Introduction to Literature
Introduction:
-- Functions of Literature (1): Narrative
-- Persepolis
-- “20/20”
2014/9/19
Outline
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Functions of Literature (1)
Let’s Start with an episode of a Text:
Persepolis
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1st Viewing: Plot, Character
(2nd Viewing): Image, Form and Content
Elements of a Narrative
Reading “20/20” –Group Discussion
 Quiz and Course Introduction
What is Literature?
Artistic Representation of Life
Fiction
Drama
Poetry
Why Literature? (1)
Stories
of our own and others
-- interesting ways of
understanding the
world!
Let’s Start with a Text about Iran:
Persepolis (茉莉人生)
Iran
Iran – What do you know about it?

The World's Most Reputable Countries, 2014
(Forbes): Switzerland (1), …Taiwan (29), China
(50), Pakistan (54), Iran (55) (source)
Why? Possible Factors…
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Ruhollah Khomeini, Islamic revolution 1979
Iran-Iraq war (1980-1988)
In support of Taliban, one of US’s arch enemies
Persepolis
graphic fiction in 4 parts
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(2000-2003)
film (2007)
Persepolis (茉莉人生, 2007)
Textbook
pp. 20-28
While you watch the film:
pay attention to
Technique
Perspective
Plot
Character
• Marji’s
personality
and passion
• how the story
begins,
develops,
reaches some
turning points,
and ends.
• who tells the
story, the adult
Marji or the
child?
• the images
that stick in
your mind
Character: Marji’s Personalities
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Pre-revolution: Westernized, loves Bruce Lee
Idealistic and inquisitive
e.g. As future prophet, I hereby decide:
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First, everyone must behave well.
Second, everyone must keep their word.
Third, everyone must do good.
Fourth, the poor must all eat one roasted
chicken every day.
Fifth, old women will never suffer again.
Plot: Marji’s Growth
1. Flashback over her childhood: From Pro-Shah
to Pro-Revolution
2. Beginning: the return of her aunt
-- children playing at a party; adults talking about
politics or daily matters
3. 1st Turning Point: demonstration on the street
-- father’s teaching
-- Siamak returning and talking about tortures
4. 2nd Turning Point: children’s imitation
--mother’s interruption and Marji’s talk with God
Children’s Imitation
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takes on the adults’ enthusiasm (or fanaticism)
What’s Wrong?
Narrative Perspective:
an adult’s or a child’s?
Art = Re-Organization and
Representation of Life
Pattern =
-- Similarities & Differences
-- Repetition & Variation
The Artistic Form = Drawing and
Filmic Techniques
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The black and white – to suggest an era of
dictatorial control
Drawing to show different emotions and
human situations –human closeness, fear,
sadness
humans as shadows, with dignity, freedom,
fantasies, liberty, or like puppets, etc.
A child’s perspective mixed with an adult’s
Child’s Perspective: God as Her
Imaginary Companion
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Marji speaking to God…
Large Figure for Our Identification w/
this Child
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Variations of Shape and Shadows
Fear
Dignity
Human Smallness
The Grandmother – teaching her …
to survive
To maintain her integrity
Jasmine – Care of the body
Persepolis: Background
For your reference
Ref. Persepolis: Time Line
•
•
•
•
•
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The Qajar dynasty (卡加王朝)
1925-1979 the Shah regime (巴列維王朝)
1979 -- revolution; wearing the veil and anti-alcoholism
1979-1989 -- the Khomenei era
1980-1988 -- Iran–Iraq War
Textbook episode
1979 – enthusiastic about revolution
1981 -- age 12; Marji went to Vienne, smoked drug, fell in
and out of love
1987 --age 18; Marijane returned to Iran; got married and
then divorced.
1993 --age 24 -- Marjane left Iran again
present -- Marjane Satrapi at the airport, unable to board a
plane to Iran.
Ref. National
Authorities
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The Shah
The revolution
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80’s – 90’s
Ref. Iraq vs. Iran War (1980-1988)
Reasons:
1)Iran – Islamization of the nation; Iraq – reduces and controls
religion;
2)Khomeini once expelled by Iraq;
3)the issue of Kurdish (庫德族）, etc.
Father: “The West sold weapons to both sides. . . “
The US –
• secretly supported Iraq in its
production of chemical weapons.
• sold weapons to Iran in
exchange for the hostages (伊朗
軍售醜聞 Iran-Contra Scandal—
disclosed in 1986)
(References: Reasons and
Senate Mitchell’s Speech against Olive North
http://usinfo.org/zhtw/PUBS/AmReader/p842.
htm )
Ref. Opening & Ending –
Exile &
Mother-Daughter Relationships
1. Cannot return
home
2. Acknowledges
her Iranian
background
Ref. Marjane Satrapi (b. 1969)
Norton
30
20/20
Note 1:
-- carpool (共乘)
e.g. When Harry Met Sally (1989)
-- 20/20 vision = 視力 1.0
Note 2: Ohio to Indiana to Spokane
Note 3
“Look, cows.”
source
Chalk it up to =
attribute it to
What Ruthie observes
Golden
Eagle
White
Buffalo
Indian
Paintbrush
Sources (left to right): 1, 2, 3; Indian Paintbrush (West America or Asia)
What Ruthie thought she saw
Tree reflector
Sources (left to right): 1, 2
Big Foot
What Ruthie thought she saw
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UFO on top of Twin Falls, Idaho
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UFO Sighting Twin Falls 2012
UFO Sighting in Twin Falls, Idaho on April 14th
2014
A handsome genius in the person of Bill
himself.
20/20: Questions for Discussion
1.
2.
3.
4.
37
[Character] What is Bill's first impression of Ruthie?
What does that say about Bill? Has he changed his
view on her as they drive along?
[Character] Which of Ruthie's observations are
realistic and which are unreal? Do you think she is
merely misinterpreting what she sees, or is she seeing
things that aren't there?
[Theme] Whose vision is 20/20, Ruthie's or Bill's? What
makes you think so?
[Association] Which one of them would you like to
have as roommate, or travel partner?
Discussion –in class and online
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Q.
1
2
3
4
Group
1
2
3
4
Group
5
6
7
8
In class discussion –
1-6 in SF 204; 7-12 in SF 205
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Group
9
10
11
12
Let’s Take a Break!!!
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Those without a group or with questions,
please come see me.
Period 2: Discussion Time 10:10-11:00
Let’s Take a Break!!!
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Turn on your smart phones,
One group uses one tablet computer, and
Connect them to Internet
1. Which of the following is NOT what
Ruthie sees on the road, or thinks she
sees?
1. An Indian paintbrush
2. A golden eagle
3. The store sign of Berger King
4. A UFO.
2. For Bill, Ruthie is
1. not argumentative like an East Coast
woman
2. Not a good driver
3. Not attentive to the surroundings
4. Not willing to share fuel cost
3. When does Bill start to change his
idea about Ruthie
1. When she says “Look, cows.”
2. When she sees Indian Paintbrush.
3. When she says she sees Big Foot.
4. When she sees a UFO.
4. What does Ruthie think about Bill?
1. A good-for-nothing
2. A male chauvinist
3. A lazy bone
4. A handsome guy
5. Do you anyone like Ruthie?
1. Yes, one of my family members
2. Yes, one of my friends
3. No
4. Not sure
Course Introduction
Fiction
Drama
Poetry
This course
selects interesting English poems, short stories (and a
novel next semester) and plays for us to read and
-- appreciate how literary texts convey their meanings
to us through both form and content;
-- understand different literary genres, their
conventions and components,
-- analyze different parts of a text and how they are
connected to its overall meaning; and, most
importantly,
-- relate (creatively) the knowledge and experience we
have in reading English literature to our
understanding of ourselves and our society.
Analytical Skills +
understanding of Life
Reading Process:
Understanding (with your own ‘horizon’ 地平線)
 Appreciation  Interpretation  Your
Self-Understanding and horizon broadened.
 It usually takes several readings to fully
understand and appreciate a text.
 While you read, keep your mind and hand
busy—by doing annotations first and then
raising and answering questions online and in
class.
 Please turn to the syllabus now.
Overall Plan of a Class
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Before class:
you first read the texts, and raise questions (before
Wed. noon 12:00)
 [optional and if available]
-- watching lecture-- for a general understanding;
-- 2nd reading + watching the discussion--think of your
own answers to the questions raised
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In class (the following order will be used flexibly)
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1st hour: (comprehension) Quiz and lecture
2nd group discussion and in-group presentation
3rd group presentation and wrapping up the discussion
What have you learned today?
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Analyzing a text (by examining
its narrative elements) in order
to understand others and
broaden our horizons;
Reading process
“20/20” –Character and Plot
Our course objectives and
requirements
See you next time!
Assignments:
1)Finish “A&P”
2)Raise Questions before Wed.
noon 12:00