THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY

- KHUSHWANT SINGH

WORD MEANING
1. Absurd – Illogical
2. Undignified- disrespectful
3. Fables- fictitious stories with a moral teaching
4. Prophets- saints
5. Rosary- a string of beads for keeping count of number of chants made of a religious
prayer
6. Puckered – a face contract into wrinkles
7. Inaudible- unable to be heard
8. Serenity – the state of being peaceful and calm
9. Growling – making a low guttural sound in the throat
10. Distressed – suffer from extremely sorrow, anxiety or pain
11. Lewd Association – Indecent or Obscene
12. Harlots – Prostitutes
13. Seclusion – the state of being private and away from the people
14. Veritable – use to describe something which is very interesting or unusual
15. Bedlam – confusion
16. Imprint – impression or stamp
17. Clasped – hold tightly
18. Frivolous – not having any serious purpose, light-hearted
19. Rebuke – disapproval of something or someone
20. Pallor – an unhealthy pale appearance
21. Blaze – a very large burning fire
22. Shroud – a piece of cloth used to wrap a dead person

MIND MAP
 SUMMARY

The Portrait of a Lady’ is a descriptive story describing Khushwant Singh’s

grandmother. He describes his relationship with his grandmother in the story –
The Portrait of Lady.

He recalls his grandmother as a short, old, slightly bent lady. He sketches the
lady as not very pretty but constantly beautiful throughout her life and the
twenty years that the author had stayed with her.

She was healthy and lived a very long life. In the story, the author describes
the 3 phases of relationship in the story which include the time of complete
dependence, the sharing of room, and losing the common link of friendship by
getting his privacy.
Grandmother had an orthodox kinda mentality and disapproved of Music
lessons taught to the author in the school. Animal lover, theist, and the
formerly caring lady died out of very usual mild fever.

She spent her last chapter chanting the god’s name and praying. She ignored
the protest done by the author and the author’s parents. Finally, with a
peaceful pallor spread on her face, she died.

During the customary ceremony, before the funeral, the corpse was lying in
her room where 100’s sparrows sat scattered on the floor, very quiet. They
showed their sorrow by taking no notice of the bread crumbs kept by the
author’s mother and flew away once the body was carried away and came
back never again.

MEANINGS OF THE PHRASES AND EXPRESSIONS USED IN THE STORY

• the thought was almost revolting - The thought that the author's grandmother
was once young and pretty raises a doubt in the mind of the author. He finds it
too hard to believe.

• an expanse of pure white serenity - It refers to the calm, peaceful and serene
character and conduct of the author's grandmother. She is compared to the
peaceful winter landscape in the mountains.

• a turning-point - It refers to the point where the author's relationship with his
grandmother changes drastically after they move to the city-house.

• accepted her seclusion with resignation - This shows the author's

grandmother's passive submission to her secluded life after she gradually
loses touch with her grandson.
• a veritable bedlam of chirruping - It refers to the noise, confusion and chaos
caused by the chirruping of the sparrows that scattered and perched around
the author's grandmother.

• frivolous rebukes - It refers to the casual and light-hearted rebukes of the

grandmother to the sparrows.

• the sagging skins of the dilapidated drum - It points to the shabby and
deteriorated condition of the drum.