The Portrait of a Lady
The Portrait of a Lady By Khushwant Singh
Here are the meanings of the expressions from the chapter in simple
1. The thought was almost revolting → The idea seemed unpleasant, shocking, or difficult to believe.
2. An expanse of pure white serenity → A wide, peaceful, calm appearance of pure white.
3. A turning-point → An important change in a situation or relationship.
4. Accepted her seclusion with resignation → She accepted her loneliness and isolation without complaining.
5. A veritable bedlam of chirrupings → A very noisy and chaotic sound made by many sparrows.
6. Frivolous rebukes → Light-hearted or playful scoldings that were not meant seriously.
7. The sagging skins of the dilapidated drum → The loose, worn-out skins of an old and damaged drum.
Note
- Revolting → unpleasant / shocking
- Serenity → peace and calmness
- Turning-point → major change
- Seclusion → loneliness / isolation
- Bedlam → noisy confusion
- Frivolous → playful / not serious
- Dilapidated → old and in poor condition
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1. The three phases of the author's relationship with his grandmother before he left the country to study abroad.
Phase 1 – Village life:
The author and his grandmother were very close. She woke him up, got him ready for school, accompanied him to the village school, and helped him with his studies.
Phase 2 – City school:
When they moved to the city, their relationship gradually changed. She could no longer accompany him to school, and she became unhappy with his English education and western science lessons.
Phase 3 – University life:
When the author went to university, he was given a separate room. Their common link of friendship was broken, and the grandmother accepted her loneliness quietly.
2. Three reasons why the author's grandmother was disturbed when he started going to the city school.
- She could no longer accompany him to school.
- He was taught English and Western science, which she did not understand or believe in.
- There was no teaching about God and the scriptures, which she considered important.
3. Three ways in which the author's grandmother spent her days after he grew up.
- She spent most of her time spinning at her spinning-wheel.
- She recited prayers throughout the day.
- She spent some time feeding the sparrows in the afternoon.
4. The odd way in which the author's grandmother behaved just before she died.
Instead of praying as usual, she gathered the neighbourhood women, took an old drum, and sang songs about the home-coming of warriors for several hours. It was unusual because she had never behaved like this before.
5. The way in which the sparrows expressed their sorrow when the author's grandmother died.
Thousands of sparrows gathered silently around her dead body. They did not chirp or eat the bread crumbs offered to them. When her body was carried away, they flew away quietly.
Note: The silent behaviour of the sparrows shows their deep sorrow and affection for the grandmother.
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Talking about the text
1. The author’s grandmother was a religious person. How do we know this ?
Ans: The grandmother was deeply religious. She always carried a rosary and prayed throughout the day. She regularly went to the temple and read the scriptures. At home, she spent much of her time praying and telling the beads of her rosary. She also fed the village dogs and, later, the sparrows.
2. Describe the changing relationship between the author and his grandmother. Did their feelings for each other change ?
Ans: In the village, the author and his grandmother were very close. She woke him up, prepared him for school, accompanied him to the school and helped him with his studies. When they moved to the city, their relationship gradually changed. The author went to an English school and later to university, while his grandmother could not help him with his studies. They became less involved in each other’s daily lives. However, their love and affection for each other never changed. They remained emotionally attached until her death.
3. Was the author’s grandmother a person strong in character ?
Ans: Yes, the grandmother was a strong and dignified woman. She accepted every change in her life calmly. She did not complain when the author grew distant because of his education. She continued her prayers and simple routine with great patience. Even when she was nearing death, she remained peaceful and devoted to God. Her acceptance, self-discipline and strong faith show her strength of character.
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 ?
Ans: Yes, I have known someone like the author’s grandmother who was caring, loving, simple and deeply attached to the family. I feel a similar sense of loss when I think about someone I have loved and lost. Their memories remain with us and make us realize how special they were in our lives. Although they are no longer with us, their love and memories continue to live in our hearts.
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Thinking About Language
1. Which language do you think the author and his grandmother used while talking to each other ?
Ans: The author and his grandmother probably spoke Hindi with each other, as they lived in a village in Punjab and were very close to each other.
2. Which language do you use to talk to elderly relatives in your family ?
Ans: I use Assamese to talk to elderly relatives in my family because it is our familiar and comfortable language.
3. How would you say “a dilapidated drum” in your language ?
Ans: In Assamese, “a dilapidated drum” can be said as “এখন জৰাজীৰ্ণ ঢোল”.
4. Can you think of a song or a poem in your language that talks of homecoming ?
Ans: Yes. In Assamese, “বিস্তীৰ্ণ পাৰৰে” is a well-known song associated with feelings of home, people and one’s roots. It expresses deep emotional attachment to one’s land and people.
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Working with Words – Uses of “Tell”
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. make something known to someone in spoken or written words
2. count while reciting
3. be sure
4. give information to somebody
Ans:
- Her fingers were busy telling the beads of her rosary. → 2. count while reciting
- I would tell her English words and little things of Western science and learning. → 1. make something known to someone in spoken or written words
- At her age one could never tell. → 3. be sure
- She told us that her end was near. → 4. give information to somebody
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II. Notice the different senses of the word 'take'.
- “She took to feeding the sparrows in the courtyard.” → to take to something = to begin doing something as a habit.
- “She took ill a few days before her death.” → to take ill = to suddenly become ill.
Note: i. Take to → develop a habit of doing something. ii. Take ill → suddenly become ill.
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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.
i. haggle ii. shuffle iii. stride iv. ride v. waddle vi. wriggle vii. paddle viii. swagger ix. trudge x. slog xi. waddle
Ans – Manner of Walking
The correct words are:
ii. Shuffle – to walk slowly without lifting the feet properly.
iii. Stride – to walk with long steps.
v. Waddle – to walk with short steps, moving from side to side.
viii. Swagger – to walk proudly or confidently.
ix. Trudge – to walk slowly and heavily, usually with difficulty.
x. Slog – to walk with great effort, especially for a long distance.
xi. Waddle – to walk with short, slow steps from side to side.
The wrong words are: i. Haggle, iv. Ride, vi. Wriggle, vii. Paddle – do not normally mean a manner of walking.
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Noticing form
Notice the form of the verbs italicised in these sentences.
1. My grandmother was an old woman. She had been old and wrinkled for the twenty years that I had known her. People said that she had once been young and pretty and had even had a husband, but that was hard to believe.
2. When we both had finished we would walk back together.
3. When I came back she would ask me what the teacher had taught me.
4. It was the first time since I had known her that she did not pray.
5. The sun was setting and had lit her room and verandah with a golden
light.
These are examples of the past perfect forms of verbs. When we recount things in the distant past we use this form.
Ans:
Noticing Form
These sentences use the Past Perfect Tense.
Rule: Past Perfect = had + past participle (V3)
- had known → i. had + known, ii. had been → had + been, iii. had once been → had + been, iv. had even had → had + had
- had finished → had + finished
- had taught → had + taught
- had known → had + known
- had lit → had + lit
Trick:
Whenever you see had + V3, it is usually Past Perfect Tense.
Example: i. I had finished my work., ii. She had gone home., iii. They had eaten dinner.
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