The Portrait of a Lady

THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY

1. Characters

• Grandmother:

  • Adjectives: Pious, traditional, caring, resilient, dignified

  • Character Sketch: The grandmother is a deeply religious, traditional woman who devotedly cares for her grandson. Her strength and grace shine through in her silent acceptance of changes around her.

• Narrator (Grandson):

  • Adjectives: Observant, nostalgic, respectful, affectionate, reflective

  • Character Sketch: The narrator has a deep bond with his grandmother. He respectfully describes her as both a caregiver and a friend, capturing the transition in their relationship over time.

2. Central Theme and Subthemes

• Central Theme: The transformation of relationships over time and the acceptance of change.

• Subthemes:

  • Bond between generations

  • Simplicity and spirituality of traditional life

  • Effects of modernization on relationships

  • Acceptance of life’s inevitable changes

  • Nostalgia and memory

3. Relatively Tough Words with Meanings

• Mantelpiece: Shelf above a fireplace

• Frivolous: Not having any serious purpose

• Bedlam: A scene of uproar and confusion

• Seclusion: Isolation or state of being alone

• Resignation: Acceptance of something undesirable

• Pallor: An unhealthy pale appearance

4. Good Expressions and Phrases for Answer Writing

• “An expanse of pure white serenity”

• “Accepted her seclusion with resignation”

• “Frivolous rebukes”

• “A veritable bedlam of chirrupings”

• “The sagging skins of the dilapidated drum”

• “Her silver locks scattered untidily”

5. Use of Poetic Devices and Figures of Speech

• Simile: “She was like the winter landscape in the mountains, an expanse of pure white serenity.”

• Metaphor: “She was beautiful. She was like the winter landscape…” - comparing her calm, peaceful demeanor to a serene landscape

• Imagery: Vivid images of the grandmother’s white attire, rosary beads, and wrinkled face evoke strong visual imagery.

• Alliteration: Repetition of sounds like in “sagging skins” and “dilapidated drum”

6. Telegraphic Expanded Summary:

1. Introduction to the Grandmother

• Grandmother - depicted as old, wrinkled, dignified - wearing spotless white - always holding rosary beads - considered beautiful by narrator - described as a “winter landscape” - serene and content - deeply religious - traditional - calm demeanor

2. Childhood Bonding Phase in the Village

• Narrator’s parents move to the city - leaves him in grandmother’s care - grandmother takes full charge - morning routine of bathing, dressing - sings prayers as she prepares him - feeds him thick chapattis with butter - takes him to village school attached to the temple - attends prayer sessions - reads scriptures in temple - narrator fondly recalls walks home - feeding village dogs with chapattis

3. Moving to the City - Growing Distance

• Parents call them to city - “turning-point” in relationship - grandmother stops accompanying narrator to school - he attends English school - grandmother disapproves of English education - troubled by absence of religious teachings - uneasy about music lessons - views music as “for harlots and beggars” - bond weakens - new city routines arise - grandmother finds solace in feeding sparrows

4. University Years - Complete Separation

• Narrator joins university - gets separate room - emotional distance widens - bond fades - grandmother resigns to solitude - focuses on spinning wheel, prayers - only joy remains feeding sparrows - birds surround her each afternoon - forms new companionship with sparrows

5. Departure for Abroad - Final Goodbye

• Narrator leaves for further studies abroad - expects grandmother to be emotional - she remains stoic - accompanies him to railway station - silently prays as farewell - offers gentle kiss on forehead - narrator treasures moist kiss - as if final physical bond

6. Return and the Grandmother’s Death

• Narrator returns after five years - finds grandmother unchanged - she celebrates his return - gathers women, beats an old drum - sings of warriors’ return - overstrains - falls ill - refuses to talk - spends last hours in prayer - passes away peacefully - room fills with mourning sparrows - birds silent, refuse food - reflect profound sorrow

Master Passage

In "The Portrait of a Lady," Khushwant Singh reflects on his profound bond with his grandmother, a woman of deep spirituality and simplicity, whose life is shaped by tradition. The story captures their evolving relationship as he grows up, highlighting themes of love, faith, and acceptance. In the village, she is his primary caretaker, guiding him through routine and teaching him traditional values. However, when they move to the city, the distance between them grows as he is exposed to English education and modern ideas. This shift causes her sorrow, especially as she finds the English system lacking religious teachings and disapproves of music lessons. As he matures, their bond weakens, and she finds solace in feeding sparrows. Her stoic acceptance of life’s changes and her peaceful passing surrounded by sparrows emphasize the inevitable transitions of life and relationships, symbolizing grace in the face of change and loss.