Class 11 | Lesson 1 The Portrait of a Lady

 

Class 11th English (Hornbill)

📘 Lesson 1 — The Portrait of a Lady — Summary & MCQs

Author: Khushwant Singh

Summary (English)

The chapter is a touching autobiographical account of the author’s relationship with his grandmother. The author describes her as an old, dignified, and deeply religious woman. She had a wrinkled face, stooped body, and always prayed while counting her beads.

The author remembers how she used to wake him up, get him ready for school, and accompany him to the village school. While he studied, she read holy scriptures. She fed the village dogs every day.

When they moved to the city, their bond weakened. The author started going to an English school in a bus, and she could no longer accompany him or help with his studies. She disliked English and science subjects, especially the absence of God and scriptures. The biggest shock for her was when the author took music lessons.

As the author grew older, their interaction reduced to silence and affection. When he returned home after five years abroad, she was overjoyed. That night she sang, prayed, and celebrated by playing the drum with other women—something she rarely did.

The next day she fell ill. She stopped talking and prayed until her last breath. After her death, sparrows gathered around her body silently, as if mourning her departure. They left without touching the breadcrumbs offered to them, showing a deep, silent respect.

Analysis (English)

• Theme of Grandmother–Grandson Bond: The story beautifully portrays unconditional love and the emotional connection between the author and his grandmother.
• Simplicity & Spirituality: The grandmother symbolises purity, simplicity, and spirituality. Her life revolves around prayer, duty, and compassion.
• Change & Modern Education: The story shows how modern education and lifestyle create distance between generations.
• Symbolism of Sparrows: The sparrows represent nature’s silent tribute to the grandmother. Their behaviour suggests she had a peaceful, spiritually powerful presence.
• Tone: Nostalgic, affectionate, and slightly melancholic.

📘 लेडी का चित्र — सारांश (Hindi)

यह पाठ लेखक और उनकी दादी के बीच के घनिष्ठ संबंध का आत्मकथात्मक वर्णन है। लेखक अपनी दादी को एक बुज़ुर्ग, सरल और अत्यधिक धार्मिक महिला के रूप में चित्रित करते हैं। उनका चेहरा झुर्रियों से भरा था, शरीर झुका हुआ था, और वे हमेशा माला जपती रहती थीं।

गाँव में दादी लेखक को रोज़ स्कूल के लिए तैयार करतीं, उसके साथ मंदिर तक जातीं और स्कूल के दौरान धार्मिक पुस्तकें पढ़तीं। वे प्रतिदिन सड़क के कुत्तों को रोटी खिलाती थीं।

शहर आने पर दोनों के बीच दूरी बढ़ने लगी। लेखक अंग्रेज़ी स्कूल बस से जाते थे और दादी उनके साथ नहीं जा सकती थीं। उन्हें अंग्रेज़ी और विज्ञान के विषय पसंद नहीं थे, क्योंकि उनमें भगवान या धर्म का उल्लेख नहीं था। जब लेखक ने संगीत सीखना शुरू किया, तो यह दादी के लिए सबसे बड़ा धक्का था।

समय के साथ उनकी बातचीत कम हो गई, पर प्रेम बना रहा। विदेश से लौटने पर लेखक को देखकर दादी बहुत खुश हुईं और महिलाओं के साथ ढोलक बजाकर उत्सव मनाया। अगले दिन वे बीमार पड़ गईं और मौन होकर जप करती रहीं। थोड़ी देर बाद उनका शांतिपूर्ण निधन हो गया। उनकी मृत्यु पर घर में आए चिड़ियों के झुंड ने बिना चहचहाए उनके पास बैठकर मानो मौन श्रद्धांजलि दी। उन्होंने रोटी के टुकड़ों को भी नहीं छुआ।

📚 विश्लेषण (Hindi)

• दादी-पोते के रिश्ते को दर्शाता है — प्रेम, स्नेह और त्याग पर आधारित।
• दादी सरल, धार्मिक और नैतिक मूल्यों की प्रतीक हैं।
• आधुनिक शिक्षा और पीढ़ियों के बीच बढ़ती दूरी को दर्शाता है।
• चिड़ियों का मौन शोक प्रकृति द्वारा दी गई श्रद्धांजलि जैसा प्रतीत होता है।
• लहजा (Tone): भावुक, स्मरणात्मक और संवेदनशील।

📘 The Portrait of a Lady — 20 Important MCQs (With Answers)

1. 1. Who is the author of “The Portrait of a Lady”?
   A. R.K. Narayan

   B. Khushwant Singh

   C. Mulk Raj Anand

   D. Ruskin Bond
   Answer: B. Khushwant Singh
2. 2. What kind of relationship did the author share with his grandmother?
   A. Formal

   B. Distant

   C. Close and affectionate

   D. Professional
   Answer: C. Close and affectionate
3. 3. The grandmother’s face was described as —
   A. Young and beautiful

   B. Wrinkled and peaceful

   C. Angry and sharp

   D. Pale and sickly
   Answer: B. Wrinkled and peaceful
4. 4. What did the grandmother always carry in her hands?
   A. A stick

   B. A rosary (mala)

   C. A book

   D. A bag
   Answer: B. A rosary (mala)
5. 5. What did the grandmother do while the author got ready for school in the village?
   A. Cook food

   B. Sing songs

   C. Read scriptures

   D. Milk the cows
   Answer: C. Read scriptures
6. 6. Where did the grandmother accompany the author daily in the village?
   A. Temple

   B. Market

   C. School

   D. Field
   Answer: A. Temple
7. 7. What did the grandmother feed in the village?
   A. Cows

   B. Cats

   C. Birds

   D. Dogs
   Answer: D. Dogs
8. 8. What was the grandmother’s reaction to the English school?
   A. She was excited

   B. She approved it

   C. She disliked it

   D. She did not care
   Answer: C. She disliked it
9. 9. What subject disturbed grandmother the most?
   A. Science

   B. Music

   C. Maths

   D. English grammar
   Answer: B. Music
10. 10. Why did music upset her?
    A. She could not understand it

    B. She believed music was for beggars

    C. It was too loud

    D. It wasted time
    Answer: B. She believed music was for beggars
11. 11. When did the intimacy between the author and grandmother start to fade?
    A. When he moved to village

    B. When he joined English school

    C. When she fell ill

    D. When his parents died
    Answer: B. When he joined English school
12. 12. How did the grandmother celebrate the author’s return from abroad?
    A. She cooked for him

    B. She danced and sang

    C. She fed the dogs

    D. She prayed silently
    Answer: B. She danced and sang
13. 13. What happened the next day after she celebrated?
    A. She fell ill

    B. She went to temple

    C. She travelled

    D. She cooked food
    Answer: A. She fell ill
14. 14. What did she do during her last moments?
    A. Talked continuously

    B. Slept quietly

    C. Prayed and counted beads

    D. Listened to music
    Answer: C. Prayed and counted beads
15. 15. How did the sparrows react to her death?
    A. They chirped loudly

    B. They flew away immediately

    C. They sat silently around her

    D. They fought for food
    Answer: C. They sat silently around her
16. 16. What did the sparrows refuse to eat?
    A. Rice

    B. Crumbs of bread

    C. Seeds

    D. Chapati pieces
    Answer: B. Crumbs of bread
17. 17. The tone of the story is —
    A. Humorous

    B. Nostalgic

    C. Suspenseful

    D. Aggressive
    Answer: B. Nostalgic
18. 18. The grandmother is a symbol of —
    A. Anger and discipline

    B. Modernity

    C. Simplicity and spirituality

    D. Pride
    Answer: C. Simplicity and spirituality
19. 19. What did the grandmother dislike about science?
    A. It was difficult

    B. It had no place for God

    C. It had no stories

    D. It required experiments
    Answer: B. It had no place for God
20. 20. How did the author describe his grandmother physically?
    A. Short and stout

    B. Tall and strong

    C. Old, bent, with silver hair

    D. Young and energetic
    Answer: C. Old, bent, with silver hair

Note: Tap Show Answer for each question to reveal the correct option. This HTML is single-column, magazine-style and mobile-friendly. The column breadth is set to 6 cm (max) but responsive: on narrow phone screens it uses the available width.

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