Q 8. "At her age one could never tell”. What could one not tell? About whom? Why?
Q 9. How did the grandmother react to the author’s decision to join a university?
Q 10. Which lifetime habit did the grandmother break on the day of the author’s arrival from abroad? How did she make amends for it?
Q 11. “We protested. But she ignored our protests.” Who protested and why? What was the result?
Q 12. Describe the last moments of Khushwant Singh’s grandmother.
Q13. How can you say that the grandmother could foresee her death?
Q14. Do you think grandmother was happier in village than in the city? How can you say so?
Q15. In what way(s) does Khushwant Singh’s grandmother deserve to be called a lady?
Q16. “Next morning the sweeper swept the bread crumbs into the dustbin.” How does the line contribute to the mystic aura in the end of the story?
Long Answer Questions
Q1. What different qualities and values of Khushwant Singh’s grandmother impress you the most? Why?
Q2. Emotions should never be allowed to stand in the way of an individual’s progress. Comment with reference to “The Portrait of a Lady”.
Dear Student,
13. The grandmother was not well and knew that she could not sustain the slightest physical exertion. When her grandson visited, though, she was ecstatic and could not control her joy. She wanted to live those moments to the fullest, knowing that they might be her last. Her frail body could not take the proceedings and paved way for her heavenly abode.
14. While in the village, the grandmother was happier because her time was spent taking care of the narrator, and sometimes feeding the dogs. But in the city, she was alienated from her society and family. Village was a familiar and homely place whereas the city had an alien and strange atmosphere.
15. The narrator’s grandmother is a woman of strong character. She is a surrogate mother to the narrator and does not fail to instil great values in him. She accepted changes in her lifestyle with great dignity and strength. She had a generous and compassionate attitude towards animals. She tried to adapt to whatever situation life presented to her, be it living in a city, or parting from her grandson. She truly deserves to be called a lady.
Regards
13. The grandmother was not well and knew that she could not sustain the slightest physical exertion. When her grandson visited, though, she was ecstatic and could not control her joy. She wanted to live those moments to the fullest, knowing that they might be her last. Her frail body could not take the proceedings and paved way for her heavenly abode.
14. While in the village, the grandmother was happier because her time was spent taking care of the narrator, and sometimes feeding the dogs. But in the city, she was alienated from her society and family. Village was a familiar and homely place whereas the city had an alien and strange atmosphere.
15. The narrator’s grandmother is a woman of strong character. She is a surrogate mother to the narrator and does not fail to instil great values in him. She accepted changes in her lifestyle with great dignity and strength. She had a generous and compassionate attitude towards animals. She tried to adapt to whatever situation life presented to her, be it living in a city, or parting from her grandson. She truly deserves to be called a lady.
Regards