Presentation on chapter-1 of Snapshots of class 11.

1. Chapter -1
The Portrait
of a Lady
By- Khushwant
Singh

2. About the author
• Name- Khushwant Singh
• Born -2 February 1915
Hadali, Punjab Province, British
India
(now in Punjab, Pakistan)Died20
• Died- March 2014 (aged 99)
New Delhi, India
• Occupation- Lawyer, journalist,
diplomat, writer, politician
• Nationality – Indian
• Awards- Padma Bhushan
Padma Vibhushan

3. Vocabulary• Wrinkled- having lines or folds
• Portrait- painting or picture
• Mantelpiece- a structure of wood, marble, or stone above and
around a fireplace.
• Revolting – unpleasant
• Absurd – Illogical
• Undignified- disrespectful
• Fables- fictitious stories with a moral teaching
• Prophets- saints
• Hobbled – walked in an awkward way
• Stoop – bend one’s body forward
• Rosary- a string of beads for keeping count of number of chants
made of a religious prayer
• Locks- hair

4. • Scattered – disorganized
• Puckered – a face contract into wrinkles
• Inaudible- unable to be heard
• Serenity – the state of being peaceful and calm
• Contentment – a state of happiness and satisfaction
• Monotonous – dull and boring
• Earthen- made of baked or fired clay
• Stale- no longer fresh
• Scriptures - the sacred writings of a religion
• Growling - making a low guttural sound in the throat
• ears rolled by- time passed
• Distressed - suffer from extremely sorrow, anxiety or pain
• Lewd Association – Indecent or Obscene
• Harlots – Prostitutes
• Gentlefolk - People of noble birth
• Snapped- break suddenly and completely
• Seclusion – the state of being private and away from the people

5. • Spinning-wheel - a household machine with a wheel attached to it for
spinning yarn
• Veritable - use to describe something which is very interesting or
unusual
• Bedlam – confusion
• Chirrupings – the noise of a small bird
• Perched - alight or rest on something
• Cherished - hold something dear
• Moist- wet
• Clasped – hold tightly
• Frivolous – not having any serious purpose, light-hearted
• Rebuke - disapproval of something or someone
• frivolous rebukes - light hearted scolding
• Sagging – sinking downwards
• Dilapidated – in a state of despair or ruin

6. • Customary – traditional
• Crude – in a natural state, roughly made
• Cremated - dispose of or burn a body after it is dead
• Blaze - a very large burning fire
• Shroud – a piece of cloth used to wrap a dead person
• Corpse- dead body

7. • 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.
Some important phrases

8. • 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.

9. Grandma’s appearance
• Short
• Healthy
• Slightly bent
• Silver coloured hair scattered messily
• Wore white clothes
• Always praying

10. Introduction
• The writer is narrating his own experience in
which he describes the different times he had
spent with his grandmother and the three phases
of their relationship
• The writer and his grandmother had a beautiful
bond between them and loved each other a lot.
The story tells us how beautiful a relationship can
become between a grandson and his
grandmother.

11. The three phases of author’s
relationship with his
grandmother

12. Phase-1
Period of author’s early childhood
oDuring this time, author used to live
with his grandmother.
oGrandmother used to take care of him
from waking him up and getting him
ready to accompany him to the school.
oBoth shared a beautiful bond with
each other

13. Phase-2
Author moved to the city with grandmother
• They moved to the city to live with author’s parents
• Liven in a common room
• Turning point
• Saw less of each other
• Grandmother didn’t go to the school with him, didn’t
wake him up, didn't help him to get dressed
• Grandmother was unhappy with author attending an
English school as now she couldn't help him with the
lessons
• School didn't teach about God and the scriptures

14. Phase-3
Author joined university
 Author was given a room of his own
 Common link of friendship was
snapped
 Grandmother spent time in doing
prayers
 Grandmother accepted the seclusion
with silence

15. Thank you