This is the third in a series of posts based around the graphic novel Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi. I am reading through the book with several groups of ESL students. Each week we go over new vocabulary that arises and have a short discussion based on any issues that come up.
Vocabulary
There are several vocab points that came up from this chapter:
a putsch = a coup
to overthrow = to remove a government from power
proof = noun from verb “to prove”
westerner = person from the west, also northerner, southerner, easterner.
illiterate = someone who cannot read or write
vast = very big
nevertheless = 1 use as a contrast linker like “however” or another use is as a synonym of “anyway”
entourage = group of people who accompany and support a person
the rabble = a disorganised group of people, here referring to the workers
to rule = to govern
to be sidetracked = to be distracted or prevented from doing something
wrinkled = with fold lines
Discussion Questions
- What happened in this chapter?
- What was your reaction to it?
- What new information do we learn in this chapter?
- How aware were people of British involvement in regime change at the time?
- Were your country’s government involved in anything similar?
- Do you think this type of interference still happens today?
- How have the tactics and strategies changed?
- On the opening page we see the police’s heavy-handed response to the demonstrations, are the police heavy-handed in your country? What was the governments reaction to the last big demonstration in your country?
Next week chapter 4: Persepolis