The Address – Questions & Answers

Very Short Answer Questions (1–2 lines each)

1. Who is the narrator of the story?
   Ans. A young girl who visits Mrs Dorling after the war.
2. Who was Mrs Dorling?
   Ans. A woman who had taken the narrator’s family belongings during the war, promising to keep them safe.
3. Why did the narrator visit Mrs Dorling’s house?
   Ans. To reclaim her mother’s possessions after the war.
4. What was the house number given to the narrator?
   Ans. House Number 46.
5. How did Mrs Dorling react when the narrator first visited her?
   Ans. She refused to let her in and behaved coldly.
6. Why did the narrator feel uncomfortable in Mrs Dorling’s house?
   Ans. The familiar objects looked strange in a new environment, making her uneasy.
7. What was the narrator reminded of when she saw the things?
   Ans. Memories of her mother and her old home.
8. Did the narrator take back the belongings?
   Ans. No, she decided to leave them behind.
9. What theme does the story highlight?
   Ans. The futility of material possessions in comparison to memories.
10. Why is the story titled “The Address”?
    Ans. Because it symbolises the place where her mother’s belongings were kept, but it also reflects loss and disconnection.

Short Answer Questions (30–50 words each)

1. Why did the narrator’s mother trust Mrs Dorling?
   Ans. During the war, her mother feared that their belongings might be lost or stolen. She trusted Mrs Dorling, an acquaintance, who promised to keep them safe until better times.
2. What was the narrator’s first impression of Mrs Dorling when she visited her?
   Ans. Mrs Dorling appeared unfriendly and hesitant. She refused to let the narrator inside and seemed anxious, as if she did not want to return the possessions.
3. How did the narrator feel when she finally entered Mrs Dorling’s house?
   Ans. She felt uncomfortable and alienated. The objects looked familiar but seemed strange in the new surroundings, reminding her of loss rather than comfort.
4. Why did the narrator decide not to take back the possessions?
   Ans. She realised that the objects no longer held the same warmth or meaning without her mother. Memories mattered more to her than material things.
5. What message does the story convey about war?
   Ans. War brings destruction, loss of relationships, displacement, and emptiness. Material possessions lose their significance in the face of emotional trauma and personal loss.

Long Answer Questions (120–150 words each)

1. Discuss the theme of memory and loss in “The Address.”
   Ans. The story beautifully captures the pain of war and its aftermath through the narrator’s search for her mother’s belongings. The objects once filled with warmth and memories appear lifeless in Mrs Dorling’s house. They remind her not of comfort, but of loss and disconnection. The narrator realises that physical possessions cannot bring back the past or replace the emotional bond with her mother. She chooses to walk away, keeping only her memories. Thus, the story highlights the futility of material things when compared to the strength of human memory.
2. Why does the narrator feel disconnected from her mother’s possessions in Mrs Dorling’s house?
   Ans. The narrator expected her mother’s belongings to bring her comfort, but instead they looked strange in a foreign setting. The objects, once part of her warm home, appeared awkward and lifeless. Instead of joy, they deepened her sense of loss. She realised that the true essence of her mother’s presence could not be revived through material things. This disconnection led her to leave them behind, accepting that memories are stronger than objects.