Persepolis Study Questions and Answers
Why must Marjane wear a veil? How will she and her classmates react? -
ANSWER She must wear the veil because it is necessary during the Islamic
Revolution. Her classmates can not understand why they must wear it.
Describe Marjane's relationships with her parents and grandmother. How do they
affect her and her interactions with the evolving Iranian society? - ANSWER She
has an excellent relationship with her mom and grandma because they are both
against the veil and back her protest.
Why would Marjane aspire to be "the last prophet?" What is the point of being
"justice, love, and the wrath of God all in one?" - ANSWER She wants to be the
last prophet so she may set her own rules that are wonderful. The goal of being
justice, love, and God's vengeance is to help her grandmother, allow her maid to eat
with them, and everyone should have their car.
On page 10, young Marjane declares, "The revolution is like a bicycle." When the
wheels stop turning, it falls." What does her painting in the next frame reveal about
this concept? How has her view of the Iranian revolution altered since she was a
child? - ANSWER The graphic implies that Iranians devoted themselves to the
revolution. She used to be more devout, but now she wants to join the revolution.
Why do you believe God stopped visiting Marjane at the end of the chapter? -
ANSWER God stopped visiting Marjane because she lost sight of what was
important to her, such as becoming a prophet, resulting in a weakened relationship
with God.
What is the distinction between what Marjane learns at school about the Shah's
power and what her father tells her? - ANSWER The schools claim that God
picked the Shah, but her father claims that God has no control over the Shah and
that the Shah rose to power by toppling the previous emperor.
, Why was Marjane's grandfather imprisoned? How did this affect his family? -
ANSWER Her grandfather was imprisoned as a communist. It was difficult for his
family because his wife was destitute.
Why is Mehri's admiring neighbour rejecting her? Do you believe Marjane's father
made the correct decision by halting the crush? - ANSWER Mehri was rejected by
her neighbor since she works as a maid. He did the right thing because if the
neighbour had known she was a maid, he would never have crossed social classes
to be with her.
What's humorous about the "martyr" scenario outside the hospital? Why doesn't
Marjane understand it? - ANSWER The man wasn't a martyr. He died from cancer.
However, his widow continues to feel it is the king's responsibility, and she joins
the protests. Marjane doesn't understand why a man's death is humorous.
How do people's behaviours change in this chapter once the Shah steps down? -
ANSWER People had the most elaborate festivities of their lives.
Why does Marjane's mother prevent her from harassing Ramin? - ANSWER She
interrupts him because she claims it is not Ramin's fault that his father killed so
many people, thus they have no right to justice. She tells Marjane she should
forgive him.
Do you think she succeeds in conveying her point to Marjane? - ANSWER She
succeeds because Marjane never gives up on forgiving him.
Why were the guys who visited Marjane's residence imprisoned and tortured? -
ANSWER They were imprisoned and tortured because one authored a subversive
article while the other was a revolutionary. However, their main crime was being
communists.
Why must Marjane wear a veil? How will she and her classmates react? -
ANSWER She must wear the veil because it is necessary during the Islamic
Revolution. Her classmates can not understand why they must wear it.
Describe Marjane's relationships with her parents and grandmother. How do they
affect her and her interactions with the evolving Iranian society? - ANSWER She
has an excellent relationship with her mom and grandma because they are both
against the veil and back her protest.
Why would Marjane aspire to be "the last prophet?" What is the point of being
"justice, love, and the wrath of God all in one?" - ANSWER She wants to be the
last prophet so she may set her own rules that are wonderful. The goal of being
justice, love, and God's vengeance is to help her grandmother, allow her maid to eat
with them, and everyone should have their car.
On page 10, young Marjane declares, "The revolution is like a bicycle." When the
wheels stop turning, it falls." What does her painting in the next frame reveal about
this concept? How has her view of the Iranian revolution altered since she was a
child? - ANSWER The graphic implies that Iranians devoted themselves to the
revolution. She used to be more devout, but now she wants to join the revolution.
Why do you believe God stopped visiting Marjane at the end of the chapter? -
ANSWER God stopped visiting Marjane because she lost sight of what was
important to her, such as becoming a prophet, resulting in a weakened relationship
with God.
What is the distinction between what Marjane learns at school about the Shah's
power and what her father tells her? - ANSWER The schools claim that God
picked the Shah, but her father claims that God has no control over the Shah and
that the Shah rose to power by toppling the previous emperor.
, Why was Marjane's grandfather imprisoned? How did this affect his family? -
ANSWER Her grandfather was imprisoned as a communist. It was difficult for his
family because his wife was destitute.
Why is Mehri's admiring neighbour rejecting her? Do you believe Marjane's father
made the correct decision by halting the crush? - ANSWER Mehri was rejected by
her neighbor since she works as a maid. He did the right thing because if the
neighbour had known she was a maid, he would never have crossed social classes
to be with her.
What's humorous about the "martyr" scenario outside the hospital? Why doesn't
Marjane understand it? - ANSWER The man wasn't a martyr. He died from cancer.
However, his widow continues to feel it is the king's responsibility, and she joins
the protests. Marjane doesn't understand why a man's death is humorous.
How do people's behaviours change in this chapter once the Shah steps down? -
ANSWER People had the most elaborate festivities of their lives.
Why does Marjane's mother prevent her from harassing Ramin? - ANSWER She
interrupts him because she claims it is not Ramin's fault that his father killed so
many people, thus they have no right to justice. She tells Marjane she should
forgive him.
Do you think she succeeds in conveying her point to Marjane? - ANSWER She
succeeds because Marjane never gives up on forgiving him.
Why were the guys who visited Marjane's residence imprisoned and tortured? -
ANSWER They were imprisoned and tortured because one authored a subversive
article while the other was a revolutionary. However, their main crime was being
communists.
