Hornbill, The textbook Solution in English for H.S. First year (Core Course) Chapter 1: The portrait of a lady Talking about the text

Hornbill, The textbook Solution in English for H.S. First year (Core Course)

Chapter 1: The portrait of a lady Talking about the text

(Hornbill Class 11) Question 1:

The author's grandmother was a religious person. What are the different ways in which we come to know this?

Answer:

The author's grandmother was a religious person. It can be known from her behaviour. Her lips constantly moved in inaudible prayer and kept telling the beads of her rosary. She said her morning prayer in a monotonous sing-song while getting the author ready for school and went to temple and read the scriptures daily. She did not believe in things taught in the English Schools as they gave no teaching about God and scripture. While spinning her spinning-wheel she used to recite prayers. Except the instance of arrival of her grandson, she never forgot to pray. Even till her last breath she continued praying and telling beads of her rosary.

(Hornbill Class 11) Question 2:

Describe the changing relationship between the author and his grandmother. Did their feelings for each other change?

Answer:

Author and his grandmother were very good friends. He was completely dependent on his grandmother in his childhood. The turning point in their friendship came when they moved to the city. Although they shared the same room, his grandmother no longer went to school with him. He used to go school in a motor bus. When the author went up to university, he was given a room of his own and the common link of their friendship was snapped.

Even though a distance came in between them, their feelings for each other did not change. They still loved each other. When the author decided to go abroad for studies, she went to leave him at the railway station. She also celebrated his return from abroad by singing and beating drum.

(Hornbill Class 11) Question 3:

Would you agree that the author's grandmother was a person strong in character? If yes, give instances that show this.

Answer:

Yes, I agree that the author's grandmother was a person strong in character. She was a religious lady. She always prayed and read the scriptures. She did not like the English school as they gave no teaching about God and scriptures. Even though she was not formally educated, she was always serious about the author's education. When the author was going abroad for further studies she went to leave him at the railway station but did not talk and show any emotion. His grandmother accepted the seclusion with resignation when he was given a room of his own. In his return from abroad his grandmother welcomed him by singing and beating drum. She used to feed the dogs at village and in the city she feed the sparrows. She was strong a strong minded lady. Before her dead she refused to talk and when they protest she ignored them. She lay on bed praying and telling her beads.