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Quizzes > Books & Literature

Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine Quiz

Quick, free quiz with Mr. Pirzada questions and answers. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Gavin WagnerUpdated Aug 26, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration of books and steaming teacup over map motifs on coral background for Mr Pirzada quiz

This quiz helps you check your understanding of plot, characters, and themes in When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine. Answer quick questions, see instant results, and build confidence for class or a test. For more practice, try the Fish Cheeks quiz or the Lamb to the Slaughter quiz.

Who is Mr. Pirzada in the story?
A diplomat visiting from Pakistan.
A professor studying American literature.
A scientist working on a plant research project.
A scholar from Dacca staying with Lilia's family.
Mr. Pirzada is described as a scholar from Dacca who stays with the narrator's family while researching at an American university. He is not a diplomat or scientist but a doctoral candidate studying American politics at night. The story highlights his nightly concern for news about his family back in East Pakistan. .
What is the name of the narrator in "When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine"?
Lilia
Fatima
Zubaida
Nadia
The narrator of the story is named Lilia, and the events are recounted from her childhood perspective. Her observations and actions drive the narrative as she learns about Mr. Pirzada's homeland. This point of view underscores themes of empathy and cultural awareness. .
What historical event forms the backdrop of the story?
Gulf War
World War II
Indian Independence
Bangladesh Liberation War
The narrative is set against the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, when East Pakistan fought for independence to become Bangladesh. Mr. Pirzada's worry for his family and nightly news updates center around this conflict. The war's backdrop creates tension and emotional resonance in the story. .
What snack does Mr. Pirzada frequently eat at the L family's dinner table?
Raisins
Almonds
Sunflower seeds
Pumpkin seeds
Throughout the story, Mr. Pirzada munches on salted pumpkin seeds during dinner conversations. This snack becomes a comforting ritual and symbol of his routine in a foreign land. It also deepens Lilia's connection to him as she learns his preferences. .
Each day after dinner, what does Lilia do to stay informed about Mr. Pirzada's home country?
Reads the morning newspaper.
Reads letters from her pen pal in Dacca.
Watches news broadcasts on television.
Listens to radio programs in Urdu.
Lilia watches the evening news each night to follow updates on the conflict in East Pakistan. Her family's television viewing becomes a ritual of empathy toward Mr. Pirzada's anxieties. This nightly habit deepens Lilia's understanding of global events and personalizes the distant war. .
Why does Mr. Pirzada keep his watch set to Dacca time?
To ensure he attends online lectures on time.
To pray five times a day according to his home time.
To know the exact time of news bulletins from home.
To adjust to jet lag more easily.
Mr. Pirzada sets his watch to Dacca time so he can tune in precisely to news bulletins and radio updates from his homeland. This behavior underscores his detachment from American time and deep longing for home. It also illustrates the emotional toll of being separated by geography. .
How does Lilia mark each day on the calendar during Mr. Pirzada's stay?
By placing a star sticker on each date.
By giving each day a face of Mr. Pirzada.
By drawing a tiny flag of East Pakistan.
By coloring the date in red.
Lilia draws a small face resembling Mr. Pirzada on each day of her calendar to count how many days he's been in America. This ritual highlights her growing empathy and her personal bond with him. The calendar becomes a visual representation of time and separation. .
What gift does Lilia's parents give Mr. Pirzada before he leaves?
A box of American chocolates.
A bag of candy seeds from Halloween.
A packet of homemade sweets.
A carved pumpkin.
On Halloween, Lilia's parents save some of the pumpkin seeds and candy to give Mr. Pirzada as a parting gift. This gesture symbolizes their affection and desire to share American traditions. It also acknowledges his outsider status and their hospitality. .
What does Mr. Pirzada's reaction to Halloween reveal about his character?
He is eager to join American traditions.
He believes in celebrating only religious festivals.
He feels too homesick to celebrate foreign holidays.
He is indifferent to all celebrations.
Mr. Pirzada politely declines Lilia's invitation to participate in Halloween festivities, indicating his profound homesickness and cultural detachment. His response underscores the emotional distance between his past life and his temporary surroundings. This refusal deepens the story's exploration of exile and belonging. .
Which literary device is most prominent in the depiction of Lilia's drawing of Mr. Pirzada's face?
Alliteration
Metaphor
Symbolism
Irony
Lilia's repetitive calendar drawings of Mr. Pirzada's face function as a symbol of her growing concern and emotional connection. The motif of the face on each day underscores the passage of time and the ongoing conflict. This symbolism reinforces key themes of empathy and separation. .
From which city does Mr. Pirzada originally come?
Mumbai
Dhaka
Lahore
Karachi
Mr. Pirzada is originally from Dacca, the former name of Dhaka, the capital of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). His origin is central to the story's exploration of geopolitical change and personal displacement. The narrative frequently references his hometown's plight during the war. .
In what way does Jhumpa Lahiri use the motif of food to explore the themes of displacement and cultural identity?
By linking traditional meals to memories of home.
By showing characters rejecting their own cuisines.
By using food solely as a background detail.
By describing exotic foods as unappetizing.
Lahiri uses shared meals and snacks - such as pumpkin seeds and Halloween candy - to evoke nostalgia and emphasize characters' yearnings for their homelands. Food becomes a bridge between cultures and a reminder of personal histories. This motif deepens the story's commentary on displacement and cultural identity. .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Summarize key plot events -

    Outline the major events of When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine to refresh your understanding of the story's narrative arc.

  2. Identify central characters -

    Recognize and describe the roles of Lilia, Mr. Pirzada, and other figures to deepen your knowledge of their relationships and motivations.

  3. Analyze underlying themes -

    Examine themes such as cultural identity, empathy, and displacement to appreciate the story's deeper messages.

  4. Interpret cultural and historical context -

    Place the story within the backdrop of the 1971 Bangladesh conflict to understand its real - world significance.

  5. Recall precise story details -

    Answer when mr pirzada came to dine questions and trivia to test your memory of specific story moments and nuances.

  6. Evaluate literary techniques -

    Assess Jhumpa Lahiri's narrative style and use of symbolism to enrich your critical reading skills.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Historical and Political Context -

    Understanding the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War is crucial for When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine quiz prep, as Lahiri frames her narrative against this backdrop (Cambridge University Press, 2010). Remember "'71 for freedom, '47 for partition" as a mnemonic to link subcontinental upheavals with the characters' emotional journeys. This context enriches any when mr pirzada came to dine summary by highlighting the stakes behind Mr. Pirzada's nightly worry for his family across the sea.

  2. Themes of Cultural Identity and Belonging -

    Lahiri's story explores diaspora identity through a child narrator, emphasizing how food and language bridge two worlds (Journal of Asian American Studies, 2002). Use the phrase "dining dialogues" to recall how sharing meals becomes a metaphor for finding home in unfamiliar places. This key theme often appears in when mr. pirzada came to dine trivia and when mr. pirzada came to dine questions about cultural empathy.

  3. Symbolism of Food and Dining Rituals -

    Food in When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine isn't just nourishment; it's a symbol of cross-cultural connection (The Culinary Review, 2015). Think "spice = solace" to remember how Mrs. Pirzada's meals comfort Mr. Pirzada and the narrator's family at the same table. Quiz takers should note how dishes like pilaf and halwa underscore themes in when mr. pirzada came to dine quiz rounds on symbolism.

  4. Characterization of Mr. Pirzada and the Narrator -

    Mr. Pirzada's gentle patriotism contrasts with the child's innocent curiosity, illustrating how personal and political loyalties intersect (JSTOR, 1998). Use "P for Protector, N for Naïveté" to recall their dynamic when answering when mr pirzada came to dine trivia. Remember that the narrator's growing awareness mirrors Lahiri's subtle commentary on empathy across cultures.

  5. Narrative Structure and Language Style -

    Lahiri's use of first-person narration with occasional code-switching reflects the hybrid identity at the story's core (Modern Fiction Studies, 2004). Recall the formula "1st person + phrases in Bengali = hybrid voice" as you tackle when mr. pirzada came to dine questions on narrative technique. Recognizing this blend of English and Bengali enhances any when mr. pirzada came to dine quiz performance.

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