Plot Points
In "A Temporary Matter," what event prompts Shoba and Shukumar to begin eating dinner together in the dark?
What is a planned power outage?
What recurring theme is emphasized through the shared meals in "When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine"?
What is the importance of community?
Who is the young girl narrating "When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine"?
Who is Lilia?
In "A Temporary Matter," what does the candle symbolize?
What is the emotional distance or intimacy between Shoba and Shukumar and the honesty they begin to share?
What event serves as the backdrop for "When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine"?
What is the Bengladesh Liberation War of 1971?
In "When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine," why is Mr. Pirzada living in the United States?
What is studying foliage?
In "A Temporary Matter," what theme is most prevalent?
What is grief?
In "This Blessed House," what is Twinkle's husband's name?
What is Sanjeev?
In "Mrs. Sen's," what does the knife symbolize?
What is Mrs. Sen's connection to her Indian identity?
In "A Real Durwan," what historical event led to Boori Ma’s displacement?
What is the Partition of India?
In "A Real Durwan," what does Boori Ma claim gets stolen from her?
What are her keys?
How does "A Real Durwan" illustrate the theme of class/wealth?
What is the apartment tenants competing to improve the building OR Boori Ma looking down on her new role.
Who is the intellectual man who says the line: "We need a real durwan."?
What is Mr. Chatterjee?
In "A Real Durwan," what does the basin symbolize?
What is the collective aspiration for upward mobility or modernization?
In "Mrs. Sen's," how is food used as an aspect of culture?
What is by having Mrs. Sen spend her day preparing a meal and enjoying it with company while Eliot's mother feeds him takeout pizza?
In "Mrs. Sen's," what does Mrs. Sen want to be able to go purchase which leads to her driving lessons?
What is fresh fish?
What theme is highlighted by Twinkle's fascination in "This Blessed House"?
What is the importance of religion?
In "Mrs. Sen's," what is the name of the boy she babysits?
What is Eliot?
In "When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine," what do the candies symbolize?
What is Mr. Pirzada's affection and care for Lilia, as well as his connection to his family back home?
In "A Temporary Matter" what American cultural custom does Shoba fall prey to?
What is overworking?
In "The Treatment of Bibi Haldar," what kind of stall does Haldar own?
What is a cosmetics stall?
In "The Treatment of Bibi Haldar," how does Bibi's story comment on the theme of loneliness?
What is by depicting Bibi as physically sick until she has companionship in her life?
In "The Treatment of Bibi Haldar," who narrates the story?
Who is an unnamed community woman?
What could the vinegar symbolize in "This Blessed House?"
What is trying new thing or exploring new cultures?
In "The Treatment of Bibi Haldar," how does the community reflect traditional Indian values?
What is prioritizing marriage and childbearing for women?