Persepolis Discussion – Titles

I have always had a fascination with titles and figuring out the thought process of the author when he/she was trying to name their piece.

Persepolis: A Story of a Childhood. If you heard that name without context, what book would you think you were reading? I wouldn’t have guessed a witty, intellectual comic with the truth about war wrapped in the story of a young girl.

Similarly, I would love to dissect the role Satrapi put in her “chapter” titles. I say “chapters” as so because sometimes Satrapi tells small stories in one “chapter” and sometimes she continues the same story immediately without pause from one “chapter” to the next. The “chapters” in Persepolis go as follows: The Veil; The Bicycle; The Water Cell; Persepolis; The Letter; The Party; The Heroes; Moscow; The Sheep; The Trip; The F-14s; The Jewels; The Key; The Wine; The Cigarette; The Passport; Kim Wilde; The Shabbat; and The Dowry.

Looking at these titles in order, do they tell a story? Is there a clear plot when reading down the line? Also, why these titles? Wouldn’t the chapter named after the book (Persepolis) start or end the comic? She also never mentions Persepolis and what it is or means.

I don’t know, you guys might not be as interested as me on titles but I would love to at least discuss the meaning behind “Persepolis: A Story of a Childhood” with y’all during class sometime.