27 pages 54 minutes read

Jhumpa Lahiri

Mrs. Sen's

Fiction | Short Story | Adult | Published in 1999

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Essay Topics

1.

Analyze the symbol of the sari. How does it support the theme of Alienation from Community in “Mrs. Sen’s”? What is Mrs. Sen’s relationship to her saris and what do they represent to her?

2.

Compare the secondary characters. How do Mr. Sen and Eliot’s mom deal with connection? What do their communication styles reveal about their relationship with the main characters, Eliot and Mrs. Sen?

3.

Analyze the character of Eliot. What is the significance of an 11-year-old main character in a story that is primarily about adult relationships? What information does Eliot reveal to the reader that an adult would not be able to convey?