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.
Reading Questions & Paired Texts
Reading Check and Short Answer questions on key points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.
Reading Check
1. According to Lilia’s mother, what does the shape of India resemble?
2. When is the only time when Mr. Pirzada speaks directly to Lilia?
3. What new bedtime ritual does Lilia adopt for Mr. Pirzada’s sake?
4. Which activity do Lilia, her parents and Mr. Pirzada do together on Halloween?
5. Why does Lilia stop eating the candy she saved from Halloween?
Short Answer
Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.
1. Compare and contrast Lilia’s parents’ concerns regarding her education in the US.
2. What is unusual about Mr. Pirzada’s pocket watch? Describe how Lilia’s observation of this pocket watch leads her to believe that their life in the US is a “lagging ghost.”
3. What book does Lilia find in the library? Describe what happens as she begins to read.
4. What changes does Lilia notice about her family and Mr. Pirzada after Halloween night?
Paired Resource
“The History of South Asians in the United States”
- Bhandari’s first chapter in South Asians in the United States serves as a statistical overview regarding this demographic in the US.
Related Titles
By Jhumpa Lahiri
