English III - Final Study Guide - Persepolis

What gift does Anoosh give to Marji? What might it symbolize?

A swan made out of bread, -----

Why does Marji want to be a prophet? (3 reasons)

A] Because her maid could not eat with them B] He dad drove a Cadillac C] (most important) her grandmother's knees ached all the time

Who is Zarathustra, and what are his three rules for living?

A] Behave well B] Act well C] Speak well

The author indicates two motives for writing Persepolis what are they?

A] Dispelling the stereotype of Iran has a fundamentalist and terrorist breeding ground B] She does not want those that fought for freedom to be forgotten

What makes Marji suspect that something has happened to Anoosh?

A] because the "story" of a trip was used, he went back to Moscow B] "his wife called" but he does not talk to his wife

Why do Marji's parents subject themselves to a political upheaval and refuse to leave Iran? What is their opinion of those who left?

A] because they believe that the others are just afraid of change b] they do not want to become a "taxi driver" and "cleaning lady", they think that those that left are just afraid of change

What two lessons does Marji learn from her mother?

A] it is not Ramin's fault for what his father did B] it is not their spot to judge the actions of Ramin's father or distribute justice

What injustices do the parents see in the educational system? Which restriction is particularly ironic?

A] the children have to well-behaved to hit themselves twice a day B] children have to come to school to wear a veil C] come to school so they are forbidden to play with their friends, that girls cannot show their hair but the teacher "has a mustache"

Besides their possessions, what else have refugee families lost?

According to the women in the store their dignity, one of them as prostituting themselves

Where had Siamak and Mohsen been for the last several years? Why?

In prison, working against the Shah (they were political prisoners)

What was Marji's destination? What was its reputation? How do you think it was able to survive the regime's repression?

Kansas (a store?), it had a reputation for being very western, Marji says because of ignorance (the government did not know where or what Kansas was)

What is the significance of the title? How does it help to characterize the people of Iran?

Persepolis means Persian which is significant because Satrapi says the despite foreign domination the people of Iran have retained their language, it shows that they are very strong and independent

What forbidden items did the government find in the house of Timooh's dad? What was his punishment? When have we seen this in our country?

Records, videos, chess set, and deck of cards, 75 lashes, we have seen this during prohibition when alcohol was illegal

How does Marji's relationship with God begin to change?

She begins be embarrassed and says that she can only be God's prophet in secret (no one can know)

What was Marji's motive for breaking her parents' rules?

She is not a chicken and she wanted to be friends with the 14-year olds

What is Marji's reaction to the break-up?

She is very mad/sad because her father seems to be upholding the classist structure of society

How did Marji's mother compare to other Iranian mothers? How does Marji's relationship with her mother seem to reflect typical parent-chid issues?

She is very permissive, she wants to argue against everything, even though her mom gave her an hour alone Marji wanted two

Analyze Marji's behavior when she returns home.

She lies to her mom because she wants to protect her freedom in the future

What criticism does Marji's mom make of capitalism? What confusing thing does she suggest as they leave the store?

She says that if people only took what they need there would be enough, she says that they need to go to another store to get more rice

What story does Marji's grandmother use to the officers? What is she really planning to do? Ultimately, how did they get rid of the officer?

She says that she has diabetes, flush the wine and alcohol down the toilet, they bribe him

In what ways has Marji become an adult?

She smoked a cigarette, lied to her parents, is willing to go out on her own

What was Marji's symbolic act of rebellion? Describe her interesting response.

She smoked a cigarette, she physically coughed and then declared herself to be a grown-up

What does the illustration of Page 77 reveal about Marji's feelings about the vacation?

She thinks that it was like a dream land, she forgot her troubles

Who is Fereydoon? What was his goal?

The uncle of Anoosh, claim independence from the Iranian province of Azerbaijan

What might be the purpose of publishing Iran's "martyrs"?

To encourage people to join the army so that they would be martyrized

People in need of hospital care face a dilemma: describe this problem.

To get care they have to leave Iran in which they have to get permission, this is given by the Minister of Health

What was the purpose of the Guardians of the Revolution? What happens when they encounter Marji? How does Marji respond?

To make sure that women are following the rules (veils), they tell her that she is disobeying the law and they are going to take her to see the committee, Marji says that her mom is abusive and that if she does not get back immediately than she will be hit

What is Taher's only wish? What prevents hum from realizing his dream? Ironically what happens three weeks later?

To see his son one more time, he died, his passport shows up which would have saved his life

What surprising philosophical comment does Marji make to her parents? What is your reaction to her statement.

Up to a certain point you need your parents than they need you, true

What did the survival of the regime depend upon? What was the human cost of this survival?

War, millions (no exact number)

How does Marji view Mehri? How does Mehri view Marji?

-----, as a sister

How long were the borders of Iran closed?

3 years

What was the reported outcome of the elections? How does Marji's father explain these results?

99.99%, because the government faked the results and pulled the number "out of their asses"

What was Marji's grandfather's job under Reza? How did his beliefs change, and how did his life change?

His job was Prime Minister in which he studied in Europe for, his beliefs changed so that he became a communist as a result he was constantly arrested

What does Anoosh study in the USSR?

He has a Ph.D. in Marxism-Leninism

Who is Anoosh? How does Marji feel about him? Why?

He is her dad's uncle, she "loved him instantly" because he was in jail

When he had to leave, where did he go?

He swam across the Aras and went to the USSR

How does the Shah attempt to appease the people? Why did he fail?

He tried to create a democracy, because people only wanted his departure and he was too picky when it came to the Prime Minister

According to Marji, how was a king chosen? What was her rationale?

He was chosen by God, she reasoned that God, her school textbook, and her teacher had told her so

Where did Anoosh go after Fereydoon's arrest? How would you characterize him?

He went to his parent's house in Astara, dedicated because he crossed the snowy mountains for several days to escape

How had the U.S. changed its public policy toward Iran?

Carter refused to give the Shah safe haven in the United States

Why was a picture of Marjane's mother published in the newspaper? How did her mother respond? Why?

Because her mom was at a protest, her mom dyed her hair and started to wear sunglasses, because she was worried that she would be punished

Why will Marji have to go before the Committee? What would happen there? How does Marji avoid going before the Committee?

Because of her clothing, she could get beaten or detained, she says her stepmother is very abusive

How does Marji's reaction to the Kim Wilde poster reinforce an existing conflict?

Because she is rebelling against mainstream culture and thus the traditional regime

According to Marji's dad, why will the Middle East never have peace? What do you think?

Because the Middle East is full of oil, this is probably true

According to Anoosh, why is it nearly impossible to persuade the population to follow Marxism?

Because the population if 50% illiterate so they do not understand Marxism

Why does the new regime close the universities?

Because they believe the current education system was against the "true path" of Islam, they do not want to educate future imperialists

What was the motivation for launching an attack on Karbala?

Because they need war to stay in power

Why did Marji's family continue to hold parties despite the danger?

Because without them "it would not be pshychologically bearable"

Who are Che Guevara, Fidel, and Trotsky? (Look them up!) Why are they important?

Che] a revolutionary from Argentina Fidel] a revolutionary from Cuba Trotsky] a revolutionary from Russia

Who does the government recruit to serve on the front lines of the war? How do they persuade them? Can you think of another time when this practice has been used?

Children, they use plastic golden keys to say that war is used as a way to get to heaven, Islamic extremists now say that jihad is the way to get 47 virgins

How do others respond to Marji's religious calling?

Her grandmother became her first follower, her parents were indifferent but puzzled on why, her teacher did not like it and called in her parents to talk about it

Who led the training in torture practices?

CIA

What did bilingual schools represent to the new regime?

Capitalism

Where did many of the seriously wounded travel for treatment? Why is this ironic?

England, because this is a western nation that is "very evil"

What is Anoosh's final wish? Why?

For Marji to visit him in jail

How was education affected by the new regime? Why?

Girls had to wear a veil to school and boys and girls were separated from each other, bilingual schools were shut down because they were signs of capitalism

In front of the hospital, what request is made of the Iranian people? What is the double meaning here?

Give blood, the government was killing its own citizens in the name of war

Why does God return after a long absence?

God comes back and asks what she is doing in the bathtub after her father tells her the family story

Who comes to visit Marji after Anoosh's death? What is Marji's reaction?

God, she tells God to shut up and go away forever

What does Saddam Hussein do at the end of this chapter? Why?

He attacks Iran because Iraq tried to get their allies to invade Iraq

What did Marji's father do every day that makes her mother so nervous? Why is this activity strictly forbidden?

He goes and takes photos of the protesters and revolution, ------

According to Marji, what makes a hero?

If you went to prison

What was the primary difference between the Iranian and Irarqi armies?

Iran had quantity, Iraq had quality

What was the new strategy? How does the author characterize Iranians? How does she characterize her father? Her Mother?

Iraq was going to use SCUD missiles to threaten Iran more, the "champions" of gossip, Marji's father is skeptical, Marji's mom is calm and collected

What does Pardisse describe in the paper? How does Marji try to console her friend? What is Pardisse's response? What does Marji learn from this experience?

It is a letter to her dad saying she will take care of her mom and brother, she says that her dad died a hero, Pardisse says she would rather have her dad alive and not a hero, Marji learns that being a hero is not the most important thing

What is humorous about the sequence at the bottom of page 81?

It is funny because Marji's father is in a complete panic so he busts in on Marji's mom showering and her biggest concern is drying off

Describe the symbolism of the image at the top of page 28.

It is the Shah proclaiming to respect Cyrus the Great yet he is standing on his grave with his military officers behind him

The last frame on page 81 reflects an idea about war: describe what the illustration seems to say?

It says that war always takes you by surprise because it happens at times when you do not expect, e.g. when you are taking a shower

Comment on the picture on page 95.

It seems very warlike and very solemn, the girls have to line up twice a day at school and beat their chests for the fallen

How did the government delegate positions of power? Describe the encounter between Marji's aunt and Minister of Health.

It seems whoever was the more committed to the regime, the Minister of Health used to be her window washer but now he just says that "if God wills it" than Margi's uncle will get better

Describe the symbolism and conflict represented in the picture on the top left of page 6.

It shows the struggle between new and traditional Iran, the new Iran shows women without the veil and STEM whereas traditional Iran has a veil and nice drawings

What happens at the Rex Cinema? What does the Shah say? What does Marjane's parents know?

It was burned down while the doors were locked from the outside, the Shah said that it was extremists that committed the crime, her parents know that the Shah put police outside of the movies to prevent people from helping

What Happened on Black Friday? Why? what painful lesson did Marji learn?

It was one of the most deadly days of the protesting, because the Shah's own men killed Iranians, she learned that the government attacked them

Why was Marji's generation so rebellious? What does the teacher blame?

Marji thinks it is because they have had a secular education, the teacher believes it is because of the parents lack of control at home

How did the interior of their homes reflect the external changes that we occurring? What two things did they need to protect themselves against?

Marji's house now puts tape over the glass and black curtain up to protect aginst bombings, this reflects a change ins society because they have to conceal themselves against their neighbors A] their neighbors B] bombs

Describe the efforts made toward bringing an end to the war between Iran and Iraq.

The Iraq government set up a comprise that had Saudi Arabia pay for reconstruction the Iranian government denied it because they need war for power

Does Marji's father intend to fight against the Iraqis? Why?

No, because the real invasion is from his own government

When did Marji's parents receive their passports? What was one provision listed?

One year after Marji's uncle died, they could not travel in occupied Palestine (Israel)

How does Marji reflect the common stereotypical thinking of other Iranians? How does Marji's dad cut through her propaganda induced thinking?

She wants to bomb Bagdad, the government imprisoned or killed all of the fighter jet pilots

How does Marji feel about the new war?

She wants to defend her country against "those Arabs" that keep trying to invade her country

What causes Marji to feel so ashamed? Why?

She was ashamed to sit in her father Cadillac, because of the differences in social classes

What did Marji do for six moths to help Mehri? Why?

She writes letters to the man/boy that lives across the way from them that Mehri is in love with

How had Iran's food shortage been resolved? What was appealing about Gandhi Avenue?

The black market, you could get everything there including tapes

What did the veil symbolize?

The book does not say

What is the outcome when the news of Mehri's clandestine affair reaches Marji's father? Why did it end up that way?

The father goes to the man and tells him that Mehri is their maid, because Mehri's real sister also likes the same man and this causes the news to spread

According to the introduction, what stereotypical image is Satrapi trying to dispel?

The idea that Iran is full of fundamentalists and extremists and that is all that Iran exists for

What had become a bigger conflict than the war against Iraq? How does this manifest itself?

The internal war against those against the regime, gunshots in nice neighborhoods

How did the new Shah's rule compare to his father's?

The son's rule was "ten times worse" than his fathers

What contributes to Marji's anger and confusion when she returns to school?

The teacher her originally praised the Shah now said to tear out the photos of the Shah

Describe the symbolism in the picture at the bottom of page 89.

There are cars driving north in flames because they are escaping the bombings

What is one of the ramifications of the nation's political conflict?

There is very little food in the supermarket

What did the local news report about the war? What does Marji realize about the information?

They always report that the war is going very well, that they are over reporting the numbers massively

How do women respond to the veil?

They are both for and against it, there are protests

What problem do Marji's parents face as they return from their trip to Istanbul? How does Marji's mom show her ingenuity?

They cannot get the Kim Wilde posters back into the country (to big), they sew them into the back of Marji's dad's coat

Even though Mrs. Nassrin's comments on page 106 bring humor, how are her actions also symbolic? Name one violation that Marji's dad is guilty of at the traffic stop. How does his wife respond to the situation? What is a condition of their release?

They show that some people are only willing to save themselves, he has been drinking, his wife says that she is the same age as the soldier's mother, they have to show the guard their house

How did the regime become more repressive?

They started arresting everyone against the regime and systematically killing them

What do the fundamentalist students do? How does this event affect Marji's plans?

They take over the United States embassy, she cannot get a visa to visit her friend Kaveh

Why did Marji's parents react to her statement about the Shah (hint: her family history)?

They told her that her grandpa's father had been a prince to the throne of Iran before the Shah took power

What causes Marji's mom to take to her bed for several days?

When her car broke down two guys said "women like deserve to pushed up against a wall and f***** then thrown in the trash"