IB Language and Literature HLComiskey Herrera 2015

Winter Break Assignment! HOORAY! Your Tasks:

1. Read the graphic novel The Complete Persepolis.2. Complete four short responses. 3. Submit those responses to turnitin.com. 4. High five yourself for being awesome.

Due Date: Monday, January 15, 2016

In this packet, you will find the following helpful things: 1. A collection of important terms to know and a summary of the

historical background of the novel. 2. A breakdown of how to read a graphic novel. 3. Two sets of response questions with instructions and rubric. 4. Holiday cheer

Key People, Key Terms, and Historical Context

IB Language and Literature HLComiskey Herrera 2015

KEY PEOPLE

Reza Khan Pahlavi—first ruler of the Pahlavi Dynasty in Iran, named leader in 1926

Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi—Son of Reza Khan Pahlavi and heir to crown. Named ruler of Iran after British and Soviet occupation of Western Iran drives out Reza Khan.  He becomes an even more tyrannical ruler than his father, and even more influenced by Western countries, until overthrown in 1979, starting the Islamic Revolution.  During his reign, disparity between the rich and poor grew immensely, contributing to the demonstrations and eventual revolution in 1979.--"The day he left, the country had the biggest celebration of its entire history." (Persepolis, 42)--Marji

Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini—high shia cleric who was arrested and exiled from Iran in 1963 for opposition to the shah’s regime.  He returned again in 1979 to welcoming hands, and is sworn in as ruler of the new Islamic Republic in 1979.  His regime, what the people thought would be a relief from the oppressive dictatorship of the shah, goes to the other extreme: forcing submission of the population to all of Islam’s most conservative laws, and rejecting and forbidding anything that could be considered a Western, capitalist idea, product, or style.  

Mohammed Mossadeq: Prime Minister during the shah’s regime, made efforts to nationalize the British-owned oil industry, of which the Shah was against.  Though the shah tried to remove him from power, Mossadeq ended up pushing Pahlavi out of Iran.  Pahlavi returned to power once the CIA assisted with a coup d’etat of Mossadeq.

KEY TERMS

Islamic Revolution: A term to describe the period in which the Shah regime in Iran was overthrown and replaced with an Islamic Republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.  Meant to overthrow a tyrannical ruler, the government only succeeded in switching from one extreme dictatorship to the other.  -“In a country where half the population is illiterate you cannot unite the people around Marx.  The only thing that can really unite them is nationalism or a religious ethic" (Persepolis, 62)--Marji's uncle, Anoosh

Nationalization of Oil: the deprivatization of oil in an oil-producing country to give control of the oil industry to the government.  The goal in doing this is to give the country greater control over its resources and increase its own revenue.  -"As long as we have oil in the Middle East, we'll never have peace." (Persepolis, 43)--Marji's father

Shah: A term to refer to the Pahlavi Dynasty from 1926-1979.  It was a tyrannic, oppressive regime, associated with forcible Westernization and

IB Language and Literature HLComiskey Herrera 2015

largely influenced by oil-thirsty British and American governments.Shia: This term, having many meanings, is used in the book primarily to describe a much more conservative sect from which Khomeini came. 

Ayatollah: A high title to a cleric of Shia Islam, given to someone who is highly educated in Islamic studies.

SAVAK: The secret police of the shah regime (before the revolution), known for torturing and executing opponents of the regime.

Iran-Iraq War: A war that broke out after Iranian Islamic revolutionaries called for the overthrow of monarchies in the entire region, to be replaced with Islamic Republics like the one just set up in Iran.  Though Iraq invaded Iran, most of the war was fought after Iran regained its territory and Iraq called for a truce.  Khomeini refused the truce, claiming he would fight until a Shi'a Islamic Republic replaced the current regime in Iraq.  The conflict lasted for 8 years (during most of when both books take place).  As mentioned in the book on page 169 (Persepolis II), the war largely ended up strengthening nationalism in Iran and unity with the government, as families blamed Suddam Hussein (leader in Iraq) for the misery of the past 8 years, rather than the Iranian government.

Guardians of the Revolution: A branch of Iran's military founded after the revolution meant to "maintain order" and "protect the Islamic system," though many thought it to be simply a measure to prevent internal resistance to the government.  There are several scenes in the book in which Marji and her family come into confrontations with the Guardians because they are participating in something too secular or dressing against the Islamic code.---“At the committee, they didn’t have to inform my parents.  They could detain me for hours, or for days.  I could be whipped.  In short, anything could happen to me.  It was time for action.” (Persepolis, 134) —Explanation of Marji’s situation when she was caught with sneakers and a jean jacket over her traditional garb.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

The story line of Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis takes place during the late 1970’s in the Iranian capital city of Tehran. During this time period, the country of Iran was undergoing major political changes that would forever change the social and political landscapes of the nation. During this period of time, a social and political movement known to historians as the Iranian revolution had been increasing popularity as the governing monarchy of the Shah had lost support from citizens.

IB Language and Literature HLComiskey Herrera 2015

This was the public reaction after many years of the Shah’s dealing with western nations and making weak political and economic decisions. Also, this was an era of idiotic war between the countries of Iran and Iraq. One of the most interesting aspects of the historical references made in the novel is the perspective in which Persepolis is told. The perspective is through the eyes of a young Marianne, growing up during the revolution, born into a world that she does not quite understand, yet contains a strong urge to find meaning in her life. The historical perspective receives various opinions due to the graphic novel’s “eyes of a child” narration, because in some cases it can cause sympathy and in others, doubt. Although a child as a source of information can be unreliable, the event was still experienced and should not be overlooked.

The Islamic Revolution is referred to as the most significant event to have ever taken place in the Iranian history. The revolution was sparked by a group of Islamic fundamentalists that were disgusted by the modernized culture that the previous ruler had adopted. The people’s support for western ways of life had grown largely during the time of the Shah. . This capitalistic lifestyle was seen as sacrilegious in the name of Islam and needed to be overthrown by a new government that would reinforce the word and doctrine of Allah. This led to the removal of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi from his monarchial power and ushered in an Islamic regime which continues still to this day. This new government had received support from the majority of the population living in the country. This Islamic regime was lead by a Shia cleric named Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Khomeini attained political fame due to his radical positions against the governing Shah’s rule. He believed western countries, such as the United States, had seized the power of the country and simply used the Shah as a puppet as a way of controlling western interests.

The Iranian revolution was violent due to the aggressive nature of Khomeini’s ruling, which was to follow the rules of Allah as stated in the Quran. This new theocracy had many followers, who were mostly Shia Muslims. Although there was much acceptance, there were a large number of people that opposed the stringent regulations put into order by Khomeini and began to revolt against the new governing system. Satrapi’s parents began protesting against the new government and witnessed harsh treatment and full-scale riots taking place in the streets. The revolution failed to take control out of the harsh rule fist of Khomeini.

After the revolution occurred and Khomeini’s government had just been put into place, the Iran Iraq War began. In September 1980, the Sunni Muslim-dominated regime of Saddam Hussein in neighboring Iraq, invaded Iran in an attempt to take advantage of revolutionary chaos and destroy the revolution in its infancy. Iran and Iranians rallied behind their new government, helping to stop and then reversing the Iraqi advance. By early 1982, Iran regained almost all of the territory captured during the invasion. Satrapi described public appeal of the war as starting off high citizen approval and support. Towards the end of the war, it seemed pointless in the eyes of those in opposition to the Iranian government. In Persepolis, Satrapi describes the excessive power exercised by government officers during the war, in order to keep the citizens oppressed.

The title Persepolis was used in reference to the Persian empires ancient capital city. Persepolis, which is now Iran’s Takht-i Jamshīd. This

IB Language and Literature HLComiskey Herrera 2015

ancient city was the center of the Persian Empire until Alexander the Great conquered the area, burning and demolishing Persepolis to ruins. I believe Marjane Satrapi decided to use this title because it reminds Iranians of a time when mass destruction occurred in the capital city. During the Islamic Revolution, the destruction of Tehran, Iran’s capital city, led to a rise in civilian deaths, stranding citizens without any true knowledge of why these lives were being cut short.

This novel provides a fresh look into a history of a country that remains in a mysterious light for Westerners. The Iranian Revolution was one of the most significant events in Iranian history. Persepolis portrayed this revolutionary event in an entertaining and clarifying manner. Marjane Satrapi wrote an incredible book that will continue to educate and entertain the Western countries for year to come.

FOR LOTS OF VALUABLE INFORMATION, GO TO THIS WEBSITE:

http://introductiontopersepolis.weebly.com/

Response Questions—The Instructions

IB Language and Literature HLComiskey Herrera 2015

DIRECTIONS1. Choose two questions per book—two from Book One, two from Book

Two2. Respond to each question in 1.5-2 pages each. 3. Submit all four responses on turnitin.com as one complete document

For each question responded to, please identify from which book it is and type out the question before beginning your response (see example below).

Example: Book One: What effect does the Iran-Iraq war have on daily life in Tehran? How do people, including Marjane’s parents, act differently?

The war has a significant effect on the characters, because it turns them all into witches and wizards. Also, everyone receives letters from Hogwarts. Blah blah blah blah….

ASSESSMENT OF RESPONSESEach response should indicate that you have not only read the novel, but that you have read it carefully, so each should include specific references to the text/examples from the novel. Each response will be worth 40 points, making this assignment worth a total of 160 points.

Rubric for each response:

1. Content …………………………………………… _____/ 25 pts Does this response demonstrate your knowledge of the text? Are there clear connects to specific elements of the text? Does your response actually answer the question?

2. Structure ………………………………………….. _____/ 10 pts Do you clearly indicate which question you are answering? Are all four responses included in the same word document? Do you have MULTIPLE PARAGRAPHS (no blocks of writing,

please)?3. Grammar………………………………………………..______/ 5 pts

Is this your best grammatical work? HAS IT BEEN PROOFREAD MULTIPLE TIMES? Are there any silly typos, spelling errors, or indecipherable

words/sentences? (This answer should be no.)

Total for Response: ______/ 40 pts

Response Questions—The Options

IB Language and Literature HLComiskey Herrera 2015

Book One—From “The Veil” to “The Dowry” (pg. 3-153)

1. From the beginning, it’s clear that Marjane has a unique relationship with her parents and grandmother. How do they influence her and her relationship with the changing Iranian society?

2. What changes do the new fundamentalist government make in Iran? Her family enjoys having parties and drinking—what precautions do they take, and why do they continue despite the danger of being found out? Why do people seek to keep their regular routines, even in dangerous times?

3. Why does American pop culture have such an influence on Marjane and kids her age? Why are she and her family willing to take such risks to have tapes, posters, and jean jackets?

4. Why effect does the Iran-Iraq war have on daily life in Tehran? How do people, including Marjane’s parents, act differently?

5. At one point, Marjane’s own street is bombed. How does this change her? Have you ever come home to a major crisis or disaster like she did? How did it change you?

6. Even when she is very young, Marjane is outspoken at all times. How does this help her and hurt her in the new Iran? What decision does it lead her parents to make? Do you agree or disagree with this decision?

Book Two—From “The Soup” to “The End” (pg. 155-347)

1. Marjane said that her life in Austria felt like “playing a game by somebody else’s rules.” What does she mean by this? Does she have to play by “somebody else’s rules” to survive in her new home, or not?

2. How do you think Marjane and her mother’s relationship has changed since Marjane left Iran? Do you think they are closer or more distant now that they live in different countries?

3. When she returns to Iran, Marjane decides never to tell her parents about her “misadventures” in Europe. Do you think she made the right choice? What about the fact that she eventually wrote this book?

4. Marjane says that “fear has always been the driving force behind all dictators’ repression.” In what ways are young people in Iran repressed, and how do they rebel against this repression?

5. Why does Marjane finally decide to leave Iran? Do you think she will follow her mother’s instructions and never return?

6. Why do you think Sartrapi ultimately chose to write this book, and why did she write it in this visual way? What does the reader gain from the graphic novel format?