To Understand this Book...

...You're Going to Need to Understand Iran

Actually, that's a bit of an overstatement.

You can get a lot out of this book without knowing much about Iran at all. But to read this book well—and really: why wouldn't you want to read it well?—some understanding of Iran's history is necessary.

Thankfully, this is the age of the Internet, and such information isn't difficult to find. In fact, I found a great summary of the last 100 years in Iran written by Tara Ann Carter, a teacher at John Bartram High School in Philadelphia. So, for your edification, before you read the book, please take 15-20 minutes to read Carter's "An Abbreviated History of Modern Iran," which I've placed on our links page.

If you finish Carter's piece and you're thirsty for more, I've also included a timeline that I constructed from various sources and a link to a timeline that places events from the book in historical context. So... there's a lot of info that will be useful as you read this graphic novel. Peruse some of that information first, and then...

Enjoy the Pictures!

That's right. This one is a graphic, which—for many people—will make it a faster and "funner" (not a word—or is it?) read. So go ahead. Enjoy it. But don't go so fast that you don't appreciate the art.

In fact, one of your assignments below is all about the art, so be sure to stop and smell the pages every once in a while. No, not really. You don't have to smell them. Just make sure you slow yourself down enough to contemplate the images and what they communicate.

Assignments

As promised, here are a few potential assignments to choose from. Please come prepared to offer your ruminations on at least one.

Option #1: From Pictures to Words
Obviously, the manner in which Satrapi tells her tale—as a graphic novel—affects the way the story is perceived. That begs the question: how would Persepolis be different if it were written as a traditional novel? Let's find out. Choose a scene from Persepolis and rewrite it in prose. Bring your rewrite to group and bookmark the scene you rewrote so we can compare the two versions.

Option #2: From Words to Pictures
Choose a scene in another coming of age novel—one that is written in traditional a chapter format—and represent it in pictures, a la Persepolis. Bring your drawings and the book you took your scene from (with the scene bookmarked, please) to group so we can compare and contrast.

Option #3: The Symbolism in the Symbols
There are several items that act as symbols in Persepolis: the plastic key painted gold, the veil, cigarettes, the bread swan. Choose two of these symbols and analyze them. At what point in the story do we see these symbols? What is going on when they appear in the story? What do these symbols seem to represent?

Option #4: It's an Illusion
Actually, it's an allusion. Allusions are references that appear in a literary work, usually to call to mind an event or image that helps to illuminate some aspect of the text. Persepolis contains A LOT of allusions. Head on over to Shmoop.com and take a look at the list of allusions they provide. Choose at least five of these allusions and explain when they are used in the book... and why. What is accomplished by making the allusion? What purpose does it serve?

Option #5: Persepolis and You
(I stole this question from Knopf Doubleday Readers' Guide)

In an Associated Press interview, Satrapi said, “The only thing I hope is that people will read my book and see that this abstract thing, this Axis of Evil, is made up of individuals with lives and hopes.” And in her introduction to Persepolis, she explains that she wrote this book to show that Iran is not only a country of “fundamentalism, fanaticism, and terrorism.” How does Satrapi go about challenging this myth? How doesPersepolis dispel or confirm your views on Iran? In what ways does reading this book deepen your understanding and knowledge of Iran, and the current situation in Iraq?

Option #6: Cool During Wartime
In the midst of a war and bombings and crazy edicts, the teens in Iran still just want to look cool. This is most evident in the chapter "The Cigarette," but you can find it elsewhere, too. Find some examples of teens being teens in this book, regardless of the fact that their country is in a volatile time... and then explain it. Why are kids willing to risk arrest to be "hip"? How do you think you would behave in this situation. 

Bonus: Can you think of a time when you maybe-probably shouldn't have done something particularly teenager-ish because of the circumstances, but did it anyway? Tell us that story and explain your thinking. 

Option #7: Your Choice
Seriously. If you find yourself inspired to write a poem, paint a picture, craft an essay, put together a collage, create a playlist, or respond to the book in any way at all, go for it. And bring in your work to share with the group. 

That's it. Happy reading! See you on the 21st.