A Temporary Matter

Are Shoba and Shukumar static or dynamic characters? Explore the ways in which they either change or remain the same throughout the story.

In what ways do the characterizations of Shoba and Shukumar before the loss of their son explain the ways their grief manifests differently once the tragedy befalls them?

Lahiri’s writing style is often described as simple, straightforward, and unapologetically realistic. How does this style inform the substance of the story?

How does cooking connect Shoba to Shukumar and both of them to their cultural ancestry?

While the main conflict of the story is not unique to the Indian American experience, how does the role of Shoba and Shukumar’s Indian heritage contribute to or heighten the conflict?

Explain several of the potential meanings of the title of the story. How does the temporary nature of these “matters” impact their gravity?

How does the arc of the story contribute to the overall feeling of shock and unease that the ending produces?

How does Lahiri’s use of third-person omniscient narration influence the scope of the story?