The significance of the title of my chapter is that wine was at the time an illegal substance to posses. It was a big deal to have wine or alcohol in your home and an even bigger offense to consume it. Wine was a forbidden substance so it was a big deal that Marjane’s parents and friends had parties where they drank it, and an Uncle who illegally made it. If Marjane’s parents had been caught in possession of alcohol they would have been either beaten or executed. It was difficult for these adults to give up drinking wine, a habit I'm sure they enjoy and had spent their adult life doing. I think another significance of the title "The Wine" is in the fact that because it was illegal to posses wine/ alcohol Marjane's parents were breaking a rule and going against the revolutionaries and their patrol. This alludes to the fact that Marjane's parents were rebelling against the revolutionaries and they did not live by their standards and rules.
In my chosen chapter titled “The Wine” the beginning pages explain how the town Marjane lived in with her family (Tehran) became a target for bombers. Whenever there was a bomb threat sirens would go and all off the occupants of her housing building had to run down to the dark basement. There they would stay with their neighbors until they felt it was safe. After the moment of panic over the possibility of being bombed passed, the possibility that someone else they knew may have fallen victim to the Iraqi bombs would launch them into a new moment of panic. Everyone would call everyone they could think of to make sure no one was killed, but even after the initial panic faded away life was different. Marjane’s mother had to put black curtains up so the neighbors wouldn’t turn them in for their "parties on Thursdays and card games on Mondays". The curtains were important to shield Marjane and her family's illegal actions from their across the street neighbors who had become very “devoted to the new regime”. If their neighbors alerted the revolution patrol they might come to the house like they did to Marjane’s friend Tinoosh’s dad's house and find their illegal objects and substances. When the revolutionary patrolmen searched Tinoosh's house “they found records and video-cassettes … a deck of cards, a chess set. In other words, everything that’s banned.” It is at this point in the chapter that we learn that Marjane’s parents and some of their friends throw parties with music and drinking that is strictly forbidden (illegal). The major part of the chapter starts when Marjane and her family are at her Uncle’s house celebrating the birth of her cousin, as Marjane narrates, “We had everything, well, everything that was forbidden. Even Alcohol, gallons of it.” During this party for Marjane’s newborn cousin sirens begin to go off. Everyone is frightened and after that Marjane and her family head home. On the way home a revolutionary patroler stops their car and asks her dad to step out of the vehicle. The patrolman is suspicious that they have been drinking so they follow Marjane and her family home. When they get home Marjane and her Grandmother try to sneak off into the house in order to flush all the alcohol down the toilet but, the revolutionary catches them and questions them , they tell a lie that Marjane’s Grandmother has to go take her Diabetes medication so he lets them go. The chapter concludes with a section that explains that the revolutionary patrol was able to be bribed with money and after that left the family alone.
There were only a few unfamiliar terms and names in my chapter. One of the new terms was”Zarb”. It explains in that section that the Zarb is a type of drum that Marjane’s father plays well. There were also a few minor characters that were introduced such as Marjane’s friend Tinoosh, and Tinoosh’s father, and her Uncle who is able to make wine in his basement. Two other minor characters only mentioned in this chapter are Marjane’s Aunt and Marjane’s Aunt’s new born baby.
There are many humorous parts and illustrations that are humorous in my chapter and the book Persepolis. Many of these passages in Persepolis lend themselves towards a dark humor that can be interpreted to be quite sad; one of these passages in my chapter is on page 107 at the party celebrating her Aunt’s new baby. During this passage sirens begin to go off and Marjane’s Aunt panics, drops her baby into Marjane’s surprised arms, and takes off running to the basement. The funny part about this passage is the quote that goes with an illustration of Marjane frowning and holding the baby. This illustration is narrated with the words, “Since that day I’ve had doubts about the so-called “maternal instinct.”” This passage is funny because of Marjane’s blunt thoughts but also sad because the newborn’s mother was so quick to abandon him/her. Another funny passage comes on the page before page 107 is the box that depicts Mrs. Nasrine, Marjane’s Uncle’s cleaning lady, crushing grapes in the bathtub. While she is doing this she is saying “God Forgive Me! God Forgive Me!” It is the illustration that makes this box hilarious. Marjane Satrapi does a good job of displaying ridiculous events through simple illustration.
The most significant picture in my chapter, “The Wine”, is the picture on the top of page 106. This picture shows a group of people dancing (Marjane’s father, and Grandmother) included, a waiter passing around drinks, and it is implied that there is some type of music being played. This is a significant picture because it shows a group of people doing all of the things strictly illegalized by the revolutionary patrol and movement. These illegal things are all shown here is the main thing this chapter revolves around, which is why I feel this picture is so significant. Also depicted in this illustration is Marjane’s father wearing a western tie which, as we learn a few pages later, the revolutionary patrol looks down upon all things “western” or associated with the “western world”. By being able to pick out all of these things that are either against the law or looked down upon we can assume that the people in the picture are not for the revolutionary movement, and are even a little rebellious against it. I believe that the narration of this picture explains the whole reason for this chapter and all these illegal things Marjane’s family is doing. As the narration states, “In spite of all the dangers, the parties went on, “Without them it wouldn’t be psychologically bearable.” Some said.” This quote explains how important it was for these people to hold on to their former life and their previous lifestyle in order for them to make it from day to day.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
The Sheep
Laura Shelby Dameron
Title: "The Sheep"
The title of this chapter has a double meaning. The first meaning is the more obvious one. One of Marji's parent's friends and his family escape over the border hidden in a flock of sheep. The second meaning is more subtle. In the beginning of the chapter, the father says that the people of Iran were illiterate and ignorant, like sheep.
Summary:
While her uncle, Anoosh, is staying with the family, Marji hears a lot of political talk. Soon after he begins to stay with them, she learns that the boy she likes and his family are moving to the United States. Mohsen, a family friend, is found drowned. The sister of another family friend, Siamak, is killed because officals couldn't find him. Suddenly Anoosh disappears. Later Marji discovers he is in prison and is allowed to see him for ten minutes. He tells her that she is the daughter he never had and gives her the "uncle to the bread swan" that he had previously made for her. Soon after he is executed and Marji is heart broken. God comes to see her that night, and she tells Him to go away and never come back. He never does. Then the city is bombed.
New Terms:
There were no new terms in this chapter.
Humorous Passage:
A humorous part of the chapter is when Marji's parents tell her that Anoosh went on a trip, and she realizes that he really isn't. This is ironic because earlier in the book she teases another child because her parents told her the same thing.
Important Picture:
The last picture in the chapter is the most important because it tells the reader that Marji thinks life can't get worse, but then her town is bombed. This is significant because this is the first incidence of large scale violence.
Title: "The Sheep"
The title of this chapter has a double meaning. The first meaning is the more obvious one. One of Marji's parent's friends and his family escape over the border hidden in a flock of sheep. The second meaning is more subtle. In the beginning of the chapter, the father says that the people of Iran were illiterate and ignorant, like sheep.
Summary:
While her uncle, Anoosh, is staying with the family, Marji hears a lot of political talk. Soon after he begins to stay with them, she learns that the boy she likes and his family are moving to the United States. Mohsen, a family friend, is found drowned. The sister of another family friend, Siamak, is killed because officals couldn't find him. Suddenly Anoosh disappears. Later Marji discovers he is in prison and is allowed to see him for ten minutes. He tells her that she is the daughter he never had and gives her the "uncle to the bread swan" that he had previously made for her. Soon after he is executed and Marji is heart broken. God comes to see her that night, and she tells Him to go away and never come back. He never does. Then the city is bombed.
New Terms:
There were no new terms in this chapter.
Humorous Passage:
A humorous part of the chapter is when Marji's parents tell her that Anoosh went on a trip, and she realizes that he really isn't. This is ironic because earlier in the book she teases another child because her parents told her the same thing.
Important Picture:
The last picture in the chapter is the most important because it tells the reader that Marji thinks life can't get worse, but then her town is bombed. This is significant because this is the first incidence of large scale violence.
"The Bicycle"
They Bicycle is a chapter in which we learn more about the power struggles in Iran. Marji is very well educated and reads books about all different subjects such as religion and history. She knows the history's of different countries including her own. From her father she learns that Iranians were submissive to their own emperors, Arab invaders from the west, Mongolian invaders, and modern imperialists whom she considers the British and the Americans. Marji may know all the facts but she doesn't know where she stands or what she believes in so in the chapter she is still discovering herself. The chapter gets its name when Marji and her friends are demonstrating against the Shah in her yard and she states "The revolution is like a bicycle. When the wheels don't turn it falls." Then right after her comment there is a picture where there is a bicycle that has fallen and people are trying to climb back on. She overhears her parents talking about the 400 victims of the fire. They were locked in a movie theatre then set on fire by the Shah's regime who later said the massacre was done by a religious group. Marji then begs her parents to let her go demonstrate with them tomorrow but of course they say no. That night Marji calls for God, but he does not come. This is the last time we see God as an actual character. I choose this chapter because the reader learns a lot about the country's history that helps explain later events in the book.
Chapter 1- The Veil
Chapter 1- The Veil
The title of the first chapter in Persepolis is “The Veil”. The title is important to the chapter because Marji shows how the veil affected her life. In 1980 (when she was 10 years old), Iranian girls and woman were obligated to wear the veil. Marji and her classmates didn’t like the veil because they didn’t understand why they had to wear it every day.
In this chapter, Marji first explains the effects of the Islamic regime and Cultural Revolution in Iran. As a result of this revolution, bilingual schools were closed because they were seen as symbols of capitalism and decadence. Furthermore, girls and boys were separated and girls were forced to wear the veil. Subsequently, Marji goes back to portray the 1979 demonstrations of the Islamic revolution. This was when Marji was still going to a coed French school.
A humorous part of the chapter is when Marji dreams of being a prophet when she grows up. It is very funny and entertaining to see how Marji views God as her best friend and companion. I can relate to Marji’s experience because when I was younger I wanted to be Jesus. My dream was to deliver the world from death and evil and bring only peace and love to the world.
Unfamiliar terms and people:
- Zarathustrian: It is also known as Zoroastrianism. This Persian religion was founded by Zarathustra (Persian) or Zoroaster. This is a strictly monotheistic religion. One of its fundamental principles is that people must choose to fight alongside with the forces of good led by the God Ahura Mazda or the forces of evil led by the God Ahriman.
- Norouz: This is the traditional Iranian (Persian) New Year Holiday.
- God: In this book, God is represented as a white figure with a long beard.
I think this picture is significant because it shows the depths of Marji’s faith. I chose it because it also expresses the principles and ideals she thinks are the most important in life.
- Marji wants to be “justice” in the world because she believes it is unfair that her maid who raised her doesn’t eat with her family and she is ashamed to ride in her dad’s luxurious car while other people are poor and have to walk many miles. Marji wishes to have fairness and equality in the world.
- She wants to be “love” because in a world with love, her good, kind grandma wouldn’t suffer because her knees always ached her.
- She also desires to be the wrath of God. She thinks God is not happy with the Islamic regime because it has brought lots of death and pain. She knows that God’s anger and fury can destroy evil things.
Sources:
- Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
- Prentice Hall World Cultures Textbook
By Andy Reynolds
the key
The Key
The explanation – It is called the key because poor boys who were picked to fight in the war were given plastic keys painted gold and were told that it was there key to paradise where there was plenty of food, women, and houses made out of gold and diamonds. The boys who they told this to were poor so in some people's minds were less valuable. The boys were "brainwashed" into thinking that dying in the war was honorable and that if they did, what awaited them in the after life was paradise.
Chapter summary – In the chapter “They Key” it starts off with Marji reading the newspaper and seeing the list of all the martyrs. Marji points this out to her mom who waves it aside. It is impossible not to know that hundreds of people are dying because all along the streets there are nuptial chamber. At school, Marji and her class mates must beat themselves with their right hand over their heart in honor of the dead because it is one of their country’s rituals. Many people beat themselves brutally because it is considered a “macho” thing. Marji and her friends begin to make fun of the beatings and other things like when they had to knit hats for the soldiers and when they had to decorate their classroom for the Anniversary of the Revolution. The teacher gets very angry and suspends Marji and her class for a whole week. Everyone’s parents are very mad at the teacher. When Marji and her mother get home, they find their maid, Mrs. Nasrine, very upset. She explains to them that her son has been given a key and is told by his school that if he dies, then the key will get him into paradise where there are woman and money, plenty of food and houses. Marji’s mom offers to talk to Mrs. Nazrine’s son, who believes that the key really is the key to paradise. Right after that, Marji is invited to a party at her friend Peyman’s house. When Marji’s mom does have the talk with him later on, he is completely spaced out and yells that he will marry Marji when her mom is trying to talk to him about his future. That night, Shahab, one of Marji’s cousins, comes to the house. He started his military service right before the war started. Marji’s mother asks about the boys being brought in to fight and Shahab tells them how he sees bus loads full of children coming to fight in the war. They are trained with savage songs and of course, the key to paradise. He says that thousands of kids explode in minefields with the keys to paradise around there necks. While Sahab was talking to Marji’s mom, Marji was at her first party that she had a lot of fun at.
Additional information –
Mrs. Nazrine – Marji’s family maid
Mrs. Nazrine’s son – the boy given the key to paradise.
Peyman – Marji’s friend who is having a party
Shahab – Marji’s cousin who is fighting in the military.
“According to Shiite tradition, when an unmarried man dies, a nuptial chamber is built for him. Thatway, the dead man can symbolically attain carnal knowledge.” - Marji page 94.
The Funny part - I think there are two funny parts. The first funny part in the book is when Marji’s mom, her maid, and her maid’s son were having a serious talk about the key and the son doesn’t understand why it’s bad and yells that he wants to marry Marji and his mom hits him. The other part that I think is funny is when Marji's parents, along with many others, are called in when the girls are acting up and are told that their daughters are being suspended. In his rage, Marji's dad yells to the teacher "If hair is as stimulating as you say, then you need to shave your mustache!" Marji's father Page 98.
The picture – The picture that I think is most significant is the last picture where it shows many young boys getting blown up with the keys that promise them paradise around their neck. To me this picture shows how the young boys were killed in mass numbers but didn't mind dying because the schools had told them that they would enter paradise. the caption for that picture said "The key to paradise was for poor people. Thousands of young kids, promised a better life, exploded on the minefield withtheir keys around their necks."
by Anna Bridgforth
The Trip by Ashby Bonds
--My chapter's title was The Trip. After the Fundamentalists had taken over the U.S. Embassy and the Iranian schools were closed, Marji's parents realized they might not get to have another vacation for years, so they decided to visit Italy and Spain for three weeks. The trip let them escape for a while, while the war at home was just beginning.
--In the beginning of my chapter, the Iranian schools were shut-down and the U.S. Embassy was taken over by Fundamentalists; Marji was extreamly upset because she realized her dreams of becoming a well-educated, successful, Iranian woman were probably not going to happen if the universities stayed closed. One night, while in the car with her father, Marji's mom came running toward them crying hysterically. She told them how two Fundamentalist men insulted and threatened her because she was not wearing her veil and was not a Fundamentalist. Even after being threatened, Marji's parent continued to go to demonstrations; one time they even took Marji. When Marji was there things got violent. One woman was stabbed, and Marji and her parents fled the scene; rest assured, that was the family's last demonstration. Marji's parents later decided to take a relaxing trip to Italy and Spain, but when they got back, the war had just begun.
--Here are some new terms/people that were in my chapter:
1) Marie Curie: a famous, female physicist and chemist, born in 1867 and died in 1934
2) Fundamentalist men and women: the woman wore a veil that covered their whole body, the men had a beard and wore there shirts sticking out, they did not believe in the revolution
3) Modern/Progressive woman and men: modern woman let a few strands of hair show under their veils and would not wear the long dresses that covered their body, progressive men shaved and tucked in their shirts, they both believed in the revolution.
4) Saddam: enemy leader who kept attacking Iran at the time.
(Wikipedia.com)
--My chapter has a few funny moments! When Marji is in her room after she found out the universities were going to be closed, she says, "And so another dream went up in smoke. Misery! At the age Marie Curie first went to France to study, I'll probably have ten children..." (Satrapi 73) The moment was serious, but you can find some humor in the fact that Marji is so melodramatic! Also, when Marji's mom tells her to lie about how many times a day she prays, Marji is puzzled at first, but soon learns to lie. One of her friends remarked, "I pray five times a day." Marji responded by saying, "Me? Ten or eleven times...sometimes twelve." (Satrapi 75) When you think about how many times Marji really prays a day, you know it is no where near twelve, and that's if she prays at all!!
-- The picture I chose was of Marji and her parents on their vacation. (On page 77) They were riding a "magic carpet" through Italy and Spain. I chose the picture because it showed a truly, happy moment in my chapter. It reminded me, even though the war may have started they can still have a happy life and be a family.
The Sheep
The Significance of the Title:
The significance of my chapter, "The Sheep," symbolizes the sheep that graze in fields until their shepherd leads them. In this chapter, it seems like all of the characters are the sheep and this war or the revolution is the shepherd. In which, in this certain situation, for example, Marji's friends were led to the United States because the revolution led them, like a shepherd. But also where as Marji's Uncle Anoosh was executed for what he did and his beliefs which led him to his death, similar to a shepherd leading a sheep to a new place. In this case, the revolution was the shepherd. Also, in literal terms, through the middle of the chapter, Marji's friends escaped across the border by disguising themselves with a flock of sheep.
Summary:
In this chapter, you will find conversations of politics mixed with the emotions of lost loved ones. The discussions were about the political elections of who voted for the Islamic Republic and who did not. The statement Marji made was about what percentage of the people voted for the Islamic Republic, which made her father and her uncle realize that this election meant nothing but a bogus percentage of people who voted for the Islamic Republic. From the loss of loved ones, such as Mohsen and his sister, did Marji's parents realize another sequence of horrible events which affected their friends by their murder. Also, of the loss of Marji's Uncle Anoosh, does she realize her feelings for him and how much she really loved him until he was gone, or in this case taken from her, but he will remain in her heart forever. But also Marji's friend God, once God appears to talk, Marji remains angry, and takes her feelings out on God and that was the last time she saw him. By this loss, Marji is only left with the dear memories she has of her dear friends. Through this departure she finds more feelings through a friendship to realize that there were more feelings that just a friendship. Feelings that now can never be looked at, that can never be revised between the two of them, in which Marji will never know of what could have been more than just a friendship.
Events/People:
The characters that are involved with this chapter are Marji's parents, Marji, Uncle Anoosh, Marji's friends, Mohsen, Mohsen's sister, Deliverers of Divine Justice, and God.
The events that occurred in this chapter were the execution of Uncle Anoosh, the departure of Marji's friends for the United States, the loss of friends, and Marji's fight with God.
Humorous Parts:
Looking at the picture on page 70 on the bottom left corner, you can see in the image that Marji is upset and is angrily yelling, or shouting at God. It seems ironic how here she is talking to God, and she is telling him to shut up, and get out. I know that they may be close friends but I can't think of any of my friends that would say such things to God while having a conversation with him. This picture just represents irony by Marji's actions, and the characters involved in the picture.
Picture:
The picture on page 71 where Marji is floating in space is significant because it represents her emotions of how she is handling everything that is going on in her life right now, and all that is to come. This photo by her blank eyes and face with her arms raised out to her sides signifies that she's alone, or even depressed, you may say. In my opinion, it seems that the picture is rather important in finding or thinking about who Marji is and how she handles the "speed bumps," you may call it in her life.
Moscow- Alex Mahoney
Moscow
· The title of the chapter I chose, Moscow, was significant in that chapter because Marji’s uncle, Anoosh who is her new hero came to visit after being in Moscow and prison for many years. In the beginning of the chapter Marji is defeated because she keeps hearing about her friends’ parents who are heroes in the war, and she doesn't think that there is anyone related to her who is a hero. Then her father tells her about her uncle, Anoosh, from Moscow just got out of jail and had decided to come stay with her family. He was her new hero, and all she wanted to do was to listen to his stories.
· There is a lot that happens in this chapter, but in the beginning Marji is defeated because neither her father or mother are heroes in the war, neither died for their country, were pilots for fighter planes, neither had been persecuted or in prison. This made her sad because she kept hearing on the radio and from their friends about people who risked their lives for their country and she wanted her parents to be like that. Then, she hears from her father about her uncle who she had never met before because he had been prison for so long. And, he had just gotten out of prison and his mother had finally been reunited with his family. When she met him she immediately loved him and wanted him to live with her family. Although he said he couldn’t do that, he did say that he could sleep over that night and tell her stories about the war. That night he told her about when he was 18 and how he had heard about his uncle and his friends who had proclaimed the independence of the Iranian province of Azerbaijan. His uncle, Fereydoon, became the self appointed leader of the new republic. Once he had heard about his uncle and what was going on, he decided that his uncle’s point of view was like his own. When his father found this out, he became very upset. His father threw him out of the house so he went and became Fereydoon’s secretary. One morning he realized that Fereydoon had been arrested and taken to prison. He became very worried and decided to escape, so he walked for days until he got to his parents house. He knew that the Shah’s police would come find him at his parents’ house, so he swam across the river into Russia. He went on to tell Marji that while in Russia he became a student, and learned about communism. He also told her that he married and had two children. Later he divorced his wife, and decided to come home. On his way home, even though he was in a disguise he was caught and taken to prison. That is where he stayed for 30 years, and he had just been released. Marji thanks her uncle for telling such great stories to her, and he gives her a little swan made out of bread that he made in prison. In the end of the chapter you see Marji telling her friends all about her uncle and what a hero he is, and they just question what she is talking about.
· There is one main new character that is introduced in this chapter. That character is Anoosh, Marji’s hero uncle. He is the main character of this chapter, and in some of the following chapters. He is very involved in teaching Marji what really goes on during the war, and he gives her something to be really happy about, that she has a hero in the family! A subject that is alluded to in this chapter is Marxism-Leninism. Anoosh says that while he was in Russia he became a student, and he studied Marxism-Leninism. And, Marxism-Leninism is expanded version of Marxism about communism and the teachings behind it.
· There are many humorous parts of this chapter, because Marji is a young girl and she is curious about the war, and the different parts of the revolution. Since she is young she doesn’t get all the parts of the war and the things that her parents talk about but she tries to act like she does. Another funny part about this chapter is that Marji is so disappointed that she doesn’t have a “hero” in her family. She wants to have one so desperately, and when she hears about her uncle Anoosh, she is ecstatic. She becomes obsessed with him, and all she wants to do is to listen to stories about his time in prison, and during the war, and she wants him to stay with her forever. This is so funny, because Marji probably would not have ever shown nearly as much interest in her uncle had he not been a hero from the war!
· The picture that I think ties the whole chapter together is the one on the first page of the chapter in the middle row where the six brothers and their mother are all together. This picture is important because it tells many different things, one being that family is important to him. It also ties together the beginning, middle and end of the chapter. In the beginning of the chapter Marji’s father tells her about her uncle who is just out of prison, and before that had been in Russia. The reason he left Russia and ultimately was sent to prison was because he had missed his family and decided to come out of hiding. But, on his way back from Russia he was caught by the police and sent to prison. In the middle of the chapter when he tells his father of his beliefs where he agrees with his uncle his father sends him away. This makes him terribly sad because he loved his father. Then when the police caught Fereydoon, his uncle who he had been working for, and he was going to get caught, he went back to his family to try and escape. He had to leave them though because he knew that they would come looking for him at his mother and father’s house. In the end, he had been in prison for 30 years, and right when he was let out he went straight to his family to reunite with his mother, father, and brothers.
· The title of the chapter I chose, Moscow, was significant in that chapter because Marji’s uncle, Anoosh who is her new hero came to visit after being in Moscow and prison for many years. In the beginning of the chapter Marji is defeated because she keeps hearing about her friends’ parents who are heroes in the war, and she doesn't think that there is anyone related to her who is a hero. Then her father tells her about her uncle, Anoosh, from Moscow just got out of jail and had decided to come stay with her family. He was her new hero, and all she wanted to do was to listen to his stories.
· There is a lot that happens in this chapter, but in the beginning Marji is defeated because neither her father or mother are heroes in the war, neither died for their country, were pilots for fighter planes, neither had been persecuted or in prison. This made her sad because she kept hearing on the radio and from their friends about people who risked their lives for their country and she wanted her parents to be like that. Then, she hears from her father about her uncle who she had never met before because he had been prison for so long. And, he had just gotten out of prison and his mother had finally been reunited with his family. When she met him she immediately loved him and wanted him to live with her family. Although he said he couldn’t do that, he did say that he could sleep over that night and tell her stories about the war. That night he told her about when he was 18 and how he had heard about his uncle and his friends who had proclaimed the independence of the Iranian province of Azerbaijan. His uncle, Fereydoon, became the self appointed leader of the new republic. Once he had heard about his uncle and what was going on, he decided that his uncle’s point of view was like his own. When his father found this out, he became very upset. His father threw him out of the house so he went and became Fereydoon’s secretary. One morning he realized that Fereydoon had been arrested and taken to prison. He became very worried and decided to escape, so he walked for days until he got to his parents house. He knew that the Shah’s police would come find him at his parents’ house, so he swam across the river into Russia. He went on to tell Marji that while in Russia he became a student, and learned about communism. He also told her that he married and had two children. Later he divorced his wife, and decided to come home. On his way home, even though he was in a disguise he was caught and taken to prison. That is where he stayed for 30 years, and he had just been released. Marji thanks her uncle for telling such great stories to her, and he gives her a little swan made out of bread that he made in prison. In the end of the chapter you see Marji telling her friends all about her uncle and what a hero he is, and they just question what she is talking about.
· There is one main new character that is introduced in this chapter. That character is Anoosh, Marji’s hero uncle. He is the main character of this chapter, and in some of the following chapters. He is very involved in teaching Marji what really goes on during the war, and he gives her something to be really happy about, that she has a hero in the family! A subject that is alluded to in this chapter is Marxism-Leninism. Anoosh says that while he was in Russia he became a student, and he studied Marxism-Leninism. And, Marxism-Leninism is expanded version of Marxism about communism and the teachings behind it.
· There are many humorous parts of this chapter, because Marji is a young girl and she is curious about the war, and the different parts of the revolution. Since she is young she doesn’t get all the parts of the war and the things that her parents talk about but she tries to act like she does. Another funny part about this chapter is that Marji is so disappointed that she doesn’t have a “hero” in her family. She wants to have one so desperately, and when she hears about her uncle Anoosh, she is ecstatic. She becomes obsessed with him, and all she wants to do is to listen to stories about his time in prison, and during the war, and she wants him to stay with her forever. This is so funny, because Marji probably would not have ever shown nearly as much interest in her uncle had he not been a hero from the war!
· The picture that I think ties the whole chapter together is the one on the first page of the chapter in the middle row where the six brothers and their mother are all together. This picture is important because it tells many different things, one being that family is important to him. It also ties together the beginning, middle and end of the chapter. In the beginning of the chapter Marji’s father tells her about her uncle who is just out of prison, and before that had been in Russia. The reason he left Russia and ultimately was sent to prison was because he had missed his family and decided to come out of hiding. But, on his way back from Russia he was caught by the police and sent to prison. In the middle of the chapter when he tells his father of his beliefs where he agrees with his uncle his father sends him away. This makes him terribly sad because he loved his father. Then when the police caught Fereydoon, his uncle who he had been working for, and he was going to get caught, he went back to his family to try and escape. He had to leave them though because he knew that they would come looking for him at his mother and father’s house. In the end, he had been in prison for 30 years, and right when he was let out he went straight to his family to reunite with his mother, father, and brothers.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
"The Key"
What is the significance of the title of your chapter?
During the Islamic Revolution, male students were taught how to think during a war, that dying in battle was lucky and heroic, and heaven was opened by a key that was then given to each of the boys. It was a cheap key, gold-painted plastic, and the children had come to believe “that if they went to war and were lucky enough to die, this key would get them into heaven.” (Satrapi 99) The teachers painted a picture of paradise into the students’ heads until their own morals and beliefs were washed away. The title “The Key” shows how children believed that war and death made them heroes who were rewarded with heaven, and as they are dying on the battlefield, dreaming of the paradise that is just moments away, they leave their bodies and their keys behind.
Summarize the chapter.
At Marjane’s school they must observe the ritual to torture or beat yourself to mourn the dead. She and her friends began to make fun of the sessions and other war-related activities. Their parents were called in and were all furious at the teacher for expecting the children to be mournful robots. Mrs. Nasrine’s son had been given a plastic key that was to get him into a paradise, all he had to do was trade his life for it. Her son never ended up dying in battle, but many others, young boys especially, were loaded into buses to take them to fight, so convinced of the afterlife that they could have.
Explain any terms (words, historical references, etc), names that are unfamiliar (new characters, people alluded to).
New Characters: Mrs. Nasrine-the Satrapi’s maid, Mrs. Nasrine’s son, Peyman-Marji’s cousin, Shahab-Marji’s other cousin
Martyr: One who dies rather than give up their cause
Martyr: One who dies rather than give up their cause
Point out humorous parts of your chapter and explain why they are funny.
Marjane’s parents were called in to speak with the teacher after the students were not following every rule, and were told that if Marjane did not behave, she would be expelled. After the argument ends with ordering their veils to be worn properly, Marjane’s dad adds, “If hair is as stimulating as you say then you need to shave your mustache.” (Satrapi 98) This is a comical moment because the teacher who is trying to restore order and behavior is being told in an insulting way that she is not following the rules she is trying to enforce because she supposedly has a mustache.
Choose one picture in your chapter that you think is significant. Explain the picture showing why it is significant and why you chose it.
“The key to paradise was for poor people. Thousands of young kids, promised a better life, exploded on the minefields with their keys around their necks.” (Satrapi 102) In this picture, young men are shown flying through t
he air each enduring their own suffering. The pain is so unbearable that only death can save them. They must surrender their lives to escape even a moment more of the unexplainable pain. The significance of this picture is how it shows the children’s fate, and I realized that those were children my age whose lifeless bodies covered the minefield. It shows that the key took them to heaven by going through hell.
he air each enduring their own suffering. The pain is so unbearable that only death can save them. They must surrender their lives to escape even a moment more of the unexplainable pain. The significance of this picture is how it shows the children’s fate, and I realized that those were children my age whose lifeless bodies covered the minefield. It shows that the key took them to heaven by going through hell. This picture is found on page 102 of Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi.
The Wine
“The wine”
The chapter title “The Wine” signifies how during this time alcohol and other things such as cassettes, cards, chess, and parties were banned. Marji and her family and friends did not give these things up as was required, but chose to keep what they were doing a secret.
Summary-- In this chapter it shows Marji’s mother covering their windows so as to be secretive about what they were doing. They would get punished if they had gone on and participated and hosted events such as parties or done things like drink alcohol or play cards, however they do anyway with the hope of not getting caught. While at a party they hear the sirens wail and the party disbands. On the way home Marji’s father gets pulled over, and accused of drinking. Marji’s father tells her and her grandmother to go upstairs and flush all the alcohol down the toilet, and they get away from the officer by saying that she has diabetes and he is willing to let them go. While Marji and her grandmother are upstairs, her father pays off the officer and he leaves happy to get his money without caring about the real problem. After all of this Marji’s father and her family are out of alcohol, but also out of trouble.
Unfamiliar terms-- In this chapter Marji’s father uses an instrument called a Zarb which is also like a drum. At the end of the chapter Marji’s father uses the term “ideology” this term means “the body of a doctrine or belief that guides an individual or a group” (dictionary.com)
Humorous parts-- On page 106 is shows an image of the cleaning lady crushing grapes in the bathtub with her feet saying “God, forgive me, God, forgive me!” I thought that this was humorous because she is clearly against doing something as insignificant as crushing grapes with her feet in a bathtub, but she is doing it anyway and asking for forgiveness from God.
Significant picture-- At the end of the Chapter there is a picture of Marji and her grandmother and then her father walking in and yelling, “Where indeed! Their faith has nothing to do with ideology! A few bills were all he needed to forget the whole thing!!” in response to the question, “where’s the guy?” asked by Marji’s grandmother. What Marji’s father was saying was he really didn’t care whether or not he was breaking the rules, only that he was making money. I chose this picture because this was a very common occurrence at the time; people were forced into positions and thus were only interested in the money not if the job was done right.
The chapter title “The Wine” signifies how during this time alcohol and other things such as cassettes, cards, chess, and parties were banned. Marji and her family and friends did not give these things up as was required, but chose to keep what they were doing a secret.
Summary-- In this chapter it shows Marji’s mother covering their windows so as to be secretive about what they were doing. They would get punished if they had gone on and participated and hosted events such as parties or done things like drink alcohol or play cards, however they do anyway with the hope of not getting caught. While at a party they hear the sirens wail and the party disbands. On the way home Marji’s father gets pulled over, and accused of drinking. Marji’s father tells her and her grandmother to go upstairs and flush all the alcohol down the toilet, and they get away from the officer by saying that she has diabetes and he is willing to let them go. While Marji and her grandmother are upstairs, her father pays off the officer and he leaves happy to get his money without caring about the real problem. After all of this Marji’s father and her family are out of alcohol, but also out of trouble.
Unfamiliar terms-- In this chapter Marji’s father uses an instrument called a Zarb which is also like a drum. At the end of the chapter Marji’s father uses the term “ideology” this term means “the body of a doctrine or belief that guides an individual or a group” (dictionary.com)
Humorous parts-- On page 106 is shows an image of the cleaning lady crushing grapes in the bathtub with her feet saying “God, forgive me, God, forgive me!” I thought that this was humorous because she is clearly against doing something as insignificant as crushing grapes with her feet in a bathtub, but she is doing it anyway and asking for forgiveness from God.
Significant picture-- At the end of the Chapter there is a picture of Marji and her grandmother and then her father walking in and yelling, “Where indeed! Their faith has nothing to do with ideology! A few bills were all he needed to forget the whole thing!!” in response to the question, “where’s the guy?” asked by Marji’s grandmother. What Marji’s father was saying was he really didn’t care whether or not he was breaking the rules, only that he was making money. I chose this picture because this was a very common occurrence at the time; people were forced into positions and thus were only interested in the money not if the job was done right.
-In the chapter the F-14's it talks about the war between Iran and Baghdad. It starts off by the Iraqis attacking Iran and Marjane and her father experiencing it. Somehow you can see and feel that Marjanes mother and father have lost hope in the war. However Marjane herself has not given up, in fact she believes in hope so strongly that she was encouraging her father to fight in the war, although he knows that that was something he would not do. Marjane was defeated by the fact of her father not being Patriotic that she got so upset until she hears Iran's national anthem, suddenly you see that the family feels a sense of hope as they stand there with one hand on their heart. Marjane and her father look as though the war might be over with tears streaming down both of their cheeks, however the mom with no tears looks as though it's too good to be true it seems like she trying to take it all in at once. After the emotional anthem they also find out that Iran has bombed Baghdad and once again Marjane and her father begin to rejoice. The reason for the Anthem being played was that the Iranians made a deal that they would attack, if the president allowed the anthem to be played. However Marjane was given some bad news that one of her friends Paradisse's father had past away fighting for Iran during the bombing. I think that this chapter had allot to offer symbolically because it had a few hidden messages such as the moms lack of emotion.
- One of the pictures from the chapter really stood out to me which was the picture of the Satrapi Family standing while listening to the national anthem, i thought it was very clever how she showed the emotions on each of her families faces. but it also was interesting because it was very realistic and emotional for a little girl to endure.
- New characters introduced were Paradisse an girl that goes to Marjanes school also a girl whose father died while fighting for Iran
-Some things that i found very funny was when Marjane figured out that the Iraqis bombed Iran and she shouted Something i don't know if i can repeat.However i found it funny because she was so young and she knew exactly what was going on and she was very angry. She acted like an adult would react to that situation.
- One of the pictures from the chapter really stood out to me which was the picture of the Satrapi Family standing while listening to the national anthem, i thought it was very clever how she showed the emotions on each of her families faces. but it also was interesting because it was very realistic and emotional for a little girl to endure.
- New characters introduced were Paradisse an girl that goes to Marjanes school also a girl whose father died while fighting for Iran
-Some things that i found very funny was when Marjane figured out that the Iraqis bombed Iran and she shouted Something i don't know if i can repeat.However i found it funny because she was so young and she knew exactly what was going on and she was very angry. She acted like an adult would react to that situation.
Persepolis
The chapter, Persepolis, shares the name of the book. Persepolis was the capitol of Persia in ancient times. The site of this ancient city is in Southern Iran. I think that this chapter is entitled this because it gives some background information or history about her family and the rulers of Iran just like Persepolis gives background information about their country.
In this chapter, Marji's grandmother comes for a visit. She explains the hardships she encountered when her husband was arrested while the Shah's were in control. Her family was forced into poverty. She had to make clothes from scrap and hide the fact that they had only bread to eat. They wait for the arrival of Marji's father with much anxiety. He is a photographer and taking pictures which was not allowed in the country. He could have been arrested.
Finally he arrives home with a story to tell. He had been at a hospital that day and people were cheering for martyrs which is a person who dies for their religion or cause. He noticed the widow of one the men was crying. She ordered them to stop and told them that her husband was not a martyr and that he had passed because of cancer. The group insisted that he was still a hero so the widow joins the demonstrators. All the adults laughed. This is humorous because the widow is only demonstrating because she believes her husband is a hero, she doesn't know the real cause for the demonstration. Marji doesn't understand the humor but she laughs anyways like many children do when they don't understand a joke.
the most significant picture is the last one of the chapter. Marji does not understand a joke so she seeks out more information. The is significant because it shows how Marji, even as a young girl strives to better herself and attain knowledge. I chose this because it show the type of person Marji is.
In this chapter, Marji's grandmother comes for a visit. She explains the hardships she encountered when her husband was arrested while the Shah's were in control. Her family was forced into poverty. She had to make clothes from scrap and hide the fact that they had only bread to eat. They wait for the arrival of Marji's father with much anxiety. He is a photographer and taking pictures which was not allowed in the country. He could have been arrested.
Finally he arrives home with a story to tell. He had been at a hospital that day and people were cheering for martyrs which is a person who dies for their religion or cause. He noticed the widow of one the men was crying. She ordered them to stop and told them that her husband was not a martyr and that he had passed because of cancer. The group insisted that he was still a hero so the widow joins the demonstrators. All the adults laughed. This is humorous because the widow is only demonstrating because she believes her husband is a hero, she doesn't know the real cause for the demonstration. Marji doesn't understand the humor but she laughs anyways like many children do when they don't understand a joke.
the most significant picture is the last one of the chapter. Marji does not understand a joke so she seeks out more information. The is significant because it shows how Marji, even as a young girl strives to better herself and attain knowledge. I chose this because it show the type of person Marji is.
Savannah Reynolds
Monday, September 14, 2009
1. The title of my chapter is "Kim Wilde", this name is significant because it gives you a sneak peak at what new characters and things are going to be introduced in this chapter.2. For my chapter, I chose the chapter "Kim Wilde" the significance of the title of this chapter is:In this chapter of the book, Marjis' parents go on a trip to Turkey, and Marji requested some gifts that are not availible (or allowed) in the country. Any sort of popculture is looked down upon by all who are sticklers for the rules, like a jean jacket, nike shoes, a button with your favorite musical artist, and posters (all of which she had gotten as presents from her parents). When they come back Marji wears her new jacket, button, and nike sneakers around town and people would give her strange looks. She met with a man who sold her two tapes, one which is the title of the chapter, Kim Wilde, and as she continues on her way home she is stopped The Womans Branch (women who arrest others incorrectly wearing the veil) and tell her that she is being taking to the Guardians of Revolution where she will be arrested. She told a lie that luckily got her out of it. Her parents had no clue of this quarrel but she learned her leason that she needed to be much more careful in public, and how the rules in her country were unfair yet, strickly followed.3. In this chapter several new things and people are introuduced, Kim Wilde (famous singer), Iron Maiden (heavy metal band), Guardians of Revolution The Womans' Branch (Women who arrest other woman for improperly wearing the veil), Committe (HQ of the Gurdians of the Revolution), mainly all the terms were people or bands. 4. In this chapter Marji's parents go on Vacation to Turkey, there they buy gifts for Marji that are illegal in their country, i.e. posters, or anything fun, they go into a punk store and a wild dressed man looks at them funny due to the fact they are older and look like they have no clue what they are doing. I found this funny because an older couple walking into a young punk store is way out there, also they had to sew the posters into the dads' jacket and he looked very odd. 5. Finally, one picture I found was on top of page 134, the very first picture, was when Marji was about to be taken down to the Committe and she realises how dangerous it is to rebel by dressing improperly. She realises she could be whipped, held for hours or days, or even worse things. I find this significant becuase Marji thought that wearing the veil correctly was no big deal, but now she realises how important it is to wear, so she can simply not get into trouble.
By:
Savannah E.
By:
Savannah E.
The Party
1. The significance of the title of my chapter is that it finally states that the revolution is won and the shah is overthrown. It shows the revolutionaries joy at being a free country at last.
2. In this chapter, the author talks about all the massacres that happened after Black Friday. It also states that the Shah’s reign was through and that the people are forcing him out. Though he tries to move toward democracy, it doesn’t really work. It says that the party the people of Iran had when he left was the biggest party in Iran’s history. Jimmy Carter(president of the USA) will not house the Shah, only Anwar Al-Sadat(the president of Egypt) will give him sanctuary. In school all the children are forced to rip all pictures of the Shah out of their textbooks, and Marji gets in trouble for speaking the truth to her teacher, ”But she was the one that told us that the Shah was chosen by God!”All around Tehran, there is a strange phenomena going on. People are claiming that they did certain things and are lying about their part in the revolution. Then a childhood battle started. Marji and a few other boys were going to hurt a boy named Ramin because his father killed many people in the war, but then Marji's mother tells her to forgive others for their deeds. So the end of the chapter concludes with her forgiving Ramin for his father’s actions, the last picture depicts her staring in the mirror and telling herself to forgive other people no matter what.
3. “Black Friday” was the only new historical term given in this chapter, though there were some new characters; Anwar Al-Sadat(the president of Egypt) and Ramin(the boy Marji and her friends were going to hurt in the name of the millions killed by his father).
4. Some humorous parts of the chapter were when the Shah is trying to pick new advisors, and finds fault with each one, when the Shahs officers are saying goodbye, and when Marji's mother threatens to nail Satrapi’s ears to the wall.
5. One picture i thought was significant was the one where seven dead people are pushing the Shah out of the picture. I think it signifies the anger of the people of Iran over the dead and their need for the Shah to leave.
2. In this chapter, the author talks about all the massacres that happened after Black Friday. It also states that the Shah’s reign was through and that the people are forcing him out. Though he tries to move toward democracy, it doesn’t really work. It says that the party the people of Iran had when he left was the biggest party in Iran’s history. Jimmy Carter(president of the USA) will not house the Shah, only Anwar Al-Sadat(the president of Egypt) will give him sanctuary. In school all the children are forced to rip all pictures of the Shah out of their textbooks, and Marji gets in trouble for speaking the truth to her teacher, ”But she was the one that told us that the Shah was chosen by God!”All around Tehran, there is a strange phenomena going on. People are claiming that they did certain things and are lying about their part in the revolution. Then a childhood battle started. Marji and a few other boys were going to hurt a boy named Ramin because his father killed many people in the war, but then Marji's mother tells her to forgive others for their deeds. So the end of the chapter concludes with her forgiving Ramin for his father’s actions, the last picture depicts her staring in the mirror and telling herself to forgive other people no matter what.
3. “Black Friday” was the only new historical term given in this chapter, though there were some new characters; Anwar Al-Sadat(the president of Egypt) and Ramin(the boy Marji and her friends were going to hurt in the name of the millions killed by his father).
4. Some humorous parts of the chapter were when the Shah is trying to pick new advisors, and finds fault with each one, when the Shahs officers are saying goodbye, and when Marji's mother threatens to nail Satrapi’s ears to the wall.
5. One picture i thought was significant was the one where seven dead people are pushing the Shah out of the picture. I think it signifies the anger of the people of Iran over the dead and their need for the Shah to leave.
The Letter
Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi, 2003
- The Letter- The title of this chapter is important because one of the main focuses of this chapter are the letters sent from Mehri, Marji's maid, to her neighbor's son. Mehri cannot write her own letters, however, because she never learned how to write. Marji's father later discovers Marji has been writing the letters for her.
- Summary- After reading numerous books by Ali Ashraf Darvishian, Marji begins to understand the structure of social classes in Iran. She begins to look at her maid Mehri's life, and how it has been so different from her own. Marji then tells the story of how Mehri fell in love with her neighbor's son, Hossein. Thinking she was Marji's sister, he would write her letters. Marji would right letters back to him because Mehri did not learn how to write. Mehri told her biological sister, who worked for Marji's uncle, about Hossein and she became jealous. She told Marji's uncle and soon, Marji's father found out. He then went to clarify the situation with Hossein, telling him Mehri was only their maid. Because marriage between social classes was outlawed, Hossein abandoned Mehri. The next day, out of grief, both Mehri and Marji decide to demonstrate, even though they were not allowed. Though both girls were unharmed, that day would become known as "Black Friday" because of the number of deaths of demonstrators.
- New Characters and Historic Events
-Ali Ashraf Darvishian: Marji's favorite Kurdish writer
-Mehri: Marji's maid
-Hossein: Marji's neighbor's son
-Black Friday: A day when hundreds of demonstrators were killed, September 8, 1978
- Humorous Segments: There is a section that shows Marji's mother trying to teach Marhi to read. Marji's mother:"So let's repeat. M as in..." Mahri:"Carrot!" It displays Mehri as being stupid in a humorous manor.
- Picture: The picture above is significant because it explains why sometimes parents give their children up to be maids. It shows Mehri crying and not wanting to leave her parents, but her parents thinking it would still be the best thing for her.
Friday, September 11, 2009
F-14's: Sylvia Weir
- The F-14's refers to the Iranian's fighter jets.
- First in the chaper, the Iraqis bombed Tehran. Later, marji and Her family hear on the radio that the pilots of Iran's F-14's, who were imprisioned by the government, were released and promised to bomb Bagdad if the Iranian government broadcast the national anthem. Half the pilots were killed on the mission, one of them being Marji's school-mate's dad.
- Marji thinks that the war that Iran and Iraq are in is the same war that they were in 1400 years ago.
- One humerous part of the chapter is when Marji and her dad celebrate and and dance around the room when they hear that Iran had bombed Bagdad.
-A picture I feel is most significant in the chapter is when Marji and her family hear the national anthem. The picture shows how emotional it was for them to hear it and the caption of the picture reads: "We were overwelmed..."
- First in the chaper, the Iraqis bombed Tehran. Later, marji and Her family hear on the radio that the pilots of Iran's F-14's, who were imprisioned by the government, were released and promised to bomb Bagdad if the Iranian government broadcast the national anthem. Half the pilots were killed on the mission, one of them being Marji's school-mate's dad.
- Marji thinks that the war that Iran and Iraq are in is the same war that they were in 1400 years ago.
- One humerous part of the chapter is when Marji and her dad celebrate and and dance around the room when they hear that Iran had bombed Bagdad.
-A picture I feel is most significant in the chapter is when Marji and her family hear the national anthem. The picture shows how emotional it was for them to hear it and the caption of the picture reads: "We were overwelmed..."
"The Letter"
Explain the significance of the title of your chapter. The significance of my chapter, titles "The Letter" is it shows that one person can be someone else on paper. During this revolution it dealt with social classes and how everyone wanted different things, so although Mehri seemed pleasing on paper, once Hossein found out she was a maid, he just stopped talking to her. Also, the literal meaning of the chapter title, is how there is an actual reference to several paper letters. It shows the social class difference between Mehri and Marji, since Marji has to help write all the letters as Mehri has never had that sort of education. The letters come back up again as a symbol when Hossein rejects them once he finds out Mehri is a maid, and also when Marji's dad flings them at her questioning her. Above all, the letters show how close of a sisterhood type of relationship the two girls share.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: The author of Persepolis is Marjane Satrapi. She was born in Iran in the year of 1969. Throughout childhood she, like Marji in the story, went through difficult times in her country. Just as Marji's parents did, Marjane was sent off to Vienna when she was only fourteen years old. Later in life, she then returned to Iran where she got married. After a divorce, she moved to France where she is now a comic artist, writer and illustrator.
Summarize the Chapter
"The Letter" is about how Marji realizes how fortunate she really is. Along with discovering that, she also realizes how having a maid puts you up on a higher social class level, where as the maid would be in a lower social class. With that being said, Marji remembers the days where she would write letters to the next door neighbor's son, for her maid, Mehri, who was in love with him. At that time, he was also in love with her. Weeks went on where Marji would write what Mehri told her to, and he would respond. One day however, news spread throughout the family about their forbidden love, and Marji's dad told the son the real truth about how Mehri was a maid, and that ended the love quickly. Once she finally understood the reasons, including the differences in social classes, for the revolution, she and Mehri went to demonstrate on Black Friday. Fortunately, Marji learned the lesson that social classes are idiotic. However, she also learned from her parents that she is too young to go demonstrate at the rallies without them.
Explain any terms (word, historical references, etc), names that are unfamiliar (new characters, people alluded to)
The only term in this chapter that is unfamiliar is "Black Friday." In this text, it doesn't mean the hectic shopping day after Thanksgiving; but it basically means a disastrous event. Two new characters who are introduced in this chapter, or who are given more details about, are the neighbor's son, Hossein, and Mehri, the maid. All it includes about Hossein is that at one point he was in love with Mehri, but after finding out about her low social class, he declared he didn't want to keep seeing her. For the maid, it explained about how Mehri came into Marji's house. She left her parents when she was eight years old to go and work for Marji's family because her family already had fifteen kids, and they didn't make enough money to feed them all.
Point out humorous parts of your chapter and explain why they are funny
There are two relatively humorous parts in my chapter. The first one is when Marji talks about how Mehri took care of her and also played with her. And then she also mentions how she finished her food. This is humorous because it shows the little things we take for granted everyday when we are younger, are not always available to some people. The other humorous part (in a sarcastic way), is that even though Marji and Mehru demonstrated during the most vicious rally, they didn't get killed by any enemies; only slapped by their own family. This to me is not only sarcastic humor, but also irony.
Choose one picture in your chapter that you think is significant. Explain the picture showing why it is significant and why you chose it.
The picture I chose in the one on page 37 of Marji comforting Mehri in the same bed. I think it is significant to the chapter because it shows how even though Marji learned that different social classes are the reason for the whole revolution, she doesn't care. She still looks at Mehri as a human being and doesn't judge her by the idea of social classes. I chose it because it ties in with the chapter's title, "The Letter." Although Mehri's dreams of marrying Hossein, who she got all the letters from, were ruined; she still was able to be thankful for the friends who cared about her and the fact that she was still alive. The way Marji is comforting her shows that even during the revolution, people didn't forget how to love and care for people who meant the most to them.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: The author of Persepolis is Marjane Satrapi. She was born in Iran in the year of 1969. Throughout childhood she, like Marji in the story, went through difficult times in her country. Just as Marji's parents did, Marjane was sent off to Vienna when she was only fourteen years old. Later in life, she then returned to Iran where she got married. After a divorce, she moved to France where she is now a comic artist, writer and illustrator.The Veil
1. The significance of the title, "The Veil" is that the people close to Marji did not want to wear the veil. The little kids did not even understand why they should have to wear the veil. It didn't seem fair to them that they should be wearing it.2. The chapter begins showing Marji wearing a veil in the class. The Islamic Revolution began in 1979, and in 1980 children had to wear a veil to school. Also, at the beginning of the Islamic Revolution, bilingual schools were closed, and boys and girls began going to separate schools. They didn't understand why it was mandatory for them to wear the veil. Marji believed she was "born with religion." When asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, she would say she wanted to be a prophet, but she never told her parents this. The only family member that knew she had a "holy book" was her grandmother. She would talk to God at night, telling him she knew she was a prophet. She wanted to be a prophet, but without anyone knowing.
3. Prophet-one who fortells future events
4. There are a few funny moments in this chapter, but my favorite is the picture that shows her as a baby with the caption, "I was born with religion." It is a silly looking picture, and it just shows her in a diaper with little lines around her head, smiling. It is a cute picture in this chapter. 5. The most significant picture in this chapter, I believe is the second picture. It is a picture of her class and her, but she is barely in the picture. None of the people in the picture look very happy. She is hiding just a little out of the shot. She says, "I'm sitting on the far left so you don't see me." I think this is significant because it shows how much she doesn't want to wear the veil. She is truly ashamed, and she doesn't want to be shown wearing it.
"The Dowry"
Title Explanation- Persepolis's culture says that, traditionally, when a girl gets married, the husband is supposed to pay her a dowry. If the girl dies, the husband has to give the dowry to her family. In other words the dowry is the girl's worth, and Persepolis's parents wanted her life to have meaning, to be worth more than just some price tag. That is why they made her get an education even when most school's were closed and it seemed pointless. That's why they decided to send her away in the end, so that she could have a brighter future and get to do something with her life.Chapter Summary- The chapter begins with a bad start when Marji hits the principal and is expelled. In her new school, Marj disagrees with her teacher and argues her point. Her parents get a phone call about it, and are concerned that she might end up the same way as her uncle, executed. Marji's parents worry about her well being and decide to send her away to Austria. The day they go to the airport, Marji knows they will never again live together as a family.
Additional Information-
*Austria: a German-speaking country in Central Europe.
*Vienna: the capital and largest city of Austria
*tumans: Iranian currency
Funny Parts- This chapter is pretty sad because Marji leaves her family, but there is one funny part, which is when Marji argues with her teacher. It's funny because, if you look at her facial expressions, they are very comical and expressive.
Picture- I chose the last picture on the last page(153). I think this picture is significant because it is the final thing you remember from the book, and it also shows how the war was tearing families apart. As well as that, it also defines how much Marji was loved by her parents, since it wasn't exactly clear through out the rest of the book.
The Bicycle
My chapter is the Bicycle, chapter 2
. Title
The reason the title is named "The Bicycle" is because the main character, Marjane Satrapi, compared the Islamic Revolution to a bicycle. " The Revolution is like a bicycle. When the wheels don't turn, it falls"
. Events
In the chapter "The Bicycle" it is describing some of the violent actions going on at the beginning of the revolution. The main part of the chapter is taken up with the report of a violent act, a theatre had been locked from the outside and a fire had been started on the inside. The people were trapped and all 400 of them died. The police were there but prevented people from opening the doors and let all of them die. Besides describing that, "The Bicycle" also explores the religious sentiments of Marjane as she listens in horror to the afforementioned events. She said that, "despite everything, God came to see me from time to time" and shows the depiction of a tall man with long hair and a beard. They talk to each other like friends, discussing Marx and Descartes from the book "Dialectic Materialism" and speak to each other like friends.
. Entertaining Part
The funniest part of "The Bicycle" was when God and Marjane were talking at the kitchen table about what Marjane wanted to do when she grew up.
God: So you don't want to be a prophet anymore?
Marjane: Let's talk about something else.
God: You think I look like Marx?
Marjane: I told you to talk about something else.
......
God: Tomorrow, the weather is going to be nice.
Marjane: ?
The casual way Marjane talks to God is some cause for humor, but also the akward conversation, that is normal in everyday life- but not when you are talking to God, is cause for some humor also.
. New Terms
Many historic revolutionary people of the time are mentioned within the chapter "The Bicycle." Fidel Castro, Che Guevara, Trotsky, F. Frezai, Dr. Fatemi, H. Ashraf, and even Marx and Descartes. God is also introduced in personnification and talks to Marjane as mentioned above.
. Photo
The photo above is directly after the quote " The revolution is like a bicycle, when the wheels don't turn, it falls." The bicycle with the people on it is symbolic of the precarious situation the country was in and that there was every chance of falling, like riding a bike for the first time.
The Heroes
Title
the significance of the title is that the chaprter is about how if you were captured and imprisoned during the revolution than they are known as a hero. It is also about how Marji wanted a hero in her family.
Summary
In this chapter the political prisoners were liberated, two of them being friends of Marji's parents. They spoke of how they were tortured in the prison and spoke of a friend of theirs named Ahmadi that was tortured to an extreme extent and assassinated. Marji was upset that there was no hero in her family. She began playing games with her friends of torutre and came up with her own forms of torture. She was overwhelmed. Marji wanted justice but she wanted to forgive. That is wher you see her in the arms of God, "the only place where [she] felt safe" (Satrapi 53).
New Terms
There werent really any new terms.
Humurous Passage
A humurous passage from this chapter is when she had decided to play games with her friends that in them if you were to lose you would be tortured either by twisting of the arm, the mouthful of garbage, or the mustache on fire.
Important Picture
The most important picture in this chapter would have to be the last for that is where you see Marji in the arms of God and where the quote says " I didnt know what justice was. Now that the Revolution was finally over once and for all, I abandonedthe dialectic materialism of my comic strips. The only place where I felt safe was in the arms of my friend" (Satrapi 53).
the significance of the title is that the chaprter is about how if you were captured and imprisoned during the revolution than they are known as a hero. It is also about how Marji wanted a hero in her family.
Summary
In this chapter the political prisoners were liberated, two of them being friends of Marji's parents. They spoke of how they were tortured in the prison and spoke of a friend of theirs named Ahmadi that was tortured to an extreme extent and assassinated. Marji was upset that there was no hero in her family. She began playing games with her friends of torutre and came up with her own forms of torture. She was overwhelmed. Marji wanted justice but she wanted to forgive. That is wher you see her in the arms of God, "the only place where [she] felt safe" (Satrapi 53).
New Terms
There werent really any new terms.
Humurous Passage
A humurous passage from this chapter is when she had decided to play games with her friends that in them if you were to lose you would be tortured either by twisting of the arm, the mouthful of garbage, or the mustache on fire.
Important Picture
The most important picture in this chapter would have to be the last for that is where you see Marji in the arms of God and where the quote says " I didnt know what justice was. Now that the Revolution was finally over once and for all, I abandonedthe dialectic materialism of my comic strips. The only place where I felt safe was in the arms of my friend" (Satrapi 53).
The Dowry
My chapter is "The Dowry" Chapter 19.
At the start of the chapter, Marji explains how, by the time she was fourteen, she was a rebel and basically disregarded almost all authority and had very little fear for consequences. She wore a bracelet to school, which was apparently forbidden, and was given a warning (probably one she’s used to hearing) about wearing jewelry and jeans. The next day, she is still wearing the bracelet, and when told to show her wrist, she refuses. She gets into a skirmish with the principal, that ends with her hitting the principal and then being expelled.
She luckily has an aunt who had connections with bureaucrats in the education system, she was able to find another school. However, she hadn’t stopped speaking her mind- she told off the religion teacher after being told that there were no political prisoners when, in reality, they had about 297,000 more prisoners than under the Shah’s regime. When her parents find out, she gets two different responses- praise from her father, and an almost frenzied, panicked response from her mother. This is where she learns about what happens to girls who are arrested and ordered executed- “A guardian of the revolution marries her, takes her virginity, and then kills her.”- and realizes just how serious her predicament, her situation, her life is.
Later, her parents have a talk with her. They want to send her to Austria. Marji is interested, and quite pleased with the idea, until she starts getting the feeling that this is going to be the last time she’ll ever see her parents for awhile. She’s not even sure if she’ll see them again. And then, at the airport, as her luggage is checked and approved through, and she says goodbye to her parents, she turns around one more time to see them.
And thinks that it may have been better not to.
I don’t really quite understand the last scene. Is her mother dead? Was she shot just moments ago- but if so, where is the wound and the blood? Did she have a medical condition she was hiding from her daughter? Did she faint? Or was the last scene purely metaphorical, or an omen of what was to come later? I am not sure. The last chapter had very little in it that was funny or even humorous- a very sober ending.
At the start of the chapter, Marji explains how, by the time she was fourteen, she was a rebel and basically disregarded almost all authority and had very little fear for consequences. She wore a bracelet to school, which was apparently forbidden, and was given a warning (probably one she’s used to hearing) about wearing jewelry and jeans. The next day, she is still wearing the bracelet, and when told to show her wrist, she refuses. She gets into a skirmish with the principal, that ends with her hitting the principal and then being expelled.
She luckily has an aunt who had connections with bureaucrats in the education system, she was able to find another school. However, she hadn’t stopped speaking her mind- she told off the religion teacher after being told that there were no political prisoners when, in reality, they had about 297,000 more prisoners than under the Shah’s regime. When her parents find out, she gets two different responses- praise from her father, and an almost frenzied, panicked response from her mother. This is where she learns about what happens to girls who are arrested and ordered executed- “A guardian of the revolution marries her, takes her virginity, and then kills her.”- and realizes just how serious her predicament, her situation, her life is.
Later, her parents have a talk with her. They want to send her to Austria. Marji is interested, and quite pleased with the idea, until she starts getting the feeling that this is going to be the last time she’ll ever see her parents for awhile. She’s not even sure if she’ll see them again. And then, at the airport, as her luggage is checked and approved through, and she says goodbye to her parents, she turns around one more time to see them.
And thinks that it may have been better not to.
I don’t really quite understand the last scene. Is her mother dead? Was she shot just moments ago- but if so, where is the wound and the blood? Did she have a medical condition she was hiding from her daughter? Did she faint? Or was the last scene purely metaphorical, or an omen of what was to come later? I am not sure. The last chapter had very little in it that was funny or even humorous- a very sober ending.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
The Party
Title Significances-
-Represents the day that the Shah left Iran and all the Iranians celebrated, "the country had
the biggest celebration of its entire history." (pg. 42, Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi)
-They all began to celebrate their new freedom hence the title "The Party"
-Iranians begin to have more pride in their country, and those who fought in the rebellion
What happened in chapter 6, "The Party"
After the all of the Iranians demonstrations and protests the Shah's reign was finally coming to a close. He attempted to turn towards democracy, but failed. His picture was burned, and the people of Iran wanted nothing to do with him, so finally he left. Everywhere people were cheering and celebrating. Marjane noticed something very strange though among her friends and neighbors. Everywhere around her people had changed their views about polictics. Teachers who once said the Shah was chosen by God now told their students to rip his picture out their texts books. People conjured up stories of their heroic deeds during the revolution, all trying to seem like "martyr raised from the dead." (pg 44, Persepolis, Satrapi) Everyone wanted to be a hero. When Marjane hears that Ramins father was part of the Savak her and her friends create a plan to make him pay for the hundreds he killed. They make brass knuckles out of nails and were about to attack him when her mother showed up. Her mother teaches her the lesson that although his dad killed people she must learn to forgive. Only by forgiveness will the country become whole once again.
Unknown Words/People:
Shah- King of Iran, said to be chosen by God
Black Friday- was the shooting of protesters in Tehran, Iran on September 8, 1978
Effigy-A monument of someone
Al-Sadat- The president of Egypt who accepted the Shah into his country when he fled Iran
Ramin- Son of a member of the Savak
Savak- Secret police of the Shahs regime
Euphoria- Being in very high spirits
Funny Parts:
It is humorous when the children are told to tear the picture out their texts books of the Shah considering just a few weeks ago he was being worshiped as a man chosen by God to rule Iran. It shows that some people never create their own opinions, but just listen to what others tell them.
Another humorous part is when Marjanes' father says "Lets talk about something else. Let's enjoy our new freedom!" because in reality the falling of the Shah only results in even more oppression.
-Represents the day that the Shah left Iran and all the Iranians celebrated, "the country had
the biggest celebration of its entire history." (pg. 42, Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi)
-They all began to celebrate their new freedom hence the title "The Party"
-Iranians begin to have more pride in their country, and those who fought in the rebellion
What happened in chapter 6, "The Party"
After the all of the Iranians demonstrations and protests the Shah's reign was finally coming to a close. He attempted to turn towards democracy, but failed. His picture was burned, and the people of Iran wanted nothing to do with him, so finally he left. Everywhere people were cheering and celebrating. Marjane noticed something very strange though among her friends and neighbors. Everywhere around her people had changed their views about polictics. Teachers who once said the Shah was chosen by God now told their students to rip his picture out their texts books. People conjured up stories of their heroic deeds during the revolution, all trying to seem like "martyr raised from the dead." (pg 44, Persepolis, Satrapi) Everyone wanted to be a hero. When Marjane hears that Ramins father was part of the Savak her and her friends create a plan to make him pay for the hundreds he killed. They make brass knuckles out of nails and were about to attack him when her mother showed up. Her mother teaches her the lesson that although his dad killed people she must learn to forgive. Only by forgiveness will the country become whole once again.
Unknown Words/People:
Shah- King of Iran, said to be chosen by God
Black Friday- was the shooting of protesters in Tehran, Iran on September 8, 1978
Effigy-A monument of someone
Al-Sadat- The president of Egypt who accepted the Shah into his country when he fled Iran
Ramin- Son of a member of the Savak
Savak- Secret police of the Shahs regime
Euphoria- Being in very high spirits
Funny Parts:
It is humorous when the children are told to tear the picture out their texts books of the Shah considering just a few weeks ago he was being worshiped as a man chosen by God to rule Iran. It shows that some people never create their own opinions, but just listen to what others tell them.
Another humorous part is when Marjanes' father says "Lets talk about something else. Let's enjoy our new freedom!" because in reality the falling of the Shah only results in even more oppression.
Picture:
I chose this picture because they are talking about how they are free from the devil, and that they may now enjoy freedom. However circling the picture is a dragon, which I would interpret as evil, and it looks like its almost got them completely surrounded. It seems like this is one of the very last chances they have to get out before the "evil" surrounds them completely.
Persepolis Intro
Persepolis is a graphic memoir by Marjane Satrapi. It is set in Tehran, Iran during the Islamic Revolution (1979). This story follow Marjane (Marji) throughout her childhood, from the age of 6 to around 14. It gives a child's eye view of the revolution.
The author was born in 1969 in Rasht, Iran and studied illustration.
The author was born in 1969 in Rasht, Iran and studied illustration.
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