Satrapi's Persepolis

Persepolis is told from Marjane’s point of view as a child, so Satrapi uses relatively simple and informal sentences. Since the novel encompasses complex “adult” issues, it would have been easy for the reader to forget that Marjane is only a child if Satrapi did not use syntax that constantly reminds the reader of Marjane’s age. Additionally, the sentence structure provides insight into Marjane’s character. For example, there are points in the novel where Marjane, trying to sound more mature, attempts complex sentences. Often, these points in the novel come off as humorous, as she often is not fully aware of what she is saying. Satrapi also utilizes sentence fragments; this lends to creating the informal and relatable feeling of the novel. “‘Give me my veil …show more content…
3). This quote perfectly captures Satrapi’s use of simple sentences to add a childish element and slightly diminish the otherwise serious tone of the novel. Her use of simple sentences and humor are significant because even if she had utilized humor in another way, it would not have had the same innocence as it does coming from a child.
Concrete Detail/Imagery Being a graphic novel, Persepolis heavily depends on black and white illustrated pictures to convey Marjane’s story instead of language. These images provide insight into Marjane’s thoughts, which allows the reader to see a child's perspective on post-Iranian Revolution life. Oftentimes, Marjane interprets everything she hears literally. Seeing her literal and interpretations drawn out adds another humorous element to the novel. However, sometimes seeing Marjane’s thoughts has the opposite impact; one instance of this is when Marjane is reflecting on a quote she heard earlier. “‘To die a martyr is to inject blood into the veins of society’” (p. 115). The picture drawn to illustrate this quote is extremely literal, even though the quote itself is a hyperbole. While some of