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:)
3 comments:
Chapters 1, 2, 3
2. What type of a man is Baba? How does he view the world?
Baba is a very aspiring type of person. He doesn't settle for less. He always completes a task that he has set his mind on doing. He views a world as something he can mold and shape. He thinks that he can just make bad things go away, or use his intimidating nature to always get what he wants.
3. What is Baba’s definition of sin? Do you agree with him?
Baba thinks that theft is the only real sin, because very other sin is derived from stealing. I've never thought about it that way, and I think thats one way to look at it. But I think that we should confront each sin with scripture that tells us whether or not that thing is wrong.
Chapters 4, 5, 6
6. What character qualities do we see in Hassan? Which do we see in Amir?
Hassan is always willing to turn the other cheek. He will always serve those who hurt him and love those who hate him- it's his nature. Amir is different. He, in his younger years, only thinks of himself and his own welfare. But as he grows more mature and as he faces his sins, he finds compassion, love, and forgiveness in himself.
Chapters 7, 8, 9
7. What motivates Amir to do well in the kite tournament?
The only reason Amir wanted to win the kite tournament is to please his father. Baba rarely showed pride in his son, and Amir knew that if he won the tournament, he would see the much-needed pride in his father's eyes.
8. What does Amir do when he sees Hassan in the alley?
Amir is scared that Assef and his friends will hurt him as well, so he just watches his best friend (and brother) get severely injured- mentally and physically.
10. Amir decides that something must be done to get rid of Hassan. What does he do? What is Baba’s response?
When Amir decides that he can't live with Hassan anymore, he hides his watch and money and pretends like someone stole them. When Hassan, Ali, Baba, and Amir talk about the theft, Hassan says that he had stolen the things. To Amir's surprise, Baba forgives him.
Chapters 10, 11, 12
14. What happens to Baba’s memories in America? What happens to Amir’s memories?
When Baba is in America, he tries to preserve his memories of Afganistan. But Amir does the opposite. He uses their new life as a distraction from the things he would like to forget about.
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?
Amir knows this is true from experience. When Amir did nothing to help Hassan in the alley, he was inadvertently changing their lives forever.
16. Soraya reveals her past to Amir, why do you think he still withholds his from her?
Amir thinks that his crime is much much worse, therefore he does not share it with Soraya. Maybe he thinks that Soraya will not love him anymore when she finds out what he has done.
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?
Amir's first step to redemption was going to Pakistan to meet with Rahim Khan. This was because Amir would have to relive the part of his past that he had spent so many years trying to forget. He had moved to America and taken the opportunity to forget all about the horrible things he had done. But going back to the place he had tried to forget was just what he needed to be at peace.
Chapters 16, 17, 18
19. We encounter Hassan again as an adult. What kind of man has he become?
He hasn't changed a bit. He is still a virtuous man who is willing to do anything for anyone. He moves into Baba's old house with his wife and they upkeep the house and care for Rahim Kahn.
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”?
Amir knows about the terrible things done to Hassan. He is surprised to see the man in the Polaroid still smiling after a life that would cause any of us to plunge into depression. I think he admires Hassan's positive outlook.
21. What does Amir learn about Hassan?
Amir learns that Hassan is dead. He died trying to defend his house and wife.
Chapters 19, 20, 21
22. How will Amir be redeemed?
He will be redeemed by saving Hassan's son, Sohrab and taking him in to live with them.
Chapters 22, 23, 24, 25
29. How do the events in the room mirror Amir’s childhood?
Amir is faced with the same monster, Assef. But this time, Amir stands up to him and gets severely beaten. But Sohrab obtains a slingshot and threatens Assef like Hassan had done so many years ago. This time Assef doesn't back down, and Sohrab fires the slingshot.
Book Journal
1. Title: The Kite Runner
2. Author: Khaled Hosseini
3. Main Characters: Hassan, Amir, Baba.
4. A few sentences describing the character traits of each of the people you listed above.
Hassan is a compassionate person who would do anything for you.
Amir is a talented writer who is trying to hide from his past.
Baba is a gruff father who rarely shows pride in his son.
5. Theme of the Book: Redemption.
6. Summary of the Plot: Amir witnesses a terrible act being done to Hassan and doesn't tell anyone. He spends the rest of his life trying to hide from this sin but eventually faces it.
7. Moral Dilemma: Should Amir confess or hide from his sins?
8. What kind of a response did you feel towards to moral dilemma? What was your response towards the characters actions?
Hassan was the hero of the story. I felt angry with Amir for not assisting his best friend when he needed him most.
9. What did you think of the plot? The writing style? The character development?
I loved the plot and writing style. It was interesting and added a lot to the story through short sentences that were very powerful.
10. What was your overall impression of the book?
I liked it a lot. Much more than most of the books we've read so far.
11. Write down memorable lines or quotes from the book.
"There is a way to be good again."
Chapters 1, 2, 3
3. What is Baba’s definition of sin? Do you agree with him?
He says that the only sin in the world is stealing. All other things are just a stem of stealing. He doesn’t believe in God
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?
In the Beginning it is. Amir doesn’t stand up to Assef in the alley and doesn’t confront Hassan after the incident rather sets him up and sends him away. Later however he does stand up to Assef in order to get Sorahab.
Chapters 7, 8, 9
7. What motivates Amir to do well in the kite tournament?
Knowing that maybe Baba will like him more and that he will love him more.
8. What does Amir do when he sees Hassan in the alley?
He thinks about helping him but is afraid of what Assef might do to him so he runs away.
10. Amir decides that something must be done to get rid of Hassan. What does he do? What is Baba’s response?
Amir hides 30 or so dollars under Hassan’s mattress along with his new watch. Baba begins to weep and beg Ali to stay.
Chapters 10, 11, 12
13. How does Baba respond to the idea of a woman being raped? How does this contrast to Amir?
He won’t allow it and was so strong in that conviction he was going to be shot for it. Amir on the other hand new it was wrong but he tried to pull his father down and allow it.
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?
From experience in the alley.
16. Soraya reveals her past to Amir, why do you think he still withholds his from her?
He is ashamed and is afraid of bringing up the past.
Chapters 13, 14, 15
17. Compare and contrast the General and Baba. Who do you respect more?
Even though Baba was very honorable in almost everything he did, what he did with Ali’s wife was wrong. The General was a little more bold and maybe a little more rude. I think I respect Baba more because everything he did he was trying to strengthen his son.
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?
It will bring the past to resurface and to be able to get over it.
Chapters 16, 17, 18
19. We encounter Hassan again as an adult. What kind of man has he become?
He was still honorable, and though he lived in slave quarters he was extremely virtues.
Chapters 19, 20, 21
23. Why is planting the money under the mattress symbolic of how Amir has changed?
Because to send Hassan away and clear himself of guilt, he put it under to help a family in need.
Chapters 22, 23, 24, 25
26. What do they witness at the soccer match?
Two killings by stoning and unnecessary bloodshed.
27. Who is the evil sociopath?
Assef from Amir’s childhood, the bully.
Post a Comment