Chapter 11

Question 1

Where are Amir and Baba living in this chapter set in the 1980’s?

Answer 1

California

Question 2

Where is Baba working in California 1980’s?

Answer 2

at a gas station

Question 3

Amir claims to use America to do what?

Answer 3

“to bury my memories”

Question 4

For Baba, America is a place for what?

Answer 4

“to mourn his” (dreams)

Question 5

Why does Amir embrace America and all it has to offer?

Answer 5

as a means to escape the host of Hassan that was haunting his life in Afghanistan

Question 6

What momentarily chokes Amir after his graduation

Answer 6

When Baba mentioned that he wished “Hassan had been with us today”

Question 7

How did Amir react to Baba mentioning that he wished “Hassan had been with us today”?

Answer 7

“A pear of steel hands closed around my windpipe at the sound of Hassan’s name”

Question 8

What does the Afghanistan section of the flea market include?

Answer 8

people who used to be doctors, professors, and ambassadors

Question 9

Who is one of Baba’s acquaintances at the flea market?

Answer 9

General Sahib, Taheri

Question 10

How does Baba introduce Amir to General Sahib, Taheri?

Answer 10

that Amir is “going to be a great writer”

Question 11

what is Reaganomics?

Answer 11

the economic policies of the former US president Ronald Reagan,

Question 12

Hosseini gives an early commentary about Reaganomics which indicates the author’s what?

Answer 12

political leanings and concern for blue collar workers

Question 13

Although the early commentary of Reaganomics may seem like unnecessary detail, what connection does this make?

Answer 13

a connection between the US and Afghanistan, that there is a disregard from the ruling parties to the general populace of their nations

Question 14

Although Baba’s life juxtaposes between life in US and life in Afghanistan, what does it indicate/show?

Answer 14

that those who do not have privilege, will never have it. Later in the novel when eating Farid, it is clear that Baba and Amir’s life in Afghanistan was not representative of the general populace who suffered outside of the wealth of Kabul.

Question 15

What does Baba say when Amir suggests returning to Peshawar?

Answer 15

“Peshawar was good for me. Not good for you”

Question 16

Why can it be suggested that in this chapter Baba is going through his own redemption to be a good father?

Answer 16

As when Amir suggests to move to Peshawar, Baba said that “Peshawar was good for me. Not good for you”
Even though Baba had a tough time in US, ironically he is having an easier time being a father

Question 17

The motifs of gifts and giving are revisited in this chapter, how?

Answer 17

Amir describes America as Baba’s gift to him

When Amir receives a car as a graduation present

Question 18

What intangible gift means more to Amir than any car or money could?

Answer 18

the pride that Baba says he has during Amir’s graduation

Question 19

What is an interesting line in this chapter from Amir?

Answer 19

That he would not “sacrifice for Baba,” claiming the last time he did “I had damned myself”

Question 20

How can it be perceived that Amir said he would no longer “sacrifice for Baba,” claiming the last time he did “I had damned myself”

Answer 20

Either that he has realised his juvenile jealously or that he abdicates some of his responsibility to the fault of his father

Question 21

Why can it be viewed that when Amir states he would no longer “sacrifice for Baba,” claiming the last time he did “I had damned myself”, he is only trying to abdicate his responsibility?

Answer 21

as while he suggests that he sacrificed for Baba, what he did was in an attempt to earn Baba’s respect, which was for his own desires, his own desire to be loved and noticed and appreciated by Baba.

Question 22

How does Baba feel in America?

Answer 22

he feels disconnected from everything he knows

Question 23

How did Baba pay for bread in Kabul?

Answer 23

he would send Amir and Hassan to the bakers with a stick, the baker would make a notch in the stick with how many loaves he made. At the end of the month, Baba paid the baker.

Question 24

Why does Baba overreact to the manager at the convenience store when he asks for ID?

Answer 24

as Baba hates the rules and takes it as a sign of distrust

“Afghan’s cherish customs but hate rules” (chapter 7)

Question 25

How does Amir describe their home in Kabul to houses in America?

Answer 25

homes that made Baba’s house in Kabul “look like a servant’s hut”

Question 26

The differences between Baba’s life in Kabul and California leave him what?

Answer 26

perpetually frustrated

Question 27

How does Baba try to reclaim his life in Kabul in chapter r11?

Answer 27

by buying everyone drinks on the night of Amir’s graduation

Question 28

“America was a river, roaring along, unmindful of the past.”

Answer 28

A river always moves forward, Amir desires to move on from the winter of 1975. Rivers are also common symbols of cleansing, and the washing away of sin; such as baptism in christianity which symbolises purification and regeneration. Similarly Amir wants a new birth, free of the sins he committed in chapter 7, and forcing Ali and Hassan to move to Hazarajat

Question 29

What makes Baba ill?

Answer 29

the air, water pollution and lack of fresh foods

Question 30

What suggests that Amir has fit in with America culture more so than Baba?

Answer 30

he was able to placate the grocery clerk and graduate form high school

Question 31

Where is the flea market where Baba and Amir sell garage items?

Answer 31

San Jose

Question 32

the car Baba bought Amir reminded him of his Ford Mustang from which movie?

Answer 32

Bullitt

Question 33

What was General Taheri’s job?

Answer 33

Ministry of Defence

Question 34

What is evidence of Baba’s natural ability to garner the respect of others?

Answer 34

as he befriends the customer of the bar they go to to celebrate Amir’s graduation

Question 35

What does Baba’s trading of the small items in San Jose market parallel?

Answer 35

his success as a merchant against the odds; reflective of the continuation of the same spirit and Amir’s narrative of the events that demonstrate how he still holds his father to the sae regard as he did as a boy in Afghanistan

Question 36

What is the significance of the San Jose flea market?

Answer 36

it is a way for Baba to hold onto his heritage though trading with other Afghans in the community who had been transplanted into America

Question 37

Who does Soraya Taheri share her name with?

Answer 37

the former queen of Afghansitan who was an early and powerful champion of women’s rights in Afghanistan