Guided Analysis Questions for excerpt from Funny in Farsi by Firoozeh Dumas



Read the excerpt from Funny in Farsi.
As you read, use I/M annotations to demonstrate close reading
Respond with well thought out and supported answers.
(supported = specifically reference the text). Responses to
literature should be in 3rd person. (The author, Dumas, the
reader, the audience, one).
The excerpt is Ch. 1 “Leffingwell Elementary School” from Dumas’ collection of vignettes.
1. What were some of the many challenges that Firoozeh faced as an immigrant? Connecting: Compare and
contrast her experiences with the challenges that immigrants to our own community may face. Charlotte,
NC, is a “new gateway community” and one of the fastest growing immigrant communities in the nation.
Immigration is a compelling community and global issue, most particularly in our own community.
2. Young Firoozeh is excited about going to school for the first time in America. Is school an important part of
American life? Connecting: What do our perceptions regarding education say about our culture? (This is a
subjective question and no matter how you see the issue, you must back up your response with details from
your own experiences, popular culture, history, etc. to form an argumentative stance).
3. When Firoozeh’s mother could not find Iran on the map, who do you think was more embarrassed, Firoozeh
or her mother? Explain. (DICTION – look at the author’s word choice to find text to support your answer).
4. Dumas refers to the United States as “The Promise Land,” but paints very different images of what the
promise land means to her and what the promise land means to her father (paragraph 2). What is the
connotative meaning of “The Promise Land”? Discuss the differences in Firoozeh’s and her father’s
perceptions. (DICTION).
5. At times, Dumas’ sentences hold a lot of humor. Find a few examples of humorous sentences. How does the
author use humor to connect to readers? Is it effective storytelling? Why or why not? (TONE).
6. Examine Dumas’ diction. Choose three words that create impact and meaning in the text and explain how
those particular word choices create impact and meaning. (DICTION).
7. After reading the excerpt, discuss the author’s overall attitude toward her mother? Explain.
(DICTION/TONE).
8. Examine Dumas’ syntax. Find and quote one specific example where her syntactical choice impacts the flow,
rhythm, or content (meaning) of the essay. Explain the impact made by her choice. (SYNTAX).
9. Connecting: How do you react to someone who does not speak English? What assumptions do you make?
Have you ever been judged because of your diction or judged someone else because of his or hers? Explain
the circumstance(s) and discuss your thoughts and feelings about the situation.
10. Connecting: In the essay “How to Tame a Wild Tongue,” Gloria Anzaldua suggests that our language, our way
of speaking, forms our sense of identity. How do you connect Anzaldua’s argument about language with
Dumas’ experiences as an immigrant, experiencing and learning American ways? How do you connect
Anzaldua’s argument about language to your own life and how you employ language?
Instructions: Choose 5 questions to respond to with thoughtful, supported responses. You must choose AT
LEAST 1 DICTION, 1 SYNTAX, 1 TONE, and 1 CONNECTING question. Type your responses using MLA format and
upload to turnitin.com. Bring a copy with you to class.