The Portait of a Lady by Khushwant Singh - Hornbill - Prose - Class XI- English Core Summary and Answers

Class XI- English Core

Chapter 1 - The Portrait of a Lady

by Khushwant Singh

Hornbill - Prose -  Summary and Answers

Summary of 'The Portrait of a Lady'

The story "The Portrait of a Lady" by Khushwant Singh is a nostalgic reflection on the author's relationship with his grandmother. The narrator describes his grandmother as a deeply religious, old woman who was always busy with her rosary beads and prayer books. The story is divided into three phases, depicting the changing relationship between the grandmother and the narrator as he grows up.

In the first phase, the grandmother and the narrator share a close bond. They live together in a village where the grandmother takes care of the narrator's daily needs and accompanies him to school. The second phase begins when they move to the city. Here, the narrator attends an English school, and their relationship starts to change as they spend less time together. The grandmother is upset because the subjects taught at school, like English and science, do not include religion, which was a vital part of her life.

The third phase occurs when the narrator goes to university and moves into a separate room. The distance between them grows even more, and the grandmother's loneliness increases. Despite these changes, the grandmother remains deeply religious and continues to live a life of routine and devotion.

Towards the end of the story, the grandmother's health deteriorates, and she passes away peacefully, surrounded by the family. The story concludes with the narrator and his family mourning her death, reflecting on her life and the simplicity and spirituality that characterized her existence.

The story is a beautiful depiction of the bond between the narrator and his grandmother, highlighting the themes of love, loss, and the passage of time.

Understanding the text(Q&A) of 'Portrait of a Lady'

Question:

Mention the three phases of the author’s relationship with his grandmother before he left the country to study abroad.

ANSWER

The author mentions three phases in his relationship with his grandmother before he went abroad for studies.

The Early Childhood: During this phase, he lived with his grandmother in the village and was very intimate with her. The grandmother looked after him and took care of him like parents do. She woke him up, bathed and prepared him for school. Moreover, she used to accompany her to school as it was attached to the temple and she prayed there. The write is very close to her in this phase.

In the City: This is the second phase when they both shift to the city as the author's parents get settled there. The author shares a room with his grandmother, but she does not accompany him to school anymore and can't help him in his studies. They saw less of each other in this phase and this proved a turning point in their relationship.

The author gets a separate room: In this phase, the author gets a separate room as he joins university and the only common link of their friendship: room, is also broken. The grandmother takes up the wheel spinning, bird feeding, and prayers. She accepts her aloofness with resignation.

Question:

Mention three reasons why the author’s grandmother was disturbed when he started going to the city school.

ANSWER

The three reasons that the author's grandmother was disturbed when he started going to the city school are:

Firstly she could not help the author with his lessons.

Secondly, she did not believe in the things they taught at the English school and was distressed that there was no teaching about God and the scriptures.

And finally, she was very disturbed when she heard that her grandson was receiving music lessons. She believed that music had lewd associations and it belonged to harlots and beggars.

Question:

Mention three ways in which the author’s grandmother spent her days after he grew up.

ANSWER

The three ways in which the author's grandmother spent her days after he grew up are:

a)Most of the time she remained by the side of spinning wheel.

b)She talked less and her lips always moved in reciting prayers and fingers busy telling the beads of the rosary.

c)She also loved to spend her time with sparrows, feeding them.

Question:

The odd way in which the author’s grandmother behaved just before she died.

ANSWER

The author’s grandmother behaved in a very odd way just before she died. She did not pray. Instead, she collected the women of the neighbourhood, got an old drum and started to sing. This was very unusual for her and the family had to persuade her to stop.

Question: Mention the way in which the sparrows expressed their sorrow when the author’s grandmother died.

Answer:

Thousands of sparrows sat around the grandmother's dead body without any chirruping. All flew away silently when the body was taken away for cremation without eating any of the breadcrumbs offered to them by author's mother.

Talking About the Text(Q&A) of 'Portrait of a Lady'

1. The author’s grandmother was a religious person. What are the different ways in which we come to know this?
   ANSWER: The author’s grandmother was clearly a deeply religious person, and this is shown in several ways throughout the story. She spent most of her time praying and telling the beads of her rosary. Every morning, she would softly sing her prayers while helping the author get ready for school. When they moved to the city, she was upset because the author’s new school did not teach about God or religion, which were very important to her. Even as she grew old and became bedridden, she continued to pray, showing that her faith and devotion were constants in her life.
   
   
2. Describe the changing relationship between the author and his grandmother. Did their feelings for each other change?
   ANSWER: The relationship between the author and his grandmother changed as they both grew older and their circumstances changed. When they lived in the village, they were very close, and she took care of him daily, even walking him to school. However, when they moved to the city, their relationship became more distant. The author went to an English school, which taught subjects that were unfamiliar to his grandmother, creating a sense of separation between them. Finally, when the author went to university and moved into his own room, the physical distance between them increased, but their emotional bond remained strong. Despite spending less time together, their love and respect for each other did not change.
   
   
3. Would you agree that the author’s grandmother was a person strong in character? If yes, give instances that show this.
   ANSWER: Yes, the author’s grandmother was definitely a person strong in character. She demonstrated her strength in several ways throughout the story. She handled the various changes in her life with quiet dignity, whether it was moving to the city or dealing with the loneliness that came as the author grew up. She was resilient and independent, sticking to her daily routines and maintaining her religious practices even when she became weak and bedridden. Additionally, when the author left for university, she did not openly show her sorrow. Instead, she focused on her spinning wheel and prayers, showing her inner strength and self-control.
   
   
4. Have you known someone like the author’s grandmother? Do you feel the same sense of loss with regard to someone whom you have loved and lost?
   ANSWER: This question invites a personal reflection. If you have known someone like the author’s grandmother, you might think about how they influenced your life, their strong character, and how you felt when they were no longer with you. You may have experienced a similar sense of loss, cherishing memories of the love and support they provided, much like the author did with his grandmother. This reflection can be an opportunity to remember and honor those who have had a significant impact on your life.
   
   
   The author’s grandmother was clearly a deeply religious person, and this is shown in several ways throughout the story. She spent most of her time praying and telling the beads of her rosary. Every morning, she would softly sing her prayers while helping the author get ready for school. When they moved to the city, she was upset because the author’s new school did not teach about God or religion, which were very important to her. Even as she grew old and became bedridden, she continued to pray, showing that her faith and devotion were constants in her life.
   
   
5. Describe the changing relationship between the author and his grandmother. Did their feelings for each other change?
   ANSWER: The relationship between the author and his grandmother changed as they both grew older and their circumstances changed. When they lived in the village, they were very close, and she took care of him daily, even walking him to school. However, when they moved to the city, their relationship became more distant. The author went to an English school, which taught subjects that were unfamiliar to his grandmother, creating a sense of separation between them. Finally, when the author went to university and moved into his own room, the physical distance between them increased, but their emotional bond remained strong. Despite spending less time together, their love and respect for each other did not change.
6. Would you agree that the author’s grandmother was a person strong in character? If yes, give instances that show this.
   ANSWER: Yes, the author’s grandmother was definitely a person strong in character. She demonstrated her strength in several ways throughout the story. She handled the various changes in her life with quiet dignity, whether it was moving to the city or dealing with the loneliness that came as the author grew up. She was resilient and independent, sticking to her daily routines and maintaining her religious practices even when she became weak and bedridden. Additionally, when the author left for university, she did not openly show her sorrow. Instead, she focused on her spinning wheel and prayers, showing her inner strength and self-control.
7. Have you known someone like the author’s grandmother? Do you feel the same sense of loss with regard to someone whom you have loved and lost?
   ANSWER: This question invites a personal reflection. If you have known someone like the author’s grandmother, you might think about how they influenced your life, their strong character, and how you felt when they were no longer with you. You may have experienced a similar sense of loss, cherishing memories of the love and support they provided, much like the author did with his grandmother. This reflection can be an opportunity to remember and honour those who have had a significant impact on your life.

Thinking About the Language of 'Portrait of a Lady'

1. Which language do you think the author and his grandmother used while talking to each other?

The author and his grandmother most likely communicated in Punjabi or Hindi, as the story is set in a Punjabi family in India. These languages were commonly spoken in the region where they lived, and it’s likely that they used their native language for everyday conversations, especially given the grandmother's traditional and religious nature.

2. Which language do you use to talk to elderly relatives in your family?

The language you use to talk to elderly relatives in your family may depend on your cultural background and family traditions. Many people communicate with their grandparents or older family members in their native or regional language, which could be anything from Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, or Marathi to languages like Urdu, Malayalam, or Gujarati. This is because elderly relatives often feel more comfortable and connected when speaking in their mother tongue.

3. How would you say ‘a dilapidated drum’ in your language?

To translate "a dilapidated drum" into your language, you would use the words that describe something old and broken down. For example, in Hindi, you might say "टूटा-फूटा ढोल" (Toota-Foota Dhol). The exact translation would depend on your native language and the specific words used for "dilapidated" and "drum."

4. Can you think of a song or a poem in your language that talks of homecoming?

Many cultures have songs or poems that speak of homecoming, reflecting the emotions of returning home after a long time. In Hindi, for instance, there is a famous song, "घर आया मेरा परदेसी" (Ghar Aaya Mera Pardesi), which expresses the joy of a loved one returning home. Similarly, in other languages, you may have songs or poems that resonate with the theme of homecoming, evoking feelings of nostalgia, warmth, and belonging.

Working with Words

The word "tell" is used in different ways in these sentences.

1. "Her fingers were busy telling the beads of her rosary."

In this sentence, "telling" refers to the act of counting or moving the beads of a rosary one by one as part of a prayer ritual. It shows a physical action linked with a religious practice.

2. "I would tell her English words and little things of Western science and learning."

Here, "tell" means to inform or share information with someone. The author is explaining that he used to teach his grandmother some English words and facts about Western science and education.

3. "At her age one could never tell."

In this sentence, "tell" means to be able to know or predict something. It implies uncertainty, suggesting that at her age, it was difficult to predict what might happen next.

4. "She told us that her end was near."

Here, "told" is used in the sense of communicating or conveying a message. The grandmother is informing the family that she believes her death is approaching.

In each of these examples, "tell" is used in a different context, demonstrating the versatility of the word in English.