Suggested Questions for Persepolis By, Marjane Satrapi
Words Alive Curriculum Guide
Summary of Book
(Note to Curriculum Guide Writer: Capture the summary from the author’s website. Either source the summary or rewrite. Make certain to always provide credit. The summary only needs to be one or two paragraphs)
“In this poignant memoir about her childhood in Mexico, Reyna Grande skillfully depicts another side of the immigrant experience—the hardships and heartbreaks of the children who are left behind.” —Sonia Nazario, Pulitzer Prize winner, and author ofEnrique's Journey
Reyna Grande vividly brings to life her tumultuous early years in this “compelling . . . unvarnished, resonant” (BookPage) story of a childhood spent torn between two parents and two countries. As her parents make the dangerous trek across the Mexican border to “El Otro Lado” (The Other Side) in pursuit of the American dream, Reyna and her siblings are forced into the already overburdened household of their stern grandmother. When their mother at last returns, Reyna prepares for her own journey to “El Otro Lado” to live with the man who has haunted her imagination for years, her long-absent father.
Funny, heartbreaking, and lyrical,The Distance Between Uspoignantly captures the confusion and contradictions of childhood, reminding us that the joys and sorrows we experience are imprinted on the heart forever, calling out to us of those places we first called home. (www.amazon.com)
About the Author
(Note to Curriculum Guide Writer: Capture the author background from the author’s website. Either source the summary or rewrite. Make certain to always provide credit. The author summary only needs to be one or two paragraphs)
Jeannette Walls graduated from Barnard College and was a journalist in New York. Her memoir,The Glass Castle, has been aNew York Timesbestseller for more than six years. She is also the authorof the instantNew York Timesbestsellers,The Silver StarandHalf Broke Horses, which was named one of the ten best books of 2009 by the editors ofThe New York Times Book Review. Walls lives in rural Virginia with her husband, the writer John Taylor. (www.simonandschuster.com)
Discussion Questions
(Note to Curriculum Guide Writer: As you read through the book, think of appropriate/applicable questions. Keep in mind that the questions should be directed to a 9th/10th grade reading level. Try to avoid yes-or-no questions without requiring further elaboration from students, e.g., how, why)
Title:
(Note to Curriculum Guide Writer: If the title is self-evident, a question(s) regarding the title may not be necessary or applicable)
What does the title refer to and why do you think the author choose that for the title of the book?
Define “memoir”, “biography”, “autobiography” and “story”.
The Distance Between Usis a memoir. What characteristics of a memoir can you identify in the story? (www.simonandschuster.com)
Context:
(Note to Curriculum Guide Writer: You do not need to have questions in every section. This section is just a guideline to ensure comparability with the other curriculum guides)
How might this story be different if it were written from another character’s point of view (e.g.: Mago, Carlos, either parent, or either grandparent)? (www.simonandschuster.com)
How doesThe Distance Between Uscontribute to a growing body of literature about emigration to the United States? About the challenges facing children for whom English is a second language?(www.simonandschuster.com)
Explore your motivations to succeed. Are these things internal, external, or both?
What are the current immigration laws? What are the consequences for breaking those laws? With our current president being Trump, how might his policies on immigration influence people coming to the United States?
Structure/ Narrative:
(Note to Curriculum Guide Writer: You do not need to have questions in every section. This section is just a guideline to ensure comparability with the other curriculum guides)
Reyna is two years old when her father leaves Iguala for El Otro Lado (the other side). Why does he leave? Why do Reyna, her mother, and her two siblings—Mago and Carlos—stay behind?(www.simonandschuster.com)
When Reyna turns four, her father sends for her mother. Reyna, Mago, and Carlos are left to live with their father’s mother (Abuela Evila). Describe Reyna’s feelings regarding her mother’s leaving and her mother’s absence during these early years.(www.simonandschuster.com)
Reyna wishes to stay with Abuelita Chinta instead of Abuela Evila. Compare and contrast the two grandmothers and their attitudes and behaviors toward their grandchildren. Are Reyna, Mago, and Carlos better off once they begin living with Abuelita Chinta? Why or why not? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.(www.simonandschuster.com)
Who is Élida and why is she favored by Abuela Evila? Is her behavior toward Reyna, Mago, and Carlos justified? Why or why not?(www.simonandschuster.com)
In what way does Tía Emperatriz come to the aid of Reyna, Mago, and Carlos? Could she have done more for the three siblings? Why or why not?(www.simonandschuster.com)
Describe Reyna’s relationship with her sister Mago. Why does Mago feel responsible for Reyna?(www.simonandschuster.com)
Describe the hardships Reyna, Mago, and Carlos face growing up in Iguala.(www.simonandschuster.com)
What reactions do the three siblings have when they learn they have a younger sister, Elizabeth? Who seems the most impacted by this news and why? (www.simonandschuster.com)
Why does Reyna’s mother, Juana, return alone from the United States? How does life change for Reyna, Mago, and Carlos when she returns?(www.simonandschuster.com)
Who is Rey and why do Reyna, Mago, and Carlos not like him? What happens when he visits the family during the holidays?(www.simonandschuster.com)
Compare and contrast Mago’s and Reyna’s feelings toward their mother as time after time she chooses her own needs over those of her children. Does she love her children? Use evidence from the text to support your response.(www.simonandschuster.com)
As Carlos matures, he has a need for a father figure. Identify the male role models in his life and explain the influences they have on his development.(www.simonandschuster.com)
When Reyna’s father returns from the United States after an eight-year absence, Reyna is almost ten. How does she feel about his return? Why does he return and why does he offer to take Mago back to the United States with him? Why does he want to leave Reyna and Carlos behind?(www.simonandschuster.com)
How does Reyna feel about the possible separation from Mago? Why does their father decide to take all three children back with him? Describe their harrowing journey. Is life better for them once they reach the United States? Support your answer with evidence from the text. (www.simonandschuster.com)
Mila is Natalio’s second wife. What are Reyna’s earliest perceptions of her? What influence does Milo have on Reyna, Mago, and Carlos?(www.simonandschuster.com)
Reyna attends school in both Mexico and the United States. Compare and contrast her experiences in both places. What can readers learn about the challenges poor children have in negotiating school? (www.simonandschuster.com)
Reyna does not speak English when she enters school in the United States. How does she overcome this challenge? How is she received by her teachers? By her classmates? What accounts for her ability to succeed?What does Grande’s memoir tell us about the struggles of second language acquisition students in American schools? (www.simonandschuster.com)
Reyna’s father believes in education and supports Mago and Carlos when they enroll in college. Why does he not help Reyna? How does his refusal impact Reyna?(www.simonandschuster.com)
To whom does Reyna owe thanks for her success? Why? Do you agree or disagree and why?(www.simonandschuster.com)
Character:
(Note to Curriculum Guide Writer: You do not need to have questions in every section. This section is just a guideline to ensure comparability with the other curriculum guides)
Compare and contrast Mago’s experiences as a student in Mexico and the United States. What drives her to succeed despite her challenges?(www.simonandschuster.com)
Despite her on-again off-again relationship with her father, Reyna yearns to make her father proud. In what ways did this desire serve her well? In what ways did it not? How is she able to release her guilt and anger toward her father? Identify and discuss a passage or scene in which she grows the most in her understanding of his capabilities.(www.simonandschuster.com)
How do Reyna’s perceptions of her mother evolve with time? Use examples from the text to support your response.(www.simonandschuster.com)
When Reyna returns to Iguala to visit her family, how does she reflect on your youth living in Mexico? How do her attitudes differ from those of her sister Mago? What accounts for their differences?(www.simonandschuster.com)
Compare and contrast the ways in which Reyna, Mago, and Carlos deal with the on-again off-again relationships with their parents? What accounts for their different responses?(www.simonandschuster.com)
As Reyna matures into a young woman, how does she resolve her feelings of being abandoned by both her mother and father? Does she view one parent as having been the better parent? Why or why not?(www.simonandschuster.com)
Reyna talks about the influence that her father had in her life. Some positive, others negative. Who are some people in your life that have had the most influence of who you are today? Discuss how they influenced or shaped who you are today.
Content/ Plot:
(Note to Curriculum Guide Writer: You do not need to have questions in every section. This section is just a guideline to ensure comparability with the other curriculum guides)
Language and Symbolism:
(Note to Curriculum Guide Writer: You do not need to have questions in every section. This section is just a guideline to ensure comparability with the other curriculum guides)
Who is “The Man Behind the Glass”? What does he symbolize?(www.simonandschuster.com)
Ending:
(Note to Curriculum Guide Writer: You do not need to have questions in every section. This section is just a guideline to ensure comparability with the other curriculum guides)
Did you like the ending? Why or why not?
10 General Questions for any book
1. How did you feel about the book? What was the experience of reading it like for you?
2. What do you think the author was trying to accomplish with this novel?
3. Who was your favorite character? What did you appreciate about him/her?
4. Sometimes when we read we relate to a particular character. Did you find anyone you related to in this book? Why? If you didn't, is there value in reading about people very different from ourselves?
5. Consider the main character: what does he or she believe in? What is he or she willing to fight for?
6. At the end of the book, do you feel hope for the characters?
7. Are any of the events in the book relevant to your own life?
8. Was the story credible? The characters credible?
9. What is the favorite book you've ever read, why?
10. What is your favorite Book -to- movie? Why? What were the differences between book and movie? What did you like better in which version?
Enrichment Ideas for Discussion
(Note to Curriculum Guide Writer: Capture enrichment ideas for facilitators to use during an ABG session, such as small group activities; accountable “talks”; games; role play; or props)
Have students share an experience where they may have felt left behind or abandoned. How did the students react?
Discuss some traditions that the students celebrate with their families or celebrate their culture. (example: like dia de los muertos) Are there any traditions that have been forgotten but were once practiced by older family members? What are some traditions that you practice today with your families that you did not use to practice?
Share this video with the students: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmz9cCF0KNE
Take a poll of students in the class who learned English as a second language or other people in their lives. Discuss some of the challenges they experienced learning the language. How can we better support our English Language Learners? What is some advice that you would share to other students who are learning English?
Enrichment Ideas for Teachers
(Note to Curriculum Guide Writer: Capture enrichment ideas for teachers to implement book into language arts curriculum, such as writing or art projects; lessons; historical relevance; or vocabulary)
Have students research the current legal process a person must go through who is immigrating to the United States.
Have students critique our current policies on immigration. What are the flaws in the system? What are some ways that we can better develop these policies? What kind of impact does it make?
Vocabulary Section:
(Note to Curriculum Guide Writer: Provide vocabulary that may be challenging for students in this section for teachers to review with their students)
Directions:
Use the Learning Targets and Success Criteria to select a passage from the book.
Give students 7-10 minutes to sit quietly to read the passage and write down their thoughts.
TIPS for using this activity:
1. Read the questions out loud to get students thinking about the activity sheet they’re about to complete.
2. Read the passage out loud in the group.
3. Encourage students to use their books to pull evidence to support their ideas.
4. Give students 7-10 minutes to write down their ideas.
5. Break-down in small groups to discuss their answers. Assign a volunteer to each group.
6. Use different passages with different learning targets and questions. Have each group with the same learning target discuss their ideas and solutions and report out to the entire group.
7. Create separate sheets, based on the number of learning targets, for all students to complete. When reporting out to the entire group, allow students to who have not already spoken to share. The purpose of the activity is to get as many students to speak and voice their opinion. Having them write down their ideas give the students an opportunity to have something to share with the class.
Read the following passage on page 16-17.
“One day, about a month after Mami left, Mago and I were passing by the baker’s house on our way to the tortilla mill when he came our wearing a big basket that liked like a giant straw hat filled with sweet bread. My mouth watered at the thought of sinking my teeth into a sweet, fluffy, concha de chocolate.