Comprehension Questions

The picture is of children in Afghanistan flying a kite.

The Kite Runner

I am really looking forward to hearing what you have to say about this book! It is very different from the books we have read so far for many reasons, not the least of which is that is was written just a few years ago. This is the first book we have read by an author that is still alive! The story includes events that have happened during your lifetimes, including the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Not only does the book tell an amazing story, but includes the history of Afghanistan over the past 40 years. I think the history will fascinate you as much as the plot touches you.

Enjoy reading this book, you have two entire weeks to go through its 370 pages, so take your time and savor it. I’m looking forward to discussing it with you. Don’t forget to fill out your reading journal!

Chapters 1, 2, 3
1. What does Amir’s teacher say about Shi’a Muslims? Do Hassan or his father, Ali, fulfill this stereotype?
2. What type of a man is Baba? How does he view the world?
3. What is Baba’s definition of sin? Do you agree with him?
4. Baba worries that Amir is a coward. He says, “A boy who won’t stand up for himself becomes a man who can’t stand up to anything.” Is this true about Amir? Do you agree or disagree with Baba’s statement?

Chapters 4, 5, 6
5. Compare and contrast Ali and Hassan to Baba and Amir.
6. What character qualities do we see in Hassan? Which do we see in Amir?

Chapters 7, 8, 9
7. What motivates Amir to do well in the kite tournament?
8. What does Amir do when he sees Hassan in the alley?
9. How does Amir’s inaction affect the way he feels about Hassan? Why do you think it has this affect?
10. Amir decides that something must be done to get rid of Hassan. What does he do? What is Baba’s response?
11. What are your thoughts about Amir and Hassan?

Chapters 10, 11, 12
12. How has Kabul changed?
13. How does Baba respond to the idea of a woman being raped? How does this contrast to Amir?
14. What happens to Baba’s memories in America? What happens to Amir’s memories?
15. Baba makes an observation about Soraya, saying, “It may be unfair, but what happens in a few days, sometimes even a single day, can change the course of a whole lifetime, Amir.” How does Amir know that is true?
16. Soraya reveals her past to Amir, why do you think he still withholds his from her?

Chapters 13, 14, 15
17. Compare and contrast the General and Baba. Who do you respect more?
18. Rahim Khan says to Amir, “Come. There is a way to be good again.” How is going to Pakistan the first step in Amir’s redemption?

Chapters 16, 17, 18
19. We encounter Hassan again as an adult. What kind of man has he become?
20. Why does it so surprise Amir when he looks in the photo and sees “a man who thought the world had been good to him”?
21. What does Amir learn about Hassan?

Chapters 19, 20, 21
22. How will Amir be redeemed?
23. Why is planting the money under the mattress symbolic of how Amir has changed?
24. What horrible situation is the orphanage director living under?
25. What have the Taliban done to the country?

Chapters 22, 23, 24, 25
26. What do they witness at the soccer match?
27. Who is the evil sociopath?
28. Why is getting beaten cathartic for Amir?
29. How do the events in the room mirror Amir’s childhood?
30. Rahim Kahn says that, “A man who has no conscience, no goodness, does not suffer.” Is that true?
31. Do you think Baba and Amir are similar now?
32. “True redemption is when guilt leads to good.” Is that true?
33. How is Hassan’s character summed up in the lesson he taught Sohrab, “Father used to say it’s wrong to hurt even bad people. Because they don’t know any better, and because bad people sometimes become good”?
34. Hassan used to run kites for Amir, and now Amir is running kites for Sohrab. In what other ways have we seen the plot come full circle?

I want you to choose 12 questions to answer. Any twelve, your choice. This is our last book for the year, and I want to give you the opportunity to answer the questions you want. You will also be writing your own essay question, so keep that in mind as you read! More about the essay later:)

The Kite Runner

I am really excited about our next book, The Kite Runner. We have two weeks to read this book, with your essay due on May 16th. So take your time and enjoy it! I will post the questions on Monday. Have a good weekend.

Essay Assignment

Essay Question

For this essay you will write a five paragraph essay proving the following quote to be true or false based on what you have read in Lord of the Flies and/or a personal experience you have had. It is important that you include the quote in the first paragraph of the essay. Then decide on three reasons that the quote is true or false.

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. - Edmund Burke

This essay prompt is similar to what you will see on the SAT. They will give you a quote and you have to prove through personal experience and books you have read whether it is true or not. They want to hear your personal opinion, and so do I. There is no wrong answer. Remember you really want your first sentences to grab my attention. Make them exciting, interesting, surprising. Have fun with it. The essay is due on Friday, April 25 by midnight.

Please let me know if you need any help along the way!

Lord of the Flies

Over the next two weeks you will be reading and writing about Lord of the Flies by William Golding. This classic book will be difficult to forget once you have read it. Golding's purpose in this novel is to explore human nature in a raw and unhindered environment. He chooses his subjects to be children so that they are unbound by the codes and boundaries of society.

Golding's purpose in writing the book, in his own words, was, "an attempt to trace the defects of society back to the defects of human nature." This is exactly what you will be looking for while reading the book. This time around we will focus on larger themes rather than the usual comprehension questions I ask. I have hinted to the themes below and you will all be responsible for answering the following questions. Please let me know if you have any questions along the way!

Enjoy this thought provoking book!

What time in history is the book set? How does this contrast to what is happening on the island?

What do Ralph and Piggy represent?

What does the conch represent? What is it replaced with?

What do the boys think the beast is? What does Simon know the beast is?

Is Simon a Christ figure in the story? What does his hiding place represent?

What do Jack and Roger represent?

What changes in the boys when they paint their faces? Why does this change take place?

What is the irony of their rescue?

Did you like or dislike the book? How did it compare to other books we have read so far, especially Heart of Darkness?

Clarification - Samneric are the twins, Sam and Eric:)

Movie

Back in 1995 James Earl Jones played Kumalo in the film adaptation of Cry, The Beloved Country. This movie is really well done, and follows the plot of the book pretty well. It has been a while since I have seen in, and unfortunately can't rent it right now to preview it. But talk to you parents about renting it, and watching it as a family. It is rated PG-13 for some brief language. I think it is a film you would enjoy having read the book! Let me know what you think after you watch it!

Your Turn

Now is your chance to ask me a question about Cry, the Beloved Country. I love the questions that you come up with, they always impress me. I look forward to discussing this book with you!

Kevin you can answer Daniel's question
Daniel you can answer Tyler's question
Tyler you can answer Kevin's question

For the essays, please don't forget to post your essay under the Essay Question post.
Tyler read Daniel's essay
Kevin read Tyler's essay
Daniel read Kevin's essay
Please post your response to their essays in the comments section. Enjoy!

The above picture is of a shanty town in Johannesburg.

Essay Question

One of the things I like so much about this book are the very real human characters. Paton develops very real and human characters that are always choosing between doing what is right, and doing what is easy. We can identify with their struggles, and sympathize with their hurt/disappointment. Kumalo is an incredible character, but so are Mr. Jarvis, Arthur Jarvis, John Kumalo, Msimangu and others. We cannot discuss this book without looking deeply into one of the characters, so we will do that in this essay.

For this essay we will do things a little differently. You are going to write about a character of your choice. Your three paragraphs should explain why you chose the character (you can discuss their humanity in this part), their role in the plot, and their struggle and victory. Of course in the intro you set up the above, and in the conclusion you wrap it all up. So in the end it is a five paragraph essay. Have fun with this and please ask for help along the way!

Above is a picture of a church in Kenya. I think it is probably similar to the one described in the book.