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Term I :- (Write only highlighted vocab words and questions and answers in your copies), The Portrait of a Lady Introduction:, The Portrait of a Lady is the story of the author. He describes his relationship with his grandmother over, the years. He pens down her daily activities and how she evolved as a character as time passed by. He, explains her appearance which helps create an image in the reader’s mind., The Portrait of a Lady Summary – The chapter ‘The Portrait of a Lady’ is the story of the author and, his grandmother. The grandmother was an old woman with a wrinkled face. The author had always seen, her like this, for the past twenty years. She appeared to be so old that he could not imagine her being, ‘young and pretty, someone who had a husband. She was short, fat, and slightly bent. The author had, seen his grandfather’s portrait- an old man with a turban and a long white beard covering his chest. To, the author, his grandfather didn’t seem like a man who could have a wife and children, but someone, who could have lots of grandchildren. His grandmother used to move around the house in ‘Spotless, White’ with her one hand resting on her waist and her other hand counting the beads of her rosary., In the initial days, the author and his grandmother had a good relationship. She used to wake him up, and get him ready for school. She used to pack the things required by him for the day and walked him to, school every day. She used to visit the temple that was attached to the school. She had a routine of, reading the scriptures. The author along with other children sat on the verandah singing alphabets and, morning prayers. They both used to come back home together with stray dogs roaming around them as, his grandmother would carry the stale chapattis to feed them., Soon, the parents of the author who went to the city to settle in and called them. As they reached the, city, his relationship with his grandmother took a turn. Though they shared the room, there bond grew, apart. He started going to an English medium school, she no longer accompanied him to his school, and, there were no longer stray dogs who roamed around them while walking back home. She, however,, used to ask him about his day and what he had learned. She didn’t understand anything as everything, was in another language which she could not understand. She didn’t approve of the new syllabus that, he was studying because she thought that they did not teach him about God and the scriptures. They, saw less of each other., As the days passed, he grew older and soon went to the university. He had his own room and this made, their relationship sour. She stopped talking to everyone and spent her whole day sitting at her spinning, wheel, reciting prayers and moving beads of the rosary with one hand. However, she loved feeding, sparrows in the verandah at dawn. Breaking bread into pieces and feeding it to the birds was her daily, routine. The birds would sit on her legs, her head, some even on the shoulders., Soon, the author decided to go abroad for further studies. She came to the railway station to leave him, off. She was not sentimental, continuously recited her prayers, her mind lost in the prayers, and she, kissed him on the forehead. After five years, as he returnedhome, she was there, came to pick him at
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the station, was still the same as she had been five years ago. She clasped him within her arms and, didnt't say a word. She still used to feed her sparrows., Vocabulary words Wrinkled- having lines or folds, Portrait- painting or picture, Mantelpiece- a structure of wood, marble, or stone above and around a fireplace., The thought was almost revolting- it was very hard for the author to believe, Revolting – unpleasant, Absurd – Illogical, Undignified- disrespectful, Fables- fictitious stories with a moral teaching, Prophets- saints, Criss- cross – a pattern of intersecting straight lines, Hobbled – walked in an awkward way, Spotless white – she wore clean, white coloured dresses, Stoop – bend one‘s body forward, Rosary- a string of beads for keeping count of number of chants made of a religious prayer, Locks- hair, Scattered – disorganized, Untidily – not neat, Puckered – a face contract into wrinkles, Inaudible- unable to be heard, Serenity – the state of being peaceful and calm, An expanse of pure white serenity – refers to the calm, relaxed and peaceful character of the author, ‘s grandmother, Contentment – a state of happiness and satisfaction
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Monotonous – dull and boring, Bothered- to be concerned, Fetch – go for and then bring back something for someone, Slate- a flat plate of slate formerly used for writing on in schools, Plastered- covered with a layer of plaster, Earthen- made of baked or fired clay, Stale- no longer fresh and pleasant to eat; hard, musty, or dry., Scriptures – the sacred writings of a religion, Growling – making a low guttural sound in the throat, Courtyard- verandah, Years rolled by- time passed, Distressed – suffer from extremely sorrow, anxiety or pain, Lewd Association – Indecent or Obscene, Harlots – Prostitutes, Gentlefolk – People of noble birth, Snapped- break suddenly and completely, Seclusion – the state of being private and away from the people, Accepted her seclusion with resignation- the grandmother accepted a lonely life as she accepted the, separation from her grandson without objection, Spinning-wheel – a household machine with a wheel attached to it for spinning yarn, A veritable bedlam of chirrupings – refers to the noise and confusion caused by the chirrupings of the, sparrows, Veritable – use to describe something which is very interesting or unusual, Bedlam – confusion, Chirrupings – the noise of a small bird, Perched – alight or rest on something
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Shooed – make a person or animal go away by shouting or saying ‘shoo’, Sentimental – a feeling of nostaglia, sadness or tenderness; an emotional feeling, Beads – a small piece of glass or stone threaded with others to make a rosary or necklace, Cherished – hold something dear, Moist- wet, Imprint – impression or stamp, Clasped – hold tightly, Frivolous – not having any serious purpose, light-hearted, Rebuke – disapproval of something or someone, Frivolous rebukes – light hearted scoldings, Thumped- hit, Sagging – sinking downwards, Dilapidated – in a state of despair or ruin, The sagging skins of the dilapidated drum- The loose surface of the worn out drum, Persuade – to talk someone into doing something, requeste, Overstraining- overdoing something, Omitted – leave out or exclude something, Protested – express an objection against something or someone, Pallor – an unhealthy pale appearance, Customary – traditional, Crude – in a natural state, roughly made, Cremated – dispose of or burn a body after it is dead, Blaze – a very large burning fire, Shroud – a piece of cloth used to wrap a dead person, Corpse- dead body
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The Portrait of a Lady Question Answers, Q1. Mention the three phases of the author’s relationship with his grandmother before he left the, country to study abroad., Ans: The three phases of the author’s relationship with his grandmother before he left the country to, study abroad are as follows:, 1. First Phase: The period of his early childhood where he used to live with her in the village. His, grandmother used to wake him up and get him ready for school. They both would walk to, school together and come back home together. They had a good friendship with each other., 2. Second Phase: In this phase, the author and his grandmother shifted to the city as the author’s, parents settled well in the city. Although they shared the same room, this was the turning point, of their friendship. Now, they saw less of each other., 3. Third Phase: When the author went to the university, he was given a room of his own. This, made their friendship bond weaker as the common link between them ‘the same room’, snapped. She became quieter and private and kept the spinning wheel all day long. She would, feed the sparrows once a day and this was the only thing that made her happy now., Q2. Mention three reasons why the author’s grandmother was disturbed when he started going to the, city school., Ans: When the author used to live in the village with her, they both had a good friendship. She used to, wake him up, got him ready and would also accompany him to school. All this changed when they, moved to the city. The grandmother was disturbed for the following reason:, 1. She no longer could help him in his lessons. As he started going to the English medium school,, this became a barrier for her., 2. There were no teachings about God and the scriptures., 3. She didn’t like him taking the music lessons. According to her, music was only for beggars and, harlots., Q3. Mention three ways in which the author’s grandmother spent her days after he grew up., Ans: His grandmother changed a lot since he grew up. She would spend her day at the spinning wheel,, chanting prayers and feeding sparrows, Q4. Mention the odd way in which the author’s grandmother behaved just before she died., Ans: She didn’t pray the evening before dying. She collected the women from the neighbourhood and, started singing homecoming of the warriors with the help of the drum. The next morning when she fell, ill, she said her end was near. She started praying peacefully while laying on her bed. She refused to talk, to anyone during her last hours.
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Q5. Mention the way in which the sparrows expressed their sorrow when the author’s grandmother, died., Ans: The grandmother used to feed the sparrows in her verandah each day. She developed a special, relationship with them. When she died, thousands of sparrows expressed their sorrow by sitting in a, scattered way around her in the verandah. They didn’t chirrup and there was complete silence. The, author’s mother tried to feed them by breaking the bread and throwing it in front of them. But they, didn’t eat anything. When the family carried grandmother’s corpse, they all flew away quietly., Q6. The author’s grandmother was a religious person. What are the different ways in which we come to, know this?, Ans: When she lived in the village with the author, she used to sing prayers in a monotonous sound, while getting him ready each morning. She used to walk the author to his school and then visit the, temple attached to the school everyday. She would sit and read scriptures. Later when they moved to, the city, she would carry the beads of the rosary with her all the time. She would continuously chant her, prayers and her hand remained busy in telling the beads. When the author went to study at the, university, she went into seclusion and spent her whole day in chanting prayers., Q7. Describe the changing relationship between the author and his grandmother. Did their feelings for, each other change?, Ans: In the early days, they both shared a good bond. She would get him ready for school, accompany, him and would come back with him later in the day. She would help him with his studies and would, teach him prayers by singing in a monotonous tone every morning. When they moved to the city, their, relationship was strained. He started going to an English medium school. She would no longer, accompany him to the school or could not help him with the lessons. She didn’t like his new school as, they never taught him about God or scriptures. Later, when he started taking music lessons, she, disapproved of it as she thought that music was only for beggars or harlots. She stopped talking to him, afterwards and would spend her day alone while chanting prayers., When the author went to university and then abroad, their bond weakened. She would spin the wheel, the whole day and chant her prayers. She accepted the seclusion., No, their feelings for each other didn’t change but during the time, a distance developed between them., Q8.Would you agree that the author’s grandmother was a person strong in character? If yes, give, instances that show this., Ans: Yes, the grandmother was a strong person in character. The instances to show this are as follows:, 1. She had her own thoughts about schools and their teachings. She considered learning scriptures, a better thing than studying science or English., 2. She didn’t like music as according to her, music was for low-level people.
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3. When the author went to the university, in seclusion, she would spin the wheel, chant prayers,, tell beads and feed bread crumbs to the sparrows., 4. When she sang the homecoming of the warriors for hours and didn’t stop even when her family, tried a million times., 5. During her last time, she didn’t want to waste any time talking to anyone so she lay silently on, her bed and chanted her prayers till she died., Q9. Which language do you think the author and his grandmother used while talking to each other?, Ans: The author and his grandmother used to talk to each other in their mother tongue. As the author, belongs to Punjab state, they would talk in Punjabi language., The Portrait of a Lady Grammar exercises, I., , Notice the following uses of the word “tell” in the text., 1. Her fingers were busy telling the beads of her rosary., 2. I would tell her English words and little things of Western science and learning., 3. At her age one could never tell., 4. She told us that her end was near., , Given below are four different senses of the word ‘tell’. Match the meanings to the uses listed, above., 1., 2., 3., 4., , Make something known to someone in spoken or written words, Count while reciting, Be sure, Give information to somebody, , Ans:1. I would tell her English words and little things of Western science and learning., 2. Her fingers were busy telling the beads of her rosary., 3.At her age one could never tell., 4.She told us that her end was near., II., , Notice the different senses of the word ‘take’., 1. To take to something: to begin to do something as a habit, 2. To take ill: to suddenly become ill, , Locate these phrases in the text and notice the way they are used., Ans: These phrases have been used in the story as follows:, 1. “… she took to feeding sparrows in the courtyard of our city house”, She would feed sparrows daily in the verandah. She made this her habit when they moved to the city.
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2. “The next morning she was taken ill”, This phrase refers to the fact that the author’s grandmother was suddenly ill., III., , The word ‘hobble’ means to walk with difficulty because the legs and feet are in bad, condition. Tick the words in the box below that also refer to a manner of walking., , Ans: The words which also refers to a manner of walking are: shuffle, stride, waddle, swagger, trudge,, and slog., Extra Questions and Answers:Short Answer Type, Question 1., Why was it hard for the author to believe that the grandmother was once young and pretty?, Answer:, It was difficult for the author to believe that his grandmother was once young and pretty. In fact, the, thought was almost revolting. He had seen her old for the last twenty years. He felt she could age no, further. The very thought of her playing games as a child seemed quite absurd and undignified., Question 2., The grandmother has been portrayed as a very religious lady. What details in the story create this, impression?, Answer:, The author recalls his grandmother as a very religious woman. He remembers her hobbling about the, house, telling the beads of her rosary. He recalls her morning prayers and her reading scriptures inside, the temple. The author recounts how, during the last few days, she spent all her time praying., Question 3., The grandmother was a kind-hearted woman. Give examples in support of your answer., Answer:, The grandmother was a kind-hearted woman. On her way back from school, she would feed the village, dogs with stale chapattis. In the city, when she could not move out, she took to feeding sparrows that, came and perched on her legs, shoulders, and head., Question 4., “This was the turning point in our friendship.” What was the turning point?
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Answer:, The turning point in the friendship arrived when they shifted to the city. They saw less of each other as, she could neither accompany him to school, nor understand English. She did not believe in science. She, could not keep pace with the author’s modem education that he received in the city school., Question 5., What was ‘the last sign’ of physical contact between the author and the grandmother? Why did the, author think that to be the last physical contact?, Answer:, The author was going abroad for five years. His grandmother kissed his forehead. He presumed this as, the last sign of physical contact between them. He feared that she would not survive till he returned, since he was going away for five years., Question 6., Everybody including the sparrows mourned the grandmother’s death. Elaborate., Answer:, When the grandmother died, thousands of sparrows collected and sat in the courtyard. There was no, chirruping. When the author’s mother threw some breadcrumbs for them, they took no notice of the, breadcrumbs. They were full of grief at her death and flew away quietly after the cremation., Question 7., How does the author react to the idea of the grandmother being young at a point of time and playing, games?, Answer:, The author could not conceive his grandmother as young and pretty, and playing games as a little girl. To, him, it was like one of the myths and fables she told him., Question 8., How did the grandmother prepare the author for going to school?, Answer:, The grandmother woke him up each morning, bathed him, dressed him and got him ready for school., There after, she plastered his wooden slate, gave him breakfast and walked him to school. While the, author sat in the veranda learning the alphabet and morning prayers, the grandmother sat inside the, temple reading scriptures.
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Question 9., Why was the grandmother distressed by the education imparted in the city school?, Answer:, The grandmother disapproved of the author’s education in the English school; they were taught science., She could not understand English and did not believe in science. It made her unhappy that they were, not taught about god. The music lessons in school made her unhappier as she felt it was not meant for, the gentle folk., Question 10., When people are pious and good, even nature mourns their death. Justify., Answer:, When the grandmother died, the sparrows, along with the writer’s family, mourned her death., Thousands of sparrows came and sat quietly all around her dead body. The writer’s mother threw, breadcrumbs but the sparrows took no notice of them. After her cremation they flew without touching, the crumbs., Question 11., How did the grandmother spend her day in the city?, Answer:, The grandmother spent her day from sunrise to sunset at her spinning wheel. She sat spinning and, reciting her prayers. It was only in the afternoon that she relaxed for a while to feed the sparrows., Long Answer Type:, Question 1., Elaborate on the beautiful bond of love and friendship between the author and his grandmother., Answer:, When the author was still young, his parents left for the city leaving him to the care of his grandmother., They were good friends. She woke him up each morning, bathed him, dressed him, plastered his, wooden slate, gave him breakfast and walked him to school. While he sat in the veranda learning, the, grandmother sat inside the temple reading scriptures., When they settled in the city, they shared a common bedroom. When the writer was going abroad, she, went to the railway station to see him off but did not speak a word, only kissed his forehead. The writer, cherished this as their last physical contact as he was going away for five years. But his grandmother was
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there to receive him back. In the evening, she collected women from the neighbourhood and beat the, drum and sang for hours of the homecoming of the warriors. For the first time she missed her prayers., Question 2., The grandmother was not pretty but beautiful. How?, Answer:, Answer:, The grandmother was short, old, fat and slightly bent. For the last twenty years she looked the same and, to the author she seemed too old to age further. It was difficult for him to imagine that she could have, been young and pretty. But to him, she was beautiful in a pristine and peaceful way. He remembered, her telling the beads of her rosary, untiringly., Her silver locks lay scattered untidily over her pale, puckered face, and her lips constantly moved in an, inaudible prayer. She was like the winter landscape in the mountains, serene and content., Question 3., Discuss the relevance of the title ‘The Portrait of a Lady’., Answer:, Khushwant Singh draws a heart-warming pen-portrait of his grandmother whom he loved and admired., Though not pretty, she was beautiful to the author’s perception. Telling the beads of her rosary while, her lips constantly moved in an inaudible prayer, she was like the winter landscape in the mountains, serene and content. She shared a special relationship with the author., She got him ready and walked him to and from school. White he sat in the veranda learning, his, grandmother sat inside the temple reading scriptures. The writer recounts his memories of his, grandmother when he went abroad and how on his return she collected women from the, neighbourhood and beat the drum and sang for hours of the homecoming of the warriors., For the first time, she missed her prayers. She was a pious soul, who cared for the family, and even dogs, and sparrows; her death was mourned by all including the sparrows. The writer, through his portrayal,, makes the old lady endearing and unforgettable., Question 4., From a foster mother in the village to a lonely old lady in the city describe the grandmother’s journey, through the later part of her life., Answer:
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When Khushwant Singh was still young, his parents left for the city leaving him to the care of his, grandmother. They were good friends. His grandmother tended to him, got him ready and walked him, to . school. While Khushwant Singh and the other children sat in the school’s veranda, learning, his, grandmother sat inside the attached temple, reading scriptures., In the city, their friendship underwent a change. The only thing that remained unchanged was their, common bedroom. She could not accompany him to school as he went by the school bus. His, grandmother did not understand or approve of his ‘city education’ and their communication, deteriorated further. Later, when he went to the university, he got a separate room and this severed, their bond further. She then spent her day from sunrise to sunset at her spinning wheel. She sat, spinning and reciting her prayers. It was only in the afternoon that she relaxed for a while to feed the, sparrows., Question 5., Write a character sketch of the author’s grandmother using the following words: affectionate, caring,, kind and benevolent, religious, a strong woman., Answer:, The author’s grandmother was not pretty but to the author she was a beautiful woman an embodiment, of serenity and contentment. She was a pious and a religious lady who was always telling beads of her, rosary and her lips constantly moved in inaudible prayer. She was an affectionate and a caring woman., She shared a special relationship with the author., She woke him up each morning, bathed him, dressed him, plastered his wooden slate, gave him, breakfast and walked him to school. Her kindness and benevolence extended to the dogs and sparrows, as well, whom she fed dutifully. She was a strong woman, who did not show any emotion when the, author was going abroad but when he returned, she collected women from the neighbourhood and beat, the drum and sang for hours of the homecoming of warriors.
