Preparing for Class: November 14

Persepolis, pp. 18-79

1. How does the title, "The Water Cell," focus our attention in the first chapter of this section? How does Satrapi use this motif to reveal something about both Marji and the country's history?
2. What's the purpose of the flashback history of the rise of the Pahlavi shahs? Who are the people controlling that revolution? What's their interest in Iran?
3. How is this narrative echoed and strengthened by Marji's lesson in her own family history?
4. In "Persepolis," Grandma continues the story of the rise of the current Shah. How does the chapter title comment on the coronation of the Shah Reza Pahlavi?
5. On p. 29, we have a collage of Marji's father's photographs, taken illegally at demonstrations. Why is this an effective way to tell a complicated story without any words?
6. On p. 33, Marji finally reveals why she's ashamed of riding in her father's cadillac; what's the reason? How does this lead into the central narrative of "The Letter"?
7. Who is Mehri and how does she come to live with Marji's parents?
8. As you read this story, pay careful attention to the choices made by Mehri, Mehri's sister, Marji's father, and Hossein, the neighbor's son. What does each person's choice reveal about him/her? Were you surprised by anyone's actions?
9. What do you think Marji, still a young child, learns from the whole episode?
10. What happens when Marji and Mehri go to a demonstration?
11. On p, 42, we have a full page illustration of people (no veils) celebrating the overthrow of the Shah, but on the opposing page at the bottom is an illustration of Marji and her family watching television coverage. Her father says, "Let's enjoy our freedom," and her mother responds, "Now that the devil has left." What kind of comment is implied by the frame around this picture?
12. What do you think motivates Marji's foray into revenge and torture? How does her mother deal with it?
13. The heros are Siamak Jari and Mohsen Shakiba. What are their histories? How does each affect Marji? What is her response to them?
14. What finally happens to Siamak and Mohsen?
15. Why include Marji's conversation with Laly on p. 48?
16. It does seem everything revolves around Marji in this account, which is pretty typical of the way a child sees the world. How does the return of the two imprisoned heroes cause a shift in the way Marji sees her father?
17. Who's Uncle Anoosh and what's his story?
18. What insight into 20th century Iranian history does he provide?
19. Why do Marji's friends think she's lying when she tells them about her grandfather, Uncle Anoosh and Uncle Fereydoon?
20. As Marji's parents and Uncle Anoosh denounce the Islamic Revolution and the media coverage of it, what's going on at school with Marji and her friends?
21. Why don't her parents want to leave Iran, even as their friends and fellow revolutionaries are dying or narrowly escaping the police?
22. What do you see as the effects on ten-year-old Marji of her uncle's death (note the picture on p. 71, for instance)? How many traumatic experiences has she had recently?
23. What then happens to her mother that is very scary for the entire family?
24. When the schools are closed in preparation for their re-opening as fundamentalist Islamic institutions and in the demonstrations under the Islamic Republic the reprisals are more violent than the ones under the Shah, Marji and her parents go to Italy and Spain. Why go now? What do you see as significant about this trip?
25. When they get home, Grandma has some news--and Marji defines a new identity for herself. What is it?

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