Class 11 English - CBSE
The Portrait of a Lady
The Portrait of a Lady by Khushwant Singh is a touching memoir of the author's grandmother. It explores their deep bond during his childhood in the village, their growing distance when they moved to the city, and her eventual peaceful passing. The chapter highlights traditional values, unconditional love, and the generation gap. For CBSE board exams, it is crucial for testing reading comprehension, character sketching, and understanding stylistic devices like contrast and symbolism. Questions often focus on the grandmother's unique personality, the changing phases of their friendship, and her final moments with the sparrows.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Physical Appearance of the Grandmother
Described as old, terribly wrinkled, and slightly bent, wearing spotless white clothes with one hand resting on her waist and the other telling beads of her rosary.
Village Life Phase
The golden period of the author and grandmother's relationship, where she woke him up, dressed him, accompanied him to school, and fed stale chapattis to village dogs.
City Life Phase
A turning point marked by a shift to an English school, learning Western science, and the grandmother's isolation as she disapproved of music lessons and could no longer help with homework.
The Sparrow Episode
A powerful climax where thousands of sparrows sat quietly in the courtyard mourning the grandmother's death without making a chirp or eating the bread crumbs offered to them.
Character Sketch of the Grandmother
A pious, strong-willed, traditional, yet deeply affectionate woman whose serenity and devotion remained unwavering throughout her life.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In CBSE Class 11 English Core examinations, this chapter typically carries around 4 to 6 marks. Common question types include short answer questions (30-40 words) about the grandmother's daily routine or her relationship with sparrows, and long answer questions (120-150 words) focusing on character sketches or the changing phases of the author's relationship with her.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the grandmother hate music lessons at the city school?
She associated music with lewdness and indecent associations meant only for beggars and prostitutes, not for gentlefolk or school children.
Why did thousands of sparrows not eat the bread crumbs scattered by the author's mother?
The sparrows were mourning the death of the grandmother and were too grief-stricken to eat, flying away quietly after her body was carried off.
How did the grandmother spend her time in the city after the author grew up?
She spent most of her time sitting by her spinning wheel, reciting prayers, and feeding sparrows in the afternoon, which was the happiest hour of the day for her.
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