kite runner Flashcards
techniques hosseini uses
simple/ minor sentences, simile, metaphr, pathetic fallacy
commentary structure
1) introduction explaining the feelings you’re putting across and the relationship with who the focaliser is talking to
2) narration para
3) dialogue para
4) bullet point 1
5) bullet point 2
monster symbol
hassan’s dream of the monster in the lake, amir believes he is the monster
pomegranate tree symbol
‘amir and hassan: the sultans of kabul’ carved into the tree, throw pomegranates at eachother
rostam and sohrab symbol
a + h’s favourite book in which rostam mortally wounds sohrab before realising sohrab is his son.
kites symbol
serves as a symbol of amir’s happiness and guilt
sickness
hossieni places ill characters in novel to show how no matter backgrounds, we all bleed the same
additional symbols
shutting his eyes, hassan’s trousers, sheep sacrifice, snow, wounds, photographs
1963
amir is born and his mother dies
1964
hassan is born
1975
amir wins kite contest and hassan is raped
1976
hassan’s 13th bday, him and ali leabe
1981
baba and amir are in pakistan
1982
baba and amir go to san fran
1984
amir meets soraya at flea market and ali is killed
1985
amir and soraya marry
1986
rahim khan finds hassan, baba dies
1990
hassan’s mother sanaubar returns and sohrab is born
1995
sanaubar dies
1996
taliban takes over
2000
hassan and farzana are killed
2001
rahim khan rings amir asking him to come to pakistan
2002
amir and sohrab fly the kite
amir
- protagonist and narrator
- a wealthy pashtun and sunni muslim
- grows up in kabul, afghanistan
- deals with guilt and tries to find redemption
baba
- amir’s father
- commits adultery with ali’s wife and is hassan’s real father
- tries to redeem himself through charity work and orphanage
hassan
- amir’s playmate and companion
- a hazara boy with a cleft lip
- naturally intelligent but illiterate because of his social class
sohrab
- hassan’s son who is sent to an orphanage and sexually abused by assef
- amir brings him back to america
- a symbol of terrible things which have happened to characters and afghanistan but also a symbol of chance of hope and redemption
ali
- hassan’s father and baba’s servant and companion
- hazara
- was crippled in 1 leg but remains cheerful and kind
assef
- the antagonist of the novel
- rapes hassan and later joins taliban
- supporter of hitler
- friends with wali and kamal
rahim khan
- baba’s close friend and business associate
- a kind man who understands amir and encourages his writing
general taheri
- soraya’s father and baba’s friend
- a former general in pre-soviet afghanistan and a conservative, traditional afghan man
farid
- drives amir from pakistan to afghanistan
- bitter and sarcastic to amir at first but becomes a loyal friend
sanaubar
- hassan’s mother and ali’s wife
- leaves when h is born but returns as an old woman
- ‘dishonorable’ reputation as a young woman
jamila taheri
- soraya’s mother
- can sing beautifully and complains about her health
- adores amir and once feared soraya would never marry
wahid
- farid’s brother
- very poor with starving children but feeds amir before his children
sofia akrami
- amir’s mother and baba’s wife
- a college professor who died giving birth to amir
- amir always believes his father hates him for his role in his mum’s death
theme of betrayal
amir and baba both feel betrayal for their sins throughout the novel
theme of redemption
amir and baba search for redemption. baba does this through charity work, amir gains it through fighting with assef
theme of fathers and children
hassan, amir and baba, sohrab with amir and hassan, soraya rebelling against general taheri
theme of violence and rape
hassan, kamal and sohrab all face sexual abuse. baba protects a woman from being raped by a russian soldier
memory and past
amir, baba, sohrab and hassan haunted by the past
