Supplementary Materials

Discussion Questions for Persepolis

1. What does Marjane's mother teach her about forgiveness on pp. 45-46, and what is the situation that brings this lesson about? How does the lesson on forgiveness change on p. 53, and why?

2. What makes Siamak and Mohsen heroes? What is the difference between young Marjane's listener's claim "too much" on p. 54 and on p. 61?

3. What causes Marjane to turn dramatically against God?

4. What does the plastic key mean in the section titled "The Key"?

5. How does Satrapi use pictures to communicate her meaning on p. 102?

6. What do young Marjane and other characters say about America in the section we read for today? Which conflicts are evident in their views of America?

Discussion Questions for the End of The Inheritance of Loss

1. How does a collision between history and personal conflicts confuse Gyan?

2. Why does Ch. 43 begin with a date?

3. What does Mutt's disappearance represent in this novel?

4. What does Biju bring with him when returning from the United States—literally and figuratively?

5. How does Nimi—Sai's grandmother—die?

6. What is the "unacknowledged system of justice" on p. 339?

7. Why does the cook beg Judge Patel to beat him (352)?

8. What does the ending of the book suggest about the overall plot of the book?

Discussion Questions for The Inheritance of Loss

1. Which experiences lead to Gyan's involvement with the Gorkha separatists?

2. What makes Sai feel defensive about celebrating Christmas, and how does she defend herself?

3. Why does Nimi steal the judge's powder puff? How is his reaction to the theft different from that of his relatives?

4. How does Gyan betray Judge Patel and Sai?

5. Why does Biju travel to Kathmandu in Chapter 30? How does his plan to emigrate turn out?

6. Why do the judge, Sai and friends travel to Darjeeling in Chapter 31? What do Judge Patel and Bose disagree about? Why is their dinner together at the Gymkhana awkward?

Discussion Questions for Henrik Ibsen's Hedda Gabler

1. What is "the only thing in the world I'm any good at," according to Hedda Gabler? Is this an accurate assessment of her abilities?

2. Why does Tesman ask in Act Two whether "it would be quite the thing" for Lövborg to stay with Hedda while the men go out to their party?

3. What does Lövborg think of Hedda's marriage to Tesman?

4. What does Hedda mean at the end of Act Two, when she says, "For once in my life I want to feel that I control a human destiny"?

5. Why does Brack encourage Hedda to keep Lövborg out of her house in Act Three?

6. What is the reason that Lövborg gives for ending things with Mrs. Elvsted?

7. Why does Lövborg compare his book to a child, and what does that mean about his relationship with Mrs. Elvsted?