My Achilles Meal Comprehension Questions

What was the reason Firoozeh’s mother sent her to spend the day with Farah on the day of her grandmother’s funeral?

• Because she didn't want her to be sad.

• Because her family decided it was better not to tell her about the grandmother’s death; sending her away kept her from the funeral and associated grief.

• Because the mom was too busy planning the funeral.

• Because In Iranian culture kids aren't allowed to attend funerals.

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Describe the contrast between Firoozeh’s home and Farah’s—what did Dumas notice about Farah’s house and lifestyle?

• Firoozeh's home was very messy and unorganized, while Farah's home was very clean and organized, everything had its place.

• Firoozeh's home had an American style, while Farah's had an Iranian style.

• Farah's home was chic, filled with books and art—far more cultured and spacious than what Firoozeh knew, and had a magical garden with mulberry trees.

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List three drinks or concoctions Aunt Tavoos offered Firoozeh to help settle her stomach—what does this imply about cultural practices of care?

• Aunt Tavoos offered “tea with crystallized sugar,” “fresh lime-aid with mint,” “sour cherry syrup,” “carbonated yogurt drink (dugh),” and even “Seven-Up.” This suggests cultural hospitality and nurturing through food and drink.

• Aunt Tavoos offered french fries, cube of sugar, & salad. This suggests cultural hospitality, that they like to feed people.

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How did Firoozeh feel when she received two toys at once? What does this reaction reveal about her family’s usual shopping rules?

• She was excited because her dad only lets her get one toy when they go shopping. This reveals that her family is frugal or cheap.

• She was speechless—overwhelmed because her father only ever bought one toy per trip. Receiving two violated that “rule,” and felt luxurious and surprising.

• She was nervous she would get in trouble with her dad because he told her not to ask for a toy. This reveals that her family is frugal and cheap.

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From whose point of view is the memoir narrated, and how does this perspective influence how the events are described?

• The memoir is narrated in first-person from Firoozeh’s childhood point of view—bright, observant, and subtly knowing. This allows readers to see both innocence and cleverness in her interpretations.

• The memoir is narrated in 3rd person point of view, the story would sound more like an outside observer describing her actions, which might make it less funny and less personal.This allows the reader to not see or understand how shocking two toys felt or how deeply she longed for comfort food.

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Discuss how Firoozeh’s age at the time (around six) shapes the way she interprets and narrates events—what clues in the text point to her childlike but insightful perspective?

• She notices everything with the seriousness of an adult and avoids using humor in her descriptions.

• She ignores what happens around her and only focuses on food.

• She describes events with a distant, formal tone, showing no emotions or personal thoughts.

• She reacts with wonder and confusion to ordinary situations (like too many toy choices) and explains them in a playful, honest way.

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Why do you think no one told Firoozeh that her grandmother had died? What cultural or emotional reasons might there be for withholding that information?

• Because the family wanted to protect her from sadness since she was very young.

• Because they forgot to tell her.

• Because they didn’t think she cared about her grandmother.

• Because funerals were not considered important in her culture.

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What does the author’s fixation on the “too many choices” in the toy aisle reveal about her previous experiences and family norms?

• She often went shopping and always chose multiple toys.

• Her parents spoiled her by letting her buy everything she wanted.

• She was used to having limited choices and felt overwhelmed by abundance.

• She didn’t really want any toys and only pretended to be interested.

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Why might Aunt Tavoos’s act of making French fries—even though Firoozeh said she wasn’t hungry—hold deeper emotional significance in the context of grief and comfort?

• Because fries were the only food available in the house.

• Because making fries was a way to show love and provide comfort without words.

• Because Aunt Tavoos wanted to compete with the other relatives.

• Because French fries are always the healthiest choice.

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By the end of the memoir, Firoozeh becomes ill after overeating. What does this tell us about the memoir’s title, “My Achilles’ Meal,” and the theme of vulnerability?

• It proves that she didn’t like eating much.

• It means she was allergic to everything she ate that day.

• It shows that overeating made her stronger.

• It shows that food was her weakness, like Achilles’ heel was his.

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