“The Portrait of a Lady Questions Answers Class 11 CBSE” provides detailed and easy-to-understand solutions for all textbook questions. These answers help students grasp the story’s key themes like love, tradition, and change. Ideal for exam preparation, revision, and deeper understanding of Khushwant Singh’s moving portrayal of his grandmother.
Summary of “The Portrait of a Lady”
By Khushwant Singh
The story is a touching tribute by the author to his grandmother, describing her life, character, and their close relationship. It’s told from the point of view of the author, who shares his memories of her, from childhood to her death.
In the beginning, the author recalls his childhood in the village, where he lived with his grandmother. She was very old, slightly bent, with silver hair and a kind, wrinkled face. She was deeply religious, always seen telling the beads of her rosary and whispering prayers. She took care of the author as a child—woke him up, bathed him, fed him, and even went with him to the village school, which was attached to a temple. She spent her time reading holy scriptures while he studied. This part shows the grandmother’s loving, simple, and spiritual nature. The bond between them is strong and full of affection.
Later, they moved to the city, and things began to change. The author now travelled to an English-medium school by bus, and his grandmother could no longer help him with his studies. She disliked the subjects he learned, especially science and music, because they had no religious connection.
Their emotional distance grew. She stopped going to school with him and spent more time alone, spinning her prayer wheel and feeding sparrows in the courtyard. This section reflects the generation gap and how modern education creates emotional distance between the old and the young.
When the author returned from abroad after five years, his grandmother welcomed him lovingly, but she had aged further. That evening, she celebrated by singing and praying with other old women, even though she was tired. The next day, she fell ill and refused to speak. She lay peacefully on her bed, praying silently, and eventually passed away. Her death is shown as calm and spiritual, showing her deep faith and readiness to leave the world.
After her death, a strange thing happened—thousands of sparrows gathered around her body in silence. They didn’t eat the food offered to them and flew away quietly after the cremation. This moment is very powerful. It shows the deep connection the grandmother had with all living beings. The silent mourning of the sparrows adds a magical and emotional touch to the story.
“The Portrait of a Lady” is not just a personal story; it highlights themes like love, sacrifice, old age, the gap between tradition and modernity, and the quiet dignity of relationships. It teaches us to value our elders, their experiences, and their silent love.
NCERT Hornbill Textual Questions Answers Class 11 [Page No 6]
NCERT Hornbill Textual Questions Answers Class 11 CBSE offers clear and accurate solutions to all textbook questions. These answers help students understand themes, characters, and literary devices with ease. Perfect for revision, exam preparation, and building strong conceptual knowledge.
Understanding the Text [Page No 6]
1. The three phases of the author’s relationship with his grandmother before he left the country to study abroad:
The relationship between the author and his grandmother went through three different stages before he left for abroad.
- First Phase – In the Village:
During his childhood, the author lived with his grandmother in the village. She looked after him completely — waking him up, getting him ready for school, and walking him to the school which was attached to a temple. While he attended his classes, she would read religious texts inside the temple. They were very close, and their bond was full of love and understanding. - Second Phase – In the City:
When they moved to the city, their closeness began to reduce. The author now went to an English medium school in a motor bus. His grandmother could not go with him anymore and was unable to help with his modern studies, which included English, Science, and Western music. She did not like these subjects and felt disconnected from his education. Their conversations became fewer. - Third Phase – University Life:
As the author joined the university, he was given a separate room. Now they hardly talked during the day. However, the grandmother continued her peaceful routine — spinning the wheel, chanting prayers, and feeding birds. Though the closeness in their daily life reduced, the emotional bond and respect remained strong.
2. Three reasons why the author’s grandmother was disturbed when he started going to the city school:
The author’s grandmother was unhappy with his city education for several reasons:
- First, she was unhappy because the school did not teach anything about God or religion. Instead, it focused on English, Science, and Western learning, which she could not relate to.
- Second, she felt helpless because she could not assist the author with his studies. The subjects were unfamiliar to her, and she could no longer be involved in his learning process.
- Third, she was especially disturbed when the author was taught music at school. In her view, music was not meant for gentle and respectable people but was associated with beggars and low-class people.
3. Three ways in which the author’s grandmother spent her days after he grew up:
As the author grew older and became busier with his studies, the grandmother found new ways to spend her time:
- She spent a large part of her day sitting by the spinning wheel (charkha), spinning the threads while chanting prayers silently on her rosary beads.
- In the afternoon, she used to feed the sparrows. Hundreds of birds would gather around her, and she loved feeding them little bits of bread.
- She kept herself busy in a quiet and religious life, rarely talking to anyone unless necessary. She found peace in her simple routine of prayer and spinning.
4. The odd way in which the author’s grandmother behaved just before she died:
The author noticed unusual behavior in his grandmother just a day before she passed away. After the author returned from abroad, she welcomed him warmly. That night, instead of talking to her family, she gathered women from the neighborhood and sang devotional songs while beating an old drum. This behavior was quite strange for her, as she had always been calm and quiet.
The next morning, she fell ill. She refused to speak to anyone and only lay in bed, counting her rosary beads and praying silently. She seemed to know that her time had come and wanted to spend her last moments in devotion. Within a few hours, she passed away peacefully.
5. The way in which the sparrows expressed their sorrow when the author’s grandmother died:
When the grandmother died, something very unusual happened. Thousands of sparrows came to their house. They sat quietly in the verandah, near the body of the grandmother. They did not chirp, move, or eat anything, even though the family offered them crumbs of bread.
After sitting in silence for a long time, they flew away quietly. This behavior of the sparrows showed that they were mourning her death in their own way, expressing a deep and silent sorrow.
Talking About the Text [Page No 6]
1. The author’s grandmother was a religious person. What are the different ways in which we come to know this?
We come to know that the author’s grandmother was a deeply religious person through her daily routine and behavior. She always carried a rosary in her hands and moved her fingers along its beads while silently praying. In the village, she would spend time in the temple reading scriptures and listening to religious discourses. Even when she moved to the city, her life remained filled with devotion. She continued to spin the wheel (charkha) and chant prayers throughout the day. She strongly believed in traditional values and was not pleased when the author’s education did not include religious teachings. Her last act—singing devotional songs the night before her death—shows her unshakable faith and devotion to God.
2. Describe the changing relationship between the author and his grandmother. Did their feelings for each other change?
The relationship between the author and his grandmother changed with time and circumstances, but their feelings of love and respect for each other remained the same. In the village, they were very close — she cared for him like a mother and they spent a lot of time together. When they moved to the city, their closeness reduced as the author got busy with his studies. Later, during university life, they hardly spoke during the day. Even though their physical closeness decreased, their emotional bond stayed strong. The grandmother silently supported him and never complained. The author also respected her deeply. So, while their interaction changed, their affection never faded.
3. Would you agree that the author’s grandmother was a person strong in character? If yes, give instances that show this.
Yes, the author’s grandmother was definitely a person strong in character. She was calm, self-reliant, and firm in her beliefs. She lived a disciplined and simple life. Even when she could no longer help the author with his studies, she quietly accepted it and never forced her opinions. She remained peaceful, prayerful, and independent till the end of her life. Another example of her strength was her acceptance of death. When she realized her time had come, she calmly stopped talking to anyone and devoted her last hours to praying. Her strength was in her silence, faith, and inner peace.
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?
Yes, many people have known someone like the author’s grandmother in their own lives — a kind, loving, and wise elderly family member. For example, some of us may have had a grandmother or grandfather who guided us with their love and life lessons. When such a person passes away, the sense of loss is very deep. We miss their presence, care, and the comfort they brought into our lives. Their memories stay with us forever, and just like the author, we feel a silent grief that cannot be expressed in words.
Thinking About Language [Page No 7]
1. Which language do you think the author and his grandmother used while talking to each other?
It is most likely that the author and his grandmother spoke in Punjabi, as the author Khushwant Singh belonged to Punjab. Since his grandmother lived a traditional life in a village and read scriptures, Punjabi would have been their natural and comfortable language for communication.
2. Which language do you use to talk to elderly relatives in your family?
(Your answer may vary depending on your family background. Here’s a sample answer.)
I usually speak in Bengali when I talk to my grandparents and other elderly relatives in my family. It helps them feel comfortable and respected. Sometimes I also use Hindi or simple English words if needed.
3. How would you say ‘a dilapidated drum’ in your language?
(Your answer will depend on your mother tongue. )
4. Can you think of a song or a poem in your language that talks of homecoming?
(Again, this depends on your native language. )
Working with Words [Page No 7]
I. Notice the following uses of the word ‘tell’ in the text:
- Her fingers were busy telling the beads of her rosary.
- I would tell her English words and little things of Western science and learning.
- At her age one could never tell.
- She told us that her end was near.
Now, match the sentences above with the correct meanings of the word ‘tell’:
| Sentence | Meaning |
| 1 | (2) Count while reciting – “telling the beads” means counting the beads while chanting prayers. |
| 2 | (1) Make something known to someone in spoken or written words – Here, the author is informing or teaching her. |
| 3 | (3) Be sure – It means one could not be certain about what would happen at her age. |
| 4 | (4) Give information to somebody – She informed the family about her coming death. |
II. Notice the different senses of the word ‘take’:
- To take to something – means to start doing something regularly or as a habit.
- To take ill – means to suddenly become sick.
Now locate these in the text:
- “She took to feeding sparrows in the courtyard of our city house.”
→ Here, “took to” means she developed a habit of feeding sparrows every afternoon. - “The next morning she was taken ill.”
→ In this sentence, “taken ill” means she suddenly became sick.
III. The word ‘hobble’ means to walk with difficulty because the legs and feet are in bad condition.
Now, tick the words from the box that also refer to a manner of walking:
✅ Shuffle – to walk by dragging feet slowly.
✅ Stride – to walk with long, confident steps.
✅ Waddle – to walk with short steps and a side-to-side motion, like a duck.
✅ Wriggle – although often used for twisting, it can describe squirming movement while walking.
✅ Swagger – to walk with pride or arrogance.
✅ Trudge – to walk slowly and heavily, as if tired.
✅ Slog – to walk with effort or difficulty, especially through mud or fatigue.
❌ Haggle – means to argue over a price.
❌ Ride – not a type of walking.
❌ Paddle – usually used for movement in water (not walking).
Noticing Form [Page No 8]
In this section, we look at how verbs are used in the past perfect tense in the story. This tense is often used when we talk about things that happened before another action in the past.
Let’s examine the 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.”
- Here, the verbs had been, had known, had once been, and had had are all in the past perfect tense.
- They describe things that happened long before the time the author is talking about.
- Example: “She had been old…” shows that she was already old when the author first saw her.
2. “When we both had finished we would walk back together.”
- The phrase had finished shows that the action of finishing (food or prayers) was completed before they walked back together.
- This also uses the past perfect to show a sequence of actions in the past.
3. “When I came back she would ask me what the teacher had taught me.”
- The verb had taught refers to what happened in the class — before she asked him about it.
- It clearly separates two past actions: teaching (earlier) and asking (later).
4. “It was the first time since I had known her that she did not pray.”
- The phrase had known again refers to the long past — showing that from the beginning of their relationship she always prayed, and this moment was the first exception.
5. “The sun was setting and had lit her room and verandah with a golden light.”
- Here, had lit shows that the sunlight had already filled the room before the action being described.
👉 These examples help us understand that Past Perfect Tense is used when we talk about an action completed before another action in the past. It is made by using ‘had’ + past participle of the verb (e.g., had been, had gone, had taught, had known).
Things to Do
Task:
Talk with your family members about elderly people whom you have been closely connected with and who are not there with you now.
Then write a short description of someone you liked a lot.
Sample Answer:
A Short Description of My Grandfather
My grandfather was a kind, gentle, and wise man. He lived with us and played an important role in my life when I was a child. He always told me stories from the Ramayana and Mahabharata, and his voice was full of warmth and peace. Even though he was old and his body was weak, his mind was sharp. He would never miss his morning prayers, and he loved feeding birds in the garden.
He taught me the importance of truth, kindness, and respect for others. Whenever I had a problem, I would go to him, and he would listen patiently and give the best advice. He never raised his voice, yet everyone respected him deeply.
When he passed away, I felt like I had lost a best friend. Even now, I remember his smile and soft voice. His values still guide me, and I feel his blessings are always with me.
✅ Now you can write your own paragraph using this sample as a guide. Try to describe someone with details about their looks, habits, values, and what you miss about them.
Exam Pattern-Based Questions Answers
Exam Pattern-Based Questions Answers are designed according to the latest CBSE guidelines to help students score better. These include MCQs, short and long answers, and competency-based questions. They ensure thorough practice and clear understanding of the exam format.
Extract-Based Questions: The Portrait of a Lady Questions Answers
One Prose extract from the book Hornbill, to assess comprehension, interpretation, analysis, evaluation, and appreciation. 3×1=3 Marks
The Portrait of a Lady Questions Answers Set 1
1. Read the given extracts carefully and answer the following questions. (1X3=3marks)
Although we shared the same room, my grandmother no longer came to school with me. I used to go to an English school in a motor bus. There were no dogs in the streets and she took to feeding sparrows in the courtyard of our city house. As the years rolled by we saw less of each other. For some time she continued to wake me up and get me ready for school. When I came back she would ask me what the teacher had taught me. I would tell her English words and little things of western science and learning, the law of gravity, Archimedes’ Principle, the world being round, etc. This made her unhappy.
(i) What changes occurred in the relationship of the author and his grandmother in the city?
(a) Grandmother didn’t accompany him to school.
(b) She couldn’t help him with his studies.
(c) She was unhappy with the things being taught to him in school.
(d) All of the above
Answer: (d) All of the above
(ii) Select the suitable word from the extract to complete the following analogy.
Rolled by: Passed:: Took to: …………….
Answer: Started
(Explanation: “Took to” means to begin or develop a habit — in this case, feeding sparrows.)
(iii) Why was the grandmother unhappy with the author’s new school?
Answer: She was unhappy because she could not understand the English words and scientific concepts the author was learning. She felt that the school did not teach about God or religion, which she valued deeply.
The Portrait of a Lady Questions Answers Set 2
2. Read the given extracts carefully and answer the following questions. (1X3=3marks)
“My grandmother, like everybody’s 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.”
1. What was hard for the author to believe?
A. That his grandmother was once a singer
B. That his grandmother could cook well
C. That his grandmother was once young and pretty
D. That his grandmother loved TV shows
Answer: C
2. The narrator says his grandmother had been old and wrinkled for the past _______ years.
Answer: twenty
3. Reason-Assertion:
Assertion (A): The author never saw his grandmother as a young woman.
Reason (R): She had been old and wrinkled since the narrator’s childhood.
A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
C. A is true, but R is false.
D. A is false, but R is true.
Answer: A
The Portrait of a Lady Questions Answers Set 3
3. Read the given extracts carefully and answer the following questions. (1X3=3marks)
“She used to wake me up in the morning and get me ready for school. She said her morning prayer in a sing-song voice while she bathed and dressed me in the hope that I would listen and get to know it by heart.”
a. What does the narrator’s grandmother hope while she recites her prayers?
Answer: She hopes that the narrator will listen to her prayers and learn them by heart.
2. How did the grandmother say her morning prayers?
A. Loudly and angrily
B. In a silent whisper
C. In a sing-song voice
D. Without any words
Answer: C
3. Fill in the Blank:
The grandmother helped the narrator get ready for ________.
Answer: school
The Portrait of a Lady Questions Answers Set 4
4. Read the given extracts carefully and answer the following questions. (1X3=3marks)
“That was the turning point in our friendship. Although we shared the same room, my grandmother no longer came to school with me. I used to go in a motor bus. There were no dogs in the streets, and she took to feeding sparrows in the courtyard of our city house.”
1. Complete the Sentence:
The narrator says that the turning point in their friendship was when ______________________.
Answer: he started going to the city school and his grandmother no longer accompanied him.
2. Fill in the Blank:
In the city, the grandmother took to feeding ________ in the courtyard.
Answer: sparrows
3. How did the narrator go to school after moving to the city?
A. On foot
B. On a bullock cart
C. In a motor bus
D. On a bicycle
Answer: C
The Portrait of a Lady Questions Answers Set 5
5. Read the given extracts carefully and answer the following questions. (1X3=3marks)
“She did not pray. She collected the women of the neighborhood, got an old drum and started to sing. For several hours she thumped the sagging skins of the dilapidated drum and sang of the homecoming of warriors.”
1. Assertion (A): The grandmother did not pray on the last day of her life.
Reason (R): She was too sick to pray.
A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation.
B. A is true, but R is false.
C. Both A and R are false.
D. A is false, but R is true.
Answer: B
2. What did the grandmother sing about on her last day?
A. Stories from the Quran
B. The homecoming of warriors
C. Tales of Krishna’s childhood
D. The sorrow of parting
Answer: B
3. Fill in the Blank:
The grandmother used a _______ drum to sing on her last day.
Answer: dilapidated
The Portrait of a Lady Questions Answers Set 6
6. Read the given extracts carefully and answer the following questions. (1X3=3marks)
“In the evening a change came over her. She did not pray. She lay peacefully in bed praying and telling her beads till her lips stopped moving and the rosary fell from her lifeless fingers.”
1. Complete the Sentence:
The rosary fell from her fingers because __________________.
Answer: she had passed away peacefully.
2. What change was noticed in the grandmother in the evening?
A. She became angry and shouted
B. She started to sing loudly
C. She stopped praying aloud and lay silently
D. She began writing a diary
Answer: C
3. How did the grandmother spend her last moments?
Answer: She lay peacefully in bed, silently praying and telling her rosary beads until she passed away.
The Portrait of a Lady Questions Answers Set 7
7. Read the given extracts carefully and answer the following questions. (1X3=3marks)
“I would tell her English words and little things of Western science and learning, the law of gravity, Archimedes’ Principle, the world being round, etc. This made her unhappy. She could not help me with my lessons.”
1. Fill in the Blank:
The narrator’s grandmother was unhappy because she could not help him with ____________.
Answer: his lessons
2. Which of the following did the narrator not mention while telling his grandmother about science?
A. Archimedes’ Principle
B. Pythagoras’ Theorem
C. Law of Gravity
D. The world being round
Answer: B
3. Why did the grandmother disapprove of Western science?
Answer: Because she did not understand it and felt it had no place for teaching about God and scriptures.
The Portrait of a Lady Questions Answers Set 8
8. Read the given extracts carefully and answer the following questions. (1X3=3marks)
“The thought was almost revolting. She often told us of the games she used to play as a child. That seemed quite absurd and undignified on her part and we treated it like the fables of the prophets she used to tell us.”
1. Reason-Assertion:
Assertion (A): The narrator found it hard to believe that his grandmother was once a child.
Reason (R): She always appeared old and wrinkled to him.
A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
C. A is true, but R is false.
D. A is false, but R is true.
Answer: A
2. What did the narrator compare the grandmother’s childhood stories to?
A. Fairy tales
B. Historical events
C. Fables of the prophets
D. Moral lessons
Answer: C
3. Complete the Sentence:
The narrator found the idea of his grandmother playing games in her childhood ____________.
Answer: absurd and undignified
The Portrait of a Lady Questions Answers Set 9
9. Read the given extracts carefully and answer the following questions. (1X3=3marks)
“We protested. But she ignored our protests. She lay peacefully in bed praying and telling her beads. Even before we could suspect, her lips stopped moving and the rosary fell from her lifeless fingers.”
1. What did the grandmother do in her final moments?
A. Cried and asked for help
B. Spoke to her grandson
C. Prayed silently and told her beads
D. Asked for wate
Answer: C
2. How did the family members know that the grandmother had died?
Answer: Her lips stopped moving, and the rosary fell from her fingers.
3. Fill in the Blank:
The grandmother ignored the family’s _________ to rest and not strain herself.
Answer: protests
The Portrait of a Lady Questions Answers Set 10
10. Read the given extracts carefully and answer the following questions. (1X3=3marks)
“Thousands of sparrows sat silently in the verandah, in the room, near her body. There was no chirruping. They did not touch the crumbs of bread we had thrown to them. In the evening they flew away quietly.”
1. Fill in the Blank:
The sparrows did not eat the _________ thrown to them during the grandmother’s mourning.
Answer: crumbs of bread
2. What emotion did the sparrows seem to express when the grandmother died?
A. Excitement
B. Hunger
C. Joy
D. Grief
Answer: D
3. Complete the Sentence:
The sparrows gathered near the grandmother’s body and sat ____________.
Answer: silently, without chirping or eating anything
The Portrait of a Lady Questions Answers Set 11
11. Read the given extracts carefully and answer the following questions. (1X3=3marks)
“She was a religious person. Every morning she said her prayers while telling the beads of her rosary. Her lips constantly moved in silent prayer, and her hands were always busy counting the beads.”
1. What does the narrator’s description show about his grandmother’s daily habit?
Answer: She was deeply religious and prayed every morning using her rosary beads.
2. What did the grandmother use while praying?
A. A candle
B. Prayer book
C. Rosary beads
D. Temple bell
Answer: C
3. Fill in the Blank:
The grandmother’s lips were constantly moving in __________.
Answer: silent prayer
Short Answer Type Questions: The Portrait of a Lady Questions Answers
One Short answer type question (one from Prose from the book Hornbill), to be answered in 40-50 words. Questions should elicit inferential responses through critical thinking. 3×1=3 Marks
The Portrait of a Lady Questions Answers Set 1
1. How does Khushwant Singh describe his grandfather’s portrait?
Ans: Khushwant Singh describes his grandfather as a man with a long white beard that covered his chest. He looked as if he had lots of grandchildren. His portrait showed him wearing a turban and loose-fitting clothes. He appeared to be a hundred years old, but strangely enough, the author could never imagine him being young. He looked a hundred years old. To the author, he did not look like the sort of person who would have a wife or children; he looked as if he could only have lots and lots of grandchildren.
2. Mention how the sparrows expressed their sorrow when the grandmother died.
Ans: When the grandmother died, thousands of sparrows came and sat silently around her dead body. They made no sound, nor did they chirp. They did not eat the breadcrumbs offered to them. After sitting for hours in mourning, they quietly flew away. Their silent presence showed deep sorrow, more meaningful than any human mourning.
3. Was the distancing between Khushwant Singh and his grandmother due to the demands of the situation? Give reasons.
Ans: Yes, the distancing was due to changes in the author’s life. As he moved to an English school in the city, the grandmother could no longer accompany or help him with studies. The subjects taught were foreign to her, and she disapproved of them. Slowly, their daily interactions reduced, though their bond remained strong emotionally.
The Portrait of a Lady Questions Answers Set 2
4. ‘To her music had lewd associations’. Comment on the statement in the light of the story ‘The Portrait of a Lady’.
Ans: The grandmother associated music with low moral values. She believed that music was meant only for beggars and prostitutes. So, when her grandson was taught music in school, she was deeply disturbed. For her, education should be spiritual and religious, not based on modern or western practices, especially not something as immoral as music.
5. “You don’t need words to mourn a loss.” Illustrate with reference to the sparrows’ strange behaviour near grandmother’s corpse.
Ans: The sparrows mourned the grandmother’s death in complete silence. They neither made a sound nor touched the food offered to them. They sat quietly around her body for hours and left without creating any disturbance. Their non-verbal mourning conveyed deep sorrow and respect, proving that true grief doesn’t always need words or expressions.
6. Explain the sentence “As for my grandmother being young and pretty, the thought was almost revolting”.
Ans: The narrator’s grandmother was terribly old and wrinkled. She had stayed like this for the past twenty years. People had said that she was once young and pretty but the very idea was revolting and unbelievable to the author.
The Portrait of a Lady Questions Answers Set 3
7. Describe the author’s grandmother. Was she young and pretty once?
Ans: The author’s grandmother was short, fat and slightly bent in stature. Her silvery white hair was scattered over her wrinkled face.
The author remembers her hobbling around the house in spotless white clothes with one hand resting on her waist to balance her stoop and the other busy in counting beads. It was difficult for the author to believe that once she too was young and pretty as he had always known her as an old woman.
8. Elucidate the phrase ‘not pretty but beautiful’ with reference to the chapter.
Ans: To the author, the grandmother was not pretty but beautiful. She was beautiful in a peaceful way. He remembered her counting 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.
9. Interpret the use of metaphor by Khushwant Singh as he compares his grandmother to the ‘winter landscape in the mountains.
Ans: The author brings out the inner beauty of the grandmother by comparing her to the winter landscape in the mountains This comparison shows her calmness and serenity. Moreover, like the winter, the grandmother too was going through the last stage of her life. Just as the mountains are covered with snow and appear white, the old lady with her white clothes, white hair and pale skin appeared the same Through the comparison, the author brings out the serenity and peacefulness of the grandmother.
The Portrait of a Lady Questions Answers Set 4
10. Give details about the narrator’s education and school in the village.
Ans: The author would take a wooden slate plastered with yellow chalk, a tiny earthen ink-pot and a red pen to the school. His school was located right next to a temple. He was taught in his school by the priest. In addition to the alphabet, he learned the morning prayer. The children would sit on either side of the verandah singing the alphabet or the prayer in a chorus.
11. The grandmother herself was not formally educated but was serious about the author’s education. Identify instances from the text that support the above statement.
Ans: The grandmother was quite serious about the author’s education. She woke him up in the morning and got him ready for school. She washed his wooden slate. She plastered it with yellow chalk. She tied his earthen ink-pet and reed pen into a bundle. She took him to school and waited for him in the temple reading scriptures. Even in the city, she showed interest in his studies. However, when she learnt what was being taught there, she became distressed.
12. Bring out the contrast between the school education in the village and in the city.
Ans: The education in the village school was vastly different from the education in the city school. In the village, the school was next to a temple and the priest himself was teacher. He taught them the alphabet and the morning prayer. However, in the city school, there was no teaching of God or the scriptures. English and science along with music were taught in the city school.
The Portrait of a Lady Questions Answers Set 5
13. Explain the grandmother’s reaction to discovering that the music was taught in the school.
Ans: The grandmother thought that music was associated with indecent professions. She thought that it should not be taught
to decent and gentle people like her grandson. That is why she was disturbed when she came to know that the narrator was being taught music in the English school in the city
14. “I was sure my grandmother would be upset.” What was the author sure about? Was he right?
Ans: When the author decided to go to abroad for further studies, he was sure that his grandmother would be upset. But she was not sentimental. She went to bid him goodbye at the railway station. However, she didn’t talk or show any emotion. She was lost in prayer and was counting her beads. them. Why did the author think, sof
15. Identify the instance of last physical contact between
Ans: When the author was going abroad for five years for higher studies, the grandmother went to see him off at the railway station. He could tell that she was still reciting The grandmother then kissed his forehead prayers. lovingly. That kiss seemed to the author as the last sign of physical contact between them. He perhaps thought that the grandmother, being old, might not survive for five years.
The Portrait of a Lady Questions Answers Set 6
16. The grandmother’s farewell and reception of her grandson were very touching. Comment.
Ans: When the author went abroad, the grandmother came to the station to see him off. She was not sentimental and was silently praying and counting her beads. She kissed her grandson’s forehead as a goodbye gesture. When he returned after five years, she expressed her joy by collecting the women of the neighbourhood and singing for hours about the homecoming of warriors. For the first time, she missed her prayers.
17. The distance between the author and his grandmother becomes unavoidable. Elaborate on this statement focusing on the theme of separation. Competency Based
Ans: It is true to say that the distance between the author and his grandmother became unavoidable in the city. The relationship and bond between the grandson-grand mother duo developed in the village where grandmother was responsible for taking care of the narrator’s needs. She was involved in every aspect of the narrator’s life. In contrast, there came a gap in the city as the grandmother could not be much involved in her grandson’s education. While she was involved, it was only partial. As time passed, this gap widened perhaps because the narrator’s life revolved around other things. Later, the bond deteriorated as the narrator got his own room and went abroad. The gap which was created and separation that happened was inevitable as their lives changed and the author developed his own interests.
18. How does the narrator’s pursuit of Western education affect his relationship with his grandmother?
Ans: The narrator’s pursuit of Western education symbolises the broader clash between tradition and modernity in Indian society. As he embraces new ideas and ways of thinking, a rift gradually emerges between him and his grandmother, who steadfastly clings to her traditional beliefs. Their once-close relationship becomes strained as they struggle to reconcile their differing worldviews, highlighting the challenges of generational and cultural divides.
Long Answer Type Questions: The Portrait of a Lady Questions Answers
One Long answer type question, from Prose of Hornbill, to be answered in 120-150 words. Questions can be based on incident / theme / passage / extract / event, as reference points to assess extrapolation beyond and across the text. The question will elicit analytical and evaluative response from the student. 1×6=6 Marks
The Portrait of a Lady Questions Answers Set 1
1. “She could never have been pretty, but she was always beautiful.” How does the narrator portray this? What values do we learn from the Grandmother’s character?
Ans: Khushwant Singh describes his grandmother as an old, wrinkled, and slightly bent woman. She had always looked the same to him, and though not traditionally pretty, her face radiated peace, strength, and inner beauty. Her calm nature, kindness, and discipline made her beautiful in the eyes of others. Her strong faith in God, her selfless love for her grandson, and her acceptance of life’s changes made her a role model. Despite the emotional distance that grew as the narrator’s lifestyle changed, her devotion and silent affection never wavered. After the author moved abroad, she lived a simple and spiritual life. Even before her death, she accepted it with grace and dignity. Her life teaches us values of love, acceptance, simplicity, spirituality, and strength of character.
2. Khushwant Singh’s grandmother wrote a letter to her sister describing her views on the education her grandson was receiving in the city school. She compares the situation with education in the village. Write this letter on her behalf.
Ans: Dear Sister,
I hope this letter finds you in good health. Things have changed a lot since we moved to the city. My grandson now attends an English school. He travels in a motor bus and studies subjects I do not understand—science, the law of gravity, and strange words in English. They do not teach about God or scriptures, and that worries me.
Back in the village, his education was simple and sacred. He learned to read the alphabet while sitting by my side in the temple. The priest taught him the holy texts, and I felt proud. But here, I cannot help him anymore. They even teach him music, which I find improper.
Times are changing, dear sister, and I must accept it, but my heart longs for the quiet days of our village. I miss the spiritual connection in his education.
Yours lovingly,
Grandmother
The Portrait of a Lady Questions Answers Set 2
3. “Acceptance and resilience are the hallmarks of a strong character.” Discuss with reference to the grandmother in ‘The Portrait of a Lady’.
The grandmother in “The Portrait of a Lady” is a perfect example of acceptance and resilience. When the narrator moved from village to city, and later abroad, she gracefully accepted the changes. Though she was disturbed by the modern education system, she never showed bitterness. Instead, she adapted by focusing on things she loved, like feeding sparrows and chanting prayers. Even when she was left alone during the narrator’s absence, she did not complain. She filled her days with quiet devotion and continued her simple routine. Before dying, she calmly accepted her fate, praying until her last breath. She lived with dignity and died peacefully, surrounded by silent sparrows who mourned her in their own way. Her life teaches us that strength lies in silent endurance, faith, and love. She never lost her grace, no matter what changes came her way—a true mark of strong character.
4. Describe the author’s grandmother’s life in the village in contrast with the kind of the life she led in the city, highlighting her values.
Ans: In the village, the author’s grandmother led a simple and traditional life. She was deeply religious, recited prayers, and helped the author get ready for school. She accompanied him to the village school, which was attached to the temple, and spent her time reading scriptures. She felt connected to both religion and education in the village.
However, in the city, her life changed. She could no longer help the author with his studies or understand the modern education he received. She spent her time alone, spinning the wheel and feeding the sparrows. She was disturbed by the teaching of science and music, which lacked religious values. Despite the changes, she remained dignified, selfless, and accepting, showing patience and inner strength. Her values of faith, love, and resilience remained strong throughout.
The Portrait of a Lady Questions Answers Set 3
5. “All over the verandah and in her room right up to where she lay dead and stiff wrapped in the red shroud, thousands of sparrows sat scattered on the floor. There was no chirruping… The sparrows took no notice of the bread. When we carried my grandmother’s corpse off, they flew away quietly.” Animals recognise and value a relationship established with human beings. Explain this, keeping in mind the relationship established by Khushwant Singh’s grandmother with animals.
Ans: Animals recognise and value a relationship established with human beings. Explain this, keeping in mind the relationship established by Khushwant Singh’s grandmother with animals.**
Khushwant Singh’s grandmother had a deep, silent bond with the sparrows. Every afternoon, she fed them with love and care, sitting in the courtyard. Though she never spoke to them, they understood her affection. When she died, thousands of sparrows gathered around her body in silent mourning. They neither chirped nor touched the food offered to them. Their quiet presence and stillness showed genuine grief. This shows that animals can deeply sense emotions and relationships, even without words. The sparrows’ behaviour proves that even birds can recognise kindness, love, and loss, highlighting that compassion builds unspoken connections between humans and animals.
6. The chapter “The Portrait of a Lady’ displays the sad reality of old age. Old people face loneliness and seclusion. Imagine yourself to be a high school teacher who has to give a speech on the topic ‘Pain of Old Age’ in the school assembly. Write this address in 120-150 words, elaborating on the importance of respecting old people.
Ans: Imagine yourself as a high school teacher addressing the assembly.
Good morning everyone,
Today, I would like to speak about a truth we often overlook – the pain of old age.
Old age is a phase where people often feel lonely, ignored, and helpless. As children grow up and get busy with studies or careers, the elderly are left behind. They miss conversations, support, and the respect they once had. Many suffer in silence, longing for attention and affection.
We must remember that our grandparents and elders have sacrificed a lot for us. They were once strong, energetic, and loving. They deserve our care, love, and respect. A small gesture – a talk, a smile, or even listening to them – can bring them great happiness.
Let us never forget: one day we too will grow old. Let us build a world where old age is respected, not feared.
Thank you.
The Portrait of a Lady Questions Answers Set 4
7. The grandson in ‘The Portrait of a Lady’ emerges as a complex and multifaceted character whose journey of self-discovery and cultural exploration resonates with themes of identity, belonging, and the search for meaning in a changing world. Comment.
Ans: The grandson in “The Portrait of a Lady” by Khushwant Singh is not just a passive observer but a character undergoing silent transformation. His journey from a village boy to an English-educated urban youth reflects a clash between tradition and modernity. In the village, he shares a deep emotional bond with his grandmother, participating in religious routines. But in the city, he grows apart, exposed to Western science, English education, and new ideas, creating a cultural and emotional gap between him and his grandmother. Though he adapts to the modern world, he never loses respect or love for his grandmother. Her death and the sparrows’ silent mourning leave a deep impression on him, symbolising the loss of a pure, spiritual connection. Through this relationship, the narrator explores themes of identity, cultural transition, and the quiet pain of change, making him a thoughtful and evolving character.
