Chapter 2

Question 1

What 3 phrase are used to describe Amir’s home in Kabul

Answer 1

“four bathrooms”
“Gold-stitched tapestries”
“a crystal chandelier”

Question 2

“In his arms, but it’s Rahim Khan’s ____ my fingers are curled around”

Answer 2

pinky

Question 3

How does Amir describe Hasan’s home?

Answer 3

“a modest little mud hut”

Question 4

Why is chapter 2 set up episodically instead of chronologically?

Answer 4

as the different narrative examples exist not only to forward the plot but also to enhance both character and thematic development.

Question 5

The word “Hazara” is used for the first time in Chp.2, what does this explore?

Answer 5

this explores the cultural differences that separate both Afghanis and Muslims from one another

Question 6

What is the significance of the fact that very few female characters exist or are developed?

Answer 6

this mirrors the role of second class citizens that females are in Afghanistan

Question 7

What is significant of the fact that Amir provides comfort to Hassan in the theatre?
“later in the dark”

Answer 7

Amir would not have done so in a lighted, public place. Privately Amir is able to treat Hassan with the compassion and dignity he deserves as a human being and friend, yet Hassan’s station in life means that publicly, Hassan is nothing more than a servant.

Question 8

What is Amir’s struggle within the Kite runner which is obvious in Chp.2?

Answer 8

the struggle to deal with a personal set of beliefs that runs counter to the dominant culture of his society- and how he responds when his core beliefs are challenged

Question 9

What motif is developed throughout the text, beginning in chp.2?

Answer 9

the motif of public versus private

Question 10

What motif (dominant or reoccurring idea) is developed throughout the text, beginning in chp.2?

Answer 10

the motif of public versus private

Question 11

What is important about the photograph of Babe, Amir and Rahim Khan?

Answer 11

this reflects the physical representation of the nature of these relationships

Question 12

What are the cultural differences between social classes the beginning of which is developed throughout the Kite Runner?

Answer 12

the beginning of the religious conflicts, persecution and blame game that exists in Afghanistan

Question 13

Although the text relates specifically and directly to different types of Muslims, how are these ideas universal?

Answer 13

as this theme exists among different Christian religions, non religious affiliations and mixed religious groups as well

Question 14

What is the important quote when Ali sings to Hassan and Amir?

Answer 14

the song reminded them that “there was a brotherhood between people who had fed from the same breast”

Question 15

What does Ali’s singing voice which, reminds Amir and Hasan that “there was a brotherhood between people who had fed from the same breast”, demonstrate?

Answer 15

the inner beauty of something that is socially ugly

Question 16

What does the quote

“there was a brotherhood between people who had fed from the same breast” do? (2)

Answer 16

it foreshadows and acts as a statement of a thematic topic

Question 17

Chapter 2 ends with another mention of the event in the winter of 1975 and _______(quote________?

Answer 17

“and all that followed”

Question 18

Hassan is “________ of _______ anyone”

Answer 18

incapable

hurting

Question 19

From the onset of his life, ____ is focused of Babe, and from the onset of his life, ______ is focused on Amir

Answer 19

Amir

Hassan

Question 20

Why is looking back on the past a reoccurring motif for Amir, the narrator?

Answer 20

because for Amir, the past is not over. The past is a fundamental part of who he is, no matter how far he is in time or location from his childhood in Afghanistan, the events of that period are always with him

Question 21

What does the guilt of Amir do?

Answer 21

it informs the entire narrative

Question 22

What was Hassan’s first word?

Answer 22

“Amir”

Question 23

What is the significance of the fact that Ali suffers from polio, a disease which affects the central nervous system and Hassan’s harelip?

Answer 23

as from their physical weakness Hosseini visually depicts them as social subordinates, possibly this illustrates how distinctly Pashtuns saw Hazara’s as a physical manifestation of whom Assef later claims “dirty our blood” and “pollute our homeland” in chapter 5.

Question 24

How is the role of women largely characterised in this novel by absence?

Answer 24

as we are told of Sofia’s and Sanaubar’s fate and the brotherhood between the male characters which make Amir and Baba’s betrayal all the more worse