CLASS XI
ENGLISH
GIST OF LESSONS
16.04.2024 TO 28.06.2024
THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY
DAY I
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The narrator fondly remembers his grandmother whom he has always seen as an old lady
and cannot bring himself to think of her as someone who was young at one point of time.
He compares her to the snow-capped winter mountains and it drives home the message that
she was extremely graceful and dignified.
He remembers the days spent at village.
Grandmother used to accompany him to school where he learnt alphabet and scriptures and
they fed the stray dogs chapattis on their way home.
She was a deeply religious lady, and a sizeable portion of her day was devoted to chanting
prayers and reading scriptures.
Once they migrated to the city to join the narrator’s parents their relationship began to
undergo a change.
The narrator went to school in a motorbus, learnt English, sciences and music.
Grandmother hardly had any role to play in his life.
She disapproved of what he studied and learnt.
She resented the fact that scriptures were not taught in city schools.
But she remained silent.
She did not think it wise to enter into an argument about things that were not in her
capacity to change.
She was not a highly educated woman nor did she have city-sophistication but she was
dignified and resilient.
DAY 2
 The narrator joined university and was given a room of his own.
 Now that they did not share a room anymore, the regular communication with grandmother
suffered a further setback.
 Grandmother occupied herself working at the spinning wheel, praying and telling the beads
of her rosary and feeding the sparrows in the afternoon.
 She did not complain. She withdrew more into her own world.
 At this juncture, she showed unexpected resilience and dignity. May be she felt sad and
alienated but she did not whine, she held her head high and earned our respect.
 She came to the station to bid farewell to the narrator as he left the country to pursue
higher studies abroad.
 The narrator felt that after five years when he would come back home, probably he would
not meet grandmother again. She was too old to survive another five years.
 But grandmother lived and came to the station to welcome him.
 The same evening, she stopped praying for the first time in her life and with several local
ladies beat a dilapidated drum and sang a secular song about the homecoming of a hero.
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This showed her immense love for her grandson whose homecoming was no less grand an
occasion than that of a hero, a victor.
The following day she fell ill and announced that she was going to die.
She died on her bed, praying all along.
After her death the sparrows visited her in the afternoon.
Surprisingly, they sat silently, a most unlikely action on the part of sparrows.
They refused food and flew away as grandmother was carried out of the house for
cremation.
Once again her uncanny bond with the world of nature, possibly forged by her piety, was
proven to the world.
A PHOTOGRAPH
DAY 1
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The poet’s attention is drawn to a photograph.
It is the photograph of her mother and her two cousins.
Her mother was barely twelve years old then.
They had gone for a seaside vacation.
The photograph had been taken by an uncle.
Mother fondly looked at the photograph.
She laughed at the way they were dressed but loved to reminisce the carefree days of her
girlhood.
Mother was no more.
But the poet realizes that the sea in the photograph has hardly changed.
She is once again reminded of the transience of human life and how all that man cherishes
are reduced to nothing in course of time.
Figures of speech such as Alliteration, Metonymy and Synecdoche were discussed.
DAY 2
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Decades later the photograph was a source of joy for the poet’s mother.
She laughed at the way they had been dressed for the beach vacation.
It also reminded her of her carefree girlhood which she missed but knew that she had lost it
forever. It was her past that could not be replayed.
For the poet her mother and her laughter both constituted the joy of bygone days.
Mother had reconciled to the loss and so has the poet to the loss of her mother.
But the reconciliation does not come easily. It requires much effort. Acceptance comes
gradually but the pain of loss never goes away.
The poet too has learnt to live with the truth of losing her mother.
But the void that has been created cannot be filled in nor can the profundity of the sorrow be
measured and expressed.
She remains silent. In fact, she is silenced by the deafening silence created by the absence of
her mother.
POSTER
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A poster should be in a BOX.
The entire poster must be on one page.
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It must have a heading followed by a slogan.
Relevant points are to be written in bullets.
Long sentences are to be avoided.
Do not write more than 4 to 5 points.
Write it within 50 words.
Do not use colour.
Do not use pencil.
Do’s and don’ts format can be used but a do should not be the opposite of a don’t in the
next column—e.g. Take the left side--- Do not take the right side.
A visual clue is to be provided.
You can use stick figures.
It can be a symbol as well e.g. stripes to denote a tiger or a drop in paisley style to mean
water.
Issuing authority must be mentioned.
Use three to four fonts.
WRITING A SPEECH
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Title SHOULD NOT BE provided.
INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH-- greetings (Good Morning), refer to the people you are
addressing—Respected Principal and teachers and my dear friends—self introduction (name
with surname + class/ section) OR (name with surname + designation e.g. the Deputy Head
Girl)
If designation is mentioned then class/section does not require to be mentioned as no
school has a Head Girl or Boy/ Secretary, Interact Club for separate classes.
Same paragraph—Topic to be introduced.
Read the question.
If the topic is clearly mentioned then use it without any change and put it within “ ” (as in
case of this question).
If only the theme is mentioned then create the topic based on theme and write it within “ ”
with the initials in capital letters except for the articles and prepositions in between.
SECOND PARAGRAPH-- THE BODY of the speech
CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH— Encourage the audience to be more involved in whatever you
are talking about
Thank the audience. It need not be an elaborate sentence. A simple ‘Thank you’ will do.
MOTHER’S DAY (DAY 1)
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Mrs. Fitzgerald is strongly advising Mrs. Pearson to be more assertive in her dealings with her
family.
Husbands and children should recognize the efforts put in by wives and mothers.
Mrs. Pearson is affectionate—so much so, that she is ready to ignore the fact that her family
members are thoughtless and selfish, and in their defence she says that they do not do it
intentionally.
She keeps dropping hint signifies that she cannot put her foot down and clearly articulate her
demand to be treated with respect.
By nature she is meek and submissive and wants to avoid altercations.
She has accepted the fact that once they are back from work she will serve them refreshment
and help them get ready before they go out again.
Mrs. Fitzgerald takes it upon herself to intervene and sort out Mrs. Pearson’s problem.
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Mrs. Fitzgerald explains that it is Mrs. Pearson who will teach her family members a lesson.
They will exchange personalities.
The new Mrs. Pearson, with the personality of Mrs. Fitzgerald, smokes a cigarette and lays
cards on the table to play patience.
Doris walks into the room without even casting a glance at her mother and her first sentence
is concerning her yellow dress that is to be pressed as she will wear it and go out.
It is as good as treating her mother like an object, a thing that can move, talk and take and
execute orders. She is shocked to see her mother because she is smoking and playing patience.
The new Mrs. Pearson asks Doris to make her own tea, iron her yellow dress and reprimands
her. She dismisses Doris’ claim to hard work.
She also hurts Doris’ ego by calling Charlie Spence, her special friend, buck teeth and halfwitted.
She further dampens Doris’ spirit by rubbing it in to her that she was practically a good-fornothing, as in her younger days, Mrs. Pearson would have been able to find herself a man
much better than Charlie Spence.
Doris, essentially a spoilt girl, cannot take it anymore. Almost in tears, she walks out of the
room.
MOTHER’S DAY (DAY 2)
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Unlike Doris, Cyril at least greets his mother but in a very off-hand manner. Initially, he is a
little civil as he asks her whether she is indisposed. Once he gathers that Mrs. Pearson is fine,
in a very dismissive manner he asks her to make tea ready. In the same rude manner he asks
her whether his clothes have been laid out and whether they have been mended.
Mrs. Pearson retorts that she has not bothered to make tea. She has not laid Cyril’s clothes
out nor has she seen to the mending as she does not feel like doing it.
She puts forth a very valid argument when Cyril opines that if all in the house refuse to do
things because they do not feel like it, it will be difficult to live. Mrs. Pearson points out that
that is exactly what all of them do. They all talk in the same dismissive manner in which she is
speaking now.
She says that henceforth, she too will have her way when she wants, as all her family members
do. A confused Cyril finds his mother’s new attitude inexplicable.
Doris walks in and blames her mother for her sorry state.
Cyril tries to grasp the situation as the altercation with Doris happened before his arrival.
An unperturbed Mrs. Pearson moves towards the kitchen in search of some stout, a kind of
strong, dark beer brewed with roasted malt or barley, leaving her children in a state of shock.
If she chose to remain the Mrs. Pearson she was and not exchanged personality with Mrs.
Fitzgerald, her children would not have taken any notice of her and she would have been
treated like an unpaid domestic as she has always been. They would have taken tea, dressed
up and gone out to enjoy themselves. They take note of her as she is different today.
When Doris giggles thinking how her mother will be shown her place when their father comes
home and Cyril guffaws, that is, laughs loudly and heartily, it depicts their cruelty. It is cruel
because none of them have the sensitivity to appreciate what their mother does for them
everyday. They relish the anticipated humiliation of their mother.
Back from the kitchen with a half-filled glass of stout, Mrs. Pearson catches her children
laughing. In a few words Mrs. Pearson sums up their daily life in which home does not have
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any sentimental value—rather, it is a place manned by mother which and whom they take
advantage of.
At this juncture the play raises a few oft-debated but pertinent questions. Can household
chores be equated with office work? Should homemakers be paid for the efforts put in by
them at home? The unstoppable Mrs. Pearson now puts her foot down and makes it clear that
henceforth, all of them will be working forty hours a week and she will take the weekend off.
Why can the homemakers not take the weekend of?
MOTHER’S DAY (DAY 3)
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A visibly anxious Doris wants to know whether Mrs. Pearson will refrain from going about the
household chores on Saturday and Sunday. It shows that she has really been shaken by her
mother’s new personality. Mrs. Pearson is now in an advantageous position with her
daughter. Adopting casual manners, she expresses that if she is politely requested and
thanked for what she does then she may consider making the beds and cooking.
But if she is expected to wait on them, all those who keep flaunting their forty-hour work
schedule, then she will do nothing. Moreover, she will go for a weekend trip.
She wonders where her mother will go and with whom.
Mrs. Pearson most logically retorts that choosing the destination and travel partner are her
concern. Moreover, she states clearly that being advanced in age and more mature, she can
take care of herself.
Doris again begins to cry and her mother tells her in a very matter of fact manner, to behave
according to her age.
We are introduced to George Pearson, Mrs. Pearson’s husband. He is a decent man but serious
and pompous. So, we cannot really expect him to empathise with his wife because he is so full
of himself.
She has been taken for granted by her husband. She matters to him as she fulfills his needs
such as cooking meals for him, serving him tea and managing the household-- but nothing
beyond that.
He has to be waited upon whether needed or not. It has to be done by his wife. So, through
his words he defines the role of his wife—she is a woman whose duty is to be at his beck and
call in any situation.
Mrs. Pearson braces herself up to give George Pearson a rude shock.
Mr. Pearson, like most self-important persons is not a good observer and has no idea that he
is called pompy-ompy Pearson because of his pompous nature. He is shocked to the extent of
being horrified to know about it from his wife.
While he is coming to terms with this disillusionment, Mrs. Pearson criticizes his judgement
explaining to him that his wife does not make fun of him, yet he leaves his wife alone instead
of going out with her. He does not have the power to realise who appreciates him and who
doesn’t.
Cyril is angry with his mother for revealing the fact. This is a typical example of a man siding
with another man because both are nursing their injured ego. But none of them have the
clarity of vision to see the event in the right perspective, be self-critical and rectify themselves
for the better.
So far as Mrs. Pearson’s dialogues with her daughter, son and husband are concerned, they
are incisive comments on their selfishness, insensitivity, self-importance, inability to identify
the sacrifice their mother/ wife makes for them, dependence and lack of empathy.
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In the meantime, Mrs. Fitzgerald, who now has the personality of Mrs. Pearson, walks in and
shudders at the merciless manner in which Mrs. Pearson (who now has the personality of Mrs.
Fitzgerald) is showing her family members their places.
MOTHER’S DAY (DAY 4)
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George bluntly asks Mrs. Fitzgerald whether she has dropped in for a moment.
Twice Mrs. Fitzgerald almost gives herself away and is saved in the nick of time as her family
members will never be able to realise on their the exchange of personalities.
Mrs. Pearson commands George to be civil to a visiting neighbour by greeting her and makes
it clear that her family must show good manners.
it strange that as a father George Pearson is concerned about his daughter but not about his
wife, though both are women.
He asks the visitor to put some sense in his wife. He has seen her drinking stout and thinks
that she is a little drunk. The moment he expresses it, Mrs. Pearson challenges him to repeat
what he said. A visibly intimidated George Pearson immediately restrains himself from doing
that.
Doris is comparatively civil to Mrs. Fitzgerald but she is touched to the quick when she is asked
about her date with Charlie Spence. But her mother warns her to answer Mrs. Fitzgerald
properly or go upstairs. Her father, who has been roaring all along, is no longer his old self and
clearly states that he cannot help his daughter. Doris is forced to explain that she has not gone
out as she is feeling miserable after being told by her mother that Charlie Spence is bucktoothed and half-witted.
Now, Mrs. Fitzgerald, who is the real Mrs. Pearson, decides to be in charge once again.
Mrs. Pearson wants to get back to her real self. Ignoring Mrs. Fitzgerald’s expostulations, she
emphasizes that she wants things to get back to normal as she cannot bear to see her family
in such a miserable state.
Mrs. Fitzgerald reminds Mrs. Pearson that the affectionate manner in which she has always
treated them, has been taken by them as her weakness. So, she should not go for any
explanation. An occasional stern look or a harsher tone of voice will keep them in their right
place. She repeatedly tells her to be firm.
The two ladies draw up Mrs. Pearson’s wish list. Mrs. Pearson will like her family to stay home
sometimes, to help her prepare supper, and to play a game of rummy with her irrespective of
whether they like it or not.
The family is now called and they walk into the room in a file, looking apprehensively at Mrs.
Pearson. We are not sure whether they have realized their mistakes but they have understood
that judging by her action today, Mrs. Pearson too can be fierce and refuse to cooperate. If
she does so, then they are the ones who will suffer.
We see a new Mr. Pearson who is ready to do anything that his wife wishes.
Cyril agrees as soon as their father looks at them reprovingly and asks whether they agree to
the proposal. Doris is a little hesitant, spoilt that she is. But the moment Mrs. Pearson sharply
asks her to speak up, she immediately approves of the idea.
A satisfied Mrs. Pearson smiles and bids adieu to her neighbour cum well-wisher Mrs.
Fitzgerald.