The Kite Runner page 94 Graphic Novel Analysis

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The Kite Runner Study Questions

Chapters One-Four

1)       Compare and contrast Amir and Hassan, noting their backgrounds, how each boy interacts with his father, and the circumstances surrounding their birth.

Amir and Hassan were very close friends as children and had many life relations such as their mother's lack of presence, because Amir's died and Hassan's escaped. Bot h have a good relation with their fathers and both fathers grew together as brothers.

2)       Discuss the origins of the ongoing conflict between Pashtuns and Hazaras. What effect might this have on Amir and Hassan’s relationship?

The Pashtuns "govern" Afghanistan nad treat Hazaras as servants because of religious problems. Amir and Hassan's friendship is not seen as a real friendship by others because Hassan is seen as the servant.

3)       How does Amir feel about Baba? Examine information about Baba, and discuss how Amir and Baba’s differences affect their relationship.

Amir loves Baba as a father but they have some problems and that problems make them not very close to each other. Baba feels that Amir is weak, unlike himself, and that is affecting Amir because when he grows up, he won't be able to be a powerful person if he continues like this.

4)       What does Baba say is the only sin? Explain his theory and whether Amir is able to understand it.

According to Baba, the only sin is stealings. Every other sin is a variation of stealing. When you kill someone, you are stealing his life. You are stealing his son the right to a father and his wife the right to a husband. By lying, you are stealing someone else's right to know the truth. Amir understands it very well and tries to remember to not be a liar.

5)       Examine Baba and Ali’s relationship. How is Amir’s relationship similar to theirs? What impact do their ethnic backgrounds have on these relationships?

Baba and Ali grew up together as brothers but Baba never considered Ali as such. The same happens to Amir and Hassan. The ethnic background also influence their relationship because Ali is a Hazara, thus, making him a "servant" to Baba, who is a Pashtun.

6)       Discuss the significance of Hassan’s favourite book, the Shahnamah?

The book is the only real connection between Amir and Hassan. 

7)       Assess the role Rahim Khan plays in Amir’s early life.

Rahim Khan is the one who really supported Amir as a father. He beleived in Amir and Rahim was the one who motivated Amir to continue writing stories.

Chapters Five-Seven

1)       Explain why winter is Amir’s favourite season.

Because he is on holidays and the Kite-flying competition is very soon.

2)       Analyze the metaphor comparing Amir and Hassan’s interaction to the game of  “insect torture.” What is the “other face” Amir sees when he asks Hassan if he would eat dirt for him?

Amir realizes that Hassan would do everything of him, although Hassan knows that Amir wouldn't do that to him. They know it's a true friendship.

3)      What emotions does Amir experience before the kite tournament? What is Hassan’s response? Refer to the simile “I felt like a soldier trying to sleep in the trenches the night before a major battle” (50)

Amir feels nervous and excited. Nervous because he wants to win and excited because he really enjoys kite-flying. Hassan tries to calm Amir by saying he is already good and the best kite-flyer of Kabul.

4)       Discuss the aftermath of the kite-fighting tournament, and assess Amir’s initial reaction to Assef’s attack on Hassan. Why does Amir decide not to help Hassan?

After the competition, Hassan runs and tries to catch the last kite they cut, the blue kite. Amir tells Hassan to get it and don`t come back without it. Hassan is attacked by Assef and his friends and Amir sees how Hassan is raped. He doesn't defend him because he is afraid and listens to what Assef said about their relation (boy-servant).

5)       Do you think Hassan knows that Amir witnessed the rape? Explain. What does Amir’s behaviour in the aftermath of the rape indicate about him?

I think Hassan knows because after the incident they both started acting different, although Hassan was the only who suffered.

Chapters Eight to Ten

1)       Discuss the symbolism of the scene in which Amir throws pomegranates at Hassan. Why does Amir want Hassan to hit him, and why do you think Hassan refuses?

Amir wants Hassan to hit him so that he learns how to defend himself against other Pashtuns, like he didn't do against Assef. Obviously Hassan isn't hitting Amir back because he respects him.

2)       Examine the implications of Rahim Khan’s conversation with Amir at his birthday party? Why is Rahim’s gift important to him?

Rahim gives Amir a notebook so that he continues writing stories. This motivates him to follow his passion.

3)       How does Baba react to Ali and Hassan’s decision to leave? What do you think Baba thinks is their reason for leaving? Why do you think Amir is not moved enough to tell the truth or try to stop them from leaving?

Baba was sad and surprised. He didn't want them to go. Maybe Baba thinks that they are leaving because of the shame they felt after "stealing" the watch, or because of the distance Hassan and Amir have been having.

4)       Describe the incident at the first checkpoint. What does it reveal about Baba and Amir?

When the truck reached the frontier with Pakistan, Baba defends with his life the poor woman and her husband. Amir feels really worried about Baba being killed. Baba demonstrates his real attitude and bravery, while Amir shows he's really sensible and weak.

Chapters eleven to twenty-five

1) Chapter 11 has a new setting. What is it?

America

2) What does Baba give Amir as a graduation present? What is Amir feeling at this moment? What is Baba feeling?

As graduation present, Baba gives Amir a car, which made Amir's happiness indescribable. Baba was proud too.

3) What does Amir tell his father he wants to study in college? What is Baba’s reaction?

Amir wants to study literature and write stories. Baba was surprised because he wanted his son to be a doctor. Baba also felt sad and tried to convice his son to do "something good" for the world.

4) Chapter 14 brings us back to the opening of the book: the telephone call from Rahim Khan. What is Rahim asking Amir to do?

Rahim wants Amir to visit him because he was dying and wanted to tell something to Amir.

5) In Chapter 16, Rahim tells us what happened to Hassan. What has happened? Where is he living?

Hassan DIED.

6)  In Chapter 17, Rahim gives Amir a letter from Hassan, who wrote it six months before. What is the tone of this letter? How does Amir react?

Sadness. Amir feels sad.

7)  In Chapter 19, Farid is engaged to drive Amir from Peshawar to Afghanistan. Describe his first impression of Amir. When Farid said, “You’ve always been a tourist here, you just didn’t know it,” (p. 232), what did he mean? What is Farid’s impression of emigrant Afghans who return to visit Afghanistan?

By saying that, Farid meant that Amir never really knew the reality of his country because he always lived in a good house with a good father who protected him. Amir was alienated from the real afghan society. For Farid, emigrants who come back are a bad example because they should've never left the country.

8)  In Chapter 20, the director of the orphanage, Zaman, tells Amir that Sohrab was taken by a Taliban official, who takes children, usually girls, about once a month, for his “sexual pleasure.” The official gives Zaman a great deal of cash. How does Zaman defend his actions?

Zaman says that he prefers to lose one boy instead of losing them all. If Zaman doesn't give that one boy (girl), then the official would take them all. He also says that with the money he receives, he's able to pay for the needs of the other boys.

9)  What happens as Amir runs the kite for Sohrab?

He repeats the words Hassan said at the beginning of the story:  " For you a thousand times".

10)  How is this another full circle?

We know that the relation between Amir and Sohrab would be as good as the relation between Hassan and Amir.

11) “America was different. America was a river roaring along, unmindful of the past. I could wade into this river, let my sins drown to the bottom, let the waters carry me someplace far.” This quote from Chapter 11 is said by whom? What does it reveal? What does this metaphor mean?

It is said by Amir and represents his feelings towards the city and his past. He is now able to forget what he has done and start all over.

12) In 1989, what is going on in Afghanistan? Who are the Mujahedin? Who is in charge?

In 1989 the soviets left Afghanistan so the Afghan Muslims (Mujahedin) get to the government.

13)  Who is Farzana? Sohrab?

Farzana is Hassan's wife and Sohrab his son.

14) Chapter 25 resolves the action with Sohrab and Amir returning to San Francisco. Describe Sohrab for the first seven months he is in San Francisco.

He didn't act normally, maybe he was sad. Very quiet and submissive.

15)  What is your reaction to Rahim Khan’s letter to Amir? Should the letter have been presented to him earlier? Do you feel that Baba was a good man?

Baba was a good man and if the letter would have been presented earlier, the story would have been the same.