CLASS NOTES

Class: XI

Subject: ENGLISH

INTRODUCTION OF THE AUTHOR
Khushwant Singh (February 2, 1915 – March 20, 2014) was an Indian novelist, lawyer, politician an
journalist. An Indo-Anglian writer, Singh was best known for his trenchant secularism,[1] his humor
and an abiding love of poetry. His comparisons of social and behavioral characteristics of Western
and Indians are laced with acid wit. He served as the editor of several literary and news magazines
as well as two newspapers, through the 1970s and 1980s. He was the recipient of Padma Vibhush
the second-highest civilian award in India. summary

CENTRAL IDEA OF THE STORY

The Portrait of a Lady describes a special bond between grandmother and grandson. Khushwant
Singh narrates how the relationship develops over the years, and changes as the grandson grows
and the grandmother grows older. Solitude and silence fill the grandmother's days as she distance
herself from the real world. She now prefers the company of the gods and the birds. She enters a
world of her own and is content with herself.

ABOUT THE STORY

In this story, the author draws a pen portrait of his grandmother. He beautifully unfolds his relations
with her, while describing her appearance and daily activities.

Appearance of the Grandmother

The author recalls his grandmother as a very old lady with a wrinkled face. She appeared so old th
was hard for him to believe that she had once been “young and pretty”. She was short, fat and a lit
stooped in appearance. The author remembers her moving about the house in “spotless white”,
counting the beads of her rosary while her lips moved constantly in silent prayers. She was not
“pretty” in the traditional sense, yet her serenity made her “beautiful”.

Initial years of togetherness: Life in the village

In the initial years of his life, the author lived with his grandmother in the village, sharing a good
friendship. His grandmother used to wake him up in the morning and get him ready for the school.
She would hand over to him the things he required in the school. After having thick, stale chappatis
with butter and sugar
for breakfast, they used to leave for school. The author's grandmother always accompanied him to
school as it was attached to the temple. It was her habit to carry several stale chappatis for the villa
dogs, which they used to feed while returning from the school. The grandmother used to sit inside
temple reading holy books while the narrator learnt alphabets and prayers in the school.

Turning point of their friendship: Life in the city

The „turning-point‟ of their friendship came when they moved to the city to stay with the author’s
parents. Though they shared the same room, his grandmother no longer accompanied him to the
school since the author started going in a bus. As years rolled by, they “saw less of each other”.
Meanwhile, as there were no dogs in the streets, she took to feeding the sparrows.
Unlike the village school, the author was not taught about God and the scriptures based on religion
which troubled his grandmother. She did not believe in what was being taught at his school and wa
unhappy as she could not help him with his lessons. Moreover, she was disturbed at the idea of m
lessons being given at school as she considered music to be unsuitable for gentlefolk. Her
disapproval was conspicuous in her silence.

The grandmother combat's her loneliness by feeding the sparrows

When the author started going to the university he was given a room of his own. It resulted in a fur
gap between them. She accepted her loneliness and rarely spoke to anyone. All day long, she sat
spinning the wheel and reciting her prayers. She relaxed for a short time, only in the afternoon, to f
the sparrows who came in large numbers. The bond and level of comfort they shared with her
is evident in the fact that they perched even on her legs and head. She used to be at her happiest-
while feeding the sparrows.

Author leaves for higher studies

The author decided to go abroad for further studies. He was sure that his grandmother would be up
at his departure. On the contrary, she came to the railway station to see him off but did not show a
emotion. She was absorbed in her prayers, telling the beads of her rosary. She silently kissed the
author's forehead, which the author considered to be (supposedly) the last sign of their physical
contact.

Author’s homecoming
On his return after five years, the author did not find any change in his grandmother. She was as o
as ever and remained absorbed in her prayers. Even that day, the happiest moment for her was
feeding the sparrows.
In the evening, for the first time ever, she did not pray. She collected several ladies of the
neighborhood and sang songs related to the home-coming of the
warriors. She had to be persuaded to stop singing in order to avoid overstraining. However, the ne
day she was taken ill.
Grandmother's death
Though diagnosed with a mild fever by the doctor, grandmother knew that her end was near. She
decided to spend the last few hours of her life reciting prayers and telling her beads. Soon, her lips
stopped moving and she died.

A silent tribute by the sparrows

The family went to make arrangements for the grandmother’s funeral. As they came with a stretche
they stopped mid-way to find thousands of sparrows scattered around her dead body. The sparrow
mourned the death of the grandmother in utter silence. They ignored the bread crumbs thrown at th
by the author’s mother and flew away silently after the body was carried away for cremation. The
bread-crumbs were swept away by the sweeper next morning.

MEANINGS OF THE PHRASES AND EXPRESSIONS USED IN THE STORY

 the thought was almost revolting – The thought that the author’s grandmother was once youn
and pretty raises a doubt in the mind of the author. He finds it too hard to believe.
 an expanse of pure white serenity – It refers to the calm, peaceful and serene character and
conduct of the author’s grandmother. She is compared to the peaceful winter landscape in the
mountains.
 a turning-point – It refers to the point where the author’s relationship with his grandmother
changes drastically after they move to the city-house.
 accepted her seclusion with resignation – This shows the author’s grandmother’s passive
submission to her secluded life after she gradually loses touch with her grandson.
 a veritable bedlam of chirruping – It refers to the noise, confusion and chaos caused by the
chirruping of the sparrows that scattered and perched around the author’s grandmother.
 frivolous rebukes – It refers to the casual and light-hearted rebukes of the grandmother to the
sparrows.
 the sagging skins of the dilapidated drum – It points to the shabby and deteriorated conditio
the drum.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Question 1:
Mention the three phases of the author’s relationship with his grandmother before he left the count
to study abroad.

ANSWER:
The three phases of the author’s relationship with his grandmother before he left the country to stu
abroad are given below.
The first phase was the period of the author’s early childhood. During this phase, he used to live w
his grandmother in the village. The grandmother used to take care of him from waking him up and
getting him ready to accompanying him to the school.
Both shared a good friendship with each other.
The second phase was the time when the author and the grandmother moved to the city to live wit
author’s parents. This was a turning-point in their friendship because now they ‘saw less of each
other’.
The third phase was the time the author joined University. He was given a room of his own and the
common link of their friendship was snapped. The grandmother turns to wheel-spinning and recitin
prayers all day long. She accepts her seclusion with silence.

Question 2:
Mention three reasons why the author’s grandmother was disturbed when he started going to the c
school.

ANSWER:
The author’s grandmother was unhappy after knowing that the things taught to him at school were
related to western science and learning. Secondly, she did not believe such things that were taugh
his new school. She was disturbed that there was no teaching about God and scriptures. Thirdly, s
was unhappy with the idea of music lessons being given at school. She considered music suitable
only for the people with low dignity. The disapproval of the grandmother was visible in her silence.
Question 3:
Mention three ways in which the author’s grandmother spent her days after he grew up.

ANSWER:
The author’s grandmother “accepted her seclusion with resignation”. She spent her days of lonelin
by engaging herself in the wheel-spinning activity, reciting prayers and feeding the sparrows.

Question 4:
Mention the odd way in which the author’s grandmother behaved just before she died.

ANSWER:
She had omitted to pray, she was not going to waste any more time talking to them. She lay
peacefully in bed praying and telling her beads. Even before they could suspect, her lips stopped
moving and the rosary fell from her lifeless fingers.

Question 5:
Mention the way in which the sparrows expressed their sorrow when the author’s grandmother die

ANSWER:
The author’s grandmother shared a unique bond with the sparrows. She seemed at her happiest s
while feeding the sparrows.
The day the author’s grandmother died, thousands of sparrows sat scattered around her dead bod
They sat there in utter silence mourning the death of the grandmother. They took no notice of the
bread crumbs thrown at them and flew away silently after the body was carried for the final rites. N
morning, the bread crumbs were swept away into the dustbin by the sweeper

L0NG ANSWER QUESTIONS

Question 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 a religious lady with a kind heart. She moved about in the house
“telling the beads of her rosary”. Her lips constantly moved in “inaudible prayer”. She said her morn
prayers in monotonous sing-song hoping that the author would learn it by heart. Everyday, she we
along with the author to his school and sat in the temple that was attached to it, reading the holy
books for hours. She believed in the teachings about God and scriptures and did not like that her
grandson was not taught about them in the city school. Gradually, she turned to reciting prayers
throughout the day. Before dying, she stopped talking to her family members and turned to prayers
and counting the beads.

Question 2:
Describe the changing relationship between the author and his grandmother. Did their feelings for
each other change?

ANSWER:
The story describes the entire phase of relationship shared by the author and his grandmother. In h
early childhood, the author shared a strong bond with his grandmother. However, that tie of friends
loosened a little when they both shifted to his parents’ city house. She no longer accompanied him
the school and could not help him with his lessons. There was a further crack in the relationship wh
the author joined university as he was given a private room and the common link between them wa
snapped. They were further distanced from each other when the author went abroad for five years
In spite of changes in the course of the relationship (due to the demands of the situation), their
feelings for each other remained unchanged. Though she did not display her emotions, when the
author was leaving for abroad, she wholeheartedly celebrated his homecoming when he returned.
Question 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 a person strong in character. The instances to prove this are g
below.
 The author’s grandmother was a person strong in character. She was a picture of contentment.
 She had her own thoughts about the learning at school. She considered the teaching of scriptur
to be more fruitful than science and music.
 In her phase of loneliness and seclusion, she took to wheel-spinning and feeding sparrows.
 She appeared composed and did not display any emotion when the author decided to go abroad
for studies.
 Ignoring everyone who tried to stop her, she sang for several hours celebrating the home-comin
her grandson.
 During the last few hours of her life, ignoring the protests of her family members, she stopped
talking to everyone and took to reciting prayers and telling her beads.

THIS CONTENT WAS PREPARED AT HOME

Prepared by S. Usha Vani
 CLASS NOTES
Topic: THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY By KHUSHWANT SINGH

March 20, 2014) was an Indian novelist, lawyer, politician and

was best known for his trenchant secularism,[1] his humor,
arisons of social and behavioral characteristics of Westerners
served as the editor of several literary and news magazines,
1970s and 1980s. He was the recipient of Padma Vibhushan,
ia. summary

ial bond between grandmother and grandson. Khushwant

elops over the years, and changes as the grandson grows up
ude and silence fill the grandmother's days as she distances
efers the company of the gods and the birds. She enters a
rself.

rtrait of his grandmother. He beautifully unfolds his relationship

ce and daily activities.

a very old lady with a wrinkled face. She appeared so old that it
d once been “young and pretty”. She was short, fat and a little
embers her moving about the house in “spotless white”,
her lips moved constantly in silent prayers. She was not
serenity made her “beautiful”.

he village
ived with his grandmother in the village, sharing a good
ke him up in the morning and get him ready for the school.
he required in the school. After having thick, stale chappatis
 ool. The author's grandmother always accompanied him to
It was her habit to carry several stale chappatis for the village
urning from the school. The grandmother used to sit inside the
rrator learnt alphabets and prayers in the school.

e in the city
me when they moved to the city to stay with the author’s
room, his grandmother no longer accompanied him to the
a bus. As years rolled by, they “saw less of each other”.
e streets, she took to feeding the sparrows.
s not taught about God and the scriptures based on religion
d not believe in what was being taught at his school and was
his lessons. Moreover, she was disturbed at the idea of music
onsidered music to be unsuitable for gentlefolk. Her
nce.

ness by feeding the sparrows

niversity he was given a room of his own. It resulted in a further
oneliness and rarely spoke to anyone. All day long, she sat
yers. She relaxed for a short time, only in the afternoon, to feed
rs. The bond and level of comfort they shared with her
even on her legs and head. She used to be at her happiest-self

ther studies. He was sure that his grandmother would be upset

ame to the railway station to see him off but did not show any
ers, telling the beads of her rosary. She silently kissed the
sidered to be (supposedly) the last sign of their physical

r did not find any change in his grandmother. She was as old
prayers. Even that day, the happiest moment for her was

e did not pray. She collected several ladies of the

o the home-coming of the
op singing in order to avoid overstraining. However, the next
the doctor, grandmother knew that her end was near. She
her life reciting prayers and telling her beads. Soon, her lips

for the grandmother’s funeral. As they came with a stretcher,

s of sparrows scattered around her dead body. The sparrows
n utter silence. They ignored the bread crumbs thrown at them
lently after the body was carried away for cremation. The
sweeper next morning.

RESSIONS USED IN THE STORY

– The thought that the author’s grandmother was once young
the author. He finds it too hard to believe.
– It refers to the calm, peaceful and serene character and
he is compared to the peaceful winter landscape in the

nt where the author’s relationship with his grandmother

he city-house.
nation – This shows the author’s grandmother’s passive
e gradually loses touch with her grandson.
It refers to the noise, confusion and chaos caused by the
d and perched around the author’s grandmother.
casual and light-hearted rebukes of the grandmother to the

ed drum – It points to the shabby and deteriorated condition of

s relationship with his grandmother before he left the country

nship with his grandmother before he left the country to study

thor’s early childhood. During this phase, he used to live with

ndmother used to take care of him from waking him up and
to the school.
h other.
he author and the grandmother moved to the city to live with
nt in their friendship because now they ‘saw less of each

r joined University. He was given a room of his own and the

pped. The grandmother turns to wheel-spinning and reciting
eclusion with silence.

grandmother was disturbed when he started going to the city

y after knowing that the things taught to him at school were

. Secondly, she did not believe such things that were taught at
there was no teaching about God and scriptures. Thirdly, she
sons being given at school. She considered music suitable
disapproval of the grandmother was visible in her silence.
s grandmother spent her days after he grew up.

r seclusion with resignation”. She spent her days of loneliness

ng activity, reciting prayers and feeding the sparrows.

r’s grandmother behaved just before she died.

oing to waste any more time talking to them. She lay

r beads. Even before they could suspect, her lips stopped
ess fingers.

expressed their sorrow when the author’s grandmother died.

que bond with the sparrows. She seemed at her happiest self

thousands of sparrows sat scattered around her dead body.

the death of the grandmother. They took no notice of the
away silently after the body was carried for the final rites. Next
away into the dustbin by the sweeper
us person. What are the different ways in which we come to

us lady with a kind heart. She moved about in the house

s constantly moved in “inaudible prayer”. She said her morning
g that the author would learn it by heart. Everyday, she went
sat in the temple that was attached to it, reading the holy
achings about God and scriptures and did not like that her
the city school. Gradually, she turned to reciting prayers
topped talking to her family members and turned to prayers,

ween the author and his grandmother. Did their feelings for

relationship shared by the author and his grandmother. In his

ong bond with his grandmother. However, that tie of friendship
to his parents’ city house. She no longer accompanied him to
his lessons. There was a further crack in the relationship when
iven a private room and the common link between them was
rom each other when the author went abroad for five years.
relationship (due to the demands of the situation), their
nged. Though she did not display her emotions, when the
leheartedly celebrated his homecoming when he returned.
dmother was a person strong in character? If yes, give

erson strong in character. The instances to prove this are given

son strong in character. She was a picture of contentment.

learning at school. She considered the teaching of scriptures
sic.
sion, she took to wheel-spinning and feeding sparrows.
display any emotion when the author decided to go abroad

her, she sang for several hours celebrating the home-coming of

gnoring the protests of her family members, she stopped

prayers and telling her beads.