Chapter-1-The Portrait of a Lady (Prose)

NCERT Solutions for English Hornbill Class 11 Chapter 1 – The Portrait of a Lady (Prose)

If you are a Class 11 student looking for reliable and easy-to-understand NCERT Solutions for The Portrait of a Lady, you have landed at the right place. This chapter opens the Hornbill textbook and sets the tone for the entire course with its deeply personal and emotional narrative. Written by Khushwant Singh, the story revolves around his grandmother — a woman of quiet strength, deep faith, and unconditional love. Students often find this chapter relatable because it talks about the changing dynamics of family relationships as one grows up. The language is simple yet rich in imagery, which makes it both a pleasure to read and a challenge to analyse during exams. 

Understanding this chapter thoroughly will help you score well in reading comprehension, extract-based questions, and long-answer questions. At Myclass24, our subject experts have carefully prepared step-by-step solutions that follow the latest CBSE guidelines. Whether you are preparing for your school exams, unit tests, or board-level practice, these solutions will save your time and boost your confidence. Bookmark this page, study regularly, and you will see a clear improvement in your English performance. Must check NCERT Solutions for class 11 English and NCERT solutions for class 11 for all subjects. 

Download PDF – NCERT Solutions for English Hornbill Class 11 Chapter 1 The Portrait of a Lady (Prose)

Download the free PDF of NCERT Solutions for The Portrait of a Lady from Myclass24. The PDF covers all textbook questions with detailed, examiner-approved answers — perfect for offline revision.

The Portrait of a Lady – Chapter Overview, Key Facts & Analysis

The Portrait of a Lady is the first prose chapter in the NCERT English Hornbill textbook for Class 11. It is an autobiographical piece penned by the renowned Indian author Khushwant Singh. The story is a moving account of his relationship with his grandmother over three distinct phases of his life — childhood in the village, teenage years in the city, and his time abroad in England.

The grandmother is described as an old, wrinkled, white-haired woman who was always seen in white clothes, her lips constantly moving in silent prayer, and a rosary in her hand. She is deeply religious and traditional in her outlook. Despite her age, she radiated a kind of serene, timeless energy that the author compares to a "winter landscape in the mountains."

Three Phases of the Relationship

Important Characters

Key Themes of the Chapter

1. The Passage of Time and Change The story beautifully captures how relationships evolve as people grow older. The grandmother and the author were inseparable in childhood but drifted apart as modern education and urban life changed the boy's world.

2. Tradition vs. Modernity The grandmother represents the old, spiritual way of life. She was uncomfortable with English-medium education and subjects like western music, which she considered "not proper." This conflict reflects a broader tension between Indian tradition and western modernity in post-independence society.

3. Old Age and Loneliness As the author moved away for studies and eventually abroad, the grandmother's world grew smaller. She found company in feeding sparrows — a small but poignant act of connection with living beings.

4. Death and Acceptance The grandmother's death is portrayed with quiet dignity. She did not die in shock or pain — she spent her final hours singing devotional songs with neighbourhood women, and passed away peacefully in her sleep. This is significant: it suggests she was at peace with her life.

Symbolic Elements

Important Literary Devices Used

• Imagery: "Her face was a crisscross of wrinkles" — vivid visual description
• Metaphor: The grandmother compared to a "winter landscape"
• Symbolism: Sparrows as symbols of life and affection
• Tone: Nostalgic, respectful, slightly guilt-ridden

NCERT Textbook Questions & Answers

Q1. The three phases of the author's relationship with his grandmother before he left the country are:(i) Childhood in the village (ii) Schooling in the city (iii) Going abroad

Answer: In the village, they were constant companions. In the city, the disconnect began because the grandmother could not understand his subjects. Before going abroad, the break became complete as she stopped visiting his room except to say goodbye.

Q2. Mention the three reasons why the author's grandmother was disturbed when he started going to the city school.

Answer:

1. She did not understand English and science taught at the city school.
2. She disapproved that the school did not teach about God and scriptures.
3. She was upset that music was being taught — she considered it not fit for gentlefolk.

Q3. Why did the grandmother stop talking before her death?

Answer: She did not consider talking a waste of her last hours. Instead, she spent her time singing devotional songs with the neighbourhood women, beating an old drum rhythmically, as if she knew the end was near and wanted to spend that time in prayer.

Q4. What is the "turning point" in the author's relationship with his grandmother?

Answer: The turning point came when the author started attending an English-medium school in the city. Unlike the village school where the grandmother accompanied him and knew what was being taught, she had no role in his new education. The author became more independent, and the closeness that once defined their relationship slowly faded.

Quick Revision Table

Studying The Portrait of a Lady with focus and the right resources from Myclass24 will help you write thoughtful, well-structured answers in your exams. Focus on character traits, the three phases, and the symbolic use of sparrows — these are examiner favourites every year.