🎭 Activity 1: "What Would You Do?"
🎭 Activity 1: "What Would You Do?"
Decisions Under Pressure: What Would You Do?
🎯 Goal:
Reflect on real situations Marji faced and practice making difficult decisions under pressure, just like she did.
⏱️ Time: 20–25 minutes
📘 Cross-Curricular Link: Citizenship / Ethics / Speaking Skills / Critical Thinking
In small groups (3–4 students), you’ll be given a real situation Marji experienced in Persepolis (from the Week 3 chapters). Each group will work together to explore what they would do in Marji’s place.
At the start of the activity, the teacher will assign each group a scenario in one of two ways:
By spinning a digital wheel to randomly assign a situation
OR
By walking around with small slips of paper containing each scenario, and having each group pick one at random
Your Group Task:
Discuss together in 8 minutes:
What would we do in Marji’s place?
Why would we choose that path?
What risks or consequences might we face?
Prepare a 3-minute explanation of your decision.
Present to the class:
One member of your group will read the scenario aloud
Then your group will explain what you would do and why
📖 Scenarios You Might Receive:
Each one comes from a real event in the novel:
🛂 The Passport – Should you break the law to save a loved one?
👖 Kim Wilde – How do you respond when the regime targets your appearance?
💔 The Shabbat – How do you process trauma after losing a friend?
✈️ The Dowry – Would you leave your home country to survive?
🎭 The Pill – Would you change who you are to fit in?
The Passport – Saving a Life or Following the Law?
📖Situation/Scenario
In the chapter The Passport, Marji’s Uncle Taher has a serious heart attack and needs surgery in another country to survive. However, the government refuses to give him a passport because he was once arrested for speaking against the regime. At that time, only people who supported the regime were allowed important things like passports or medical help. Marji’s father tries to help by getting a fake passport - but sadly, they run out of time, and Uncle Taher dies.
🎯 Student Challenge: If you were Marji, What would you do?
➔ Would you try illegal (like getting a fake passport)? to save your loved one?
➔ Would you stay safe and follow the law, even if it means losing someone you love?
➔ How do you balance loyalty to family versus fear of the regime?
Kim Wilde – Risking Freedom for Personal Expression
📖Situation/Scenario:
In the chapter Kim Wilde, Marji proudly wears jeans, sneakers, and a denim jacket - clothes that reflect her love for Western culture.
While walking in the street, she is stopped by the Guardians of the Revolution, a group that patrols women’s clothing and behavior.
They threaten to arrest her for her "improper" outfit.
Marji thinks quickly and invents a story to escape.
🎯 Student Challenge: If you were Marji, What would you do?
➔ Would you wear what you love even if it’s risky?
➔ Would you hide your identity and blend in to stay safe?
➔ How do you decide when to express yourself and when to protect yourself?
The Shabbat – Coping with Loss in a Time of War
📖Situation/Scenario:
In the chapter The Shabbat, Marji experiences a devastating moment: a missile hits her street, killing her neighbors, including her friend Neda.
When Marji sees Neda’s bracelet sticking out from the rubble, she realizes for the first time that death can strike without warning.
This shatters her sense of safety and childhood innocence.
🎯 Student Challenge: If you were Marji, What would you do?
➔ How would you cope with such a sudden, personal loss?
➔ Would you try to forget and stay strong, or allow yourself to grieve openly?
➔ How does living under constant threat change the way people view life and death?
The Dowry – Speak Out or Stay Silent?
📖Situation/Scenario
In the chapter The Dowry, Marji boldly challenges her teacher at school when the teacher falsely claims:
"Since the Islamic Republic was founded, we no longer have political prisoners."
Marji speaks out, revealing the truth:
"You say that we don’t have political prisoners anymore. But we’ve gone from 3,000 prisoners under the Shah to 300,000 under your regime."
She also mentions that her own uncle was executed by the Islamic regime. This was extremely risky.
Speaking against the government at school was seen as a crime, and many students could be expelled, imprisoned, or even executed for "being against Islam."
After realizing how serious the danger has become, Marji’s parents make the heartbreaking decision:
They must send Marji out of Iran alone - to protect her life and future.
🎯 Student Challenge: If you were Marji, what would you do?
➔ Would you speak out and risk your safety to expose the truth?
➔ Would you stay silent and protect yourself, even if you knew the truth was being hidden?
➔ What would matter more to you: honesty or survival?
➔ How would it feel to be forced to leave your family, culture, and country behind to stay safe?
The Pill – Would you change who you are to fit in?
📖Situation/Scenario:
In the chapter The Pill, Marji struggles to fit in with her new environment in Austria. She notices how different she is from the people around her - in background, beliefs, and appearance.
To avoid feeling excluded, she begins to adopt a new identity: changing the way she looks, acts, and even what she believes. It’s her way of surviving, but it also creates inner conflict.
This raises a difficult question many young people face:
Should we change ourselves to be accepted, or should we stay true to who we are - even if it means being isolated?
🎯 Student Challenge: If you were Marji, What would you do?
➔ Would you change your identity to fit in and avoid being judged?
➔ Would you stay true to your culture and values, even if others don’t accept you?
➔ Is changing yourself to be accepted by others an act of courage - or is it a sign of giving up who you truly are?
Activity 2:
Visual Voice - Bringing the Text to Life
Your Goal:
Your task is to bring a key scene from Persepolis to life by creating a short visual storyboard using exact quotes from the novel. You’ll show how your assigned character interacts with Marji, how their behavior affects her, and how the scene reflects important themes. This activity will help you practice using quotes and prepare you for writing your final argumentative essay.
📚 What You’ll Do:
At the beginning of this activity, I will use the spin wheel to randomly assign each group a character from the novel.
🎬 Activity Instructions:
You’ll work in 4–5 groups, and each group will receive one character from the 5 followings characters to focus on.
1- The teacher Marji - Chapter (The Dowry)
You will recreate a moment from The Dowry involving Marji and her teacher.
🔲 Panel 1
– The Teacher’s Statement
Use the exact quote from the teacher in the novel.
Show her body language and the classroom atmosphere.
– Marji’s Real Reaction
Use the exact quote Marji says in response.
Show her tone, expression, and how bold (or emotional) the moment is.
🔲 Panel 2 – Consequences in the Novel
Show what happened to Marji in the novel after she spoke out.
What was the punishment or result?
Use visuals and/or short captions to show the outcome.
When presenting, explain:
What the teacher said.
How Marji reacted.
What consequences followed in the novel.
2- The Guardians of the Revolution (Women’s Guard) - Chapter (Kim Wilde)
Title: Rebellion or Obedience?
You will recreate the moment from Kim Wilde where Marji is stopped by the Women’s Guardians of the Revolution for wearing Western clothes (jeans, sneakers, makeup).
🔲 Panel 1
– The Guardians’ Threat
Use the exact quote or paraphrase from the novel showing what the Guardians say to Marji.
Show their uniforms, tone, body language, and the street setting.
– Marji’s Real Reaction
Use her actual response from the novel: how she lied and told a made-up story to avoid punishment.
Show her expression and the tension of the moment.
🔲 Panel 2
– Consequences in the Novel
Show what Marji experienced afterward (fear, guilt, emotional release, etc.).
Use captions or visuals to show her emotional state after escaping arrest.
When presenting your storyboard, explain:
What the Guardians said.
How Marji reacted in the novel.
What happened to Marji in the novel - and what might have happened in your version (Panel 2)
3- Women demonstrators and Marji - Chapters (The Veil (1) and The Trip)
Title: The Veil – Resistance or Obedience?
🔲 Panel 1
– The Rule Is Imposed
Show the moment when the veil became mandatory in Iran.
Use the exact quote from the novel.
– Women Resist in the Streets
Show the protest scene from The Trip. Include:
Margi raising her fist and saying:
Protesters holding signs or shouting:
Use the exact quote from the novel.
🔲 Panel 2
– The Consequences of Resistance
Show what happened to the women who protested - the beatings by the Guardians, chaos in the streets, Marji’s shock, and someone yelling:
“The scarf or a beating!”
Depict the fear, violence, or emotional impact on Marji and the protestors.
🗣️ Class Presentation Checklist
When you present, explain:
What happened when the rule was enforced.
How Marji, her mother, and others resisted.
What were the consequences - and how this reflects the veil as a symbol of oppression or identity
4- Markus - Chapter (The Croissant)
Title: Confrontation or Forgiveness? – Chapter: The Croissant
🔲 Panel 1
– The Flashback: Realization
Show Marji remembering how Markus used or manipulated her emotionally.
Use a quote or paraphrased thought from her reflection.
Include body language that shows pain, disappointment, or betrayal.
– Marji’s Real Reaction
Show what Marji did in the novel after realizing the truth - her emotional collapse, despair, or withdrawal.
Focus on her vulnerability, confusion, and feeling of being lost.
🔲 Panel 2
– The Emotional Outcome
Show how ends:
Did Marji feel empowered after discovering Markus’s betrayal? Why or why not?
Do you think her reaction showed strength or weakness?
Does she feel empowered?
Still heartbroken but stronger?
Relieved, angry, or at peace?
When presenting your graphic story, explain:
What Marji remembered about Markus.
How she reacted in the novel.
What your emotional outcome was.
Title: Struggling Between Two Identities – Will You Keep Yours?
🔲 Panel 1
– The Question or Mockery
Show the moment when Marji is asked about her nationality or mocked for being Iranian.
Use or paraphrase a line from the novel,
– Marji’s Real Reaction
Show how Marji actually responded — she lied and said she was from another country.
Show her discomfort, inner conflict, or effort to “blend in.”
Show how Marji feels afterward
Proud of being honest?
Ashamed for hiding the truth?
Relieved, empowered, or angry?
Use facial expressions, symbols, or body language to show her emotional state after choosing to hide or keep her identity.
When sharing your storyboard, explain:
What was said to Marji.
How she responded in the novel.
What her choice says about her values and identity.
Soryboard Creation - Put Yourself in Her Shoes
Go to StoryboardThat.com
Create a 2 to 3-panel visual story that shows a key interaction between Marji and your assigned character.
Keep the character’s behavior and actions the same as in the novel.
Use backgrounds, symbols, and facial expressions to show emotion and meaning.
Make your storyboard as fun, creative, and visually engaging as possible - while staying true to the themes and tone of the novel.
Class Sharing
Each group will present their storyboard to the class.
In your presentation, share:
➤ How the character behaved in the novel
➤ How their behavior influenced Marji
➤ How Marji reacted in the novel — and how you reacted in your version
🏆 Challenge:
Let's see who created the most powerful and realistic reimagined scene - based on emotion, visuals, and insight.