CBSE Class 11 English The Portrait Of A Lady Summary & Notes PDF

The Portrait of a Lady by Khushwant Singh is one of the most touching and thoughtful chapters in your Class 11 English syllabus. It’s a nostalgic story filled with love, warmth, and the changing nature of relationships across generations. 

Through this simple yet powerful narrative, the story about Khushwant Singh's Grandmother beautifully reflects on his bond with her and the quiet grace with which she lived her life. Even though it’s an emotional and reflective story, it is important for exams as it covers key themes and values.

With these notes, we make sure that you're on your way to master the chapter and score good marks in your Class 11 English exam.

The Portrait of a Lady Class 11 Summary

The Portrait of a Lady by Khushwant Singh is a nostalgic account of the author’s relationship with his grandmother. She is portrayed as a deeply religious, traditional, and dignified woman who played a vital role in his early life.

Their bond weakens as he grows up and moves away for education. Despite the emotional distance, her love remains unchanged. After his return from abroad, she passes away peacefully, surrounded by silence and mourned mysteriously by sparrows. 

The story highlights themes of love, spirituality, old age, and changing relationships while offering a heartfelt tribute to the quiet strength of the grandmother.

The Portrait of a Lady by Khushwant Singh Notes

Khushwant Singh’s The Portrait of a Lady is a touching and respectful tribute to the author’s grandmother. Through vivid memories, Singh narrates his relationship with her, showing how it evolved over time. The story is reflective, nostalgic, and filled with admiration for the old lady's simplicity, strength, and spiritual devotion.

• The Grandmother’s Appearance and Personality

The author begins by describing his grandmother as a short, fat, slightly bent woman, her face crisscrossed with wrinkles. Her appearance remained unchanged throughout the years he knew her. She always wore spotless white clothes and kept a rosary in her hand, silently reciting prayers. She seemed to the author to be “beautiful” in a spiritual way—serene and dignified.

• Childhood Bond Between Grandmother and Grandson

In the author’s early childhood, he lived with his grandmother in the village. She used to wake him up, bathe him, prepare his breakfast, and walk him to school. While he studied, she sat in the temple and read scriptures. Their bond was very close during this time—she was his constant companion, guide, and caretaker.

• Moving to the City

When the author’s parents called them to the city, things changed. He started attending an English school, and his grandmother could no longer accompany him. She disliked science and Western education (gravity, Archimedes, world round) and especially music, associating it with beggars and harlots. She was especially upset that they no longer taught about God or scriptures.

As the author grew older, the bond became weaker. When he went to university and got his own room, their interaction was reduced to a casual wave in passing. Despite this emotional distance, the grandmother never complained.

• The Grandmother’s Silent Routine and Devotion

With less involvement in her grandson’s life, the grandmother immersed herself in a routine of feeding sparrows, spinning the wheel (charkha), and chanting prayers. Despite her age, she remained mentally and spiritually strong.

• Departure and Return from Abroad

When the author decided to go abroad for five years, the grandmother saw him off but showed no emotions. When he returned, she welcomed him just as calmly, showing that her feelings were deep and steady, not displayed through dramatic gestures.

• The Grandmother’s Peaceful Death

Shortly after the author's return, the grandmother fell ill. She stopped talking and spent her last hours in prayer, refusing to waste her time on worldly things. When she died, the entire family grieved. On the evening before her illness, she did not pray for the first time but sang with women of the neighbourhood, beating an old drum to celebrate her grandson’s return.

• Sparrows Mourning Scene

A particularly touching moment was when thousands of sparrows sat quietly in and around the house; they neither chirped nor ate, and flew away silently the next morning. This scene symbolized the deep connection between the grandmother and nature.

Character Sketch (Grandmother, Author, Sparrows)

Below is a character analysis of each important character from The Portrait of a Lady by Khushwant Singh:

1. The Grandmother

Appearance:

• Short, fat, slightly bent with deep wrinkles.
• Always dressed in spotless white clothes.
• Had silver hair and always carried a rosary (prayer beads) in her hand.

Personality Traits:

• Deeply Religious: Her life revolved around prayers, the rosary, and religious scriptures. She spent hours reading the holy books and chanting silently.
• Loving and Caring: She was deeply devoted to her grandson. In his childhood, she bathed, dressed, and accompanied him to school.
• Traditional and Conservative: She disapproved of English education, science subjects, and music lessons, as they were not rooted in religion or morality.
• Emotionally Strong: She never displayed her emotions openly. Even when her grandson went abroad for five years, she maintained calm composure.
• Graceful in Death: Her final moments were spent in prayer. She died peacefully, in alignment with her spiritual and disciplined life.

2. The Grandson (The Author - Khushwant Singh)

As a Child:

• Loved and depended on his grandmother
• Was close to her during his village years

As a Student:

• Shifted to the city, got into English education, and slowly grew apart
• Accepted modern subjects and ideas, which created an unspoken emotional distance from his grandmother

As a Narrator

• Reminiscent and reflective
• Shows deep respect, love, and admiration for his grandmother
• Honest in presenting how their relationship evolved with time

Character Traits:

• Observant: He describes his grandmother’s lifestyle, beliefs, and expressions in great detail.
• Respectful: Though he didn’t agree with her traditional views, he never disrespected her.
• Nostalgic: He looks back with fondness at their shared past.

3. The Sparrows

Symbolic Role:

• Represent nature, peace, and silent mourning
• Hundreds of sparrows gathered quietly after the grandmother’s death
• They did not chirp or eat anything, simply sat silently around her body, showing deep respect.

Significance:

• Their mysterious and silent grief adds a spiritual and emotional depth to the story.
• Emphasizes the grandmother’s quiet influence not just on people but also on nature.

Line by Line Explanation

Let us understand the story line by line.

• From “My grandmother, like everybody’s grandmother, was an old woman…” to “…the thought was almost revolting.”

The story begins with the narrator describing his grandmother, emphasizing her old age and traditional appearance. He mentions her wrinkled face, stooped posture, and the white clothes she always wore. He notes that she had always looked old to him, and it was hard to imagine her being young or pretty. The idea of her once being young felt uncomfortable to him.

Main Point: The narrator introduces his grandmother’s physical appearance and expresses how she always seemed timeless and old in his eyes.

• From “She had always been short and fat and slightly bent…” to “…she often told us of the games she used to play as a child.”

He continues describing her physical features and behavior. She was always seen with a rosary in her hand and quietly reciting prayers. Although she told stories of her childhood, the narrator found it difficult to believe that she was ever a child herself.

Main Point: The narrator emphasizes his grandmother’s spiritual lifestyle and his disbelief about her ever being young or playful.

• From “She was very religious…” to “…while she sat inside reading scriptures.”

During the narrator’s childhood in the village, the grandmother played a key role in raising him. She would wake him, bathe him, feed him, and accompany him to school. While he studied, she would sit in the temple reading scriptures. Their lives were closely connected during this time.

Main Point: A strong bond existed between the grandmother and the narrator when they lived together in the village.

• From “When my parents were comfortably settled in the city…” to “…she accepted her seclusion with resignation.”

When they moved to the city, the bond between them started weakening. The narrator now went to an English school in a motorbus, and the grandmother no longer accompanied him. She disapproved of modern education, especially subjects like science and English, and was disappointed that God and scriptures were no longer taught.

Main Point: Their relationship began to grow distant in the city, and the grandmother silently accepted this change.

• From “When I went up to University…” to the end

As the narrator went to university and later abroad, their interactions reduced further. Yet, the grandmother never showed any emotion. Upon his return, she welcomed him, and they had a brief celebration. But soon after, she fell ill, stopped speaking, and spent her final hours praying. Her death was marked by a mysterious silence as hundreds of sparrows gathered and mourned her quietly.

Main Point: The story ends with the grandmother’s peaceful death and the silent tribute of the sparrows, highlighting her spiritual and dignified life.

Themes of the Story

This story is a nostalgic and emotional account of the author’s relationship with his grandmother. Through vivid descriptions and personal memories, the story beautifully captures themes of love, loss, spirituality, and the changing nature of human relationships.

1. The Bond Between Grandparents and Grandchildren

One of the most important themes in the story is the emotional connection between the narrator and his grandmother. In the early years, they shared a close and affectionate relationship. However, as the narrator grows up and modern education takes over, the emotional distance increases. Yet, the grandmother’s love remains constant and unconditional.

2. Change and Separation

The story highlights how time, age, and lifestyle changes can affect human relationships. As the narrator moves from village life to city life and then abroad, the closeness between him and his grandmother fades. The theme of growing apart due to changing circumstances is explored with deep emotion and subtlety.

3. Old Age and Dignity

The grandmother represents the grace and wisdom of old age. She lives a disciplined, spiritual, and simple life. Even when her role in the family becomes limited, she does not complain. Her quiet strength and graceful acceptance of life’s changes reflect the dignity of old age.

4. Spirituality and Religion

Spirituality is a central theme. The grandmother is shown as a deeply religious woman who finds peace in prayer, scriptures, and feeding birds. Her life and death both revolve around spiritual values rather than materialistic concerns.

5. Modernity vs Tradition

The contrast between traditional values and modern education is clearly visible. The grandmother disapproves of the Western-style education her grandson receives because it lacks moral and religious teachings. This theme reflects the generation gap and the cultural shift from spiritual to scientific learning.

6. Death and Mourning

The grandmother’s peaceful death and the mysterious mourning by the sparrows highlight the theme of death as a natural and serene part of life. The silent tribute by the birds adds a spiritual and emotional depth, portraying death not as an end but as a moment of quiet dignity.

Central Message of the Story

Khushwant Singh’s “The Portrait of a Lady” conveys the central message that human relationships, especially those built on love and care, remain valuable despite the passage of time and changing circumstances. 

The story reflects how the narrator’s bond with his grandmother evolves from deep closeness in childhood to emotional distance in adulthood, yet her affection and spiritual strength remain constant. 

It emphasizes the dignity of old age and the peaceful acceptance of life’s changes and death. The grandmother’s unwavering faith, disciplined life, and graceful departure highlight the beauty of a life rooted in simplicity and devotion. 

The story also subtly contrasts traditional values with the modern world, portraying how spirituality and emotional bonds can still have a lasting impact in an increasingly materialistic society. Ultimately, the message is about respecting the wisdom of the elderly and recognizing the quiet power of unconditional love and inner peace.

Conclusion

Now that you’ve gone through the complete notes for The Portrait of a Lady, you’re all set to tackle this chapter with full confidence. The chapter explores the touching relationship between the author and his grandmother, along with powerful themes of love, tradition, spirituality, and change. This story gives you a lot to think about and even more to write about in your exams.

These notes are designed to help you revise quickly and understand deeply, so you don’t waste time feeling confused or stressed. Just revise these key points, stay calm, and you’ll be able to answer any question from this chapter with ease. Keep practicing, stay focused, and remember, you’ve got this!

FAQs

Q1. What was the grandmother’s daily routine?

Ans. She prayed, told stories to the author in childhood, fed sparrows and spent most of her time in devotion.

Q2. How did the relationship between the author and his grandmother change over time?

Ans. In childhood, they were very close, but as he grew up, studied in English school and later abroad, she became less involved.

Q3. What happened before grandmother’s death?

Ans. She stopped talking, prayed silently, refused to eat and peacefully passed away, surrounded by silence and sparrows.

Q4. Why are sparrows important in the story?

Ans. Thousands of sparrows sat quietly mourning her death, showing their love and respect, making it a touching scene.

Q5. What is the main theme of the story?

Ans. The story highlights love, faith, spirituality and the strong bond between grandmother and grandson.