It is an abbreviated history of iran from its first occupation by indoeuropean nomads, to the establishment of the persian empire, to the 1979 islamic revolution. Persepolis has been called a comic book time listed the first volume as one of the best comics of 2003, a graphic novel, and a graphic autobiography a comingofage story. Originally published to wide critical acclaim in france, where it elicited comparisons to art spiegelmans maus, persepolis is marjane satrapis wise, funny, and heartbreaking memoir of growing up in iran during the islamic revolution. Its 1980 in iran, and marjane satrapi isnt rocking out to michael jackson or watching dallas.
Satrapis autobiography is a timely and timeless story of a young girls life under the islamic revolution. In the left hand column you will find links to all the daily plans for the persepolis unit. Requesting a new title requires a free litcharts account. Given the setting of the story, many would expect persepolis to be a dark, depressing work. She narrates the story from her perspective as a child. One year after the islamic revolution of 1979, iran is ruled by an oppressive theocracy. Persepolis is a book that tells the story of marjane satrapi and is entitled as the story of a childhood.
Grandma, at first, tried to avoid the question, but she finally gave in. Persepolis is the first book in a graphic novel series about the childhood of marjane satrapi, the author of this book. Like marjane, children are often shaped by the political views of their parents and. After reading the novel, i ordered the dvd, but i havent watched it yet. When comparing the book and movie of persepolis, there are many resembling instances. The rebellious characters in persepolis seek freedom.
Persepolis debuted in france in 2000 to great fanfare. Discussion of themes and motifs in marjane satrapis persepolis. Persepolis themes from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in persepolis, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. The historical body count by the end of persepolis is enormous. At the beginning of the book, we learn that marjane had been attending a french, nonreligious. In marjane satrapis persepolis, satrapi recounts her childhood experiences. Goals week one week two week three week four days six, seven, and eight. Or that time homer simpson wore an ayatollah assaholla tshirt. Marjane marji satrapi comes from a leftleaning family and. For the satrapis, the revolution that they supported against the shah was hijacked by islamic.
Persepolis the story of a childhood literature essay samples. Persepolis shows children to be extremely malleable ideologically and behaviorally during war precisely because children do not yet have the capacity to understand the complexity of the situations around them. The author of the book was born on the edge of the caspian sea in iran and grew up in tehran. The story of a childhood when translated into english in 2003. Marjane rebels because she wants to be in control of her own life. Named after the capital city of the persian empire, the book is an autobiographical tale set during the islamic revolution of iran and the iraniraq war in the 1970s and 1980s, told through a series of comics. Marjane satrapi chose a unique medium, the graphic memoir, to tell. At the forefront, marjane satrapis biographical work, persepolis, chronicles the iranian revolution in the 1980s. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. In the right hand column you will find additional resources that you may find helpful to. Below the daily plan, in smaller print, will be the required resource article video or worksheet that must be read or completed for that day. In powerful blackandwhite comic strip images, satrapi tells the story of her life in tehran from ages six to fourteen, years that saw the overthrow of the. Chapter 5 the letter by katrin gettmann persepolis.
A video of marjane satrapi talking about the comic style. It is an article written by the average joejane from yahoo. She pairs her story with a handdrawn visual supplement that is reminiscent of a childrens book. The intelligent and outspoken child of radical marxists, and the greatgrandaughter of irans last emperor, satrapi. In persepolis she used a strippeddown visual style that shows the influence of german expressionism to tell the story of her childhood in tehran. Persepolis is an account of demands made without understanding of repercussions. I teach seventh grade world history, and my curriculum spans prehistory to medieval times, so i wont be teaching persepolis. By reading the book and discussing in class little by little as we our reading progressed really helped me to get a better view on the movie. The title persepolis is a reference to the ancient capital of the persian empire. Satrapis account of the iranian revolution is told from a unique perspective. Booksource is the premier trade book distributor to k12 school classrooms across the country. The themes, naturally, are more mature in the second volume.
I need help with some theme statements regarding the graphic novel persepolis 1. Persepolis is what has come to be known as a graphic novel. However within the work, satrapis incredible story centers on a few prevalent themes and motifs. Gretchen schwartz and cristina crenshaw of rhode island university consider it a. For example, we see how many boys easily become radicalized and come to believe in the heavenly benefits of martyrdom because they are naturally trusting of authority. This chapter starts off with marjane coming home from school, figuring out that her grandma was home in their guest room. The theme of children, war, and growing up in persepolis. The story of a childhood is a bildungsroman that tells the story of marjanes coming of age in iran. We offer discounted pricing, free shipping and unparalleled expertise and customer service. It is now on a living room ottoman, and i plan to watch it very soon. Throughout the story the themes of religion, violence, and government control are intertwined.
Marjane satrapis graphic novel persepolis is, at a glance, comic book, memoir and political satire in one, as it details satrapis childhood in iran, including her experience of the 1979 iranian revolution under khomeini. Persepolis bundle lots of great activities stories for kids, book. They learn about themselves in relation to their friends and. During her stay in tehran, satrapi studied at the lycee francais and left for vienna and later strasbourg for studies in decorative arts. What are some good theme statements for persepolis 1 graphic novel. Themes of innocence, childhood, and maturity are interwoven as the author describes. The story of a childhood study guide contains a biography of marjane satrapi, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Marjane satrapi chose a unique medium, the graphic memoir, to tell the story of her childhood and early teen years living in iran. Iran and everywhere else in the world you might know iran from that time they stood in the streets chanting death to america. Inclass write assign students small groups and characters. Persepolis themes religion, repression, and modernity religion, repression, and modernity persepolis explores the intersection of religion and modernity, as well as the impact of religious repression on the religious feeling and practices of those who must endure it. The graphic novel approach to this memoir makes the story of a girl growing up in iran during the islamic revolution even more poignant. I teach these lessons using an additional booklet on both the novel, the author, the context and graphic novels in general, but i cant add that here since it is not all my own work. It combines the personal, the family, the political, the religious, and the national.
The symbol of cigarette in persepolis from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. The book shows the adjustments and sacrifices that people make as a result of a massive shift in government. You might know iran from that time they stood in the streets chanting death to america. Marjane begins persepolis as a child and by the end of the novel declares her independence from her mother and father through the ritual of smoking a cigarette. Descended from the last emperor of iran, satrapi is nine when fundamentalist rebe. Wise, often funny, sometimes heartbreaking, persepolis tells the story of marjane satrapis life in tehran from the ages of six to fourteen, years that saw the overthrow of the shahs regime, the triumph of the islamic revolution and the devastating effects of war with iraq. Need help on themes in marjane satrapis persepolis. Uneducated about the islamic revolution in 1980, i saw this book and knew i had to read it. Then, when she was ten years old, the cultural revolution called for girls to wear the veil.
As persepolis examines daily life in iran, it also deals with a childs view of parents, friends, and old and new heroes all within. This moment shaped the story and added to the theme coming of age because. The first two french volumes were translated and reprinted together in the american volume persepolis. However, the graphic novel literally illustrates her growth into young adulthood as she becomes continually confronted with the contradictions and confusions of. Named after the capital city of the persian empire, the book is an autobiographical tale set during the islamic revolution of iran and the iraniraq.
Religion is represented in many forms from marjanes personal views of god to the mandates of the islamic republic and the conversion of neighbors out of fear. The book begins with chapters about religion and revolution. The symbol of cigarette in persepolis from litcharts the. See more ideas about book activities, preschool and preschool crafts. Themes and characterization in persepolis by michelle max. Marjane, who was still curious about her grandpa, asked grandma questions about her life without him. Hey guys, as i thought you will probably have not read the book persepolis i first wrote a summary together with an analysis about the fifth chapter the letter. Symbolism in the persepolis book education seattle pi. Have them brainstorm adjectives and significant events to describe that character. I know, i know, you spend hours of time developing your preschool themes, activities and preschool lesson plans each week. The theme of children, war, and growing up in persepolis from. Throughout the novel, satrapi uses her own relationship with her parents as a metaphor for her. While persepolis may be appropriate for junior and senior students, byrdbennett said that cps is reconsidering whether the book, because of. Once the book arrived, i was immediately surprised by the book and the fact that it was a graphic novel.
In marjane satrapis graphic novel persepolis, education is an extremely important theme. Even when shes young she fights to make her own decisions, and by the time shes 12 she decides shes ready to be an adult. In its purist form, a graphic novel is a story told through sequential art. Satrapis novel, especially if considered in the larger context of the second volume of the series, falls into all of these categories. Persepolis memoir isnt appropriate for seventhgraders. A friend of mine, upon receiving a copy of the road to perdition that i sent to him, called me and exclaimed in delight, i didnt know they had these things. This chapter offers short lessons, quizzes and other. At the beginning of the book, we learn that marjane had been attending a french, nonreligious, coed school until 1980. You are commited to planning preschool themes and activities that are engaging handson, interactive, fun and meet the goal of supporting each childs level of growth and development. This marks the beginning of years of political and religious turmoil in iran. Satrapi uses the medium of comics to excellent effect, making her story more visceral than if it were in prose.
1468 133 262 598 1380 74 1114 815 1091 1609 1161 1066 1042 534 152 225 66 85 1454 886 1178 235 193 793 903 1215 458 1032 250 1116 236