20-minute plan
- Locate and re-read the new school chapter in Persepolis
- Write 3 bullet points of Marjane’s reactions to the school rules
- Draft one discussion question tying this chapter to later acts of rebellion
Keyword Guide · study-guide-general
Persepolis: Marjane’s New School Chapter & Study Resources
This guide answers your core question about Persepolis and gives structured tools for class prep, quizzes, and essays. It focuses on the chapter where Marjane Satrapi transitions to a new school, with actionable steps to deepen your analysis. Use this before your next Persepolis class discussion to lead a targeted conversation.
Marjane Satrapi starts at a new school in the early chapters of Persepolis, right after a major political shift in Iran changes educational rules. This chapter marks her first direct experience with institutionalized religious control in her daily life. Jot down the chapter number in your study notes and flag it as a key turning point for character development.
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Answer Block
The chapter focuses on Marjane’s forced transfer to a school that enforces strict religious dress and curriculum rules. It shows her immediate, rebellious response to losing personal freedom and secular education. This moment establishes her core trait of resisting authority throughout the memoir.
Next step: Cross-reference this chapter with later scenes of Marjane’s rebellion to track her character arc in your study journal.
Key Takeaways
- Marjane’s new school chapter is an early introduction to religious institutional control in Persepolis
- This chapter sets up her consistent pattern of resisting oppressive rules
- The scene links personal identity to larger political upheaval in Iran
- You can use this chapter to analyze how setting shapes character behavior
20-Minute Plan and 60-Minute Plan
60-minute plan
- Re-read the new school chapter and the chapter immediately before it to identify the political trigger for the transfer
- Create a 2-column chart comparing Marjane’s public behavior and private thoughts in the school setting
- Draft a half-page paragraph connecting this chapter’s events to the memoir’s theme of identity and. authority
- Test your analysis by answering one of the essay thesis templates provided in this guide
3-Step Study Plan
Action: Locate the new school chapter in your copy of Persepolis
Output: Annotated page with 3 key moments of rule enforcement
Action: Compare this chapter to two later scenes of Marjane’s rebellion
Output: 3-sentence analysis of how her resistance evolves over time
Action: Link this chapter to one major political event referenced in the memoir
Output: 2-sentence connection between personal experience and historical context
Discussion Kit
- How does Marjane’s response to the new school rules reveal her personality at this age?
- Why do you think the author chooses to show this school transfer as an early chapter event?
- What details in the chapter highlight the gap between the school’s rules and Marjane’s family values?
- How might this school experience shape Marjane’s later decision to leave Iran?
- Compare Marjane’s reaction to the new school to the reactions of her classmates, as shown in the chapter
- How does the visual art in this chapter emphasize the tension between individuality and control?
- What would you ask Marjane about this school experience if you could interview her?
- How does this chapter set up the memoir’s exploration of identity under oppression?
Essay Kit
Thesis Templates
- In Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi’s transfer to a new, religiously controlled school establishes her lifelong pattern of resisting oppressive authority while forcing her to confront the gap between personal identity and societal expectations.
- The new school chapter in Persepolis uses Marjane’s immediate, rebellious reaction to institutional rules to illustrate how political upheaval directly impacts the daily lives of children in Iran.
Outline Skeletons
- I. Introduction: Hook with Marjane’s first day at the new school, thesis on resistance and identity II. Body 1: Analyze her initial reactions to school rules III. Body 2: Link her behavior to family values shown earlier in the memoir IV. Body 3: Connect this moment to a later act of rebellion V. Conclusion: Restate thesis and explain the chapter’s long-term impact on her arc
- I. Introduction: Thesis on political change and personal experience II. Body 1: Context of the political event that triggered the school transfer III. Body 2: Analysis of how the school’s rules restrict personal freedom IV. Body 3: Discussion of the chapter’s visual storytelling choices V. Conclusion: Explain why this chapter is critical to the memoir’s core message
Sentence Starters
- The new school chapter in Persepolis reveals Marjane’s rebellious nature when she
- By focusing on Marjane’s first day at a religiously controlled school, Satrapi highlights the way
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Exam Kit
Checklist
- I can identify the chapter where Marjane starts a new school
- I can explain the political context that caused the school transfer
- I can link this chapter to Marjane’s character arc
- I can connect this chapter to at least one major theme of Persepolis
- I can describe Marjane’s reaction to the new school rules
- I can analyze how the visual art supports the chapter’s message
- I can compare this chapter to one other key scene in the memoir
- I can draft a clear thesis statement about this chapter’s significance
- I can list 2 discussion questions tied to this chapter
- I can identify one common mistake students make when analyzing this chapter
Common Mistakes
- Forgetting to link the school transfer to specific political events in the memoir
- Focusing only on Marjane’s rebellion without connecting it to larger themes of identity
- Ignoring the visual storytelling elements that emphasize the chapter’s tension
- Treating this chapter as an isolated event alongside a setup for her later arc
- Overgeneralizing about Iranian schools without grounding claims in the memoir’s text
Self-Test
- What political shift leads to Marjane’s transfer to a new school?
- Name one way Marjane resists the new school’s rules
- How does this chapter set up Marjane’s future conflicts with authority?
How-To Block
Action: Locate the new school chapter by skimming early pages for references to school uniforms or religious rules
Output: Flagged chapter with a note on its place in the memoir’s timeline
Action: Take 5 minutes to write down all of Marjane’s visible reactions to the school’s expectations
Output: Bullet point list of specific behaviors and expressions shown in the chapter
Action: Connect one of these reactions to a later event in the memoir where Marjane resists authority
Output: 1-sentence analysis for class discussion or essay use
Rubric Block
Chapter Context & Identification
Teacher looks for: Accurate identification of the new school chapter and its political trigger
How to meet it: Cite specific textual or visual details that link the transfer to a named political event in the memoir
Character Analysis
Teacher looks for: Clear connection between the new school chapter and Marjane’s long-term character arc
How to meet it: Compare her reactions here to at least one later act of rebellion in your analysis
Thematic Link
Teacher looks for: Ability to tie the chapter to a major theme of Persepolis
How to meet it: Explicitly connect the school’s rules to themes of identity, authority, or political oppression
Chapter Context & Significance
The new school chapter occurs shortly after Iran’s political system shifts to enforce strict religious laws. Marjane’s transfer is not voluntary; it is a direct result of these new rules. Use this before your next quiz to memorize the chapter’s place in the memoir’s timeline.
Character Arc Setup
This chapter introduces Marjane’s core trait of resisting unfair authority. Her immediate pushback against the school’s rules foreshadows the larger rebellions she takes part in later in life. Write down one example of her resistance in your character study notes.
Thematic Connections
The chapter links personal experience to larger political upheaval. It shows how institutional rules can strip away individual identity and force people to choose between conformity and rebellion. Brainstorm one essay topic that uses this chapter to explore these themes.
Visual Storytelling Notes
The memoir’s black-and-white art emphasizes the starkness of the school’s rules compared to Marjane’s colorful personality. Look for visual details that contrast her individuality with the uniformity of her classmates. Jot down two key visual elements in your analysis notes.
Class Discussion Prep
This chapter is perfect for leading a discussion about how political change impacts children. Come to class with one question that asks your peers to connect Marjane’s experience to modern examples of institutional control. Practice explaining your question’s relevance before class.
Essay Draft Tips
Use this chapter as a hook for essays about identity or resistance. Start your introduction with a reference to Marjane’s first day at the new school to immediately ground your thesis in concrete text. Write a 1-sentence hook using the sentence starter provided in this guide.
Do I need to memorize the exact chapter number for exams?
Most exams focus on your ability to analyze the chapter’s significance, not the number itself, but confirming it in your notes will help you reference it quickly.
How does this chapter relate to Marjane’s later decision to leave Iran?
It establishes her pattern of resisting oppressive rules, which eventually makes her life in Iran unsafe as she grows older.
Can I use this chapter to write about gender in Persepolis?
Yes, the school’s dress and behavior rules specifically target girls, so you can analyze how this chapter highlights gendered oppression.
What common mistakes should I avoid when writing about this chapter?
Don’t treat it as an isolated event—always link it to Marjane’s character arc or larger political themes in the memoir.
Editorial note: This page is independently written for educational support. Verify specifics with assigned class materials and the original text.
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