Important Questions for Class 11 The Portrait of a Lady Chapter 1 Hornbill
NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Chapter 1 The Portrait of a Lady
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Summary of Class 11 English Chapter 1 The Portrait
Table of Contents
Stanza
Question 1:
Read the given extract and answer the questions:
As for my grandmother being young and pretty, the thought was almost revolting. She often told us of the games she used to play as a child. That seemed quite absurd and undignified on her part and we treated it like the fables of the Prophets she used to tell us. She had always been short and fat and slightly bent. Her face was a criss-cross of wrinkles running from everywhere to everywhere.
(i) How does the narrator describe his grandmother’s appearance?
(a) short, fat and slightly bent
(b) Tall and graceful
(c) Slim and fair
(d) Young and energetic
Answer
(a) short, fat and slightly bent
(ii) What does the narrator mean by “a criss cross of wrinkles”?
(a) She had beautiful skin
(b) She had a wrinkled face
(c) She had a scarred face
(d) She had a painted face
Answer
(b) She had a wrinkled face
(iii) The narrator finds it hard to believe that his grandmother __________.
(a) was once sick
(b) had once lived in a village
(c) was once young and had a husband
(d) colud walk fast
Answer
(c) was once young and had a husband
Question 2:
Read the given extract and answer the questions:
She had always been short and fat and slightly bent. Her face was a criss-cross of wrinkles running from verywhere to everywhere. No, we were certain she had always been as we had known her. Old, so terribly old that she could not have grown older, and had stayed at the same age for twenty years. She could never have been pretty; but she
was always beautiful.
(1) Who is ‘She’ in the above lines?
(A) Narrator’s Mother
(B) Narrator’s Grandmother
(C) Narrator’s Mother-in-law
(D) None of these
Answer
(B) Narrator’s Grandmother
(2) What did the grandmother look like?
(A) old, fat and tall
(B) tall, fat and bent
(C) old, short and fat
(D) slim and slightly bent
Answer
(C) old, short and fat
(3) What does the author mean by the statement ‘She was never pretty but she was always beautiful’?
Answer
The author means that the grandmother may not have been physically attractive in the conventional sense, but she possessed inner beauty. Her kindness, dignity, serenity, and loving nature made her truly beautiful. Her beauty lay in her character and moral strength rather than her outward appearance.
Question 3:
In the evening a change came over her. She did not pray. She collected the women of the neighbourhood, got an old drum and started to sing. For several hours she thumped the sagging skins of the dilapidated drum and sang of the home-coming of warriors. We had to persuade her to stop to avoid overstraining. That was the first time since I had known her that she did not pray. The next morning she was taken ill.
(i) What unusual thing did the grandmother do in the evening?
(a) She went for a walk
(b) She stopped praying and started singing
(c) She cooked a special meal
(d) She read a book
Answer
(b) She stopped praying and started singing
(ii) What did the grandmother sing about?
(a) The return of warriors
(b) The beauty of nature
(c) Her childhood memories
(d) God and devotion
Answer
(a) The return of warriors
(iii) Why did the family ask her to stop?
(a) The neighbours complained
(b) It was disturbing the children
(c) She might strain herself
(d) It was getting too loud.
Answer
(c) She might strain herself
Short-Questions (40-50 words)
Question 1:
How did the grandmother react to the author’s decision to join a university?
Answer
The grandmother accepted the author’s decision to join a university calmly. She did not show any surprise or objection. Instead, she quietly collected money, gave it to the author, and expressed her blessings, showing her selfless love and emotional strength.
Question 2:
What were the views of the grandmother about music?
Answer
The grandmother strongly disapproved of music. She believed it was unsuitable for gentlefolk and linked it with immoral and low-class people. To her, music had no place in a respectable household and was a distraction from a disciplined and virtuous life.
Question 3:
“At her age one could never tell.” What one could not tell and why?
Answer
“At her age one could never tell” means that it was impossible to guess the grandmother’s real age. She had looked old for many years and never seemed to change. Her appearance remained the same, making it difficult to tell whether she was growing older or not.
Question 4:
How did the author’s grandmother spend her days in the village?
Answer
In the village, the author’s grandmother spent her days in a calm and religious routine. She woke up early, said her prayers, and then helped the narrator get ready for school. She also fed the village dogs with stale chapatis and told the children stories from the scriptures, living a simple and disciplined life.
Important Questions for Class 11 The Portrait of a Lady Chapter 1 Hornbill
Long-Questions (100-120 words)
Question 1:
What type of relationship did the grandmother have with dogs and sparrows in the lesson “Portrait of a Lady”? Describe any one animal you love and how you spend time with it.
Write your thoughts in about 120–150 words.
Answer
In “The Portrait of a Lady,” the grandmother shared a warm and affectionate relationship with animals, especially dogs and sparrows. She treated them with kindness and compassion. She fed the village dogs with stale chapatis every day and enjoyed their company. In the city, she developed a deep bond with sparrows, feeding them crumbs and sitting peacefully among them. The birds trusted her completely and even mourned her death by silently gathering around her body.
I love my pet dog very much. He is friendly, loyal, and playful. I spend time with him every day by taking him for walks and playing with a ball in the evening. When I feel tired or sad, his cheerful presence makes me feel better. I also feed him and take care of his needs. Spending time with my dog teaches me love, responsibility, and the joy of companionship.
Question 2:
When people are pious, kind-hearted and God-fearing even nature mourns their death’. Justify the statement with reference to The Portrait of a Lady.
Answer
In “The Portrait of a Lady,” the grandmother was a pious, kind-hearted, and God-fearing woman who spent her life in prayers and good deeds. She showed deep love for all living beings, especially animals and birds. When she died, even nature seemed to mourn her death. The sparrows, which she fed daily, gathered silently around her dead body. They did not chirp, eat the crumbs thrown to them, or fly away. Their unusual silence showed their grief and respect for her pure soul. This incident proves that when a person lives a life of goodness and compassion, even nature responds to their loss. Thus, the statement is justified as the grandmother’s noble life touched not only humans but also the natural world.
Question 3:
Imagine you are Khushwant Singh, the author. The day your grandmother passed away, you were overwhelmed with emotions and memories. Write a diary entry expressing your thoughts about her unique personality, her silent devotion, your bond with her, and how her death affected you. Reflect on what her life and death taught you. (The Portrait of a Lady)
Answer
Diary Entry
Today, my grandmother left this world quietly, just as she lived. The house feels strangely empty without her soft footsteps and constant murmuring of prayers. She was a woman of deep faith, strength, and simplicity. Her devotion was never loud, yet it filled every corner of our lives. I grew up watching her kindness, her discipline, and her calm acceptance of life.
Our bond was silent but strong. She never expressed affection with words, yet her presence was comforting and reassuring. Seeing her lie still today made me realize how deeply she shaped my values. Her death did not bring loud grief but a peaceful stillness, as if she had chosen the moment herself.
She taught me dignity, faith, and how to live—and die—with grace. Her life will remain my quiet guide.
Question 4:
The grandmother had contrary views about education in village and city. Which philosophy of education do you agree with? Give reasons to explain your choice in about 120–150 words. (The Portrait of a Lady)
Answer:
In “The Portrait of a Lady”, the grandmother believes in traditional village education that focuses on religious teachings and moral values, while the city education emphasizes science, music, and modern subjects. I agree more with the city’s philosophy of education because it prepares students for practical life and future careers. Modern education develops logical thinking, scientific temperament, and creativity. Subjects like science and technology help students understand the world better and contribute to society. However, I also feel that moral values taught in village education are important. An ideal education system should combine both—modern knowledge and ethical values. While the grandmother’s views reflect her simplicity and faith, the city’s education helps students grow intellectually and socially in a rapidly changing world.
Question 5:
Imagine you are a friend of Khushwant Singh, the narrator of ‘The Portrait of a Lady’. You visit his home and observe the bond between the grandmother and the animals. Write a conversation you might have with the grandmother about her connection with animals and how it affects her daily life.
Answer
(Dialogue form):
Me: Grandmother, I notice you spend a lot of time feeding the sparrows. Why do you love them so much?
Grandmother: Animals give pure love. They do not judge or demand anything.
Me: Does caring for them affect your daily routine?
Grandmother: Yes, it brings peace to my life. Feeding them gives me happiness and purpose.
Me: You seem very calm around them.
Grandmother: Their presence fills the silence of my day. They are my companions.
Me: That is truly inspiring.
Grandmother: Love for animals teaches patience, kindness, and contentment. It keeps my heart alive and my life meaningful.
Important Questions for Class 11 The Portrait of a Lady Chapter 1 Hornbill
