Persepolis Identity Slides The Two Faces
of Persepolis
Chapter 4: Public vs. Private Identity
01. Warm Up
The Mask vs. The Mirror
02. Interactive
Identity Sorting & T-Chart
03. Cool Down
Reflection Paragraph
The Mask vs. The Mirror
"We have two identities: one for the world to see, and one we keep behind closed doors."
Quick Discussion
The Public Mask
The Private Mirror
Identity Detective
The Task:
Identify which scenes show Public Life (what the world sees) and which show Private Life (the hidden truth).
Key Scenes to Analyze:
P. 26 The boiling water trick.
P. 27 The Shah's "Modernity" speech.
P. 31 The "Martyr" at the hospital.
Sorting Challenge!
Collaborate with your partner to categorize the evidence on your T-Chart.
Visual Clues
How does Satrapi use drawings to show the "gap" between these two worlds?
The Reflection
"I realized then that I didn't understand anything. I read all the books I could." (Page 32)
Writing Prompt
In your own words, explain how the theme of Public vs. Private Identity is shown in this chapter.
Use one specific piece of evidence from your T-Chart.
Persepolis Identity Script Two Faces of Persepolis
Facilitator Script & Pacing Guide
Chapter 4 Analysis
35 Minutes Total
pp. 26-32
Lesson Flow
Time Section Materials 00:00 - 05:00 Warm Up: Mask vs. Mirror Slide 2 / Phase 01 05:00 - 25:00 Activity: Identity Detective Slide 3 / Phase 02 25:00 - 35:00 Cool Down: Reflection Slide 4 / Phase 03
01
Phase 01: The Mask & Mirror (5 Mins)
Opening: "Today we are analyzing Chapter 4. Notice the title: Persepolis . This is Marji Satrapi telling us that this isn't just a story about a little girl—it's a story about the soul of a nation."
Script (Slide 2): "Look at the quote. We all have a public mask and a private mirror. On social media, you perform. Behind closed doors, you are your real self. In revolutionary Iran, that gap between mask and mirror wasn't just about social media—it was a survival tactic."
Task: Have students complete Phase 01 on their worksheet. Ask: 'Why might a family need to 'perform' a certain identity in 1979?'
02
Phase 02: Identity Detective (20 Mins)
Slide 3 Instruction: "Your mission is to find the 'Gap.' Open your books to page 26. We are looking for three moments where the public story contradicts the private reality."
Facilitation Tips (Evidence File):
Page 26 (The Water): Publicly, Grandma is cooking a feast. Privately, she's boiling water to hide their poverty from the neighbors.Page 27 (The Shah): Publicly, he is the 'Light of the Aryans' and modernizer. Privately, he is a tyrant who leaves the people in poverty.Page 31 (The Martyr): Publicly, the crowd honors the dead man as a martyr. Privately, his widow knows he died of cancer.
Key Question: "On page 32, why does the widow join the protest even after telling the truth? She's choosing to use a 'public mask' of martyrdom to fight for her 'private truth.'"
03
Phase 03: Reflection (10 Mins)
Slide 4: "Marji says she realized she 'didn't understand anything.' She had to read to bridge the gap between the stories she was told and the reality she saw."
Assignment: "Complete Phase 03. Connect one scene from your T-Chart to the theme of identity. How does the 'lie' protect the 'truth' in this chapter?"
Identity Lesson Pack
8.W.2 8.RL.7 8.RL.9
Two Faces Worksheet Two Faces
Public vs. Private Identity in Persepolis
Name
Date
Phase 01
The Mask & The Mirror
Think about yourself or society today. What is one "Mask" (public behavior) people put on, and what is the "Mirror" (the private reality) it hides?
Public Mask
Private Mirror
Phase 02
Identity Detective T-Chart
Scan Chapter 4 (pp. 26-32). Identify three moments where the Public Story is different from the Private Reality.
Public Life / "The Show"
Private Life / "The Truth"
Moment 1
Page Reference: ________
Public Life (Continued)
Private Life (Continued)
Moment 2
Page Reference: ________
Moment 3
Page Reference: ________
Phase 03
Final Reflection
Assignment: Using one piece of evidence from your T-Chart, explain how Satrapi uses the contrast between public and private life to show the complexity of the Iranian Revolution. How does the "lie" protect the "truth" in this chapter?
Two Faces Activity Sheet Two Faces
Public vs. Private Identity in Persepolis
Name
Date
Phase 01
The Mask & The Mirror
Think about yourself or society today. What is one "Mask" (public behavior) people put on, and what is the "Mirror" (the private reality) it hides?
Public Mask (What we show)
Private Mirror (The Truth)
Phase 02
Identity Detective T-Chart
Scan Chapter 4 (pp. 26-32). Identify moments where the Public Story is different from the Private Reality. Continue on the back.
Public Life / "The Show"
Private Life / "The Truth"
Evidence 1
Page Reference: ________
Evidence 2
Page Reference: ________
Evidence 3
Page Reference: ________
Phase 03
Final Reflection
Assignment: Using evidence from your T-Chart, explain how Satrapi uses the contrast between public and private life to show the complexity of the Iranian Revolution. How does the "lie" protect the "truth" in this chapter?
Persepolis Presentation v3-1 The Two Faces
of Persepolis
Chapter 4 Analysis
01. Warm Up
Mask & Mirror
02. Activity
Identity Detective
03. Cool Down
Reflection
01. Warm Up
Identity
"We have two identities: one for the world to see, and one we keep behind closed doors."
Quick Discussion
→ What is one "public" behavior people perform to seem a certain way?
→ What is one "private" reality people keep hidden?
The Mask
The Mirror
02. Activity
Detective
The Mission: Find the "Gap"
Compare the public performance vs. the hidden truth.
The Case Files
26
The Boiling Water Trick
27
The Shah's Royal Speech
31
The Hospital "Martyr"
Action Plan
Complete the Phase 02 T-Chart on your worksheet.
"How does the artwork show the truth when characters have to lie?"
03. Cool Down
"I realized then that I didn't understand anything. I read all the books I could." (Page 32)
Final Reflection
Explain how the theme of Public vs. Private Identity is shown in this chapter.
Use one piece of evidence from your T-Chart.
Persepolis Presentation v4-0 The Two Faces
of Persepolis
Chapter 4 Analysis
01. Warm Up
The Mask & Mirror
02. Activity
Identity Detective
03. Cool Down
Reflection
01. Warm Up
Identity
"We have two identities: one for the world to see, and one we keep behind closed doors."
The Public Mask
What is one behavior or "show" people perform to seem a certain way in public?
The Private Mirror
What is one private reality or truth that people often keep hidden from others?
02
Activity: Find the Gap
Case Investigation
The Mission
Analyze the contrast between the Public Story and the Private Reality .
Evidence Files (pp. 26-32)
26
The Boiling Water Trick
27
The Shah's Royal Speech
31
The Hospital "Martyr"
Action Plan
Complete Phase 02 of your worksheet. Look for visual clues in facial expressions.
"How does the artwork show the truth when characters have to lie?"
Identity Detective Persepolis: Chapter 4
03. Cool Down
"I realized then that I didn't understand anything. I read all the books I could." (Page 32)
Final Reflection
Explain how the theme of Public vs. Private Identity is shown in this chapter.
Use one piece of evidence from your T-Chart.
Persepolis Identity Presentation The Two Faces
of Persepolis
Chapter 4 Analysis
01. Warm Up
The Mask & Mirror
02. Activity
Identity Detective
03. Cool Down
Reflection
01. Warm Up
Identity
"We have two identities: one for the world to see, and one we keep behind closed doors."
The Public Mask
What is one behavior or "show" people perform to seem a certain way in public?
The Private Mirror
What is one private reality or truth that people often keep hidden from others?
02
Activity: Find the Gap
Case Investigation
The Mission
Analyze the contrast between the Public Story and the Private Reality .
Evidence Files (pp. 26-32)
26
The Boiling Water Trick
27
The Shah's Royal Speech
31
The Hospital "Martyr"
Action Plan
Complete Phase 02 of your worksheet. Look for visual clues in facial expressions.
"How does the artwork show the truth when characters have to lie?"
Identity Detective Persepolis: Chapter 4
03. Cool Down
"I realized then that I didn't understand anything. I read all the books I could." (Page 32)
Final Reflection
Using evidence from your T-Chart, explain how Satrapi uses the contrast between public and private life to show the complexity of the Iranian Revolution. How does the "lie" protect the "truth" in this chapter?
