Historical Context
This country attacked Iran in 1980, leading to an 8 year war.
What is Iraq?
Marji’s favorite relative who spent nine years in prison and tells her stories of his exile in the USSR.
Who is Uncle Anoosh?
These shapes are used to show dialogue.
What are speech bubbles?
This piece of clothing becomes the primary symbol of the loss of freedom for women in the book.
What is the Veil?
A person who is willing to die for their beliefs or a cause, often used by the Iranian government to recruit young soldiers.
What is a Martyr?
The name of the King of Iran who was overthrown at the start of the book.
Who is The Shah?
This man was Marji's aunt's former window washer. Now he is_______.
Who is the hospital director?
This shot range is used to show how many boys have senselessly died in the war.
What is a wide shot range?
In the chapter "The Letter," Marji’s father explains that the reason Mehri cannot be with the neighbor is because in this country, you must marry within your own ________.
What is Social Class?
Before the revolution, Marji had always gone to non-religious schools. These schools are called...
What is secular?
This 1979 event led to the mandatory wearing of the veil in schools.
What is the Islamic Revolution?
This girl was executed at only 18 because she was a communist.
Who is Niloufar?
In the graphic novel, Satrapi uses bubbles with solid outlines for spoken words, but bubbles that look like "clouds" or have small circles leading to them represent this.
What are internal thoughts?
The "Coming of Age" theme is shown through Marji’s changing relationship with this figure, who she eventually tells to "get out" of her life.
Who is God?
A person who supports a political system where all property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs. For Marji's family members, being this eventually makes them targets of the new government.
What is a Communist?
This ethnic group invaded Iran over thousands over years, making Persia an Islamic country.
Who are the Arabs?
This man was a family friend and former political prisoner who was found drowned in his bathtub.
Who is Mohsen?
When Satrapi draws panels with no background—just white space—she is usually trying to convey this emotion in Marji.
What is loneliness or isolation?
Men have these to show they're religious and with the new regime.
What is a beard?
The Iranian regime condemned this economic system associating it with greed, extravagance, and the Western world.
What is capitalism?
This political idea, which Marji's parents secretly support, emphasizes the struggle of the working class (the proletariat).
What is Marxism?
This man made fake passports after his brother was hunted by the regime.
Who is Khosro?
In the panels depicting the war, Satrapi often draws the victims as silhouettes without faces. This visual choice emphasizes this theme.
What is the dehumanization of people?
Explain the internal struggle Marji faces with her "cultural identity" as she grows up?
What is modernity vs. religion?
A policy where a strong country extends its power and influence over weaker countries, often through military force or economic control. This has happened to Iran over thousands of years.
What is Imperialism?