Class 11 English Hornbill Chapter 1 – The Portrait of a Lady (Khushwant Singh) Long question answers

 

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 Education Loan

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.