©THEBRIGHTSTARS 2024
Persepolis Exam Questions With Correct
And Revised Answers
According to the introduction, what stereotypical image is Satrapi trying to dispel? -
answer✔✔The stereotype that Iran is filled with nothing but terrorists and extremists
The author indicates two motives for writing Persepolis. What are they? - answer✔✔Just
because a few extremists have done terrible things does not mean that they represent an entire
nation; the Iranians who made great sacrifices should be remembered
Obligatory - answer✔✔required or demanded
Decadence - answer✔✔decay
What did the veil symbolize? - answer✔✔to be modest; the separation from the new
governmental power
Why was a picture of Marjane's mother published in the newspaper? How did her mother
respond? Why? - answer✔✔Marji's mother's picture was published because she was a part of the
demonstrations against the veil, her mother dyed her hair and wore sunglasses whenever she
went out after it was published in a Iranian magazine because she didn't want to be recognized
Describe the symbolism and conflict represented in the picture on the top of page 5. -
answer✔✔The conflict consisted of those who were against the veil and for the veil - who was
against the oppressive government mandate and who was for the freedom of choice - all relating
to the subject of the veil. A clear divide is displayed between the traditionalist ideologies and
progressive ideologies
Revolution - answer✔✔a forcible overthrow of a government or social order in favor of a new
system
Fanatics - answer✔✔people obsessed by an excessive enthusiasm for something
The Persian people faced oppression from what four sources? - answer✔✔Emperors, western
Arabian invasion, Eastern Mongolian invasion, and modern imperialism
How does Marji's relationship with God begin to change? - answer✔✔She began to feel more
distant with God
, ©THEBRIGHTSTARS 2024
Explain the simile on page 10 - answer✔✔If everyone that participates in a revolution does not
do their own part, then it will eventually be overcome by those who the revolution is against
Degenerate - answer✔✔to get worse
According to Marji, how was a king chosen? What was her rationale? - answer✔✔According to
Marji, a king was chosen by God; her rationale was from her school's textbook, where it stated
that God chose the king. Her father was a little bit puzzled by her and her rationale, because he
lived through and told her the contrary - the king was overthrown with the help of the British
(and other Western countries)
What four things happened to the emperor's family, and any who opposed the new government,
when he was deposed by Reza? - answer✔✔The emperor's family had all of their assets
confiscated, was sent to prison for his Communist beliefs, was tortured in prison; any opposition
to the new government could be taken away
What does Marji's mother reveal in a flashback? Her husband responds by saying, "That time is
past." What do you think? - answer✔✔Marji's mother revealed that her father would often be
sent to prison where he would be in a cell filled with water for hours; Marji's mother and
grandmother would visit her father. I think Marji's father was trying to insinuate that his wife's
father's time of pain passed - possibly because he passed away.
Comment on the illustrations used to portray the demonstrations on page 18 - answer✔✔It is
inferable that while a good amount of people within Persia (Iran) opposed Reza and assembled to
protest against him, their government gave them no right to do so because of how they fought
back against their own people.
What were two contrasting views of the Republican ideal? - answer✔✔The two contrasting
views of the Republican ideal consisted of the assembly of two contrasting bodies in order to
overthrow a central abuse of power; another was the ideal of being neither religious nor
irreligious - having the freedom to choose.
Frivolities - answer✔✔something that is unnecessary or silly
Cadaver - answer✔✔dead body
How does Marji's grandmother initially respond to questiona about the past? -
answer✔✔Initially, Marji's grandmother ignored the questions about her past - she eventually
told it
How did the Shah's rule compare to the Reza's? - answer✔✔he Shah's rule was worse - more
modernization, more attendance to the country's history rather than its people.
What did Marji's father do every day that makes her mother so nervous? Why is this activity
strictly forbidden? - answer✔✔Marji's father takes photos outside every day, making her mother
Persepolis Exam Questions With Correct
And Revised Answers
According to the introduction, what stereotypical image is Satrapi trying to dispel? -
answer✔✔The stereotype that Iran is filled with nothing but terrorists and extremists
The author indicates two motives for writing Persepolis. What are they? - answer✔✔Just
because a few extremists have done terrible things does not mean that they represent an entire
nation; the Iranians who made great sacrifices should be remembered
Obligatory - answer✔✔required or demanded
Decadence - answer✔✔decay
What did the veil symbolize? - answer✔✔to be modest; the separation from the new
governmental power
Why was a picture of Marjane's mother published in the newspaper? How did her mother
respond? Why? - answer✔✔Marji's mother's picture was published because she was a part of the
demonstrations against the veil, her mother dyed her hair and wore sunglasses whenever she
went out after it was published in a Iranian magazine because she didn't want to be recognized
Describe the symbolism and conflict represented in the picture on the top of page 5. -
answer✔✔The conflict consisted of those who were against the veil and for the veil - who was
against the oppressive government mandate and who was for the freedom of choice - all relating
to the subject of the veil. A clear divide is displayed between the traditionalist ideologies and
progressive ideologies
Revolution - answer✔✔a forcible overthrow of a government or social order in favor of a new
system
Fanatics - answer✔✔people obsessed by an excessive enthusiasm for something
The Persian people faced oppression from what four sources? - answer✔✔Emperors, western
Arabian invasion, Eastern Mongolian invasion, and modern imperialism
How does Marji's relationship with God begin to change? - answer✔✔She began to feel more
distant with God
, ©THEBRIGHTSTARS 2024
Explain the simile on page 10 - answer✔✔If everyone that participates in a revolution does not
do their own part, then it will eventually be overcome by those who the revolution is against
Degenerate - answer✔✔to get worse
According to Marji, how was a king chosen? What was her rationale? - answer✔✔According to
Marji, a king was chosen by God; her rationale was from her school's textbook, where it stated
that God chose the king. Her father was a little bit puzzled by her and her rationale, because he
lived through and told her the contrary - the king was overthrown with the help of the British
(and other Western countries)
What four things happened to the emperor's family, and any who opposed the new government,
when he was deposed by Reza? - answer✔✔The emperor's family had all of their assets
confiscated, was sent to prison for his Communist beliefs, was tortured in prison; any opposition
to the new government could be taken away
What does Marji's mother reveal in a flashback? Her husband responds by saying, "That time is
past." What do you think? - answer✔✔Marji's mother revealed that her father would often be
sent to prison where he would be in a cell filled with water for hours; Marji's mother and
grandmother would visit her father. I think Marji's father was trying to insinuate that his wife's
father's time of pain passed - possibly because he passed away.
Comment on the illustrations used to portray the demonstrations on page 18 - answer✔✔It is
inferable that while a good amount of people within Persia (Iran) opposed Reza and assembled to
protest against him, their government gave them no right to do so because of how they fought
back against their own people.
What were two contrasting views of the Republican ideal? - answer✔✔The two contrasting
views of the Republican ideal consisted of the assembly of two contrasting bodies in order to
overthrow a central abuse of power; another was the ideal of being neither religious nor
irreligious - having the freedom to choose.
Frivolities - answer✔✔something that is unnecessary or silly
Cadaver - answer✔✔dead body
How does Marji's grandmother initially respond to questiona about the past? -
answer✔✔Initially, Marji's grandmother ignored the questions about her past - she eventually
told it
How did the Shah's rule compare to the Reza's? - answer✔✔he Shah's rule was worse - more
modernization, more attendance to the country's history rather than its people.
What did Marji's father do every day that makes her mother so nervous? Why is this activity
strictly forbidden? - answer✔✔Marji's father takes photos outside every day, making her mother
