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).
Describe Hassan’s dream. What is the problem with that dream?
Hassan’s dream was about going to Ghargha Lake with Amir, but they could not swim because a monster was waiting at the bottom of the lake. In an act of bravery and friendship, they prove to people that it is safe to swim in the lake. The problem with this dream is that it is foreshadowing to future events in the chapter, but Amir did not save Hassan. (pg. 60).
Who wins the kite tournament? Is that a good thing? Why or why not?
Amir won the kite tournament, which was good for him and Hassan at the moment. They were both so excited to win, and Amir could not wait to go back home and celebrate with Baba. However, Hassan had to run and get the kite, which had a horrible ending. (pgs. 65-66).
“For you a thousand times over!” (67). Who says this to whom? What does it mean?
Hassan says this to Amir. This means he will always help Amir with anything. (pg. 67).
Who gets the second-place kite that is cut? Is that a good thing? What happens?
Hassan runs to get the second-place kite. This would have been a good thing, because Amir and Hassan would have two kites, but the confrontation with Assef ended in Hassan being assaulted. (pgs. 71-73).
Explain what is going on with the fortune teller in Hassan’s dreamlike flashback.
The fortune teller seems to see Hassan’s horrible future, so he gives Hassan his coin back. He instead tells Amir his dream, which was of Amir lost in a snowstorm. A hand reaches out to save him, but it brings him to a field of kites instead. Hassan and Amir’s fates seem to be intertwined, and they both can save each other. (pg. 74).
What happened in Amir’s fortune?
Amir is lost in a snow storm, and sees Hassan’s hand and reaches for it
After the assault, Hassan has “the look of the lamb”. What does that mean?
The expression, “the look of the lamb” is referring to the look of acceptance a lamb will make before it is killed. Hassan is a sacrificial lamb, sacrificing himself for Amir.
How does Eid-Al-Adha apply to the theme here? In other words, how does this make Amir feel more guilty?
Eid-Al-Adha applies to the theme because of the story that comes with the holiday. It celebrates a prophet sacrificing his own son for God, which is similar to Hassan sacrificing himself for Amir. Amir feels guilty because of Hassan’s expression, which was of “guileless devotion” (page 78). (pg. 76-78).
How does Baba feel when Amir returns home that night? Why does Amir cry when Baba holds him?
Baba feels incredibly proud of Amir when he returns home. He shows Amir true love and affection, which was the greatest moment of Amir’s life. When Baba pulled Amir in a hug, Amir started to cry. He does this because of the extremely traumatic moment he just witnessed. He is ashamed of being a coward and not doing anything/running away instead of helping Hassan. (pg. 79).
How does Amir believe his father will greet him when he returns after his win in the competition?
Amir believes his father will greet him with love and pride, which is exactly what happens. (pg. 79).
Explain what Assef tells Hassan about sacrificing himself for Amir. How does Hassan react?
Assef asks Hassan if Amir would do the same for him, and he also asks Hassan if he knows why Amir only plays with him when no one else is around. Assef tells him that it is because to Amir, Hassan is only a pet, not a friend. Hassan is visibly flushed, and retorts by saying the two are friends. Assef responds by laughing in his face and tells Hassan to wake up from his “little fantasy and learn just how good of a friend he is” (page 72). (pgs. 72-73).
Describe the changes in Hassan’s behavior.
Hassan barely speaks to Amir after the assault. He tries to rekindle their relationship later on in the chapter, but mostly just does his chores, then goes to bed. (pgs. 80-81).
What does Ali ask Amir, and how does Amir respond?
Ali asks Amir if something happened to Hassan to make him so tired all the time. Amir responds bluntly by saying “How should I know?”. Ali then asks Amir if something happened, that he would tell him. Amir feels guilty, so he snaps at Ali. (pg. 81).
What happens during the trip to Jalalabad? Why is Amir first excited when his father agrees to go, and why does he quickly become discouraged?
Amir is at first excited to spend time alone with Baba, but Baba managed to get two dozen more people to go on the trip. When they get to Jalalabad, Amir realizes that although he has what he thought he always wanted, he feels empty without Hassan. That night, Amir confesses to watching Hassan get raped, yet no one hears him. (pgs. 85-86).
Why is Amir upset when he sees the pomegranate tree again?
Amir becomes upset when he sees the words carved on the pomegranate tree. (pgs. 86-87).
Explain the discussion between Amir and Hassan when Hassan asks Amir what he has done wrong?
When Hassan asks Amir what he did wrong, Amir tells Hassan to stop harassing him and to leave him alone. And so, Hassan did. (pg. 88).
What question does Amir ask that upsets his father? How does Baba respond?
Amir asks Baba if he ever thought about hiring new servants. Baba is extremely upset that Amir would even think about asking that. (pg. 89).
Describe the episode with Amir throwing a pomegranate at Hassan. Why is this scene significant? What is Amir trying to do? How does Hassan react?
Amir is upset that Hassan does not throw the pomegranate back at him, no matter how many times he throws one at Hassan’s head. This scene is significant because Amir wished deep inside that Hassan would punish him in some way to repay for not helping him when he was being assaulted. Hassan just stood up, looking dazed. Then, he took a pomegranate from the ground, and crushed it over his own face. He screamed at Amir, then ran down the hill in tears. (pgs. 92-93).
Describe Amir’s birthday. What brings him joy and what upsets him at the party?
Amir’s birthday party seems to be a big event as there are lots of people there. Amir describes it to be the most people he has ever seen in the house at once. He hated how he was forced to personally say hello to each guest, so that guests would not start rumors of how Baba had raised an unmannered boy. He also disliked speaking with Assef. Amir spent a great deal of the time upset and talking to Rahim Khan, which was the better part of the night for him. (pgs. 95-99).
What do Amir and Rahim Khan discuss? Why is this story so significant?
The two discuss the story of Rahim Khan almost getting married, which Amir had no clue about. They loved each other dearly, but Rahim Khan’s family did not approve due to the woman, named Homaira, being a Hazara. She moved away the day after, and they never saw each other again. Rahim Khan tells Amir he can talk to him about anything at any time, to which Amir responds saying “I know,” (pgs. 98-99).
What does Amir almost tell Rahim Khan? Why do you think he does not tell him?
Amir almost tells Rahim Khan about the night in the alley with Hassan, but he decides to not tell him because Rahim Khan would see him as a disappointment or a monster. (pg. 99).
Why is Amir upset in the flickering light during the fireworks?
Amir sees Hassan serving drinks to Assef and Wali, which upsets him deeply because Assef is smiling and playfully hitting Hassan as if he didn’t assault him. (pg. 100).
How does Amir feel when he looks around at all of his presents? Why does he feel this way?
Amir feels that all the gifts he was given were “blood money”, because he knows Baba would not have thrown that big of a party if he did not win the tournament. (pg. 101).
What gift does he treasure? Why?
Amir treasures the gift he got from Rahim Khan, which was a leather-bound notebook (pg. 102).
What gift does Amir receive from Hassan and Ali? How does this gift make him feel? Explain.
Amir receives a newer version of Amir and Hassan’s favorite book, Shahnamah. This gift makes him feel incredibly guilty, so he puts it at the bottom of his gifts. (pg. 103).
How does Amir “frame” or set-up Hassan for punishment? Why do you think he does this?
Amir frames Hassan for stealing his new watch that Baba bought for Amir for his birthday by putting the watch under his mattress. Amir does this because he cannot stand to be around Hassan due to his guilt for not stepping in or interfering with Hassan’s assault (pg. 104).
What happens when Amir tells his father about the theft?
Baba goes outside to talk to Ali, and thirty minutes later, they come to Baba’s office to talk about it. (pg. 104-105).
Why does Amir flinch? What does Amir now realize?
Amir flinches because Hassan continued to lie for him, even after his assault. Hassan lied saying he took Amir’s watch, and Amir realizes this is Hassan’s last sacrifice for him. If Hassan had told the truth, then Amir would be revealed for who he really was, and Baba would never forgive him. (pg. 104).
What do Hassan and Ali decide to do afterwards? Why do you think they do this? How does Baba react?
Hassan and Ali decide to leave. I think they do this because they both cannot live with Amir knowing he was not a good friend to Hassan. Baba cries after pleading for them to stay. (pgs. 104-105).
What does Amir realize when Ali looks at him in “his cold, unforgiving” way (106)?
Amir realizes that Hassan told Ali everything about the day of the tournament. Amir also realizes Hassan knew about seeing him in the alley, which is why Ali is holding Hassan’s shoulder protectively. (pg. 106).
What makes Baba cry for the first time?
Baba cries when Ali says he and Hassan are leaving. (pg. 106).
What is left in the corner of Hassan’s shack? Why do you think he did this?
Hassan left all his toys in the corner of his shack in a pile. He might have done this so Amir would feel guilty for putting the book Hassan and Ali gave him under the rest of his gifts, like it was not important. (pg. 108).
Describe the weather at the end of the chapter. What might this symbolize?
The weather is a thunderstorm, which could symbolize sadness and the truth being cleared. (pg. 109).
Describe what Amir and his father do when Amir is 18. What do they take with them? Why had the men kept this a secret?
Amir and Baba are leaving Kabul, and escaping Afghanistan. They are in the back of a truck with several other Afghans on the way to Pakistan. They took Baba’s wedding photo, a photo of Amir’s grandfather and King Nader Shah standing over dead deer, a few items of clothing, the leather-bound notebook Rahim Khan gave Amir, and that was all. They had to keep it a secret because it was illegal; no one could trust one another anymore after all of Afghanistan was divided. (pgs. 111-112)
Baba states: “Tell him I’ll take a thousand of his bullets before I let this indecency take place” (116). What memory flashes before Amir when he hears his father state this? Why?
Amir gets flashbacks to Hassan in the alley, being assaulted by Assef. He flashes back in this moment because Baba is doing what Amir should have done. (pgs. 115-116).
Why must people hide in the basement? Describe the basement.
They have to hide in the basement because they are waiting to be taken out of Afghanistan. The parts of the other man’s truck broke down, so some people were waiting for two weeks and counting when Amir and Baba got there. The basement was described to be crowded, dark, cold, and creaky, with some water leakage and scratching sounds which were found to be rats. (pg. 119).
How has Kamal changed since the last time Amir had seen him? Why had he changed? What is ironic about his change? (Look at page 71 if you don’t remember.)
Kamal was one of Assef’s friends. He used to be handsome, but now he looks “withered”, his posture has become horrific, and his face looks saggy. He changed because his mother was killed by a stray bullet which hit her temples, and it seems Assef hurt him just like Hassan. The irony about his change is that he helped Assef assault Hassan, but it seems like Assef did the same to Kamal based on what his father told Baba. It is also ironic because Hassan stopped talking after he was attacked, which is the same thing which happened to Kamal. (pg. 120).
What disturbing event happens at the end of the chapter? Why does this happen? How does it affect Amir?
Kamal dies from what we as readers can assume to be the varying gas fumes. His father begins to panic, and takes Karim’s gun. He takes it, and points it to the roof of his mouth, killing himself. Amir “dry-heaved”, meaning his body tried to throw something up but nothing came out. (pg. 124).
Explain this quotation: “Baba loved the idea of America. It was living in America that gave him an ulcer” (125).
In the quotation, it is easily explained by the formatting in the book. The word “idea” is italicized. When Baba says this, he means he loves the idea of American values such as freedom, but actually settling down and living in America is more challenging than believing in certain ideas and principles by themselves. (pg. 125).
Explain the story about the food stamps. What does this story tell us about Baba?
Once Baba was hired at the gas station, they went over to their eligibility officer, the woman’s name was Mrs. Dobbins. She handed them food stamps, but Baba refused, saying “Thank you very much, Mrs. Dobbins, but I don’t like free money”. This shows Baba is extremely stubborn, but he is also a hard worker. He does not like to be given things for free. (pgs. 130-131).
At the end of the night when Baba and Amir celebrate his graduation, what does Baba say that disturbs Amir?
Baba says, “I wish Hassan had been with us today”. (pg. 133).
Explain the quotation; “I didn’t want to sacrifice for Baba anymore. The last time I had done that, I had damned myself.”
Amir says this because he considers the sacrifice of taking the kite and allowing Hassan to be assaulted to have been a sacrifice for Baba and his love. Amir was selfish to get Baba’s attention in any way instead of protecting Hassan, who was extremely loyal to Amir and devoted his life to him. Amir wants to go off and make his own choices, his first one being that he will become an English major. (pg. 134).
What story does Baba tell Amir about Soraya?
Amir asks Baba about Soraya because he had heard rumors about her before. Baba does not want to spread gossip, but he says that Soraya had a romantic relationship with a man before, and it did not go very well. (pg. 141).
Explain the problems that Amir encounters as he tries to spend time with Soraya. Why can’t he just ask her out on a date? How does Soraya’s mother feel about Amir?
Amir finds that he can only talk to Soraya when her father, the general, is not there. He cannot ask her out on a date because his father has “pride and honor”, so Amir is not the most suitable candidate to date his daughter. Soraya’s mother, on the other hand, thinks Amir is nice, and different from every other man in Afghanistan. (pg. 149.
What did Baba tell Amir about Soraya?
Baba told Amir that Soraya ran away with another man
Explain Baba’s sickness. How does he respond to it? How does Amir respond to his father’s illness?
Baba has developed a form of lung cancer from smoking. He seems unbothered by this, even a bit proud when he refuses chemotherapy. He also makes Amir promise to not tell anyone about his illness. However, Amir is panicking, even reciting prayers he had learned in his youth at night. (pg. 156).
Why is Baba so upset with Dr. Schneider? What does this tell the reader about Baba?
Baba is upset with Dr. Schnieder because he is Russian. This shows us as readers that Baba holds a major grudge against Russians because of the invasion of Afghanistan. (pg. 155).
Explain this quotation from page 157: “What’s going to happen to you, you say? All those years, that’s what I was trying to teach you, how to never have to ask that question.”
Amir is clearly distressed about Baba’s inevitable death, and Baba is frustrated with him about this. All of Baba’s life, he has been trying to teach Amir how to be a man, and after he passes, Amir will finally become one. (pg. 157).
At the end of the chapter, Amir states that he envied Soraya. Explain.
Amir envies Soraya because she was able to admit her past of running away with a drug dealer for a month to him, while Amir still cannot speak about Hassan in the alley. (pgs. 164-165).
Describe the lafz ceremony, How does this ceremony differ from American customs? What thoughts go through Amir’s mind during the wedding ceremony? Why?
The “Lafz ceremony” (meaning “ceremony of giving words”) is when the father of the bride and the father of the groom exchange their formal invitations for the couple to marry each other and give a short speech to honor each other, which is different from American customs (the groom asks the father ahead of time to marry the bride (sometimes)). Amir thinks about Rahim Khan and Hassan during his wedding, and wonders if Hassan has gotten married yet. (pg. 168 & pg. 171).
Explain the poignancy of the scene with the leather bound book. Why does Amir cry? Why is this scene so significant?
Soraya read the leather-bound notebook to Baba which Rahim Khan gave to Amir. He most likely cried because he finally was shown affection, it was embarrassing, and it reminded him of the day Rahim Khan gave it to him (which is why this scene was so significant) (pg. 172).
Describe the scene where Soraya’s father brings her home after she had run off with a man when she was a teenager. What does this scene tell the reader about Soraya and about her father?
The general brings Soraya home, and her mother is overjoyed. However, he leads her up to her room, gives her a pair of scissors, and tells her to cut off all her hair while he watches. She does so, and does not step out of her room for weeks. This tells us as readers that they do not have the best relationship, as the situation could have been handled better. (pg. 179).
What gift does the general give Amir when they move into their new home? What does this gift show about the general?
The general gave Amir an IBM typewriter. He most likely does this to give Amir some motivation to keep writing. (pg. 180).
Why was Afghanistan forgotten (184)?
There were so many events and tragedies that occurred all over the world during the war in Afghanistan, so people in the west began to forget about Afghanistan. (pgs. 183-184).
In what year and month does the chapter begin? Compare this time period to the time period of the opening of the novel.
The chapter opens in June 2001, which is when the flashback of the first chapter occurred. (pg 190).
Why has Rahim Khan called Amir? How does Amir react to the call?
Rahim Khan was extremely sick. Amir turns pale from the news, and the fact that Rahim Khan seems to know about Hassan’s assault. (pg 191).
How have Amir and Soraya changed in the last decade?
They both have gotten older, which seemed to be noticeable in looks. Amir still thinks Soraya looks like a Grand Ball princess despite this. They have been married for fifteen years now, and it’s like they can read each other’s minds. (pg 191).
On page 192, Amir states: “I knew he knew.” Explain what he means. How does he know?
Amir was right for all those years; Rahim Khan knew about Hassan being assaulted by Assef and how Amir framed Hassan with the watch and money. He most likely knows because of his cryptic statement, “There is a way to be good again,”Hassan told him. (pg 192).
Describe Amir’s dreams. What might these dreams tell us about Amir?
Amir dreamed about Hassan running in the snow wearing a green coat and black snow boots. Hassan is screaming in the dream, “For you, a thousand times over!” This shows that Amir is still thinking about Hassan and all the guilt that has swelled inside him over the years. Amir wishes he could change what happened that day in the alley. (pg 194).
Explain what happened to Rahim Khan at the soccer stadium. From this story, what do we learn about the changes in Afghanistan?
In 1998, he was in Ghazi Stadium to watch Kabul against Mazar-i-Sharif. Kabul scored, and a man next to him cheered loudly. Rahim Khan was cut on his forehead by a young man who was patrolling the aisles, even though he was not the one who broke the law. This underscores how Afghanistan has gotten a lot stricter due to the war. (pg 199).
What happened to the orphanage? Again, what does this tell us about the changes in Afghanistan?
The Alliance destroyed Baba’s orphanage. Rahmin Khan said it was “collateral damage”. The Alliance killed innocent children who had absolutely nothing to do with war, which again exemplifies coldness that started after the war. (pg 200).
On page 201, Rahim Khan states: “Yes, hope is a strange thing, Peace at last. But at what price?” Explain.
Amir and Rahim Khan are speaking about the Taliban. When they came to Afghanistan, they were first thought to be heroes, but they started enforcing horrific laws and rules. (pg 201).
Rahim Khan states on page 201: “I see America has infused you with the optimism that has made her so great. That’s very good. We’re a melancholic people, we Afghans, aren’t we?” Explain what he means.
Amir explains to Rahim Khan that he could bring him back to America and get him some form of treatment. Rahim Khan says the quotation above that says America makes people somewhat hopeful, which is good for Amir. Rahim Khan says to Amir with a laugh that Afghans are pensive and sad individuals, meaning they wallow in too much self pity and tend to be serious, but life goes on. (pg 201).
What does Amir learn about Hassan in chapter 15?
Amir learns that Hassan had lived with Rahim Khan in Baba’s house, and that Rahim Khan has to tell him everything that happened in Amir’s absence. (pg 202).
How had Rahim Khan spent his time in Baba’s house after Baba and Amir had left?
He tried his best to take care of it, even though he was aging. (pg. 204).
What disturbing news about Ali does Hassan tell?
Ali passes away due to him stepping on a landmine. (pg. 206).
How does Hassan first respond when Rahim Khan asks him to move back to Kabul? Why does he change his mind?
At first, Hassan and his wife decide to not move back into Baba’s old house because they managed to build a life in their village. Hassan only changes his mind when Rahim Khan tells him Baba has passed away. (pg. 207).
How and why had Hassan learned to read? What does this tell us about how he has changed?
Hassan learns to read and write from an old Farsi teacher. He probably did this because he wanted to write letters to Amir. In my opinion Hassan hasn’t really changed, he is still selfless, always thinking about how Amir or other people are doing and he still has a curiosity of the world which led him to learn how to read and write.
Explain what happens when Sanaubar, Hassan’s mother, returns home. How does Hassan respond?
Sanauber is beaten up and clearly is not doing very well. Hassan at first responds by not saying anything, and walks back to his hut. But, the next day, he forgives her for leaving him as a child and they begin to bond. (pg. 210).
Describe Sohrab and how the family changes after he arrives.
Sohrab is Hassan’s and Farzana’s child, and they named him after Hassan’s favorite hero from Shahnamah, his favorite book. As Rahim Khan describes him, “He was a beautiful little boy, sweet as sugar, and had the same temperament as his father”. The whole family grows closer after his birth, with each of the adults contributing to help raise Sohrab. (pg. 211).
Explain the contents of the letter that Rahim Khan gives Amir. How does the letter affect Amir?
The letter is from Hassan, and he writes to Amir about how Afghanistan has changed, his family, what it’s like raising Sohrab, and Rahim Khan’s illness. Also in the letter, there is a picture of Hassan and his son. Amir reads this letter two times, I think he feels guilty. (pgs. 217-218)
Describe Kabul as Hassan depicts it in his letter.
Hassan depicts Kabul as a place where you can’t escape the killings. Fear is everywhere and Hassan maybe even dreams about corpses on a soccer field that reflects that of Kabul.
What do we learn about the pomegranate tree? How might this be symbolic?
Hassan still takes his son to the pomegranate tree. The tree has dried from the many droughts, and it has not produced fruit for years. This is symbolic to his and Amir’s friendship, as they have not seen each other since Hassan’s departure. (pg. 217).
What disturbing news about Hassan and his wife does Rahim Khan tell Amir in chapter 17? How does Amir respond to this news? What thoughts go through his mind?
They were both shot after trying to convince the Taliban that they were only keeping Baba’s house under watch for Rahim Khan. Amir is in disbelief at this news, and he flashes back to Hassan’s harelip surgery, and thinks about how everyone involved in it was dead, or dying, except himself. (pg. 219).
Explain the shocking news that Rahim Khan tells Amir at the end of the chapter. How does Amir react?
Rahim Khan tells Amir that Ali was infertile, and that he and Hassan were actually half-brothers. At first he does not believe it, trying to deny it all, but then he erupts and in a fit of rage, he screams at Rahim Khan and storms out of his apartment. (pgs. 222-223).
Explain the memories of Hassan and Baba that Amir resurrects.
He thinks about all the signs that he and Hassan were siblings. He thinks about Baba sending Dr. Kumar to fix Hassan’sfixing his harelip, Baba never missing Hassan’s birthday, when he asked Baba if he ever considered getting new servants and how Baba screamed at him, and finally when Baba cried when Hassan left. (pgs. 224-225)
On page 225, Amir calls Baba a thief. Explain.
Baba lied to Hassan and Amir, which Amir finds ironic because Baba always said, “There is only one sin, and that is theft…When you tell a lie, you steal someone’s right to the truth”. (pg. 225)
Amir says that he may have been called to Pakistan to atone for both his own and his father’s sins. Explain what he means.
It means he must make up for Baba’s lie and Amir’s regret for not saving Hassan. (pg. 226)
What does Amir finally decide to do? Why?
Amir finally decides to adopt Sohrab, because he believes it is his duty to rescue Hassan’s son from the orphanage in order to get redemption. (pgs. 226-227)
Describe Farid and his family. Why is he so bitter?
Farid and his family consists of Farid, his two wives, and five children. He used to have seven children, but two died in a landmine, and his father died after being torn by helicopter gunfire. He is bitter because he has been through so much, and he does not think Amir understands what has happened to Afghanistan. (pgs. 230-231)
Explain why Farid is so rude to Amir.
Farid believes that Amir has been privileged all his life, and is extremely rich (which he has/is), and has never struggled. He also hates how he was able to leave Afghanistan. (pg. 232)
Explain why Amir rejects Rahim Khan’s admonition to wait a few days before leaving.
Amir thinks that he might change his mind and go back to his safe and “more appealing” life in America. (pg. 231)
On page 231, Amir states: “I feel like a tourist in my own country.” Explain what he means and explain how Farid responds.
He means that he does believe Afghanistan has changed so much since he left for America. Farid responds by snickering, and continues to make rude remarks to Amir. He even describes how he thinks Amir’s life in America is, and his childhood. (pg. 231)
Describe the dream/nightmare that Amir has that night? What significance does it have?
Amir has a nightmare about Hassan’s murder, but Amir is the one who killed him. This is significant because he thinks if he had helped Hassan when he was being assaulted, everything would have turned out different, and he is still haunted by guilt from that day. (pg. 240)
What is Amir’s final gift to the family? What does this gift tell us about him?
Amir crumpled up money and put it under their mattress, just as he did twenty-six years prior. This shows his character development from when he was a teen. (pg. 242)
Amir’s interaction with the old beggar is extremely important to him. Describe the beggar and explain why Amir is so interested in him.
His interaction with the man is important because Baba always used to hold extra money in his pockets to give beggars money. The old beggar is described to be wearing a threadbare chapan and a dirt-crusted turban. He has a drooping eyelid on his left eye, and he seems to have arthritis. Amir is interested in him because he used to teach poetry at the same university as Sofia, Amir’s mother. (pgs. 248-249).
What specific information does Amir learn about his mother?
He learns that she liked almond cake with honey and hot tea, that she used the word “profoundly”, and that she worried about her happiness. (pgs. 250-251).
Explain Amir’s first encounter with the Taliban in the truck. What mistake does Amir make?
The Taliban roll in to make sure everyone is following the rules. Amir stares at one of the soldier’s dead in the eyes, which you are not supposed to do. (pg. 247).
Why is Zaman so afraid of Amir at first? How does Amir convince him to open the door and listen to him?
Zaman is afraid of Amir and Farid because he thinks they are part of the Taliban. Amir convinces him to open the door by explaining how he knows the child and a few things about Hassan and Sohrab. (pg. 252).
What does Amir learn about Sohrab in chapter 20? What advice about finding Sohrab does Zaman give Amir?
Amir learns that the director of the orphanage, Zaman, has been selling children for money, and Sohrab was one of them. He tells them to go to Ghazi Stadium, and he would be the man with the black sunglasses (pg. 257). Sohrab was bought
Describe and explain the “Street of Guests.”
The “Street of Guests” is a street for people who support the Taliban, so they live in a somewhat better neighborhood than the rest. (pg. 260).
What memory does Amir recall when he sees the pink house?
Amir recalls a moment from his childhood, where Baba tells him the pink house at the end of the road means they are on Baba’s house’s street. He flashes back to a memory, where he and Hassan are pretending to be adventurers, finding a “prehistoric monster in some distant jungle and bringing it back for the whole world to see”. (pgs. 260-261).
Describe the scene that Farid and Amir find inside the stadium. How do they both feel as they enter?
Amir reminisces on how green the field used to look, and how it is now extremely messy and dead. Both Farid and Amir do not want to stay, but they must if Amir wants any chance of finding the man in the black sunglasses. At halftime, instead of entertainment, members of the Taliban (people in the red trucks) go into the field. Two individuals, a man and a woman, are accused of committing adultery. The man in the black sunglasses (who Zaman said to look for earlier) murdered both the man and the woman by throwing rocks at their heads. They did this because it is a sin to commit adultery, and they use the “words of God” as their excuse. (pgs. 268-269, 270-271).
Describe how the man and woman were stoned. What do the clerics do? How do they justify their actions? How do the people in the crowd react? How does Amir react?
The man and woman were both put into holes by the goalposts, head facing up only. They were then getting rocks thrown at their heads until they were killed. The clerics prayed, then explained that killing the man and woman will be justified because it is the words of God, not his or his accomplices’ choice. The people in the crowd react with startled, “Oh”’s and “tsk”’s, while Amir reacts by covering his face with his hands and asks Farid when it is over. (pg. 270-271).
How do the men set up an appointment with the man in the black sunglasses?
Amir and Farid very easily set up an appointment with the man in the black sunglasses. All they did was tell the messenger that they had come on personal business with the man in white, and the messenger ran to the man wearing white and back to Amir and Farid after exchanging a few words. The messenger then said the appointment was set for 3:00PM. (pg. 272).
How does Amir feel as he awaits the meeting? (Find and read the paragraph where he shares his thoughts.)
Amir is extremely nervous, because he is in a place that looks like a holding cell and he is meeting with a man who has murdered two people a few hours prior. He describes himself as a coward, but says it’s alright as long as it comes with prudence. (pg. 275).
What do the men do to Amir before they talk to him?
They ripped off his fake beard. (pg. 276).
On page 277, the man states: “You don’t know the word liberating until you’ve done that, stood in a roomful of targets, let the bullets fly, free of guilt and remorse, knowing you are virtuous, good, and decent. Knowing you’re doing God’s work. It’s breathtaking.” Explain the quotation. How do you think he became this way?
The man in charge explains to Amir about some of his violent actions, and how he considers it “liberating”. However, it is not actually in the word of God, but it is for their own made up morals. The man probably became this way after being fed so much power, and knowing what it is like to be held on a higher pedestal to the rest of society. (pg. 277).
When Amir offers to pay for the boy, what does the man tell him about his own family?
The man, revealed to be Assef, said his parents moved to Western Australia, and they own an Afghan restaurant as well as a jewelry business which are both doing well, so if he needed money, Assef would simply ask them. (pg. 282).
The man says that he had an epiphany in prison. What happened to him? What is the epiphany that he experiences? What is his mission?
In jail, he was experiencing kidney stones. He was beaten up by a man who routinely did so, and the man kicked Assef in the kidney, causing the stone to fall out. So, Assef took this as a sign from God to stay alive. Assef compares Afghanistan to a beautiful mansion with trash littered, and his mission is to “take out the trash” (meaning Hazaras). (pgs. 282-284).
What does Sohrab do when it is obvious that the man is going to kill Amir? What do his actions remind you of? (Go back and look at page 42.)
Sohrab tells Assef to stop, and when he doesn’t and instead lunges at Sohrab, Sohrab hits Assef’s left eye, just as Hassan said he would do. (pg. 291).
In the opening of the chapter, the reader discovers the meaning of the vignette (a brief account, episode, or story) on page 287. Explain.
Amir is going in and out of consciousness, and he sees a doctor and mutters to him that he thinks he gave Assef a good fight. In the opening of chapter twenty-three, it is shown he is in the hospital being treated with some kind of surgery. (pg. 287, 293).
What dream about the bear does Amir recall? How has the dream changed?
Amir dreams about Baba’s fight with the bear he killed, but instead of it being Baba, it is Amir himself. (pg. 295).
Why is Amir concerned about a tall bearded man he sees in the hospital?
Amir thinks the man stared at him a little too long, concerned that he was a member of the Taliban, but he simply spun around and left when the nurse tried to talk to him. (pg. 300).
What phrase does Farid state that causes Amir to cry? Why does it make him cry?
Farid says, “For you a thousand times over,” which makes Amir start crying, as this was the phrase Hassan always told him. (pg. 305).
What does Farid tell Amir about Betty and John Caldwell? What do you think has happened?
Farid tells Amir that Betty and John Caldwell were not in Peshawar, and that they never actually existed. I think this means Rahim Khan lied about the orphanage, and always wanted Amir to adopt Sohrab as his own son. (pg. 308).
At the end of the chapter Amir recalls Rahim’s statement that there’s a “way to be good again.” What do you think he meant?
Amir probably thinks back to Rahim Khan’s statement meaning he will adopt Sohrab and give him a good life. (pg. 310).
On page 318, Arnir remembers something he read: “There are a lot of children in Afghanistan, but little childhood.” Explain what he means in the quotation.
He means that although there are so many kids who live in Afghanistan, a lot of them are forced to grow up extremely fast due to Afghanistan’s conditions. (pg. 318).
How does Sohrab react when Amir tells him that the two of them are related and that his father never knew?
He asks a few questions about Hassan, then continues to eat his sandwich. (pg. 322).
What does Raymond Andrews tell Amir when he questions him about adopting Sohrab? Why is Amir so upset with Andrews?
Raymond Andrews tells Amir that Sohrab is not considered a legal orphan, because Amir does not have Hassan and Faranza’s death certificates. He is so upset with Andrews because he says that they do not have a good case to get a visa. (pg. 330).
After whom was Sohrab named?
He was named after a great warrior in the story of Rostam and Sohrab (in the Shahnameh). (pg. 335).
Explain what Sohrab says about sour apples. How does he apply this concept to moving to America?
Sohrab tells Amir a story from when he was younger, saying one day he was climbing a tree and ate green apples that were extremely sour. Farzana told Sohrab that he would have to wait for the apples to ripen. He says that now, whenever he wants something, he remembers what she told him about the apples. (pg. 340).
Explain the great news Amir learns in a telephone call as Sohrab takes a bath.
Soraya tells Amir that one of her INS friends could get Sohrab a humanitarian visa for a year, which will leave them enough time to apply for a full time visa. (pg. 343).
For the first time in the book, Amir seriously feels the need to pray. Explain what he does and the promises he makes to God.
Amir begins to pray because of Sohrab’s suicide attempt. He prays to God saying he begs for forgiveness for ignoring him and not praying, and begs for forgiveness of his sins. He promises he will do zakat, he will do namaz, he will fast during Ramadan and even after, he will commit to memorizing every last word of the Bible, he will set on a pilgrimage to the city in the desert, and bow before the Ka’bah too, etc. (pg. 345).
What does Sohrab tell Amir that he really wants? (Careful, he says several things.)
Sohrab tells Amir that he wants his old life back, he wants his parents (Hassan and Farzana) back, he wants Sasa (Hassan’s mother) back, he wants to play with Rahim Khan in the garden, and he wants to live in his old home again. He says he wants his old life back. (pg. 354).
Describe “Sunday’s tiny miracle.”
Amir takes Sohrab kite flying, and he sees the glimmer in his eyes come back, as well as a brief but noticeable smile. (pg. 369).
Rahim Khan had stated to Amir: “Your father was a man torn between two halves.” What does Amir believe this means? When he thinks of this concept at the end of the book, what does he realize?
Amir believes that he was the society approved half, the entitled half, and the unwitting embodiment of Baba’s guilt. He realizes at the end of the book that Hassan was the opposite of all of those things, and Baba had thought of him as his true son. (pg. 359).
What discussion about Sohrab do Amir and the general have? Why does the general say he needs to know everything? What word does Amir forbid him to say again? Why?
The general has been eyeing Sohrab all night, but he finally asks Amir why he brought back the “Hazara boy”. He says he needs to know everything because the family will not be perceived as they were before. Amir then screams at him and forbids him to describe Sohrab as a “Hazara boy”, because he is so much more than that. (pgs. 360-361).
On the final page of the book, Amir says, “For you, a thousand times over.” Explain why he says this.
Amir says this to Sohrab, and the author uses this quote to show he is finally helping someone other than himself. (pg. 371).
