Reading as Resistance: Reading Lolita in Tehran

Lesson 17
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ELA

Unit 5

10th Grade

Lesson 17 of 29

Objective


Analyze how Nafisi grapples with the moral dilemma of complying with wearing the veil to return to teaching.

Readings and Materials


  • Book: Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi  — pp. 160–182

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Target Task


Discussion & Writing Prompt

How and why do Nafisi's feelings about complying to wear the veil evolve over this section? Do you think her decision to return to teaching is an act of resistance against the totalitarian regime or an act of compliance? Use the word comply in your response.

Sample Response

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Key Thinking


Close Read Questions

Why do you think Nafisi includes Laleh's anecdote about her experience with the guard? How does Laleh's character contribute to the theme of resistance in the face of oppression?

What happens during Nafisi’s discussion about the veil with her student, Mr. Bahri, on pages 164–65? What has been the function of his character throughout the narrative?

What is Nafisi's moral dilemma about returning to teaching? What arguments do Mrs. Rezvan and the magician make in favor of teaching?

Homework


  • Book: Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi  — pp. 190–196, 204–210, 217–222

While reading, answer the following questions.

  • Which familiar students return to Nafisi's class?

  • What has happened to Nassrin since Nafisi last saw her?

  • Who is Mr. Ghomi? How does Nafisi describe him?

  • What does Nafisi say James' characters Daisy and Catherine have in common?

  • What does Nafisi observe about the crowd that gathers at the movies?

  • How does the ongoing Iran-Iraq War impact the city of Tehran? What is the general mood of the city?

  • Which of Nafisi's old students reappears in her class? What has happened to her since Nafisi last saw her?

  • Why did Nafisi become furious with her female students? How does Razieh explain their behavior?

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Standards


  • RI.9-10.2 — Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.
  • RI.9-10.3 — Analyze how the author unfolds an analysis or series of ideas or events, including the order in which the points are made, how they are introduced and developed, and the connections that are drawn between them.
  • RI.9-10.5 — Analyze in detail how an author's ideas or claims are developed and refined by particular sentences, paragraphs, or larger portions of a text (e.g., a section or chapter).

Supporting Standards

L.9-10.1
L.9-10.6
RI.9-10.1
RI.9-10.4
RI.9-10.10
SL.9-10.1
SL.9-10.6
W.9-10.9.b
W.9-10.10

Next

Analyze how Nafisi develops the theme of the importance of art to individuals and to a community.

Lesson 18
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