The Portrait of a Lady\Lesson Plan

 

Lesson Plan: The Portrait of a Lady (Prose) – Class XI

Lesson Details

• Subject: English
• Class: XI
• Topic: The Portrait of a Lady by Khushwant Singh
• Duration: 45-60 minutes
• Skills Focused: Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing (LSRW)
• Teaching Aids (TLM):
• Audio-Visual: PPT, audio narration, images of author and grandmother
• Textual: Printed worksheets, textbook excerpts
• Interactive: Flashcards for discussion prompts

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Lesson Objectives

Cognitive (Knowledge-Based) Objectives

• Explain the theme of love, change, and intergenerational bonds.
• Identify and analyze literary devices like imagery, irony, and symbolism.
• Compare the grandmother’s traditional lifestyle with modern education.

Affective (Emotional & Psychological) Objectives

• Foster appreciation for elderly family members and their wisdom.
• Encourage students to reflect on generational gaps in their own families.

Skill-Based (LSRW) Objectives

• Listening: Engage with an audio clip of the story’s excerpt.
• Speaking: Express opinions through peer discussions.
• Reading: Analyze the text for literary themes.
• Writing: Draft a summary, diary entry, or character sketch.

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Lesson Plan Breakdown

1. Warm-up Activity (10 mins) [Speaking + Listening]

• Discussion Starter: "If you could ask your grandparent one question, what would it be?"
• Showcase Visuals: Display images of traditional vs. modern lifestyles.
• Listening Task: Play an audio excerpt of the story and ask:
• How is the grandmother described?
• What are her daily habits?

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2. Reading & Explanation (20 mins) [Reading + Speaking]

• Guided Reading: Students read aloud, teacher explains key points.
• Vocabulary Exploration: List and explain difficult words (e.g., monotonous, serenity).
• Discussion on Literary Devices:
• Imagery: "She had always been short, fat, and slightly bent."
• Irony: Grandmother not liking English and science yet praying for the boy.
• Symbolism: The rosary represents her devotion, pigeons symbolize peace.
• Interactive Element: Use flashcards with themes (love, change, tradition) for discussion.

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3. Activity-Based Learning (15 mins) [Speaking + Writing]

Option 1: Role Play

• Students act out a conversation between the grandmother and the narrator when he returns from abroad.
• Focus: Tone, expressions, emotions.

Option 2: Compare & Contrast Chart

Grandmother’s Life	Modern Lifestyle
Woke up early, prayed	Uses social media, tech-based routines
Wore traditional clothes	Wears modern outfits
Against English and science	Prefers modern education

• Group Task: Students discuss and add two more points to the table.

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4. Wrap-Up & Assessment (15 mins) [Writing + Listening]

• Quick Recap:
• What emotions did the narrator feel for his grandmother?
• How did pigeons play a role in the story?
• Assessment Tasks:
• MCQs & Fill in the Blanks (Checking comprehension)
• Character Sketch (Short Response): "Describe the grandmother in 100 words."
• Diary Entry Prompt: "Imagine you are the grandmother. Write a diary entry about your grandson’s departure to the city."

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Homework / Extended Learning

1. Creative Writing: Write a letter to your grandparent sharing your thoughts on their influence in your life.
2. Debate Topic: “Is modernization causing a loss of traditional family values?” Prepare arguments for and against.

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Assessment Strategies

• Formative: Group participation, discussion engagement.
• Summative: Character sketch, diary entry, or letter writing evaluation.