“I Must Go Home to Iran Again” Marjane Satrapi

Materials  Copy of article, “I must Go Home to Iran Again” by Marjane Satrapi  RAW Book  Highlighter  Pen / pencil

SOAPSTone  We will analyze this article using a structure called “SOAPSTone.”  Write your answers in your RAW book.

SPEAKER  Who is the writer? What do you know about her?

OCCASION  What is the time and place of this text? What is the immediate occasion for writing the piece? What is the impetus for writing about this topic at this time?  First, re-read the first half of page one. What personal experience motivates her to write about going home to Iran?

OCCASION  Now, pay attention to the next three slides and take notes.  What events going on in 2009 motivated her to write this piece?

2009 Iranian Presidential Election  In 2009, Iran’s government claimed that incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won the election, beating opposition leader Mir Hossein Moussavi.  Moussavi  Ahmadinejad

2009 Protests  Millions of Iranians protested the results  They believed the government rigged the election in favor of Ahmadinejad (who has the support of the Supreme Leader and Council of Guardians – the theocratic leaders who control the government and armed forces).

“Velvet Revolution” p. 3  A “velvet revolution” is when a country peacefully undergoes a complete change of power.  Revolutions have a tendency to be “bloody,” involving violent protests, assassinations, or even war.  A “velvet revolution” is where the people rise up peacefully, demanding change, and are able to make that change happen.

“Velvet Revolution” of Iran became the “velvet coup” p. 3  When Satrapi writes that some claim the “velvet revolution” of Iran became the “velvet coup,” she is referring to the government stealing the election from Moussavi.  A “coup” is when power is seized illegally, often violently by the military

AUDIENCE  Whom is the writer addressing? How can you tell?  Find something in the text that supports your answer. Annotate it with the word “audience.”

PURPOSE  Why did the author write this? What does he or she want the audience to think, do, understand, etc?  Find something in the text that supports your answer. Annotate it with the word “purpose.”

SUBJECT  What is the topic of this text? What is it about?  Dig deeper – go beyond the obvious.

TONE  Next, we will think about tone, or the author’s attitude.  Before we do that, we’re going to annotate for Satrapi’s writing style. Each group will focus on one literary element to highlight and annotate.  Highlight what you find, and annotate in the margins: what is the effect?  Imagery  Punctuation  Repetition – page 1 to top of 2  Repetition – page 2 to top of 3  Repetition – page 3

TONE  Share out! Annotate as groups share out what they found.  Imagery  Punctuation  Repetition – page 1 to top of 2  Repetition – page 2 to top of 3  Repetition – page 3

TONE  What is the writer’s attitude about the subject? If the writer were reading the piece aloud, what tone of voice would he/she use to convey that attitude?  Does the tone remain consistent throughout, or does it change? Explain.