Kite Runner Flashcards
“I was ___ years old when I became who I am today.”
Twelve
Whose voice whispers to the narrator and what does it say?
Hassan - “For you, a thousand times over” (pg. 2).
During his phone call, what had Rahim Khan told the narrator he must do, and what were his final words to the narrator?
Rahim Khan wants Amir to come see him. Rahim Kahn - “There is a way to be good again” (pg. 2).
Figurative language is defined as language that’s intended to create an image, association, or other effect in the mind of the listener or reader that goes beyond the literal meaning or expected use of the words involved. Find examples of figurative language that the author uses in the opening chapter of the novel.
Right from the beginning, the narrator uses figurative language to describe the scene around himself. In the opening chapter, the narrator says, “Floating side by side like a pair of eyes looking down on San Francisco,” (pg. 2), which is personification.
Describe Hassan’s mother and what happened to her after Hassan’s birth.
Hassan’s mother is Sanaubar, and she was Ali’s first cousin. She was described as a gorgeous woman, but she was also said to have a bad reputation (described as “notoriously unscrupulous” in the book). She ran away shortly after Hassan was born with a group of traveling singers/dancers after he was born.
How did Amir’s mom die?
She died giving birth
According to Baba, what is the only sin? Explain what he means.
Baba says that the only sin is theft. What he means by this is that every other sin can be seen as something getting taken away from you.
Explain the pivotal (life-changing, critical) experience from Baba’s childhood.
When Baba was six years old, his house was broken into. Baba’s father, Amir’s grandfather, confronted the criminal and in return was stabbed in the throat with a knife, killing him instantly. (This moment perfectly explains why Baba only believes in the sin of theft; his father being taken away from him.)
What happened on July 17, 1973? How do the main characters react?
The king, Zahir Shah, was dethroned by his cousin Daoud Khan in a shooting. The main characters do not fully understand what the situation really means, and they go outside to climb a tree instead of caring all that much. (pgs. 36-37)
Describe Assef. Why are the boys so afraid of him?
Assef is the son of one of Baba’s friends (Mahmood, an airline pilot). He is mixed with Afghan and German. He has blonde hair and blue eyes and is described to be very strong. He is very privileged, and seems to be empowered by that. He has a “savage reputation” and the boys are afraid of being beaten up by him. (pgs. 39-41).
How and why does Hassan threaten Assef? What does this action tell us about Hassan?
Hassan threatens Assef with a slingshot because he was threatening to beat up Amir and Hassan. Hassan stands up to him, which shows his loyalty and good character. (pg. 42).
What threat does Assef issue?
Assef says he would find Amir and beat him up one-on-one (without Hassan around). (pg. 43).
How much time transpires between the confrontation between Assef and the boys and the final birthday scene in the chapter?
It skips a few years in the story’s timeline. (pg. 43)
What birthday gift does Baba give Hassan? Why does Amir think this is ironic?
Baba sends a surgeon to have Hassan’s cleft lip corrected. Amir thinks this is ironic because it fixes his smile, but “that was the winter that Hassan had stopped smiling” (foreshadowing future events) (pgs. 46-47).
Explain why Amir loves the icy season.
Amir loves winter for a lot of reasons. He really likes the snow, and not having school. But he especially loves winter because there is a kite competition every year. This means he gets to fly kites with Baba, which is the only activity that consistently brought them closer. (pg. 49)
Describe Ahmed and how he differs from Amir. Why do you think the author included his story in this chapter?
Ahmed is described to be the across street neighbor. He has epilepsy, and always wore a wool vest and thick black-rhimmed glasses to school (which he attended even in the winter). He was one of Assef’s “regular victims’’. The author may have included this in the story to show how lucky Amir is. (pg. 49).
Explain this quotation from page 49: “Baba and I lived in the same house, but in different spheres of existence. Kites were the one paper-thin slice of intersection between those spheres.”
To Amir, kite running is more than just a part of his childhood, but it is also a way for him to connect with his dad on a certain level. (pg. 49).
Amir compares kite fighting to war. Find specific analogies, similes, and metaphors that he uses in this chapter to form this comparison.
An example of a metaphor Amir used is when he says, “If the kite was the gun, then tar, the glass-coated cutting line, was the bullet in the chamber” (pg. 50).
Explain what a kite runner does and why Amir considers Hassan to be the best kite runner.
Amir explains that the kite runner is an assistant of the kite fighter, who goes after the kite once it falls. Amir considers Hassan to be the best because he would always get to the right spot before the kite landed (as if he had some sort of “inner-compass”) (pg. 52).
What happened to the kite runner who climbed a tree? Why do you think Hosseini includes this story? What does it tell the reader about kite runners and this society?
Amir says that while a kid was climbing a tree, he snapped the branch that was supporting him. So, he fell off the tree, causing him to break his back and never walk again. The author keeps this in the story because it shows how important kite flying is to kids and the customs in the narrator’s society. When a kite runner had their hands on a kite, no one could take it from them, which was not a rule, but it was simply out of honor and respect which shows a lot about the society. (pg. 52)
Amir tells the story of having a discussion with Hassan and seeing his face change. Explain what happens in this scene. What purpose does the scene serve?
Amir shares with the readers a strange feeling he sometimes gets when he looks at Hassan. Amir says the ‘‘other face’’ of Hassan would appear only for a second, making him feel unsettled, and that he had seen it somewhere else. Then the moment would pass and Hassan would be ‘‘just Hassan’’ again. His face changes when Amir mentions their relationship (pg. 54).
Describe the conversation that Baba and Amir have the night before the biggest kite championship. What does this scene tell the reader about Baba? What does the scene tell the reader about Amir?
A few days before the kite championship, Baba casually tells Amir he may win. Amir is suddenly only thinking about this comment, and how winning the championship will earn him Baba’s love and praise. This scene shows the reader that Baba is not pressing Amir to win, but he expects it, and this scene also shows how easy it is for Amir to get distracted in only trying to get his father’s approval. (pgs. 55-56).
What does Amir tell Hassan he will buy him one day? Why do you think he will do this?
Amir tells Hassan he will someday buy him a colored television (not black and white). Amir will probably fulfill this promise because he pities Hassan’s lifestyle in a way (due to Hassan being a servant). Hassan quickly realizes this and reassures Amir that he likes where he lives. (pg. 58).
Define “Inshallah.” (The definition is given on the final page of the chapter.)
Inshallah is defined as “God willing” by the narrator. (pg. 58).