57 pages • 1 hour read
Jhumpa LahiriWhen Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine
Fiction | Short Story | Adult | Published in 1999A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Exam Answer Key
Multiple Choice
1. B (Page 24)
2. D (Page 25)
3. A (Page 28)
4. C (Various pages)
5. B (Page 24)
6. B (Page 38)
7. B (Page 39)
8. A (Pages 32-33)
Long Answer
1. Lilia is the narrator, who speaks from a first-person perspective; however, her narration is retrospective, as she is an adult who speaks through the mindset of her 10-year-old self. This framing further situates the story as a coming-of-age narrative, as she lives her bildungsroman through the lens of a second-generation Indian American (Coming of Age as a Second-Generation Immigrant). (All passages)
2. Lahiri’s story is a reminder that war can break out unexpectedly, and that people may become refugees overnight. One example of this is Mr. Pirzada’s memory of Bangladesh, where he lived a good life until the war broke out during his year in the US, and when he returns his house is destroyed. (Various passages)
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