When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine

by Jhumpa Lahiri

When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine: Mood 1 key example

Definition of Mood

The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect of a piece of writing... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes... read full definition
Mood
Explanation and Analysis:

Typical of Lahiri’s other first-person protagonist-narrators, Lilia represses her emotion through much of the story. She strikes a fairly dispassionate note from the very first sentence:

In the autumn of 1971 a man used to come to our house, bearing confections in his pocket and hopes of ascertaining the life or death of his family.