Persepolis Flashcards
How does Satrapi introduce the idea of changing politics in Iran at the beginning of her narrative?
Satrapi introduces The Islamic Revolution beginning in 1979 and then mentions how in 1980 they had to start wearing the veil; Mentions how her and her friends didn’t like to wear the veil or even understood why they had to; Satrapi also talks about how boys and girls used to go to school together, demonstrations in the streets for and against the veil, etc.
How does Satrapi represent her family and her (changing) relationships with them: her parents, her grandmother, and her Uncle Anoosh? Through them, what does she learn or come to understand about the revolutionary change in Iran?
Both of Marjane’s parents are leftist political protestors, she is very close to both of them; Uncle Anoosh was imprisoned by the Shah for his communist views, but was released after the Revolution, married in Russia, but his wife divorced him. Anoosh is arrested by the Islamic regime and executed on the false charges that he is a Russian spy; Marjane’s grandmother lives with Marjane’s family for a while. Her husband had been a prince of the Shah and had been made prime minister. He had been arrested for conspiring with communists and tortured in a water cell. Her grandmother provides Marjane with a matriarchal figure
Who was the father of The Shah responsible for the overthrow of the King of Persia?
Reza Shah
How (and why, do you think) does Satrapi portray her changing relationship with God?
Though from a very modern family, Marji is deeply religious from an early age and believes she is the last prophet of God: she writes her own holy book, which only her grandmother knows about. God speaks to Marji every night. One day at school, Marji tells everyone she wants to be a prophet. Her parents are not shocked when her teacher tells them, but when they ask Marji herself, she says she wants to be a doctor. That night she explains to God that she still wants to be a prophet but that her parents must not know; She later changes her mind about being a prophet because of the revolution
What are some of the things that happen to other children or young adolescents (in Tehran) in Satrapi’s memoir?
A friend’s father was from the secret service of Shah so he was tortured (they made a game of this); The gold key also came about to get little boys to go to war
Overall, pay attention to the form of Persepolis. It’s a comic book (or a graphic novel, if you prefer). So, it’s both a visual and literary work at the same time. What does the comic book form do to the way you perceive Satrapi’s memoir?
The comic book style makes it more personal and allows for a bit of humor to be thrown into the story
Who was the father of The Shah responsible for the overthrow of the King of Persia?
Reza Shah
Why does Marjane’s father take a long time to come home one night?
He is illegally taking photos of demonstrations going on
What happens on Black Friday?
Marjane and her friend go to a protest and end up seeing Marjane’s mother after who slaps both of them - The Shah says he is going to head the society towards democracy but he doesn’t show this through his actions, the protests eventually get worse and he leaves
What happens on Black Friday?
Marjane and her friend go to a protest and end up seeing Marjane’s mother after who slaps both of them; Soldiers fired at protestors and a lot of people died - The Shah says he is going to head the society towards democracy but he doesn’t show this through his actions, the protests eventually get worse and he leaves
Why is Ramin’s character important?
His father was in the Shah’s secret police and killed a million people, Marjane thought he should be beat and her mother explained that Ramin shouldn’t be punished for his father’s actions (good overview point)
What is Uncle Anoosh’s story?
At eighteen, he became the secretary of his Uncle Fereydoon, who proclaimed independence for the Iranian province of Azerbaijan and became Minister of Justice. When the Shah’s soldiers captured Fereydoon, Anoosh fled to his parents’ home (Fereydoon is imprisoned and executed, leaving a pregnant girlfriend behind) and then went to the SU (he got married, had two kids, got divorced), he tried to sneak back into Iran and was imprisoned for 9 years
What is Uncle Anoosh’s story?
At eighteen, he became the secretary of his Uncle Fereydoon, who proclaimed independence for the Iranian province of Azerbaijan and became Minister of Justice. When the Shah’s soldiers captured Fereydoon, Anoosh fled to his parents’ home (Fereydoon is imprisoned and executed, leaving a pregnant girlfriend behind) and then went to the SU (he got married, had two kids, got divorced), he tried to sneak back into Iran and was imprisoned for 9 years and gives Marji a swan made of bread that he made in there
What is a coup?
A sudden, violent, and illegal seizure of power from a government
What is the significance of Pardisse’s character?
The Islamic government imprisoned all pilots after a failed coup attempt and Pardisse’s father was one of the pilots; He died in the bombing and Marjane tries to make her feel better by saying he was a hero
