57 pages 1 hour read

Jhumpa Lahiri

When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine

Fiction | Short Story | Adult | Published in 1999

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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)