As English Literature- The Kite Runner

Front 1

Explain the significance of the quote "There is a way to be good again".

Back 1

Rahim Kahn says this to Amir and it reveals that Rahim Kahn knows the truth about what Amir did to Hassan. It ties in to the theme of redemption, allowing the reader to believe that by returning to the Middle East, Amir will be given the opportunity to break the cycle of guilt he is trapped in.

Front 2

Explain the significance of the quote "For you, a thousand times over".

Back 2

Hassan speaks this as he goes to run the blue kite and shows his devotion to his friend.
Amir mentions this line throughout the novel which reflects on the loyalty of Hassan compared to his own cowardice.
Amir says this to Sohrab in the final chapter- showing the cycle of redemption is complete.

Front 3

Describe the language features of 'The Kite Runner'.

Back 3

Afghan words- remind reader of nationality.
Cultural and religious references- set context of novel
Emotive language- encourage/discourage emotion
Foreboding- prepare reader for upcoming events
Implications- too painful to state explicitly- Amir
Pathetic fallacy- mirrors Amir's emotions- chapter 9
Punctuation- Amir struggles to put into words- contrasts with his well-written style.
Reflective and introspective language- looking back
Repetition- link to events with Amir's childhood
Time references- give a sense of life events
Violent imagery- horror that characters faced in unstable Afghanistan.

Front 4

Describe the structural features of 'The Kite Runner'.

Back 4

Bildungsroman- story follows the growth and development of Amir from selfish to selfless.
Flashbacks- refers to childhood- shaped his life.
Foreshadowing- prepare reader for events
Journeys- 3 countries- connects the events
Linear Chronology- following from child to man
Retrospective- reader questions the bias in the novel
Subtitles- location and date when it varies from chapter before- reader awareness.

Front 5

Describe the form used in 'The Kite Runner'.

Back 5

Dialogue- give reader different perspectives
Dreams- reveal Amir's hidden thoughts and desires
Flashbacks- reminder of past- Amir haunted by guilt
Letters- give characters a voice- reintroduces also
Stories- "Rotsam and Sohrab" shows the world that Hassan dreams of- highlights betrayal and secrecy.
Stream of Consciousness- shows disjointed thoughts.

Front 6

Explain the theme of Sin and Redemption.

Back 6

bildungsroman features- Amir's journey from sin through to redemption.
The ending is optimistic and leaves the reader with the sense that the cycle of sin and redemption has been broken.
Baba believes that "a boy who won't stand up for himself becomes a man who can't stand up to anything" - Amir eventually disproves this.

Front 7

Explain the theme of Violence.

Back 7

Hosseini wanted to tell of the peaceful nature of Afghans- but there is a theme of violence- everyone is either effected by it or inflicts it.
The kite flying is symbolic of a battle and cuts the hands of the boys.
In Afghanistan- pain and pleasure are inseparable.

Front 8

How important is Family in 'The Kite Runner'?

Back 8

It plays an important part in Afghan culture.
Amir and Soraya's courtship- abiding by traditions.
Lineage is shown through the newlyweds' decision not to adopt and Amir's realisation that he was "no longer Baba's son" following the funeral.
Amir does not realise the importance of family until he discovers that he was robbed of a brother.

Front 9

Explain the theme of Friendship.

Back 9

Companionship between Hassan and Amir.
Hassan is presented as unwaveringly loyal.
Amir is not presented as a good friend to Hassan.
The circular structure of the novel suggests that their friendship isn't ended through separation or even death, with Amir risking his life to save Hassan's son.

Front 10

How is Discrimination shown in 'The Kite Runner'?

Back 10

The plot is centred on the long running discrimination of the Hazara minority.
Ali and Hassan live in the hut outside- Baba shows respect by calling them "family".
Taliban takeover= widespread discrimination, they intensify the pre-existing racial tension.

Front 11

Explain the theme of Politics.

Back 11

The novel's events follow the political history of Afghanistan from the peacefulness of the monarchy through the founding of the republic to the Soviet invasion and inward fighting that destroys Afghanistan.
The history shapes the lives of the characters.

Front 12

what is the social significance of the cleft lip in 'The Kite Runner'?

Back 12

Hassan's cleft lip is his most recognisable feature and acts as a mark of his social status.
It is indicative of poverty and is used to show Baba's love for Hassan- he pays to have it fixed.
Shows the differences between reality and appearance: Hassan is pure in personality but flawed on the outside.
Assef splits Amir's lip "in two, clean down the middle" leaving him scarred in the same way Hassan was.
This could suggest the merging of Amir and Hassan- Amir takes on the strength and goodness of Hassan to become a father figure for Sohrab.

Front 13

How are kites used in the novel as a symbol?

Back 13

Kites symbolise a range of things including:
1) Amir's happiness and guilt
2) links between characters- Amir and his father
3) Amir allows Hassan to be raped in order to protect the kite.
4) At the end it is used to form the start of a relationship with Sohrab.
5) the friendship between Amir and Hassan.
6) Symbol of freedom.

Front 14

Is Amir a reliable narrator?

Back 14

He is writing in his adulthood about his childhood- admits his "memory was hazy".
Only get Amir's viewpoint- he is the focaliser apart from in the letters.
Does not like himself- emphasis on what he has done wrong- wants people to dislike him.
Amir had a 'sheltered childhood'.
Amir only has 'inside' perspective.

Front 15

What is the epicentre of the novel?

Back 15

The rape is the central event because all events before are building up to it, then everything after is effected by it.
The novel is no longer chronological after the rape- Breaking down of Amir's consciousness and understanding.
Winter is usually fun for kite runners- but after the rape winter is when bad things happen.

Front 16

How does Soraya's character impact on Amir's use of language?

Back 16

Language changes to Poetic, Feminine and Romantic.
"Princess" "Gently hooked nose"- positive description
He genuinely loves her.

Front 17

What are the geographical and historical sections in the book?

Back 17

Kabul in 1970s
America in 1980s
Pakistan/Afghanistan in 1990s
Twin Towers in 2001

Front 18

What is the significance of the character Rahim Kahn?

Back 18

Begins redemption for Amir- "There is a way to be good again".
Only other character to narrate.
Catalyst for truth- voice of reason.
Believes and loves Amir- supports his writing; like a father figure.

Front 19

Explain the absent mother in 'The Kite Runner'.

Back 19

Amir's mother, Sofia, and Hassan's mother, Sanaubar, are both absent. The role of women in this novel is largely characterised by their absence.
The lack of mothers and wives makes the relationships between Amir, Hassan, Baba and Ali stronger.

Front 20

What is the importance of the initial description of the setting of Kabul?

Back 20

The rich descriptions of Kabul which evoke the many smells, colours and noises of the city, create a vivid setting for the events of Amir's childhood. It also provides a basis for comparison when we are presented with a different Kabul later in the novel.
The setting can also reflect the mood, plot and character, or act as a metaphor for other themes.

Front 21

How is education used as a tool for power in 'The Kite Runner'?

Back 21

Soraya explains who she taught the servant they had in their house back in Afghanistan to read.
This contrasts with Amir's refusal to teach Hassan and with his teasing of him for being illiterate.
Soraya is a reflection of the version of himself that he wishes he could have been.
She is also a symbol of the pre-Taliban Afghanistan before education for women was banned.

Front 22

What is the importance of books?

Back 22

The notebook Rahim Kahn gives Amir is a reward for his writing rather than his kite flying. It is symbolic in that it makes Amir individual and is not connected to Hassan's rape.
The storybook chosen by Hassan acts as a reminder of what he had lost by his cowardly actions.

Front 23

What are the roles of ethnicity and history in the novel?

Back 23

Ali and Hassan are members of the 'Hazara' ethnic group which is seen as inferior to the 'Pashtun' group which Amir's family belongs to .
Hazaras are teased, taunted and persecuted.

Front 24

What is an intertextual link of Hassan preventing the attack of Assef with his slingshot?

Back 24

Hassan preventing the attack of Assef and his friends with his slingshot is reminiscent of the story of David defeating Goliath in the Book of Samuel in the Bible. This story also appears in the Koran.

Front 25

How is poetic imagery used in 'The Kite Runner'?

Back 25

Amir's desciriptions of wintertime in Kabul reinforce the feeling of freedom that is suggested by the kites. He uses poetic imagery to paint a picture of the city of his childhood: "The sky is seamless and blue, the snow so white my eyes burn".
He is able to convey remembered love for his home.
A03- Christina Rosetti's 'Winter: My Secret' (1862)- a lively poem describing the joys of winter.

Front 26

How is kite flying used as a recurring topic?

Back 26

These activities can be seen not only to advance the plot but as metaphors for childhood, freedom, war and loss.

Front 27

How is pathetic fallacy used in the novel?

Back 27

The departure of Ali and Hassan causes Baba to cry, something which we would not expect from the character. The rain storm which accompanies this. Amir states that summer rain was rare, just as his father's tears were rare.

Front 28

How does Hosseini juxtapose the traditional Afghanistan with the new Afghanistan?

Back 28

Baba saves the woman from rape.
A culture of respect- this is not with the truck driver who has taken their money to pay for their escape.
We see a spirit of community and mutual respect, but then the new Afghanistan is a land of unrest, exploitation and personal struggle.

Front 29

What are the connotations of the quote: "Baba loved the idea of America"?

Back 29

Baba is quite westernised.
The italics used for the word 'idea' show us that Baba might like the things America stands for, he does not feel the same way about the reality of the place. The emphasis on 'idea' warns us that problems will emerge.

Front 30

What is the structural significance of Amir's wedding and Baba's funeral.

Back 30

Baba dies shortly after Amir and Soraya's wedding. This shows that Amir has a huge gap in his life to fill and urges him to find Hassan's son even more.