1 | P a g e | © copyright 2024/2025 | Grade A+
Persepolis Study Guide Feiran Questions &
100% Correct Answers
1. According to the introduction, what stereotypical image is Satrapi trying to
dispel?
✓ ~~> She is trying to dispel that image of all Iranians are
fundamentalists, fanatics, or terrorists.
2. The author indicates two motives for writing Persepolis. What are they?
✓ ~~> 1) She believes that an entire nation should not be judged by
the wrongdoings of a few extremists.
2) She also does not want the Iranians who died in prisons defending
freedom, those who died in the war against Iraq, those suffering under
repressive regimes, or those who were forced to leave their families and flee
their homeland to be forgotten.
3. When does the novel begin?
✓ ~~> 1980 - the year that we are introduced to Marjane
1979 - the year that the Islamic Revolution took place
4. What were the two outcomes of the Islamic Revolution?
Master01 | September, 2024/2025 | Latest update
, 2 | P a g e | © copyright 2024/2025 | Grade A+
✓ ~~> 1980 - The veil became mandatory at school
All bilingual schools were closed down
5. In what ways does the children's response to the veil reflect a universal truth
about society?
✓ ~~> The children don't understand why they have to wear the veil.
They just follow the orders from their teachers. This may be an indicator
that many people do not truly understand the significance or
importance of wearing the veil.
6. How has education affected by the new regime? Why?
✓ ~~> All the girls had to wear the veil. All bilingual schools were closed
down. Girls and boys no longer could attend the same school. Bilingual
schools were considered symbols of capitalism and decadence by the
new regime.
7. What did the veil symbolize?
✓ ~~> The veil symbolizes oppression of women. It was a representation
of Middle Eastern women as passive, oppressed and monolithic.
8. What did bilingual schools symbolize to the new regime?
Master01 | September, 2024/2025 | Latest update
, 3 | P a g e | © copyright 2024/2025 | Grade A+
✓ ~~> Decadence and capitalism
9. Did women have a universal response to the veil? Why?
✓ ~~> No, "Everywhere in the streets there were demonstrations for and
against the veil." (pg. 5). Not all women wanted to wear the veil
because it symbolized oppression and removed identity.
10. Why was a picture of Marjane's mother published in the newspaper? How
did her mother respond? Why?
✓ ~~> The picture of her mother was published because she was
protesting against the veil with her hair down in a very protestful stance
(fist up). She was very scared and dyed her hair because the picture
was published in a newspaper in Iran and she didn't want to get in
trouble with the authorities or the fundamentalist vigilantes. She did not
want to end up in prison or be killed.
11. Describe the symbolism and conflict represented in the picture on the top
of page 6.
Master01 | September, 2024/2025 | Latest update
, 4 | P a g e | © copyright 2024/2025 | Grade A+
✓ ~~> The left side represents Marji's family's ideals--they value
education and knowledge above traditional religious ideologies; she is
torn between the two. One offers her academic intelligence and
freedom as a woman, but the other is soothing and comforting, though
it requires her to give in to a more suppressive facet of Islam by wearing
the veil. She is conflicted because one represents her family, while the
other represents who she wants to be (at the time), but neither one is
the obvious answer.
This may seem a little simplistic, and there are many other examples..., but
the first storyline that comes to mind of a situation similar to Marjane is the
story of MOANA. Moana is torn between following her call to be a loyal
islander and the next chief, but also to return the heart of Te Fiti. This is similar
to the way in which Marjane is torn between the western views and the loyal
Islamic calling.
12. When Marji was six, what did she decide?
✓ ~~> "At the age of six I was already sure I was the last prophet. This
was a few years before the revolution." (pg. 6)
13. What are three reasons Marji wants to be a prophet? What were her
underlying motives?
Master01 | September, 2024/2025 | Latest update
Persepolis Study Guide Feiran Questions &
100% Correct Answers
1. According to the introduction, what stereotypical image is Satrapi trying to
dispel?
✓ ~~> She is trying to dispel that image of all Iranians are
fundamentalists, fanatics, or terrorists.
2. The author indicates two motives for writing Persepolis. What are they?
✓ ~~> 1) She believes that an entire nation should not be judged by
the wrongdoings of a few extremists.
2) She also does not want the Iranians who died in prisons defending
freedom, those who died in the war against Iraq, those suffering under
repressive regimes, or those who were forced to leave their families and flee
their homeland to be forgotten.
3. When does the novel begin?
✓ ~~> 1980 - the year that we are introduced to Marjane
1979 - the year that the Islamic Revolution took place
4. What were the two outcomes of the Islamic Revolution?
Master01 | September, 2024/2025 | Latest update
, 2 | P a g e | © copyright 2024/2025 | Grade A+
✓ ~~> 1980 - The veil became mandatory at school
All bilingual schools were closed down
5. In what ways does the children's response to the veil reflect a universal truth
about society?
✓ ~~> The children don't understand why they have to wear the veil.
They just follow the orders from their teachers. This may be an indicator
that many people do not truly understand the significance or
importance of wearing the veil.
6. How has education affected by the new regime? Why?
✓ ~~> All the girls had to wear the veil. All bilingual schools were closed
down. Girls and boys no longer could attend the same school. Bilingual
schools were considered symbols of capitalism and decadence by the
new regime.
7. What did the veil symbolize?
✓ ~~> The veil symbolizes oppression of women. It was a representation
of Middle Eastern women as passive, oppressed and monolithic.
8. What did bilingual schools symbolize to the new regime?
Master01 | September, 2024/2025 | Latest update
, 3 | P a g e | © copyright 2024/2025 | Grade A+
✓ ~~> Decadence and capitalism
9. Did women have a universal response to the veil? Why?
✓ ~~> No, "Everywhere in the streets there were demonstrations for and
against the veil." (pg. 5). Not all women wanted to wear the veil
because it symbolized oppression and removed identity.
10. Why was a picture of Marjane's mother published in the newspaper? How
did her mother respond? Why?
✓ ~~> The picture of her mother was published because she was
protesting against the veil with her hair down in a very protestful stance
(fist up). She was very scared and dyed her hair because the picture
was published in a newspaper in Iran and she didn't want to get in
trouble with the authorities or the fundamentalist vigilantes. She did not
want to end up in prison or be killed.
11. Describe the symbolism and conflict represented in the picture on the top
of page 6.
Master01 | September, 2024/2025 | Latest update
, 4 | P a g e | © copyright 2024/2025 | Grade A+
✓ ~~> The left side represents Marji's family's ideals--they value
education and knowledge above traditional religious ideologies; she is
torn between the two. One offers her academic intelligence and
freedom as a woman, but the other is soothing and comforting, though
it requires her to give in to a more suppressive facet of Islam by wearing
the veil. She is conflicted because one represents her family, while the
other represents who she wants to be (at the time), but neither one is
the obvious answer.
This may seem a little simplistic, and there are many other examples..., but
the first storyline that comes to mind of a situation similar to Marjane is the
story of MOANA. Moana is torn between following her call to be a loyal
islander and the next chief, but also to return the heart of Te Fiti. This is similar
to the way in which Marjane is torn between the western views and the loyal
Islamic calling.
12. When Marji was six, what did she decide?
✓ ~~> "At the age of six I was already sure I was the last prophet. This
was a few years before the revolution." (pg. 6)
13. What are three reasons Marji wants to be a prophet? What were her
underlying motives?
Master01 | September, 2024/2025 | Latest update
