CBSE Class 11 Important Question for English - The Address

The Class 11 English Snapshots Important Questions for Chapter 2 – The Address serve as a clear and focused study resource, enabling students to prepare effectively for their exams. These questions highlight the story’s essential themes, characters, and events, allowing learners to build a deeper understanding of the text.

As an important chapter in the CBSE Class 11 English syllabus, The Address explores powerful themes of loss, displacement, and memory. The Important Questions PDF from IL provides a structured guide to exam preparation, ensuring that students can revise the chapter’s key elements with clarity and confidence.

Important Questions For Class 11 English The Address - Question with Answers

Question 1. Who is the narrator of the story “The Address”?

The narrator is a young girl who visits Mrs. Dorling to reclaim her mother’s belongings after the war.

Question 2. Why did the narrator visit Mrs. Dorling?

She wanted to recover her mother’s valuable household possessions that had been entrusted to Mrs. Dorling during wartime.

Question 3. Who was Mrs. Dorling?

She was an acquaintance of the narrator’s mother, who had taken away many of their possessions under the pretext of keeping them safe.

Question 4. Why did the narrator’s mother give her belongings to Mrs. Dorling?

During the war, fearing persecution, her mother trusted Mrs. Dorling to safeguard her valuable household items.

Question 5. What was the narrator’s first impression of Mrs. Dorling when she visited her?

Mrs. Dorling was cold, unfriendly, and reluctant to let her in, clearly not willing to return the items.

Question 6. Why did Mrs. Dorling pretend not to recognize the narrator?

She did so to avoid returning the belongings and to escape confrontation.

Question 7. How did the narrator feel while sitting in Mrs. Dorling’s house?

She felt uncomfortable and suffocated, realizing that the objects had lost their emotional value outside her mother’s home.

Question 8. What was the significance of the ‘knitted tablecloth’ mentioned in the story?

It symbolized the narrator’s family memories and the warmth of her mother’s love, now misplaced in another’s house.

Question 9. Why did the narrator decide never to go back to Mrs. Dorling’s house?

Because she realized that the memories attached to the objects could not be revived in a strange place.

Question 10. What does the title “The Address” signify?

It refers to the house where her mother’s possessions were kept, but symbolically it represents the futility of holding onto material objects once love and life are gone.

Question 11. How was the narrator received during her second visit?

Mrs. Dorling’s daughter let her in, but the narrator was disturbed by the sight of her mother’s things in use by strangers.

Question 12. What role did war play in the story?

War caused displacement, loss of home, death, and mistrust—forcing families like the narrator’s to rely on others, sometimes leading to betrayal.

Question 13. How did the narrator recognize her belongings?

She recognized familiar items such as crockery, furniture, the silver cutlery, and the knitted tablecloth.

Question 14. Why was the narrator’s visit a painful experience?

Because she realized that the belongings could never bring back her mother or the warmth of her home.

Question 15. What was the narrator’s ultimate realization in the story?

That memories and relationships matter more than material possessions.

Question 16. Discuss the theme of war as presented in “The Address.”

The story highlights how war leads to loss of life, home, possessions, and trust. Families are displaced and relationships are strained. The narrator’s mother entrusted her belongings to Mrs. Dorling, who betrayed that trust. The narrator, after the war, realizes that material things are meaningless in the absence of loved ones.

Question 17. Describe the character of Mrs. Dorling.

Mrs. Dorling is shown as opportunistic and selfish. She took advantage of the narrator’s mother’s helplessness, took away their valuable belongings, and later denied even knowing the narrator. She represents greed and exploitation during troubled times.

Question 18. What role does memory play in the story?

Memory is central to the narrator’s journey. While the objects reminded her of her mother, they also caused pain when seen in an alien environment. She realizes that real connection lies in cherished memories, not in physical objects.

Question 19. Why is the narrator unable to recover her possessions?

She realizes that the value of those items was tied to her mother and her home. Without them, the objects lose meaning. Thus, she chooses not to reclaim them, finding peace in letting go.

Question 20. Examine the significance of the narrator’s silence during her visits.

Her silence reflects her inner turmoil, shock at betrayal, and the futility of arguing. It shows how deep trauma often leaves one speechless.

Question 21. How does the story highlight the futility of material possessions?

Objects can be stolen or misplaced, but memories and emotions remain eternal. The narrator understands that trying to reclaim physical items cannot revive her lost past.

Question 22. Compare the narrator’s first and second visits to “The Address.”

The first visit was met with denial and rejection, while the second allowed her to see the possessions. However, both visits ended in disappointment as she realized that reclaiming objects could not restore her past.

Question 23. How is trust betrayed in the story?

The narrator’s mother trusted Mrs. Dorling to safeguard her possessions, but she exploited the situation for personal gain and refused to return them.

Question 24. Discuss the narrator’s emotional journey throughout the story.

She begins with hope of retrieving her mother’s belongings, feels rejection, then discomfort and pain, and finally reaches the realization that letting go is the only way to heal.

Question 25. How does “The Address” reflect post-war realities?

It depicts displacement, betrayal, and the trauma of survivors. Many like the narrator lost their families, homes, and possessions, and were left to rebuild life with nothing but memories.

Additional Practice Questions

Question 26. What made the narrator realize she could never go back to the address?

Question 27. How is Mrs. Dorling’s house described?

Question 28. What impression do you get of the narrator’s mother?

Question 29. How did Mrs. Dorling’s daughter treat the narrator?

Question 30. Why did the narrator delay her visit after the war?

Question 31. What do the narrator’s feelings toward the objects reveal about her?

Question 32. How does the narrator describe the silverware?

Question 33. What lesson does the story give about attachment to objects?

Question 34. How did the narrator react when she saw her mother’s things being used by strangers?

Question 35. Why is the story written in first person?

Question 36. What does the story suggest about human relationships in troubled times?

Question 37. In what way does the ending resolve the narrator’s conflict?

Question 38. Explain how the title encapsulates the essence of the story.

Question 39. How does the story show the difference between survival and living?

Question 40. What universal message does “The Address” convey?