The Portrait of a Lady Class 11 – Summary, Themes, Q&A

The Portrait of a Lady Class 11 is a touching story by Khushwant Singh from the CBSE Class 11 English Hornbill book. It beautifully portrays the bond between a grandson and his grandmother, highlighting love, faith, and the passage of time.

Through simple language and heartfelt emotions, Singh shows how relationships change across generations. If you’re looking for The Portrait of a Lady summary, this blog explains the story, its characters, themes, and moral in a clear and student-friendly way.

The Portrait of a Lady Class 11: The Portrait of a Lady Summary

1. Childhood Memories in the Village

In The Portrait of a Lady Class 11, the story begins with the narrator’s affectionate memories of his grandmother from his early childhood in the village. She was always old, calm, and deeply spiritual. Her wrinkled face, white clothes, silver hair, and constant prayer beads created an image of serenity and peace. To the narrator, she was beautiful in her own way, not for her looks, but for her gentle soul and inner strength.

Their bond was very close during these years. The grandmother used to wake him up every morning with her soft prayers, bathe him, and get him ready for school. She would also prepare his wooden slate, inkpot, and pen, tying them neatly into a bundle. Their breakfast was simple, a thick, stale chapatti with butter and sugar, showing the modest village lifestyle they led.

Every day, she accompanied him to school, which was attached to a temple. While the children learned the alphabet and morning prayers, she sat nearby reading the scriptures. The sound of children reciting lessons and the priest’s calm voice made the environment peaceful and spiritual. On their way back home, she fed stray dogs with chapattis, reflecting her kindness and compassion for animals.

This part of The Portrait of a Lady summary captures the purity of village life, simple routines, shared love, and the spiritual connection between the grandmother and her grandson. Their relationship symbolized innocence, faith, and togetherness, untouched by the modern world.

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2. Life in the City and Emotional Distance

As the story progresses, The Portrait of a Lady Class 11 takes a turn when the narrator and his grandmother move to the city to live with his parents. This shift brings major changes in their lives and their relationship. The grandmother’s world, once filled with temples, prayers, and village dogs, now becomes confined to the four walls of their urban house.

In the city, the narrator starts attending an English school by motorbus. The grandmother can no longer accompany him. Their mornings together continue, but as the narrator grows older, their conversations reduce. The grandmother is unhappy with the kind of education he receives, she cannot understand English or science and feels disappointed that there is no teaching about God or scriptures.

When she learns that he is taking music lessons, her disappointment turns into silent disapproval. To her, music belongs to low-class entertainers and not respectable families. This difference in values and beliefs creates an emotional gap between them. Though she never expresses anger or sadness, her silence reflects a quiet pain and sense of loss.

This section of The Portrait of a Lady summary beautifully portrays the emotional distance that develops between generations as times change. The grandmother represents faith and tradition, while the grandson moves toward modern education and rationality. Yet, beneath this growing distance, the love and respect between them remain unbroken.

3. Departure for Higher Studies and Her Death

The final part of The Portrait of a Lady Class 11 story captures the most emotional moments. When the narrator decides to go abroad for higher studies, he worries that his grandmother might be upset. However, her calmness surprises him. She neither cries nor complains. Instead, she silently prays and kisses him on the forehead, a gesture full of love and blessing. He cherishes that moment, believing it may be their last meeting.

After five years, when he returns home, he finds her unchanged, still the same peaceful, prayerful woman, devoted to her spinning wheel and her sparrows. Her happiness over his return is quiet yet sincere. But that evening, a rare transformation occurs. She gathers the women of the neighborhood, brings out an old drum, and sings joyfully about the homecoming of warriors. It is the first time in years that she abandons her prayers.

The next morning, she falls ill with a mild fever. The doctor assures the family that she will recover, but she senses that her end is near. She refuses to talk to anyone and chooses to spend her final hours in prayer, telling the beads of her rosary. Soon, her lips stop moving, and the rosary slips from her hand. She passes away peacefully, with her face calm and glowing, as if she had found eternal peace.

The story ends with a deeply moving scene. As her body lies in the verandah covered with a red shroud, thousands of sparrows gather around her in silence. They do not chirp or eat anything, mourning her death in their quiet way. When her body is taken for cremation, they fly away silently. The next morning, the leftover crumbs of bread lie untouched, a symbol of nature’s mourning and respect.

This ending makes The Portrait of a Lady summary unforgettable. The sparrows’ silent grief symbolizes purity, peace, and the emotional bond between the grandmother and all living beings. It reflects how her life, though simple, had a deep spiritual connection with nature and humanity.

The Portrait of a Lady Class 11 - Understanding the Text

1. Three Phases of the Author’s Relationship with His Grandmother

Before the narrator left for studies abroad, his relationship with his grandmother went through three distinct phases:

1. Childhood in the village – They shared a close bond. She woke him up, got him ready for school, accompanied him to the temple school, and fed the village dogs together. Their time was full of love, care, and shared routines.

2. Move to the city – When they shifted to the city, the grandmother could no longer accompany him to school. Emotional distance grew as he attended an English school and they shared less time together.

3. Adolescence / University years – The narrator began higher studies and had a room of his own. Their common link weakened; the grandmother focused more on her prayers, spinning wheel, and feeding sparrows, showing quiet acceptance of the changing relationship.

2. Three Reasons Why the Grandmother Was Disturbed When He Started Going to the City School

1. She could not help him with the lessons because they taught subjects like English, science, and western knowledge, which were unfamiliar to her.

2. She was upset that modern education did not include teachings about God, scriptures, or moral values.

3. She disapproved of music lessons, believing music had immoral associations and was meant for street performers, not respectable families.

3. Three Ways the Grandmother Spent Her Days After He Grew Up

1. Praying and reciting her rosary from sunrise to sunset, maintaining her spiritual routine.

2. Spinning yarn at her spinning wheel, showing her calm, disciplined lifestyle and attachment to tradition.

3. Feeding the sparrows in the courtyard, which gave her immense happiness and allowed her to express care and love for all living beings.

4. The Odd Way in Which the Grandmother Behaved Just Before She Died

On the evening before her death, the grandmother acted unusually: she stopped her prayers, gathered the women of the neighborhood, played an old drum, and sang joyfully about the homecoming of warriors. This was the first time she broke from her lifelong routine of devotion and silent prayer, showing a rare burst of celebration before her peaceful departure.

5. The Way the Sparrows Expressed Their Sorrow

When the grandmother died, thousands of sparrows gathered silently around her body. They neither chirped nor ate the bread crumbs she used to scatter, reflecting their sorrow and mourning her loss in a quiet, respectful way. Only when her body was taken away did they fly off, symbolizing the end of her earthly presence and the grief of nature itself.

The Portrait of a Lady Class 11 - Talking About the Text

1. The author’s grandmother was a religious person. What are the different ways in which we come to know this?
Answer:

• She constantly recited her prayers and moved the beads of her rosary from morning till night.

• She read scriptures while the children learned at the temple school.

• She carried out daily chores with devotion, feeding animals and treating her surroundings with sacred care.

• Her calm acceptance of life events, including her own death, reflected her deep faith in God.

2. Describe the changing relationship between the author and his grandmother. Did their feelings for each other change?
Answer:

• Childhood in the village: They shared a close bond, spending time together in daily routines, school, and feeding village dogs.

• City life: Emotional distance grew as the narrator attended English school, and she silently disapproved of modern lessons and music.

• Adulthood / University years: Physical distance increased, but love and respect remained. Her blessings and quiet celebrations on his return showed enduring affection.

3. Would you agree that the author’s grandmother was a person strong in character? If yes, give instances that show this.
Answer:

• She maintained dignity and discipline, following her spiritual routine without complaint.

• She stood firm in her beliefs, silently disapproving of things she considered improper, like modern education and music.

• She accepted death calmly, continuing her prayers and rosary, showing courage, serenity, and inner strength.

4. Have you known someone like the author’s grandmother? Do you feel the same sense of loss with regard to someone whom you have loved and lost?
Answer:

• People like the grandmother leave a lasting impression through love, patience, and devotion.

• Losing such a person creates a deep sense of loss, emphasizing the importance of cherishing moments with loved ones.

The Portrait of a Lady Class 11 - Thinking About Language

1. Which language do you think the author and his grandmother used while talking to each other?
Answer:
The author and his grandmother most likely spoke in Punjabi, as the story is set in Punjab and Khushwant Singh belonged to that region. This regional language added warmth and intimacy to their conversations.

2. Which language do you use to talk to elderly relatives in your family?
Answer:
Students can reflect personally. For example:

• “I speak Hindi with my grandparents because it is comfortable and they understand it best.”

• “I use my mother tongue to talk to elders because it helps express respect and emotions better.”

3. How would you say ‘a dilapidated drum’ in your language?
Answer:
Examples:

• In Hindi: “एक जीर्ण-शीर्ण ड्रम”

• In Punjabi: “ਇੱਕ ਢਾਹ ਗਿਆ ਡਰਮ”

• In other languages, students can translate similarly using words that mean “old,” “broken,” or “worn-out drum.”

4. Can you think of a song or a poem in your language that talks of homecoming?
Answer:
Students can share examples from personal knowledge:

• Hindi: “Aa Chal Ke Tujhe Main Lekar Chalu” (a song welcoming someone home)

• Punjabi: Traditional folk songs celebrating a son or daughter returning home.

• Students may also share poems from school or cultural traditions that express joy or celebration of homecoming.

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The Portrait of a Lady Class 11 - Working with Words

I. Different senses of the word ‘tell’

Uses from the text:

1. Her fingers were busy telling the beads of her rosary. → 2. count while reciting

2. I would tell her English words and little things of Western science and learning. → 1. make something known to someone in spoken or written words

3. At her age one could never tell. → 3. be sure

4. She told us that her end was near. → 4. give information to somebody

II. Different senses of the word ‘take’

1. to take to something:

• She took to feeding sparrows in the courtyard of our city house.
  → This means she began doing it as a habit.

2. to take ill:

• The next morning she was taken ill.
  → This means she suddenly became ill.

III. Manner of walking

Word ‘hobble’ means: to walk with difficulty because the legs and feet are in bad condition.

Other words in the box that also refer to a manner of walking:

• shuffle – dragging feet while walking

• stride – walking with long, purposeful steps

• waddle – walking with short steps, swaying from side to side

• trudge – walking slowly with effort

Words that do NOT refer to walking:

• haggle, ride, wriggle, paddle, swagger, slog

The Portrait of a Lady Class 11 - Noticing Form

In the story, several verbs are in the past perfect tense. This tense is used to talk about actions that were completed before another past action. It helps show the sequence of events clearly when recounting something that happened in the distant past.

Examples from the text:

1. She had been old and wrinkled for the twenty years that I had known her.

   • had been, had known → show actions that were already true before another past reference (the narrator’s present memories).

2. When we both had finished we would walk back together.

   • had finished → indicates that finishing schoolwork happened before walking back.

3. When I came back she would ask me what the teacher had taught me.

   • had taught → shows teaching happened before the grandmother asked about it.

4. It was the first time since I had known her that she did not pray.

   • had known → refers to the narrator’s knowledge of her before the incident of not praying.

5. The sun was setting and had lit her room and verandah with a golden light.

   • had lit → shows the lighting of the room happened before the moment being described (sunset).

Key Point:

• Past perfect is formed with had + past participle.

• It is used when telling a story to clarify what happened first in the past.

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The Portrait of a Lady Class 11 - Character Sketches

1. The Grandmother

The grandmother is the central character of the story and represents love, devotion, and inner strength. Though she is old, wrinkled, and physically frail, her personality shines through her discipline, kindness, and spirituality.

Key Traits:

• Religious and Devout: She spends most of her day praying and reciting the rosary, showing her deep faith in God.

• Loving and Caring: She wakes the narrator up, gets him ready for school, and accompanies him in his early years. She also feeds stray dogs in the village and sparrows in the city, reflecting her compassion for all living beings.

• Strong and Resilient: Even in her old age, she maintains dignity and calmness. Her serene acceptance of her impending death demonstrates courage and inner strength.

• Simple yet Joyful: Despite her austere life, she finds happiness in small things — playing with sparrows, singing with neighbors, or performing daily routines.

Symbolism:

• The grandmother symbolizes tradition, faith, and enduring love.

• Her relationship with the narrator highlights the bond between generations and the clash between traditional values and modern education.

• The sparrows around her represent her connection with nature and the purity of her life.

2. The Narrator (Grandson)

The narrator is a sensitive and observant boy who grows up under the care of his grandmother. Through his eyes, the story captures her love, discipline, and spiritual strength.

Key Traits:

• Affectionate and Observant: He deeply loves his grandmother and notices every small detail about her appearance, habits, and routines.

• Curious and Modern: As he grows, he becomes interested in English, science, and music, which creates a gentle emotional distance between him and his grandmother.

• Respectful and Caring: Despite the growing gap, he respects her beliefs and cherishes the moments they share. His sensitivity is clear when he notices her happiness with the sparrows or her silent prayers.

Symbolism:

• The narrator represents modernity and education, highlighting the changes brought by urban life and Western schooling.

• His observations reflect the universal experience of growing up, the bittersweet feeling of change, and the importance of familial bonds.

Together, the grandmother and the narrator symbolize love across generations, the tension between tradition and modernity, and the enduring power of care and faith. Their interactions make The Portrait of a Lady summary a story full of warmth, emotion, and life lessons

Themes, Symbolism, and Moral Lessons in The Portrait of a Lady Class 11

1. Themes

The Portrait of a Lady Class 11 explores several important themes:

• Love and Bond Between Generations: The story highlights the deep emotional connection between the grandmother and the narrator, showing how love and care transcend age and distance.

• Tradition vs Modernity: The grandmother represents traditional values and spirituality, while the narrator’s English school education, music lessons, and modern lifestyle show the contrast between old and new.

• Faith and Devotion: The grandmother’s life revolves around prayer, scripture, and her rosary, emphasizing the importance of inner faith and spiritual discipline.

• Life and Death: The story deals with the natural cycle of life, showing how death can be peaceful when a life is lived with love, faith, and fulfillment.

2. Symbolism

The story is rich in symbolic elements that deepen its meaning:

• The Grandmother: Symbolizes faith, inner strength, and traditional wisdom. Her calmness and discipline inspire respect and admiration.

• Sparrows: Represent innocence, purity, and the grandmother’s connection with nature. Their silent mourning at her death underscores the impact of her life on all living beings.

• The Rosary: Symbolizes devotion, prayer, and the spiritual thread that guided her life. Even in her final moments, her rosary reflects her unwavering faith.

• The Drum and Singing: Her rare act of celebration before death symbolizes joy, freedom, and the human spirit’s resilience, reminding us to cherish life fully.

3. Moral Lessons

Students can learn several life lessons from The Portrait of a Lady summary:

• Value Elderly Loved Ones: Cherish the love, guidance, and care of grandparents, who provide wisdom and emotional support.

• Respect Tradition While Embracing Change: The story teaches the importance of balancing modern education with respect for cultural and spiritual values.

• Life is Beautiful in Simple Joys: The grandmother’s happiness in feeding sparrows and performing daily rituals reminds us that fulfillment comes from simple acts of love.

• Death Can Be Peaceful: Living a disciplined, loving, and meaningful life allows one to face death with serenity and dignity.

About the Author – Khushwant Singh

The Portrait of a Lady Class 11 was written by Khushwant Singh, a celebrated Indian writer born in 1915 in Punjab. Known for his simple, vivid, and emotionally engaging style, Singh wrote novels, short stories, and essays that explore family relationships, tradition versus modernity, and human emotions. In this story, he beautifully portrays the bond between generations and the quiet strength of women, reflecting his keen observation of human nature and Indian society.

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At PlanetSpark, we help students not just read, but truly understand and appreciate stories like The Portrait of a Lady Class 11. Our creative writing and reading programs focus on building comprehension, vocabulary, and critical thinking skills, ensuring students connect with characters, themes, and moral lessons deeply.

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With PlanetSpark, children gain confidence in reading, speaking, and writing while learning to reflect on stories, emotions, and values, just like they do while exploring the life lessons in The Portrait of a Lady summary.

Conclusion

The Portrait of a Lady Class 11 is a timeless story that captures the bond between generations, the beauty of love and care, and the quiet strength of women. Through the narrator’s memories, Khushwant Singh highlights the importance of respecting elders, cherishing simple joys, and valuing tradition alongside modern education. Students can learn lessons about love, faith, and emotional sensitivity, making it a valuable story for both academic study and life reflections.

FAQs – The Portrait of a Lady Summary

1. Who is the main character in The Portrait of a Lady?
The main character is the grandmother, whose life, love, and devotion form the heart of the story.

2. How does the narrator’s relationship with his grandmother change over time?
The relationship moves from close companionship in childhood to emotional distance during city life and studies, though mutual love and respect remain throughout.

3. What are the main themes of the story?
Key themes include love across generations, tradition versus modernity, faith and devotion, and the cycle of life and death.

4. How does the grandmother spend her days after the narrator grows up?
She spends her days praying, spinning at her wheel, and feeding sparrows, showing discipline, devotion, and simple joys.

5. What do the sparrows symbolize in the story?
The sparrows symbolize innocence, purity, and the grandmother’s deep connection with nature. Their silent mourning at her death reflects their grief.

6. Why is Khushwant Singh’s writing style considered simple yet effective?
He uses clear, vivid language and emotional depth, making characters relatable and stories easy to understand, even for young readers.

7. What life lessons can students learn from the story?
Students learn to cherish elders, respect traditions, find joy in simple acts, and approach life and death with calmness and dignity.