"Persepolis" Multiple Choice Review

How does the setting add to the meaning of the text? (R.1.1)

• 1. The city of Tehran adds to the literal layer of the text through descriptive explanations.   

• 1. The historical events in the city of Tehran add to the weighted tone created by the author by describing its impact. 

• The family home adds to the anxious mood created for the reader by emphasizing the chaos that occurs.

• 1. The empty streets throughout the city add a familiar mood for the reader. 

Answer explanation

Remember that our author's purpose was to inform her readers of the events that took place during the war, so she's meant for us to read it with a heavy heart, making her tone weighted as she discusses her trauma of living through the events.

How does the characterization of Marji enhance the meaning of the text? (R.1.1)

• 1. Marj acts as a normal teenager attentive to her family's discussions and current events but not initially phased, demonstrating her carefree thinking enhancing the author’s purpose by showing that at the moment her mindset has not changed.  

• 1. Marji makes very little sense as she goes about daily life not realizing the impact of current events revealing her ignorance enhancing the author’s purpose to show teenagers are self-centered.

• 1. Marji demands answers from her family about the current events demonstrating her anxiousness enhancing the author’s purpose by showing children are combative.

• 1. Marji acts as a self absorbed child who only has interest in continuing to indulge in activities she is accustomed to enhancing the author’s purpose of demonstrating her selfishness. 

Answer explanation

Remember that Marji makes the comment, "We Iranians are olympic medalists when it comes to gossiping," showing that she's aware of what's happening, but she isn't phased as the war technically hasn't invaded her city yet, and it's all talk at the moment. She is not self-centered or selfish, and she never demands answers from her family - she is just a normal teenage making comments on her families discussions at the beginning of the text.

On page 4, how do the character’s perspectives conflict with one another? (R.1.3)

• 1. Marji does not view the changes occurring in her daily life as significant, while her mother views the changes in her family life as disheartening. 

• Marji does not view the change in currency as anything significant, while her mother sees the seriousness connecting it to the overall impact of the war. 

• 1. Marji is not concerned throughout her shopping trip with a friend, while her friend is anxious about their safety. 

• 1. Marji thinks she should continue to live her life as a normal teenager, while her mother feels she should make changes for her own safety. 

Answer explanation

The conflict comes from the currency on this page. The mother does not show concern for Marji's safety (since there is nothing to be concerned about at this moment, and she doesn't discuss feeling any way about the changes in her family. The mother is aware of the impact the currency change has because of the war, where Marji doesn't understand what the big deal is.

Choose the quote from page 4 that shows Marji and her mother’s conflicting perspectives. (R.1.3)

• “Yup that’s how much they cost”

• “I see.”

• Our currency had lost all its value.

•  It was seven Tumans to the dollar when the Shah was still around.

• For my mother, the change was so sudden that she had a hard time accepting it. (page 4)

Answer explanation

This is the only option that explicitly shows the difference (conflict) between Marji's perspective and her mother's perspective.

Which two quotes best reveal a coming of age experience for Marji? (R.1.3)

• 1. “The three minutes seemed like three days.  For the first time, I realized just how much danger we were in.” (page 2)  

• 1. “We Iranians are Olympic champions when it comes to gossip.” (page 1)

• 1. “ I could tell that my mother was trying to change the subject” (page 7)

• 1. “ Mom, can I have some money?  I want to get some jeans and espadrilles.” (page 4)

• 1. “ If someone had timed me, I think I would have beat the world speed record.” (page 4)

Answer explanation

This is an instance where there might be more than one or two correct answers, but you must choose the BEST options that answer the question.

The two correct answers show the switch in Marji's perspective, as all she wanted was to live the life of a normal teenager, but she eventually realizes the severity of her situation.

Although "If someone had timed me, I think I would have beat the world speed record,” is a good quote for her coming of age experience, it's not better than the first moment she thought she was going to die, and the moment she realizes her friend and neighbors have been killed, and her mother is trying to distract her from this.