Guided Analysis Questions for excerpt from Funny in Farsi by Firoozeh Dumas

Read the excerpt from Funny in Farsi. As you read, use I/M annotations to demonstrate close reading

Respond with well thought out and supported answers. (supported = specifically reference the text). Responses to literature should be in 3rd person. (The author, Dumas, the reader, the audience, one).

The excerpt is Ch. 1 “Leffingwell Elementary School” from Dumas’ collection of vignettes.

1. What were some of the many challenges that Firoozeh faced as an immigrant? Connecting: Compare and contrast her experiences with the challenges that immigrants to our own community may face. Charlotte, NC, is a “new gateway community” and one of the fastest growing immigrant communities in the nation. Immigration is a compelling community and global issue, most particularly in our own community.

2. Young Firoozeh is excited about going to school for the first time in America. Is school an important part of American life? Connecting: What do our perceptions regarding education say about our culture? (This is a subjective question and no matter how you see the issue, you must back up your response with details from your own experiences, popular culture, history, etc. to form an argumentative stance).

3. When Firoozeh’s mother could not find Iran on the map, who do you think was more embarrassed, Firoozeh or her mother? Explain. (DICTION – look at the author’s word choice to find text to support your answer).

4. Dumas refers to the United States as “The Promise Land,” but paints very different images of what the promise land means to her and what the promise land means to her father (paragraph 2). What is the connotative meaning of “The Promise Land”? Discuss the differences in Firoozeh’s and her father’s perceptions. (DICTION).

5. At times, Dumas’ sentences hold a lot of humor. Find a few examples of humorous sentences. How does the author use humor to connect to readers? Is it effective storytelling? Why or why not? (TONE).

6. Examine Dumas’ diction. Choose three words that create impact and meaning in the text and explain how those particular word choices create impact and meaning. (DICTION).

7. After reading the excerpt, discuss the author’s overall attitude toward her mother? Explain. (DICTION/TONE).

8. Examine Dumas’ syntax. Find and quote one specific example where her syntactical choice impacts the flow, rhythm, or content (meaning) of the essay. Explain the impact made by her choice. (SYNTAX).

9. Connecting: How do you react to someone who does not speak English? What assumptions do you make? Have you ever been judged because of your diction or judged someone else because of his or hers? Explain the circumstance(s) and discuss your thoughts and feelings about the situation.

10. Connecting: In the essay “How to Tame a Wild Tongue,” Gloria Anzaldua suggests that our language, our way of speaking, forms our sense of identity. How do you connect Anzaldua’s argument about language with Dumas’ experiences as an immigrant, experiencing and learning American ways? How do you connect Anzaldua’s argument about language to your own life and how you employ language?

Instructions: Choose 5 questions to respond to with thoughtful, supported responses. You must choose AT LEAST 1 DICTION, 1 SYNTAX, 1 TONE, and 1 CONNECTING question. Type your responses using MLA format and upload to turnitin.com. Bring a copy with you to class.