Lecture Notes: The Portrait of a Lady

Introduction

• Good evening everyone!
• Reminder to like and share the class for better engagement.
• Excited to begin Class 11 syllabus focusing on English.

Syllabus Overview

• Books:
  • Hornbill (primary book)
  • Snapshot (supplementary book with fewer chapters)
• Contents:
  • Chapters
  • Poems
• Chapters are fewer but some may be complicated.

Class Engagement

• Encouragement for liking and sharing:
  • Previous class had 1000 likes; aiming for the same in this class.
• Excitement about teaching style and addressing technical glitches.

Chapter Focus: The Portrait of a Lady

• Importance of grandparents in our lives highlighted.
• Author: Khushwant Singh

Themes

• Relationship with Grandmother:
  • Described as very religious and down-to-earth.
  • The author reflects on his view of grandmother through childhood memories.

Descriptions in the Chapter

• Physical Appearance of Grandmother:
  • Short, slightly bent, wrinkled face, silver hair, beautiful in nature over appearance.
  • Connection to moral values and traditions.
• Description of Grandfather:
  • Old with a long white beard, big turban; an image that evokes wonder about his youth.

Grandmother's Life with the Author

• Daily Routine:

  • She would wake the author, sing prayers, prepare him for school.
  • Used traditional wooden slate for lessons.

• Bonding Moments:

  • Grandmother would feed village dogs during their walks to school.
  • Importance of morning routine and shared experiences.

Changes in Circumstances

• Shift to the City:

  • Author's parents summon them to the city; significant change in their routine and bond.
  • New school dynamics introduced: English medium and different methods of teaching.

• Evolving Relationship:

  • Less interaction over time due to the author's growing independence but still sharing a room.
  • Author begins to teach grandmother, and she starts to feel left out.

Grandmother's Later Years

• Feeding Sparrows:

  • A new routine as she became lonely in the city and found joy in feeding sparrows.

• Grandmother’s Health Decline:

  • A turning point occurs with her unexpected sickness and beliefs about her remaining time.

Conclusion of Chapter

• Final Moments:
  • Grandmother stops praying, leading to her peaceful passing.
  • A strong connection demonstrated between her and the sparrows during her last rites.

Important Reflection Points

• Understanding the emotional connection between generations.
• Realization of the simplicity and purity of relationships with grandparents.
• Need for anticipation of changes as one grows older.

Class Activity

• Encouraged students to engage in comments and feedback on the class.

Homework and Follow-up

• All questions and answers available on the Telegram channel.
• Importance of sharing feedback and staying connectedfor upcoming classes.