Important Questions for Class 11 Snapshots Chapter 2 The Address
Table of Contents
Stanza
Question 1:
Read the given extract and answer the questions:
‘Do you still know me?’ I asked. The woman looked at me searchingly. She had opened the door a chink.
I came closer and stood on the step. ‘No, I don’t know you.’ ‘I’m Mrs S’s daughter.’
She held her hand on the door as though she wanted to prevent it opening any further. Her face gave absolutely no sign of recognition. She kept staring at me in silence…. The woman let go of the door and stepped to the side. She was wearing my mother’s green knitted cardigan. The wooden buttons were rather pale from washing. She saw that I was looking at the cardigan and half hid herself again behind the door.
(1) How did Mrs. Dorling treat the author when the author visited her?
(a) warm & welcoming
(b) cold & inhospitable
(c) overjoyed
(d) both (a) and (c)
Answer
(b) cold & inhospitable
(2) “Her face gave absolutely no sign of recognition.” Who does ‘her’ refer to in the given line?
(a) Mrs. S
(b) Mrs. Dorling’s daughter
(c) Mrs. Dorling
(d) Mrs. S’s daughter
Answer
(c) Mrs. Dorling
(3) In what attire did the author find Mrs. Dorling?
(a) Author’s mother’s green knitted cardigan
(b) Author’s greeen knitted cardigan
(c) Author’s unable to recognise it
(d) Not mentioned in the story
Answer
(a) Author’s mother’s green knitted cardigan
(4) What does the paleness of the wooden buttons signify?
Answer
The paleness of the wooden buttons shows that the cardigan had been washed and used many times, suggesting that Mrs. Dorling had kept and worn the author’s mother’s belongings for a long period, treating them as her own.
Question 2:
I was in a room I knew and did not know. I found myself in the midst of things I did want to see again but which oppressed me in the strange atmosphere. Or because of the tasteless way everything was arranged, because of the ugly furniture or the muggy smell that hung there, I don’t know; but I scarcely dared to look around me.
(i) Who is the speaker in the extract?
(a) Mrs. Dorling
(b) The narrator (the daughter)
(c) The narrator’s mother
(d) The narrator’s friend
Answer
(b) The narrator (the daughter)
(ii) What is the narrator referring to as both “known” and “unknown”?
(a) Her hometown
(b) Her mother’s friend
(c) The room with her family’s belongings
(d) Her childhood friend’s house
Answer
(c) The room with her family’s belongings
(iii) What caused the narrator to feel “oppressed”?
(a) The heat in the room
(b) The presence of strangers
(c) The strangeness of familiar objects in a different setting
(d) The absence of her mother
Answer
(c) The strangeness of familiar objects in a different setting
(iv) What is meant by the phrase “the muggy smell”?
(a) A fresh and pleasant smell
(b) A dusty, warm and unpleasant smell
(c) A smell of flowers
(d) A smoky smell
Answer
(b) A dusty, warm and unpleasant smell
Important Questions for Class 11 Snapshots Chapter 2 The Address
Short-Questions (40-50 words)
Question 1:
Why did the narrator decide not to take back her mother’s belongings?
Answer
The narrator decided not to take back her mother’s belongings because seeing them in Mrs Dorling’s house caused her pain and discomfort. The familiar objects, placed in an unfamiliar and tasteless setting, made her realise that the memories attached to them mattered more than the objects themselves.
Question 2:
What is the significance of the title in Marga’s story, ‘The Address’?
Answer
The title “The Address” is significant because it represents the link between the narrator and her past. The address of Mrs Dorling’s house leads the narrator to her mother’s belongings, which were left there during the war. It also symbolises painful memories and the narrator’s realisation that emotional memories matter more than material possessions.
Important Questions for Class 11 Snapshots Chapter 2 The Address
Long-Questions (120-150 words)
Question 1:
Goods kept at Mrs Dorling’s place remind the narrator of her mother and she gets emotional. Describe any place or thing that reminds you of a loved one. Would you like to be at that place again and again. Express your thoughts in about 120–150 words.
Answer
Certain places and things carry emotions far beyond their physical form. For me, my grandmother’s old wooden cupboard reminds me deeply of her. It still smells faintly of the talcum powder she used, and inside it are neatly folded clothes just the way she left them. Whenever I open it, memories of her gentle voice, warm hugs, and comforting presence rush back, making me emotional.
That cupboard feels like a silent keeper of moments we shared—stories she told, smiles she gave, and care she showed without ever asking for anything in return. I do like going near it again and again, even though it sometimes makes me sad. The sadness is mixed with comfort, because it keeps her memories alive. Just like the narrator in “The Address”, I feel that memories connected to loved ones are precious and deserve to be held close, even when they bring tears.
Question 2:
You, a student of class XI, recently read the chapter “The Address”. You were deeply moved and impressed by the narrator’s decision to move on. You want to share your reflection in the context of the chapter with your schoolmates. Prepare a speech on “Learning to Let Go” using examples from the story and your personal reflections.
Answer
Good morning respected teachers and my dear friends.
Today, I would like to share my thoughts on “Learning to Let Go”, inspired by the chapter “The Address” by Marga Minco. The story deeply moved me, especially the narrator’s decision to walk away from her mother’s belongings. Those objects held memories, love, and loss, yet she realised that holding on to them only caused pain. By letting go, she chose peace over sorrow and memories over material things.
This lesson is very relevant to our lives. We often cling to objects, past mistakes, or painful memories, thinking they keep our loved ones close. But sometimes, moving forward with strength is the bravest choice. The narrator teaches us that letting go does not mean forgetting—it means accepting life and healing ourselves.
From this story, I learned that true growth comes when we learn to carry memories in our hearts, not in things. Thank you.
Question 3:
Why did the girl go back to the house on Marconi Street in the chapter ‘The Address’? Why did she decide not to get her mother’s things back? How do you feel when she decides so? Express your thoughts in about 120–150 words.
Answer:
The girl went back to the house on Marconi Street to reclaim her mother’s belongings, which were kept by Mrs. Dorling during the war. These things reminded her of her mother and her past life. However, when she finally saw the items, she realized that they no longer held the same emotional value. She felt that memories live in the heart, not in objects. Therefore, she decided not to take her mother’s things back. I feel her decision was mature and wise. Holding on to the past can be painful, and letting go helps one move forward. Her choice shows emotional strength and acceptance of reality.
Question 4:
How do the objects in ‘The Address’ and the horse in ‘The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse’ symbolize lost identities and the longing to reclaim them?
Answer:
In “The Address”, the objects belonging to the narrator’s mother symbolize her lost identity and the painful memories of the past. These items once represented warmth, love, and security, but after the war, they feel distant and meaningless. The narrator realizes that clinging to objects cannot restore lost relationships. Similarly, in “The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse”, the white horse symbolizes the Garoghlanian family’s lost joy and pride. Aram and Mourad long to experience happiness but struggle between desire and honesty. Returning the horse reflects their attempt to reclaim moral identity rather than material possession. Both stories highlight how true identity lies not in objects or possessions but in values, memories, and moral integrity.
Important Questions for Class 11 Snapshots Chapter 2 The Address
