NCERT Solutions For Class 11 English
Hornbill
Chapter 1 – The
Portrait of a Lady (Khushwant Singh)
Long question answers
Question 1: What are the three phases of the
author’s relationship with his grandmother before he left country to study
abroad.
Answer:
Before
leaving the nation to study abroad, the author's connection with his
grandmother progressed through three stages:
1. During childhood, the grandma assisted him in
preparing for school and accompanying him to school.
2. In his childhood, he used to ride the bus to school in
the city. He shared a room with his grandma, but she could no longer help him
with his academics.
3. During his early adolescence, he was given his own
room at university. The common thread of friendship was severed.Student
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Question 2: Give three reasons why the
author’s grandmother was disturbed when he started going to the city school.
Answer:
The three reasons why the author's grandma was upset when he began attending
the city school are:
1. She hated western science and learning.
2. She was disappointed to find no teachings about God or
the scriptures.
3. She had an allergy to music. She assumed that was not
intended for nice folks and gentlemen. It was the exclusive domain of
prostitutes and beggars.
Question 3: What are the three ways in which
the author’s grandmother spent her days after he grew up.
Answer:
The
author's grandmother spent her days after he grew up in three ways:
• She lived alone in her chamber, accepting loneliness
quietly.
• She sat at her
spinning wheel, chanting prayers.
• She spent 30 minutes in the afternoon feeding birds.
Question 4:
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 exhibited a deep and unwavering devotion, evident in her
daily rituals. Each morning, she made a regular pilgrimage to the temple,
delving into scripture reading. In the sanctity of her home, she maintained a
consistent practice of softly murmuring inaudible prayers, all the while
attentively tallying the beads of her rosary. As the writer prepared for school,
she would melodiously repeat prayers, desiring that he commit them to memory.
Dissatisfied with the lack of religious teachings in the English school, she
favored institutions that integrated God and scriptures.
Even during her sessions at the spinning-wheel, she
upheld the tradition of reciting prayers. A singular departure from this
routine occurred on the evening preceding her demise, fueled by the exuberance
of celebrating her grandson's arrival with songs and drumbeats. In the midst of
this joyful event, she unintentionally neglected her prayers. Nevertheless,
from that jubilant moment until her last breath, her devotion remained
steadfast. She continued to recite prayers and diligently count the beads of
her rosary, demonstrating an enduring commitment to her religious practices.
Question 5:
Describe the friendship ‘between Khushwant Singh and his grandmother.
Answer:
Khushwant
Singh's grandmother played a crucial role in nurturing him during their shared
time in the village in his early years. Establishing a daily routine, she would
rouse him early each morning, singing prayers as she bathed and dressed him,
aiming for him to commit them to memory. Following this, she would serve him
breakfast, typically a stale chapatti with butter and sugar. Together, they
would then make their way to the temple school where the author pursued his
studies, and the grandmother immersed herself in reading holy books. Their
joint activities concluded upon returning home.
A turning point in their relationship transpired when his
parents called them to the city. Despite sharing a room, the grandmother's
capacity to assist him waned. Her aversion to music, science, and Western
education resulted in a gradual dissolution of the shared bond that had been
central to their friendship.
Question 6:
What image of the grandmother emerges from ‘The Portrait of a Lady’?
Answer:
Khushwant
Singh’s grandmother is depicted as an elderly woman, short in stature, with a
plump figure, and a slightly bent posture. Clad in immaculate white attire, her
face adorned with wrinkles, she exuded a deep sense of religiosity. Her lips
were in perpetual motion, engaged in silent prayers, and she consistently
counted the beads of her rosary. Regular visits to the temple for scripture
reading were part of her routine.
This grandmother was characterized by her kindness,
extending her compassion to dogs in the village and later, sparrows in the
city. Her profound affection for her grandson was evident as she cared for him
in the village. However, she found it challenging to adapt to Western customs,
scientific knowledge, and English education. Her aversion to music was coupled
with distress over the absence of teachings about God and holy books at
Khushwant's new English school. In summary, she was a benevolent, kind-hearted,
and deeply religious woman.
Question 7:
Write a character sketch of the author’s grandmother.
Answer:
Khushwant
Singh's grandmother, an elderly figure, had a petite and stout stature with a
gentle bend, her face marked by wrinkles and adorned with white hair. Despite
her advanced age, she radiated warmth and affection, playing a crucial role in
the author's upbringing. The duo lived in the village, where she diligently
attended to him by waking him early, preparing him for school, serving
breakfast, and accompanying him to his educational endeavors. Their routine
included her waiting for him at the temple, engaging in prayer while he
studied, and their subsequent return home.
A compassionate individual, she extended her kindness to
animals, initially feeding dogs in the village and later, sparrows in the city.
Immersed in her religious beliefs, she maintained a continuous, silent prayer
on her lips and regularly counted the beads of her rosary. Her commitment to
her faith also led her to frequent the temple for scripture reading.
Despite a lack of formal education, she embodied
resilience and strong convictions, particularly in matters related to the
author's education. Struggling to reconcile with Western lifestyle, science,
and English education, she held a disdain for music. Her distress arose from
the absence of teachings about God and holy books in Khushwant's new English
school. In essence, she epitomized qualities of kindness, affection,
resilience, and religious devotion.
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