सारांश
यह कहानी एक लड़की की है जो युद्ध के बाद अपने पुराने घर लौटती है। वह कुछ सामान वापस लेने आती है जो उसकी मां ने युद्ध से पहले एक महिला, मिसेज डॉरलिंग, को सौंप दिया था।
जब वह पहली बार मिसेज डॉरलिंग के घर जाती है, तो वे उसे अंदर नहीं आने देतीं। कुछ समय बाद वह दोबारा जाती है। इस बार मिसेज डॉरलिंग घर पर नहीं होतीं और उनकी बेटी दरवाजा खोलती है।
लड़की घर में जाती है और वहां अपनी मां का सामान देखती है — चम्मच, प्लेटें, मेज़पोश आदि। लेकिन अब वे चीजें उसे परायी लगती हैं। उन्हें देखकर वह खुश नहीं होती। वह सोचती है कि चीजें भले ही वापस मिल जाएं, बीता हुआ समय और लोग कभी वापस नहीं आते।
आख़िर में वह फैसला करती है कि वह अब कभी उस पते पर वापस नहीं आएगी। यह कहानी दिखाती है कि युद्ध सिर्फ जीवन नहीं, यादें और रिश्ते भी छीन लेता है।
The Address by Marga Minco – Summary in Urdu
دی ایڈریس – اردو میں خلاصہ
یہ کہانی ایک لڑکی کی ہے جو جنگ کے بعد اپنے پرانے گھر واپس آتی ہے۔ اس کی ماں نے جنگ سے پہلے اپنا قیمتی سامان مسز ڈارلنگ نامی عورت کو دے دیا تھا تاکہ وہ اسے محفوظ رکھے۔
جب لڑکی پہلی بار اس ایڈریس پر جاتی ہے، تو مسز ڈارلنگ اسے گھر میں داخل نہیں ہونے دیتیں۔ کچھ دن بعد وہ پھر جاتی ہے۔ اس بار مسز ڈارلنگ گھر پر نہیں ہوتیں اور ان کی بیٹی دروازہ کھولتی ہے۔
لڑکی گھر کے اندر جاتی ہے اور اپنی ماں کی چیزیں دیکھتی ہے — چمچ، پلیٹیں، میز پوش وغیرہ۔ لیکن ان چیزوں کو دیکھ کر اسے خوشی نہیں ہوتی بلکہ وہ اجنبی محسوس کرتی ہے۔
لڑکی کو محسوس ہوتا ہے کہ چیزیں تو واپس آ سکتی ہیں، لیکن پرانا وقت اور اپنے لوگ واپس نہیں آ سکتے۔ آخرکار وہ فیصلہ کرتی ہے کہ وہ اس ایڈریس پر دوبارہ کبھی نہیں آئے گی۔
یہ کہانی دکھاتی ہے کہ جنگ صرف جسمانی نقصان نہیں کرتی بلکہ دل اور یادوں کو بھی زخمی کرتی ہے۔
The Address by Marga Minco – Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
- 1. Why did the narrator visit Mrs Dorling's house after the war?
- A. To meet an old friend
- B. To ask for help
- C. To take back her family's belongings
- D. To deliver a letter
- 2. How did Mrs Dorling behave when she first saw the narrator?
- A. She was excited and welcomed her
- B. She looked confused and invited her in
- C. She was polite but distant
- D. She was cold and did not let her enter
- 3. What emotion did the narrator feel while seeing her mother's things in Mrs Dorling’s house?
- A. Joy
- B. Pride
- C. Discomfort
- D. Curiosity
- 4. What item did the narrator not mention seeing in the house?
- A. Silver cutlery
- B. Tablecloth
- C. Photo album
- D. Plates
- 5. What was the narrator’s final decision after visiting the house?
- A. She would come again
- B. She would report Mrs Dorling
- C. She would take the items back
- D. She would never return
- 6. What does the title The Address mostly refer to?
- A. A letter from her mother
- B. The location of her old house
- C. The place where her family's belongings were kept
- D. A post-war refugee centre
- 7. What war is referred to in the story?
- A. World War I
- B. World War II
- C. Civil War
- D. Cold War
- 8. What is the likely reason the narrator’s mother gave the items to Mrs Dorling?
- A. For donation
- B. To hide them from soldiers
- C. For safekeeping during the war
- D. Because she was shifting abroad
- 9. What did the narrator do when Mrs Dorling’s daughter invited her to sit?
- A. She sat comfortably
- B. She looked around and then sat
- C. She refused to sit
- D. She sat and started talking about her mother
- 10. Why did the narrator not share her identity with the girl in the house?
- A. She was afraid
- B. She forgot to mention
- C. She did not want to bring back painful memories
- D. The girl was rude
Answer Key:
-
C
-
D
-
C
-
C
-
D
-
C
-
B
-
C
-
C
-
C
