Chapter 3 Flashcards
What does the complex nature of Amir’s and Baba’s relationship combine of?
love and fear and hate
What does Baba say that all sins are a variation of?
the one and only sin-theft
“A boy ___ _____ _____ ___ ___ ______ becomes a man who can’t stand up for anything”
who can’t stand up for himself
What is unique to chapter 3 ?
it develops the complex characters of Baba and Amir
Amir desires to be alone with his father, lying in order to do this, what characteristic does this show?
the characteristic of a desperate child
The domino effect that a single lie has on the rest of a person’s life, and atoning for that lie is what in the novel?
an important thematic topic
What is important about the jealous tone of Amir’s memories?
it reflects how he is now war of his jealousy
What is important in Amir’s parental figures which explains why he is a desperate child?
his mother is gone physically and his father is gone emotionally; thus Amir is a an orphan living in a privileged “orphanage”
What can be said about Amir as a child?
he is an orphan living in a privileged “orphanage”
How can Amir’s character be described, similar to his father?
as morally ambiguous
What quote reveals Baba’s character through demonstrating his break from other Muslims and illustrating the insightful nature of his character
“God help us all if Afghanistan falls into their hands’
What is significant about the prophetic line, “God help us all if Afghanistan falls into their hands’
this demonstrates Baba’s break from other Muslims and illustrating the insightful nature of his character. This statement as well portrays him as more liberal than what Amir admits, depicting him as a traditional father who desires a masculine son. Amir often sees himself as the one ting his father could not mould to his desire.
Amir- “I was always _____ _____ ____ ____ from other people”
learning things about Baba
The juxtaposition of Baba’s shame for Amir and the way Amir correspondingly treats Hassan demonstrates what?
the similar way that siblings fight for parental affection
What are the first 3 chapters focused on?
characterisation
What is evidence of the fact that Baba does not listen to religious authorities?
he disregarded Mullah Fatiullah Khan saying that it is a sin to drink alcohol. “piss on the beards of all those self-righteous monkeys”
What does Baba say about Mullah Fatiullah Khan and other religious authorities?
“piss on the beards of all those self righteous monkeys”
What can be said for the relationship between Hassan and Amir?
they act as each others substitute parents. They are like brothers who are on occasion reminded that one is a Pashtun and one is a Hazara
How does Hosseini familiarise his readers with Afghanistan?
using economic, ethnic and religious themes
How can the religious differences between Amir and Hassan be reflected to Hosseini’s audience?
Catholic and Protestant
When did Babe say “God help us all if Afghanistan ever falls into their hands” (Taliban)
after calling Mullah Fatiullah Khan and those like him “self righteous monkeys”
What does Baba say is the only sin?
“That is theft”
What does the image of Baba wrestling a black bear suggest?
that Baba is a strong, powerful man whom Amir has love and pride for as a man; but contempt for as a father. Amir mythologises his father, continually presenting stories of his great stature. Subsequently his desire to live up to his father’s wishes is futile as alike his father’s public persona, this goal is a myth rather than a reality.
What is ironic about Baba building the orphanage as a benefactor?
as Amir highlights the poor relationship between him and his father
What is interesting about the fact that Amir
“I wanted Babe all to myself”?
the narrative voice here is simple, almost childlike, reflecting the perspective of his memories. As such, Amir mythologises Baba, an attitude which seems to form a large part of Amir’s stories about his father throughout the novel
Amir identifies himself as the one thing that his father could have “_____…..__ ___ ______”, he is not malleable alike business.
molded… to his liking
What creates a barrier between Amir and Baba?
the extreme opposition of their behaviour, in this chapter Amir makes random comments about him having cancer and demonstrates one of the threads running through the novel of Amir being unable to bond with his father.
By preventing Hassan from going to the lake, Amir in turn avoids the guilty which he feels about these cruel episodes of removing him from Baba’s affections. What does this foreshadow?
the way Amir drives Hassan away after his rape
What is the significance of the opening of the orphanage?
as we see Baba in as a publicly idealised figure, reflecting Baba’s real charisma and abilities which are more than just simply romanticised views of his son.
While having a very different personality to his father, Amir still wishes to emulate Baba. What does this contradiction power in the novel?
it powers Amir’s story towards reconciliation with his father and acceptance of who he is
How is Amir’s immaturity shown in the end of the chapter?
by the fact that the people who congradulate his father tousle Amir’s hair as a symbol of this immaturity and not yet being ready to assume the mantle of his father
