by Jamie LeComb and Matt Christian
PERSEPOLIS
THE STORY OF A CHILDHOOD
Allusion
A reference to a historical
figure, place, or event
The kids were pretending
that they were
revolutionary leaders:
“I am Fidel. Today my
name is Che Guevara.
And I want to Trotsky”
(page 10)
Analogy
A broad comparison
between two basically
different things that
have some points in
common.
Marji was comparing
Karl Marx and God
“It was funny to see how
much Marx and God
looked like each other”
(page 13)
A direct comparison
between two
basically different
things. A simile is
introduced by the
words “like” or “as”.
Simile
Marji was talking to
God:
“Don’t you think I
look like Che
Guevara?” (page
16)
Metaphor
An implied comparison
between two basically
different things. Is not
introduced with the
words “like” or “as”.
“We’ve got physical
education, but we’re not
going. We’re going for
burgers” … “I had
already broken the rules
once by going to the
demonstration in ‘79”
(page 111)
A great exaggeration
to emphasize
strong feeling.
Marji was talking
about the war:
“When I think we
could have
avoided it all… it
just makes me
sick. 1 million
people would still
be alive.” (page
116)
Human characteristics are
given to non-human
animals, objects, or
ideas.
Marji and God have an
argument:
“Marji, what seems to be
the problem?” “Shut up
you! Get out of my life!!! I
never want to see you
again!” (page 70)
An absent person or
inanimate object is
directly spoken to as
though they were
present.
“And it came closer! And it
came closer! (Page 34)”
A jackal is talking to
Marji.
A part stands for the
whole or vice versa.
“It is Anwar al-Sadat
who will Accept him
in his country (page
43).”
The news anchor was
talking about the
Shah’s future.
FORESHADOWING
Hints given to the
reader of what is to
come.
“The TV showed a map
of Iran and a black
cloud covering the
country little by
little”(page 78)
Marji and her parents
were watching TV
when they saw that
Iraq was slowly
conquering Iran.
Imagery
The use of concrete
details that appeal to
the five senses.
“Now that Tehran was
under attack, many
fled. The city was
deserted(page 137)”
irony
A contrast between
what is said and what
is meant. Also, when
things turn out
different than what is
expected.
“Quick! Call them! No
ones answering!!”
“ Did you try her
mother?”
“ I tried her place too,
but she's deaf!”(page
89)
The overall
atmosphere or
prevailing emotional
feeling of a work.
“I saw a turquoise
bracelet it was
Neda’s her aunt had
given it to her for
her birthday… The
bracelet was still
attached to… I don’t
know what. No
scream in the world
could have relieved
my suffering and
anger. (page 142)”
Paradox
A seemingly selfcontradictory statement
that still is true.
I had found myself with the
neworn baby we had been
celebrating in my arms. Her
mother had already abandoned
her (page 107)”
A series of events that
present and resolve a
conflict. The story
being told.
“Marji, run to the
basement! We’re being
bombed (page 71)”
“140 Iranian bombers
attacked Baghdad
today… HA! HA!(page
84)”
Point of view
The vantage point from
which an author
presents the action
in a work.
“For a revolution to
succeed the entire
population must
support it.”(page 17)
The time (both the time of
day and period in
history) and place in
which the action of a
literary work takes place.
“In 1979: A revolution took
place. It was later called
‘The Islamic revolution’.
Then came 1980: The year
it became obligatory to
wear the veil at
school.”(page 3)
repetition
The repeating of a sound,
word, phrase, or more
in a given literary work.
“Let them be alive. Let
them be alive. Let
them…”
(Page 140)
alliteration
The repetition of
consonant sounds at the
beginnings of words.
 “We waited for him for
hours. There was the
same silence as before a
storm (page 30)”
Marji and her mother and
grandmother were
waiting for her father to
come home from a
demonstration.
onomatopoeia

The use of words whose
sounds suggest the sounds
made by objects or
activities.
“Every time there was a knock
on my door I thought they
were coming to take my
father to prison (page 24)”
 The
use of words
whose sounds
suggest the sounds
made by objects
or activities.
“I will always be
true to myself
(page 151)”