Chapter 2.
THE ADDRESS
Answer the following:
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?
This statement gives us a hint that both the woman and the narrator know each other. The
narrative revolves around a girl trying to find her mother’s ancient possessions with an adult
lady. This girl’s mother knew about an upcoming war and so had gradually moved all her
valuable belongings to the residence of her acquaintance, Mrs. Dorling. As her mother had
expired during the war, the woman Mrs. Dorling did not expect anyone to come afterwards
and claim the precious belongings. When the girl came to collect them, she was shocked.
The given statement shows that the lady is selfish and does not want to share the antiques
that do not even belong to her. She doesn’t even recognize the girl as her past acquaintance
and refuses to even let her inside her home.
2. The story is divided into pre-War and post-War times. What hardships do you think the girl
underwent during these times?
The account “The Address” is divided into post-war and pre-war times. The girl belonged to
a rich family. The girl’s family had a lot of valuable things. There is clear evidence of the
difficulties which the storyteller had to experience in these times. During the pre-war times,
the girl lived in another place distant from her mother and visited her very rarely. During
those times, her mother was worried that her precious things would be lost in the war. They
were worried that they would have to leave the house. The girl was in a small hired house
with its shutters overlaid with blackout paper. She was unable to see anything outside and
the threat of death was also upon them. However, during the post-war period, everything
returned to normalcy. The girl could open the shutters of her room and look outside without
worrying about anything. She had a powerful urge to look at her mother’s properties and so
also visited Mrs. Dorlings.
3. Why did the narrator of the story want to forget the address?
The narrator desired to forget the address as it prompted her to remember the tender
remembrances of her mother, their home and valuable belongings, and her earlier life before
the war, which she could never have back. She, therefore, decided to forget the address and
move on.
4. ‘The Address’ is a story of human predicament that follows war. Comment.
War brings death and destruction with it. The story The Address describes a girl’s life in
post-war and pre-war times. The war created many obstacles for the narrator both physically
and emotionally. She lost her house where they lived and also lost her mother. Her valuable
belongings were carried away from them by a stranger who refused to return them. Many
pre-war post-war perceptions can be seen in the story. Starting from the loss of life to the
selfish and cruel nature of a woman, so many varied emotions are portrayed through this
short story.
THE ADDRESS
Answer the following:
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?
This statement gives us a hint that both the woman and the narrator know each other. The
narrative revolves around a girl trying to find her mother’s ancient possessions with an adult
lady. This girl’s mother knew about an upcoming war and so had gradually moved all her
valuable belongings to the residence of her acquaintance, Mrs. Dorling. As her mother had
expired during the war, the woman Mrs. Dorling did not expect anyone to come afterwards
and claim the precious belongings. When the girl came to collect them, she was shocked.
The given statement shows that the lady is selfish and does not want to share the antiques
that do not even belong to her. She doesn’t even recognize the girl as her past acquaintance
and refuses to even let her inside her home.
2. The story is divided into pre-War and post-War times. What hardships do you think the girl
underwent during these times?
The account “The Address” is divided into post-war and pre-war times. The girl belonged to
a rich family. The girl’s family had a lot of valuable things. There is clear evidence of the
difficulties which the storyteller had to experience in these times. During the pre-war times,
the girl lived in another place distant from her mother and visited her very rarely. During
those times, her mother was worried that her precious things would be lost in the war. They
were worried that they would have to leave the house. The girl was in a small hired house
with its shutters overlaid with blackout paper. She was unable to see anything outside and
the threat of death was also upon them. However, during the post-war period, everything
returned to normalcy. The girl could open the shutters of her room and look outside without
worrying about anything. She had a powerful urge to look at her mother’s properties and so
also visited Mrs. Dorlings.
3. Why did the narrator of the story want to forget the address?
The narrator desired to forget the address as it prompted her to remember the tender
remembrances of her mother, their home and valuable belongings, and her earlier life before
the war, which she could never have back. She, therefore, decided to forget the address and
move on.
4. ‘The Address’ is a story of human predicament that follows war. Comment.
War brings death and destruction with it. The story The Address describes a girl’s life in
post-war and pre-war times. The war created many obstacles for the narrator both physically
and emotionally. She lost her house where they lived and also lost her mother. Her valuable
belongings were carried away from them by a stranger who refused to return them. Many
pre-war post-war perceptions can be seen in the story. Starting from the loss of life to the
selfish and cruel nature of a woman, so many varied emotions are portrayed through this
short story.
