Test: The Portrait of a Lady- 1 - Commerce MCQ

In the village they had a very intimate relationship. But a turning point came when they were sent for in the city. The narrator went up to University. Now he was given a room of his own. It made all the difference. The common link of their friendship was broken. They saw very less of each other now.

In the story The Portrait of a Lady by Khushwant Singh, the narrator and his family find the grandmother's stories about her childhood games — such as playing "hopscotch" — to be rather absurd and undignified, especially because they cannot imagine her ever being young or playful. This reflects how deeply the narrator associates her with seriousness, old age, and spirituality.

Part of the morning routine between the narrator and the grandmother included feeding breakfast to the village dogs.

The grandmother and the narrator shared a close bond, and their mornings were filled with simple yet meaningful activities:

• The grandmother would wake the narrator up and prepare him for school.
• She recited her morning prayers in a gentle, sing-song manner.
• After breakfast, which consisted of a thick chapatti with butter and sugar, they would walk to school together.
• During their walk, the grandmother carried several chapattis for the village dogs.

This routine not only strengthened their relationship but also highlighted the grandmother's nurturing nature.

Before going to school, the grandmother prepared a bundle for the narrator. This bundle included:

• A wooden slate, which was essential for writing.
• A tiny earthen ink-pot for ink.
• A red pen for writing.

These items were not just tools for education; they also symbolised the grandmother's support and involvement in the narrator's learning journey.

Before the turning point in their friendship, one of the activities the grandmother used to do with the narrator was feeding the village dogs that followed them home from the temple. This shared experience helped strengthen their bond as they interacted with the animals together. According to "The Portrait of a Lady" by Khushwant Singh, this activity was a significant part of their routine and held importance in their relationship.

The grandmother's reaction to the announcement of music lessons was one of silence, which conveyed her disapproval. This silence indicated her belief that music was associated with undesirable elements in society. Her response reflects deep-seated reservations about music due to its perceived connections with certain societal groups.

On the evening of the narrator's arrival, a significant change occurred in the grandmother's behavior as she deviated from her usual routine of praying and caring for sparrows. Instead, she gathered the women of the neighborhood, obtained an old drum, and engaged in singing activities. This departure from her regular behavior marked a notable shift in her actions, indicating a departure from her typical activities.

The family came to realize that the elderly woman had passed away when her rosary fell from her lifeless fingers while she was peacefully laying in bed. This sudden action indicated to them that she had left this world, leading them to prepare for her funeral arrangements.

The morning after the elderly woman's passing, the family observed that the sparrows in the room were unusually quiet. They did not show any interest in the bread crumbs that were offered to them. This behaviour was striking and contributed to the somber atmosphere in the household during this time of loss.