Reading Skills: The Portrait of a Lady Overview

A term that refers to a string of characters that are not meant to be interpreted as anything else, essentially, just a series of characters put together. For example: "Hello world!" This is a string as it's just text.

The act of using water to move a boat or other watercraft, pushing a boat with a paddle is also considered paddling.

Something that does not last forever and will eventually disappear, like a wave on the ocean.

The use of the past perfect tense is to express events that happened before another event in the past. It is formed by using 'had' followed by the past participle of a verb.

The use of language that emphasizes the significance of an event by saying that nothing else can be said about it, highlighting the importance of the silence.

An autobiographical account describes events from the author's own life, written as a personal story.

A turning point is a moment that significantly changes the direction of events, marking a critical shift in the course of something.

A metaphorical way to describe someone who is very old and has been that way for a long time, suggesting the person is unchanging.

A type of descriptive language that uses comparisons, metaphors, or similes to create vivid imagery, allowing the reader to see, hear, smell, taste, or feel the subject.

A vivid and powerful image of the grandmother's physical appearance, creating a strong sense of her age and character.

A comparison used to describe a person's character by associating them with natural elements, in this case, the grandmother is compared to a winter landscape in the mountains, emphasizing her serenity and peacefulness.

A type of literary device where ordinary objects or actions are given human qualities, making them feel more lifelike and relatable. For example, the grandmother giving 'frivolous rebukes' to the sparrows.

It refers to the author's feelings about his grandmother before his departure. The three phases are: 1. Close relationship and companionship during childhood, 2. Distance and less interaction when he went to the city school. 3. Continued closeness with occasional moments of shared affection.

The author's grandmother was a deeply religious person, as evidenced by her constant prayer, her devotion to scriptures, and her disapproval of the lack of religious instruction in his city school.

The author's grandmother was disturbed by his city school because 1. She couldn't help him with his English lessons, 2. She felt that the school didn't focus enough on religion and scriptures, and 3. She had negative associations with music as it was linked with 'harlots and beggars.'

The author's grandmother spent her days 1. Spinning and reciting prayers from sunrise to sunset, 2. Taking a short break in the afternoon to feed sparrows, and 3. Sitting in the verandah, enjoying the company of the sparrows.

Before her death, the author's grandmother stopped praying and sang songs of warriors' homecoming, a very unusual behavior for her, suggesting a spiritual shift or a deep-seated need.

The sparrows gathered around the grandmother's dead body, remaining silent, signifying their sorrow for her passing, suggesting a connection between the birds and the woman, highlighting the deep impact of her death on them.

A photograph taken of the author's mother and her two cousins at the beach, capturing a snapshot of their past. This photo is essential because it serves as a bridge to the memories and experiences of both the author and his mother.

The photograph captured the image of the author's mother and her cousins while on a beach holiday, specifically focusing on the moment they were posing for the picture, their smiles, and their positioning.

The sea appears to be the only thing that has remained unchanged over time, suggesting that nature is constant and endures despite the passage of time, unlike human life, which is temporary, fragile, and ever-changing.

The author's mother's laughter at the snapshot expresses joy and nostalgia for her past. The photo evokes pleasant memories and signifies a happier time in her life.

The phrase 'Both wry with the laboured ease of loss' suggests that the author and his mother both share a bittersweet understanding of loss. The photos serve as a reminder of what has been lost, creating a sense of nostalgia mixed with sadness.

"This circumstance" refers to the passing of the poet's mother and the realization that she has been gone for almost the same length of time as the girl in the photograph lived. This emphasizes the cyclical nature of life and death.

The three stanzas depict 1. The past captured in the photograph, 2. The mother's present perspective on the photograph, and 3. The aftermath of the mother's death and the poet's reflection on her absence.

Using words or phrases that have a similar meaning to create emphasis or a specific effect, like repeating the word "silence" to convey the profound impact of loss.

It implies an action that has just happened or is about to happen. Its structure is the simple present of 'be' followed by the past participle of a verb. For example: the sea 'has changed' less.