CBSE Class 11 English Hornbill: The Portrait of a Lady NCERT Solutions

1. The thought was almost revolting: This phrase suggests that the idea of the author's grandmother having once been young and attractive was difficult for the author to accept or even imagine, almost to the point of being shocking.

2. An expanse of pure white serenity: This expression describes the grandmother's calm, peaceful, and serene nature, likening it to a vast, tranquil landscape covered in white, perhaps like snow.

3. A turning-point: This signifies a crucial moment or a significant change in the relationship between the author and his grandmother, particularly after they moved to the city.

4. Accepted her seclusion with resignation: This indicates that the grandmother passively submitted to her solitary life, which arose from the changing circumstances and her reduced interaction with the author, without complaint.

5. A veritable bedlam of chirrupings: This refers to the noisy, chaotic, and overwhelming sound created by a large number of sparrows chirping together, often seen around the grandmother.

6. Frivolous rebukes: These are light-hearted, playful, and not serious scoldings or reprimands, likely referring to how the grandmother might have addressed the sparrows.

7. The sagging skins of the dilapidated drum: This describes the worn-out, loose, and deteriorated condition of an old drum, implying something old and in disrepair.

The author's relationship with his grandmother can be divided into three distinct phases before he left for higher studies abroad:

1. Early Childhood in the Village: During this phase, the author and his grandmother were inseparable. She was his primary caregiver, responsible for waking him up, preparing him for school, and accompanying him. They shared a close bond and a comfortable friendship.
2. Moving to the City: When the author's parents called them to live in the city, their relationship entered a new phase. Although they lived together, their common link of school was broken. The grandmother could no longer help him with his studies in English, science, and mathematics, leading to less interaction and a gradual distancing.
3. Joining University: The third phase began when the author went to university. He was given a separate room, and the common link of their friendship was completely snapped. The grandmother largely withdrew into her own world of spinning the wheel, reciting prayers, and accepting her solitude with quiet resignation.

The author's grandmother was disturbed when he began attending the city school for three main reasons:

1. Inability to Help with Studies: She felt unable to assist him with his new subjects like English, science, and mathematics, as these were beyond her traditional knowledge and understanding.
2. Lack of Religious Instruction: The city school curriculum did not include any teachings about God or scriptures, which were central to her own spiritual life and beliefs.
3. Disapproval of Music Lessons: She was particularly unhappy about the inclusion of music lessons. She considered music to be the prerogative of harlots and beggars, and not something suitable for people of gentle birth or dignity.

After the author grew up and their daily interactions decreased, his grandmother spent her days in the following ways:

1. Spinning the Wheel: She would sit by her spinning wheel from sunrise to sunset, finding solace and routine in its continuous motion.
2. Reciting Prayers: She constantly recited her prayers, either silently or in an inaudible whisper, often while telling the beads of her rosary.
3. Feeding the Sparrows: In the afternoon, she would break bread into small crumbs and feed the sparrows that gathered around her in the verandah, forming a unique bond with them.

Just before she died, the author's grandmother exhibited unusual behavior that signaled her impending end. She declared that her death was near and that she had omitted her prayers, implying she wouldn't waste any more time. Instead of conversing with her family, she lay peacefully in her bed, continuously praying and telling the beads of her rosary, accepting her departure with spiritual focus.

The sparrows, with whom the grandmother shared a special bond, expressed their sorrow in a deeply touching and unusual manner when she passed away. Thousands of them gathered and sat silently scattered around the verandah where her body lay. They did not chirp or fly around as they usually did. When the author's mother offered them crumbs of bread, they refused to eat them. This collective, silent mourning by the sparrows was a unique tribute to the grandmother, highlighting the deep connection she had with these creatures.

We learn that the author's grandmother was a deeply religious person through several observations in the text:

• Constant Prayer: Her lips were always moving in an inaudible prayer, and one hand was perpetually busy telling the beads of her rosary.
• Morning Ritual: She woke up very early in the morning to perform her prayers, which she recited in a monotonous, sing-song manner.
• Daily Routine: Even when accompanying the author to the village school, she would sit at a nearby temple reading the scriptures.
• Spiritual Discomfort in the City: In the city, she was unhappy that the author's school did not teach anything about God or scriptures.
• Focus on Prayers Before Death: In her final moments, she chose to spend her last hours praying and telling her beads, foregoing conversation, which showed her ultimate devotion.
• Association with Sacredness: Her entire demeanor and daily life were steeped in religious practices, reflecting her profound faith.

The relationship between the author and his grandmother underwent significant changes throughout their lives, primarily influenced by circumstances, but their underlying feelings remained constant.

Early Years: In the author's early childhood, they shared an extremely close and affectionate bond. The grandmother was his constant companion and caregiver, ensuring his well-being and education in the village. They were best friends.

Shift to the City: When they moved to the city to live with the author's parents, the relationship began to change. Their common link of school was broken, and the grandmother could no longer help with his studies. This led to less time spent together and a gradual emotional distancing, although the grandmother continued to care for him.

University and Abroad: The distancing intensified when the author went to university and later abroad. He was given his own room, and their shared life became minimal. The grandmother largely retreated into her spiritual world. Despite this physical separation and reduced interaction, the fundamental feelings of love and care between them did not change. The author still respected and cared for her, and the grandmother's affection, though expressed differently, remained evident in her concern for his well-being and her quiet acceptance of their separate lives.

In essence, while the nature and frequency of their interactions evolved due to life's progression, the deep-seated feelings of love, respect, and attachment between the author and his grandmother remained unwavering.