Here are the most important questions and concise answers from the first chapter, "The Portrait of a Lady" by Khushwant Singh, designed to cover exam-focused concepts and help students grasp the main ideas in one reading.
Key Concepts and Chapter Summary
- The chapter narrates the author's relationship with his grandmother, describing her physical appearance, religious nature, daily routine, the changes in their relationship over time, and her peaceful death.
- Important themes include generational gap, values, and unconditional love.
Most Important Questions & Answers
Objective (MCQ — 1 mark each)
MCQ 1. The grandmother fed birds mainly because —
A) she liked their songs
B) they reminded her of village life
C) she enjoyed companionship and found joy in feeding them
D) it was a religious duty
Answer: C
MCQ 2. The narrator thought the grandmother had “no time for words” because —
A) she was rude
B) she preferred prayer and action over talking
C) she didn’t love him
D) she was illiterate
Answer: B
MCQ 3. The “bedlam of chirrupings” refers to —
A) chaos caused by dogs
B) noise of sparrows feeding around her
C) music lessons at school
D) neighbours arguing
Answer: B
MCQ 4. The grandmother’s sudden drumming and singing show —
A) loss of sanity
B) a hidden, lively spirit beneath her piety
C) her desire to be famous
D) her poverty
Answer: B
MCQ 5. At the end, when the sparrows ignore the bread crumbs, it indicates —
A) they don’t like bread
B) they are mourning / shocked by her death
C) the bread was stale
D) they were frightened of the family
Answer: B
Short answers (3–5 marks)
1. What are the three phases of the author’s relationship with his grandmother?
Ans.
- Childhood: Close companionship; the grandmother gets him ready for school and teaches him prayers.
- Early adolescence: Less interaction; they move to the city, and the boy attends an English school.
- Adulthood: Increased separation; the boy goes to university and later goes abroad, and the grandmother becomes more secluded.
2. Describe the author’s grandmother.
Ans. She is portrayed as old, wrinkled, always dressed in white, deeply religious, peaceful, and full of love for animals and birds, especially sparrows.
3. Why was the grandmother disturbed when the author joined the city school?
Ans.
- She could not help with his English lessons.
- She disliked the absence of religious teachings in the new curriculum.
- She was disturbed by the introduction of music lessons, which she felt were inappropriate.
4. How did the grandmother spend her days after the author grew up?
Ans. She devoted her time to spinning the wheel and praying, occasionally feeding sparrows in the afternoon.
5. What unusual behavior did the grandmother exhibit before she died?
Ans. She stopped praying, gathered women from the neighborhood, played the drum, and sang for the home-coming of warriors.
6. How did the sparrows express their sorrow at the grandmother’s death?
Ans. The sparrows silently gathered around her body and ignored the bread crumbs offered to them, displaying mourning for her loss.
7. Discuss the religious character of the grandmother.
Ans. Her life revolved around prayer, reading scriptures, and spiritual devotion; she believed strongly in rituals and faith over modern education.
8. Give instances showing the grandmother’s strength of character.
Ans. She accepted changes and her isolation with dignity, showed silent disapproval instead of anger, and faced death courageously without emotion.
9. What is the significance of the sparrows in the story?
Ans. The sparrows symbolize the grandmother’s compassion and highlight her bond with nature; their mourning shows how she touched many lives.
10. What was the major turning point in the author’s friendship with his grandmother?
Ans. Moving to the city and attending an English school.
11. How did the sparrows behave during the grandmother’s last hours?
Ans. They gathered silently, showing their sorrow and connection to her.
12. Why did the grandmother stop talking to the author after he started music lessons?
Ans. She associated music with beggars and harlots and silently disapproved.
Long/Value-based answers
13. Character sketch of the grandmother.
Ans. She is religious, calm, dignified, affectionate, and strong-willed. Devout — constantly reciting prayers and counting her rosary; affectionate — dressing and feeding the narrator, feeding sparrows; traditional but with hidden vitality — the evening she drums and sings; accepts death peacefully. Her inner beauty and routine convey contentment and moral strength.
14. Discuss the major themes of the chapter.
Ans.
- Generational gap / Modernisation vs Tradition: English schooling and modern ideas create distance.
- Dignity and inner beauty of old age: Outer wrinkles vs inner serenity.
- Love expressed through routine and actions: Silent affection — feeding, prayers, small rituals.
- Inevitability of death and peaceful acceptance: Her prayerful end and the quiet response of sparrows highlight calm closure
Important Definitions & Vocabulary
- Seclusion: Isolation from others.
- Serenity: Peaceful and calm state.
- Bedlam: A noisy, chaotic situation.
- Frivolous: Lack of seriousness.
- Dilapidated: Broken down or shabby (used for the drum).
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