Chapter 4 Flashcards
How does Chapter 4 open?
with a back story of Ali and Baba
How does Amir rationalise the relationship between Ali and Baba and himself and Hassan?
through the history of region, religion and culture
How does Amir try to prove his superiority over Hassan?
through his literacy
What does the story “Shahnamah” which Amir reads to Hassan significant in doing?
in contrasting Amir to the admiral, heroic character
What is significant of the fact that Hassan and Amir appear to mirror rate relationship of Baba and Ali?
the social class of Hazara’s have determined their definitive position as inferior beings within the Afghani social hierarchy.
What are the two types of Muslims?
Sunni and Shi’a
How does Amir compare his first 12 years growing up with Hassan?
to a “long lazy summer day”
Amir compares the first 12 years growing up with Hassan to a “long lazy summer day” which contrasts to what?
to the shocking event of the winter day that moved Amir from the innocence of childhood to the harsh reality of adulthood
Instead of using a single year to symbolise stages of Amir’s life, what does Hosseini do?
he uses the seasons to symbolise different emotional states in Amir’s existence
What is the story emphasised from the Shahnamah which Amir reads to Hassan?
the story of mistaken identities and fathers and sons. supporting the thematic topic of relationships which is at the heart of the Kite Runner
What quote supports the fact that Amir did not back down to Baba when he refused to read his short story?
he stood in front of him for “one of the longest minutes of my life”
What is significant about the point that Amir did not back down to Baba when he refused to read his short story and stood in front of his for “one of the longest minutes of my life”?
he illustrated his similar strong willed nature to his father
What demonstrates Hassan’s knowledge and intelligence
the fact that Hassan says “people…. will read you stories”
What does the character of Hassan serve as?
a foil to demonstrates Amir’s shortcomings and to provide a point of comparison
What continues to build suspense as more information is revealed?
Hosseini’s style and narrative technique
What makes the Kite Runner a contemporary classic?
the recurring motifs mixed with the character and thematic development
What car does Baba drive which Amir notices was driven in the American movie “Bullitt”?
a ford mustang
What films and drinks do Hassan and Amir watch and drink?
Western movies staring American actors such as Charles Bronson
Coca Cola
What is Assef’s aim?
a culturally pure, Pashtun people which Hazaras and American culture in Afghanistan threatens
In this chapter, what does Amir realise?
his gift for storytelling
What was Hassan’s cleft lip a symbol and reminder of?
the fact that he is a poor servant boy, when it is repaired, the balance is upset
What has Amir’s guilt done?
it ended his childhood and haunted his adulthood
What theme does the story of “Rostam and Sohrab” explore?
the theme of love and tension between fathers and sons.
Why is 1933 a significant year?
as this is the year of Baba’s birth and the year that Zahir Shah started his 40 year peaceful reign of Afghanistan; this is important because the fall of Zahir Shah indicates the fall of Baba, the figure of western liberal society, and Afghanistan itself.
What is the name of the story which Amir read to Hassan but changed the ending to his own?
“Rostam and Sohrab”
Why is the motif of the Western as a film genre so relevant?
this is because of its clear delineation of good guys and bad guys and justice winning ou.
Why is it significant that Amir changes the story of “Rostam and Sohrab” and does not teach Hassan how to read?
as in this way Amir maintains his power over the servant, to which his jealousy could not bear Hassan exceeding his own abilities.
What does the pomegranate tree in the disused cementer symbolise?
it is symbolic of life and plenty, but also of the sweetness of the bond between brothers. The fact that it is disused forms it into a place of both life and death; a place in which the real world could not reach them. In addition, according to the Koran, pomegranates are one of the fruits that Muslims will find in the garden of paradise to cure envy and hatred.
What does it suggest by the fact that Hassan can see the plot hole in Amir’s first story?
as this demonstrates Hassan’s ability to see things clearly as opposed to Amir’s more emotional and muddied thinking. Hassan’s intelligence is something which augments Amir’s social appropriation, suggesting that Hosseini believes that Pashtun prejudice aligns with jealousy and ethnic intolerance. Such can be seen when his subconscious refers to Hassan as an “illiterate Hazara,” which demonstrates his envy and bitterness towards his servants astuteness.
