The Complete Persepolis Reading Guide
Contents
List of Important Terms.....................................................................................................................1
Character List....................................................................................................................................2
Summary and Structure....................................................................................................................2
Questions..........................................................................................................................................4
Introduction. Do NOT skip this.
Persia –
Reza Shah –
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (“Shah”) –
1951 –
1979 –
List of Important Terms.
These may help you as you read.
Islamic Revolution – the overthrowing of the Shah of Iran and his replacement
with a fundamentalist regime, which occurred in 1979
Imperialism – refers to the oppressive rule by an outside or foreign nation
Dialectic Materialism – a philosophy based on the views of Karl Marx and
Friedrich Engels
Black Friday – refers to a violent end to a protest in Tehran in 1978, in which
protestors were shot and killed by government forces
Savak – secret police of the Shah’s regime
Abadan – town in the south of Iraq where an oil refinery is located that is
bombed by the Iraqis
The Guardians of the Revolution – enforced codes of conduct and morality
during the fundamentalist regime including making sure that women were
properly attired and cracking down on illegal parties
The Committee – a ruling council that meted out punishments for those found
to be in violation of laws and codes of conduct
Tyrol – a state in Austria, where Marjane’s roommate is from, and which
Marjane visits while in Austria
Bakunin – a Russian writer and anarchist and a founder of collective Anarchism
Character List.
Pay attention to and be able to identify these characters.
Marjane (Marji) –
Ebi –
Taji –
Ali Ashraf Darvishian –
Mehri –
Jimmy Carter –
Anwar Al‐Sadat –
Ramin –
Siamak Jari –
Mohsen Shakiba –
Uncle Anoosh –
Mali –
Uncle Taher –
The Baba‐Levys –
Lucia –
Julie –
Armelle –
Enrique –
Ingrid –
Markus –
Frau Doctor Heller –
Kia –
Reza –
Summary and Structure.
Persepolis was originally published in two parts. Take
the time to write a quick note/summary for each of the chapters.
1. The Story of a Childhood
“The Veil” ‐
“The Bicycle” ‐
“The Water Cell” ‐
“Persepolis” ‐
“The Letter” ‐
“The Party” ‐
“The Heroes” ‐
“Moscow” ‐
“The Sheep” ‐
“The Trip” ‐
“The F‐14’s” ‐
“The Jewels” ‐
“The Key” ‐
“The Wine” ‐
“The Cigarette” ‐
“The Passport” ‐
“Kim Wilde” ‐
“The Shabbat” ‐
“The Dowry” ‐
2. The Story of a Return
“The Soup” ‐
“Tyrol” ‐
“Pasta” ‐
“The Pill” ‐
“The Vegetable” ‐
“The Horse” ‐
“Hide and Seek” ‐
“The Croissant” ‐
“The Veil” ‐
“The Return” ‐
“The Joke” ‐
“Skiing” ‐
“The Exam” ‐
“The Makeup” ‐
“The Convocation” ‐
“The Socks” ‐
“The Wedding” ‐
“The Satellite” ‐
“The End” ‐
Questions.
1. Examine the genre.
Why do you think the author chose to tell her story in the form of a graphic
memoir?
How do the illustrations complement the text of the book?
How do the images capture ideas and emotions that go beyond the text?
How or in what ways does Satrapi employ symbolism and motifs through her
illustrations?
How or in what ways does the graphic novel format affect the way that Satrapi
characterizes the figures in the text?
2. A bildungsroman is a coming of age story, or a story about growing up.
Describe how Satrapi’s political views change throughout her life.
Who influences her different views?
What are the key moments or turning points in Marjane’s journey from
childhood to maturity?
What is Marjane’s chief obstacle to growing up and moving from immaturity to a
developed sense of herself and her life’s meaning?
In what way is Marjane’s particular story, struggles, and journey
connected/similar to the universal experience of growing up to which most teens
can relate?
In what way is Marjane’s particular story, struggles, and journey dissimilar to the
universal experience of growing up, making it difficult for most teens to relate?
3. Explain the book’s title.
4. Notice what you notice.
Pay attention to recurring symbols, themes, phrases, diction, or imagery.
Notice your own reaction to the text. What aspects of it surprise you, make you
feel uncomfortable, angry, sad, or frustrated? Consider whether this was
Satrapi’s intent.
5. What questions are you left with regarding the Islamic Revolution, the modern
history of Iran, or other aspects of the novel. Keep a list.
