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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why are Nafisi and her students in the room?

2. Why is Mashid jailed?

3. Who demands entry into Nafisi's house?

4. Why does Nafisi consider Humbert, Lolita's molester, such a frightening character?

5. What does Nafisi see reflected in the mirror?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is it difficult to find a copy of "Lolita" in Tehran?

2. In Part 1, Chapter 18, the room where the class meets becomes a character. How does Nafisi describe the room?

3. How do the university officials react to Nafisi before and after her resignation?

4. Why is there a difference between the students' level of comfort in talking about themselves and their level of comfort in discussing the novels?

5. Why does Nafisi describe the three types of women portrayed in "A Thousand and One Nights"?

6. Azin asks the group if a woman has the same right as a man to enjoy sex. Why does this question surprise the group?

7. Why do Nafisi and her students feel so strongly about Nabokov and his works?

8. Why does Nafisi ask her children about their memories of Iran?

9. How does the Iranian regime expect women to behave on the streets of Tehran?

10. How is the generation of Nafisi's students different from the generation of Nafisi and her peers?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Part 3, Chapter 18, Nafisi describes a "perfectly equipped failure." In Part 3, Chapter 26, Nafisi provides characteristics of a traditional heroine. Using the descriptions and characteristics provided in these chapters, write an essay that addresses the following questions:

1) Would Laleh be considered a heroine or a perfectly equipped failure?

2) Would Razieh be considered a heroine or a perfectly equipped failure?

3) Which does Nafisi consider more worthy of admiration, a heroine or a perfectly equipped failure?

Essay Topic 2

Nafisi is the narrator for the actions of herself, the regime, and her students throughout the book. What would a credible witness say about the actions of a totalitarian regime? Is Nafisi a credible reporter? Is her credibility complete or does it have obvious biases that challenge her credibility? Does her credibility remain the same throughout the book? What evidence within the book supports your claims?

Essay Topic 3

America is presented as both reality and symbol, as a concept and a country. Describe the various ways America is interpreted and understood by those in Nafisi's classes and the Iranian government. How do those interpretations compare to Nafisi's personal memories and descriptions of America? What elements of America are emphasized? What elements of America are omitted? Why are there omissions?

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