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EnglishClass 11The Portrait of a Lady A Photograph

The Portrait of a Lady A Photograph | Class 11 English Notes

By ConceptScroll Team · Published on 17 July 2026 · 4 min read

The Portrait of a Lady A Photograph – this guide gives you a concise, exam-ready overview of The Portrait of a Lady A Photograph from Class 11 English, written by ConceptScroll editors and reviewed against the latest NCERT textbook.

A Photograph

This poem by Shirley Toulson complements the prose narrative by exploring themes of memory, loss, and the passage of time through the image of a photograph. The poem describes a snapshot of the poet’s mother as a young girl with her cousins at the beach, holding hands and smiling at the camera. The poem reflects on the contrast between the frozen moment captured in the photograph and the transient nature of life. The sea remains unchanged, symbolizing continuity, while the people in the photograph have aged or passed away. The mother’s laughter at the snapshot reveals a bittersweet recognition of the past and the inevitability of loss. The poem’s final stanza acknowledges the silence surrounding death and the unspoken emotions it evokes. The poem is structured in three stanzas, each representing a different phase: the moment captured, the reflection years later, and the present reality of death and silence. The poem uses simple yet evocative language to convey complex emotions, making it accessible and poignant for students.

📊 Diagram: No diagrams are included with the poem.

🧪 Activity: Students read the poem aloud, infer meanings of difficult words, and answer comprehension questions.

🔗 Connection: This poem thematically connects to 'The Portrait of a Lady' by exploring memory and loss, enriching students’ literary appreciation.

Frequently asked questions

Given below are four different senses of the word 'tell'. Match the meanings to the uses listed above. 1. make something known to someone in spoken or written words 2. count while reciting 3. be sure 4. give information to somebody

The four uses of 'tell' are matched as follows:

3. At her age one could never tell. — 3. be sure 4. She told us that her end was near. — 4. give information to somebody 1. make something known to someone in spoken or written words — corresponds to the general meaning of 'tell' but not specifically numbered here 2. count while reciting — not used in the given examples

Explanation:

  • 'At her age one could never tell' means 'be sure' (sense 3).
  • 'She told us that her end was near' means 'give in
II. Notice the different senses of the word 'take'. 1. to take to something: to begin to do something as a habit 2. to take ill: to suddenly become ill Locate these phrases in the text and notice the way they are used.

The phrases 'to take to something' and 'to take ill' are used in the text to show different meanings of the verb 'take'.

  • 'To take to something' means to begin a habit or liking for something.
  • 'To take ill' means to suddenly become sick.

Students should locate these phrases in the text and understand their contextual usage.

Tick the words in the box below that also refer to a manner of walking. | haggle | shuffle | stride | ride | waddle | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | wriggle | paddle | swagger | trudge | slog |

Words that refer to a manner of walking are:

  • shuffle
  • stride
  • waddle
  • swagger
  • trudge
  • slog

Explanation:

  • 'Shuffle' means to walk by dragging one's feet.
  • 'Stride' means to walk with long steps.
  • 'Waddle' means to walk with short steps, swaying from side to side.
  • 'Swagger' means to walk with a confident or arrogant manner.
  • 'Trudge' means to walk slowly and with heavy steps.
  • 'Slog' means to walk with great effort.

Words like 'haggle' (to bargain), 'ride' (to sit on and control a

Infer the meanings of the following words from the context. | paddling | transient |

Meanings inferred from context:

  • 'paddling': walking or moving through shallow water by moving the feet.
  • 'transient': lasting only for a short time; temporary.

Dictionary meanings:

  • 'paddling': the act of moving through water by using the feet or a paddle.
  • 'transient': lasting only for a short period; not permanent.

Explanation:

  • 'Paddling' is used in the poem to describe the girls moving through water.
  • 'Transient' describes the temporary nature of the feet being washed by the sea, em

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