Persepolis Study Guide

Study Guide for In-class Essay on Persepolis

Genre: Comic/ Graphic/ Sequencial Art.
*Words *Images *Layouts = All have an impact.
Panels- Boxes of pictures
Guttering- Spaces between panels.
Lettering- Caption/ Narration.
Word balloons- speaking
thought balloons- thinking
emotions- facial expressions
Iconology- Flags/ Swastika
Perception- being aware of something via sense.
Perspective- the appearance of things relative to one another as determined by their distance from the viewer.
Title= Typed- Italicized Written- Underline
Chapter Title= Quotation Marks.

1)      In many ways Persepolis is both telling a story and commenting on the importance of stories in our lives. What do you think the book suggests about how stories shape and give meaning to Satrapi’s experience or to our experience? Consider referencing some of the stories in Persepolis—Uncle Anoosh’s story (“Moscow” and “The Sheep”), her grandfather’s story (“The Water Cell”), Niloufar’s story (“The Passport”)—to support your argument.

a.       Stories that were told during Satrapi’s childhood helped her create a confidence in herself that she can one day become a prophet. She begins to fight for what she believes is right and all this, together shapes her into a well educated young lady.

                                                              i.      The letter. Her experience with her maid and losing her love.

                                                            ii.      Uncle that she bragged about. She was proud to be a part of a family so brave.

1.      "i was 18 years old when my uncle Fereydoon and his friends proclaimed the independence of the Iranian province of Azerbaijan."(55)
"....So i decided to go into exhale."" (56)

                                                          iii.      She understand that she is not the only one suffering, but other families are too.

1.      " Later on we learned  they crossed the boarder hidden among a flock of sheep."(66)
"The stress i get from every gunshot i heat is much worse for me than the cigarettes." (118)
when she heard Niloufar's story
"They've been searching the houses of everyone. This is the only place she is safe."(123)

2)      A reviewer in the L.A.Times wrote, “Although she may not have intended it, Satrapi has grown into her youthful dream of prophethood. She is a voice calling out to the rest of us, reminding us to embrace this child's fervent desire that human dignity reign supreme." Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Why? (Consider what caused Satrapi to lose her faith and how her desire to be a prophet might, or might not, have continued after her faith had eroded.)

a.       Yes I agree that Satrapi has become a prophet to all us use readers.

                                                              i.      God at one point was he strength and guidance.

1.      " The only place i felt safe was in the arm of my friend. "(53)
"yes, you are celestial light, your are my choice, my last and my best choice." (8)

                                                            ii.      Her loss of faith greatly declined was after losing loved ones.

1.      "where are you?" ( 16) " God where are you?" (17) " Shut up you! get out of my life! i never want to see you again!" (70)

                                                          iii.      She realizes that she cannot depend on God to do everything for her and she would have to find the strength in herself to stand up for what she believed.

1.      Speak for all of those who lost their lives fighting for what they believed in.
" I will always be true to myself." (151) " 'To die a martyr is to inject blood into the veins of society....."( 146)

3)      What do you think the book suggests about social class in Iranian culture during this time period? Consider the stories of the maid’s forbidden love for the neighbor (“The Letter”) or in the distribution of plastic keys painted gold to the boys recruited into the army (“The Key”).   

a.       Social class was very important during this time period. It was almost a shame to be seen around other social class members.

b.      The lower you were located on the scale, the tougher your life.

                                                              i.      Satrapi's maid was rejected from the man that she loved because he was in a higher social class than her.
" like most peasants she did not know how to read and write."(35)
"So i wrote the letters for her one each week for six months." (35)
"Do you want to continue seeing her?" "Ehh...." (37)
"because in this country you must stay within your own social class." (37)

                                                            ii.      the poor people would do anything to gain wealth because it would be an honor for them to be in a higher social class.
"it's a plastic key painted gold." (99)
"they told him that in paradise there will be plenty of food, women and houses made of gold and diamonds." (100)
"listen instead of stuffing your face." ( 100)

                                                          iii.      A. Satrapi read stories about lower class people and saw how hard their lives were.
" Leila wove carpets at age five." (33)
"Hassan, three years old, cleaned car windows. (33)
" I finally understood why i felt ashamed to sit in my father's Cadillac." (33)