Introduction
Satrapi uses these three words to describe the stereotype of how Westerners view Iranians
Who are "backward, monolithic, or oppressed" Iranians
As described early on, this government space changed under the new regime by enforcing wearing the veil on girls.
What is school
These three revolutionary figures Marji admires
Who are Che Guevara, Fidel Castro, and Leon Trotsky
Early in the book Marji speaks to and imagines this figure as a confidant.
Who is God
The veil can symbolize loss of freedom; this other repeated object symbolizes the promise for young men that they'll access paradise.
What are keys
One of the two motives Satrapi names for writing Persepolis: to explain history to this group
Who are Western readers
Satrapi shows the veil visually and explains it stands for this larger idea imposed by the regime
What is control / loss of personal freedom / religious conformity
At the Rex Cinema, this happened to large crowds, and the Shah publicly blamed rioters.
What is 'fire/massacre';
Marji wants to be a prophet for this reason
What is 'to change the world / help the poor / punish injustices'
These symbols show the conflict between tradition and modernity representing western influence
What is a hammer, ruler, and/or gears
The second motive Satrapi gives for writing Persepolis: to preserve these for future generations and family
What are memories and family history
The new regime distrusted bilingual schools because they were seen as representing this influence
What is Western influence / foreign ideas
Marji’s grandfather once worked for this ruler, but his beliefs later shifted away.
Who is Reza Shah
How does Marji’s relationship with God change by page 13
What is 'God becomes less a constant companion and more a figure she questions / argues with / grows apart from'
This symbol represents tradition and faith
What are vines and leaves.
Satrapi’s narrative voice in the introduction blends childhood perspective with this adult technique to correct stereotypes.
What is irony (or reflective memoir voice)
Women’s who were both for and against the veil reacted by doing this
Protesting/Demonstrating
On Black Friday, security forces did this during a religious demonstration, teaching Marji that protest can be dangerous.
What is 'they shot/ massacred demonstrators'
Marji feels ashamed after an incident in Chapter 5; this is what she is ashamed of
What is 'her involvement in Mehri’s secret / the social consequences of the servant’s affair or her role in gossip'
Marji’s claim about how a king is chosen reveals this misunderstanding about power.
What is 'that kings are chosen by chance / family or by personal traits rather than complex political forces'
Satrapi claims the purpose of her story is "to tell a personal story that" does this:
What is 'to tell a personal story that illuminates political history
Marjane’s mother’s newspaper photo was published, and her mother reacted by doing this
She dyed her hair and removed herself from publicity
The author includes the ancient figure Zarathustra; he provides these three rules for living according to the book.
What are be just, be generous, be honest
Marji is outraged and saddened and tries to intervene, showing emotional attachment and emerging social conscience' as a reaction to this event
Mehri’s breakup
This emperor is shown buried and angry symbolizing his possible anger or disgust with the Shah
Who is Cyrus the Great