Themes

Question 1

What are 5 themes within the Kite Runner?

Answer 1

1) Fathers and Sons
2) redemption
3) religion and ethnicity
4) storytelling
5) Personal and global history

Question 2

When is the relationship between Baba and Amir reconciled?

Answer 2

when Baba sees his son grow into a man with a wife

Question 3

What quote reflects how Baba had reconciled with Amir after his marriage with Soraya?

Answer 3

as Amir catches Soraya reading his stories to his father which Baba admits “I put her up to it. I hope you dont mind”

Question 4

What can be suggested from the fact Amir catchesSoraya reading his stories to his father which Baba admits “I put her up to it. I hope you dont mind”?

Answer 4

as not only is he admitting to the fact that he wanted to hear the stories that he had previously dismissed, but he seeks his sons forgiveness, an act of respect that we have not seen before

Question 5

What in the novel suggests that acts of caring, loving and guiding are as influential as blood ties?

Answer 5

the fact that Amir replaced Hassan as Sohrab’s guardian just as Ali had raised Baba’s son

Question 6

How is Rahim Khan a father figure?

Answer 6

he acts as a surrogate father to Amir

Question 7

What reflects Baba’s guilt through Rahim Khan?

Answer 7

he tells Amir in a letter that “I want you to understand that good, real good, was born out of your fathers remorse” such as building the orphanage, feeding the poor and helping friends

Question 8

Rahim Khan tells Amir in a letter that “I want you to understand that good, real good, was born out of your fathers remorse” such as building the orphanage, feeding the poor and helping friends. Through this what can we understand about Baba’s actions?

Answer 8

that they were driven in large part by his remorse over Hassan’s parentage

Question 9

What is Amir’s story encapsulated in?

Answer 9

in the offer to him made by Rahim Khan in the opening chapter for a way “to be good again”

Question 10

Why is Amir’s return to Afghanistan a key part of his search for redemption?

Answer 10

because by going to the USA he has effectively run away from the events of his childhood, his heritage and all the parts which should have formed who he is

Question 11

When Amir returns to rescue Sohrab, in doing so he symbolically rescues Hassan from his tormentors, and thus finally making up for what?

Answer 11

for his lack of action all those years ago

Question 12

IN what two ways does Baba likewise search for redemption in order to atone for his infidelity with Sanaubar and his inability to acknowledge Hassan?

Answer 12

1) both in public activities such as building the orphanage and
2) in private ways through his interactions with Hassan

Question 13

why does Amir reply to Soraya that “nothing you said changes anything, I want us to marry.”?

Answer 13

as Amir understands her need for forgiveness when she informs him of her disgraced past

Question 14

How does Rahim Khan attempt to redeem himself for the guilt he carries for failing to speak up about Hassan’s rape and his parentage?

Answer 14

through requesting Amir to rescue Sohrab from Kabul

Question 15

Amir like his father is not a devout Muslim. When are the only times he reverts to prayer?

Answer 15

during moments of extreme fear and distress

Question 16

Although Amir’s journey is mostly one of redemption, this is closely tied in with the idea of what it means to be an Afghan. Part of the issue with Amir and Baba’s relationship is what his fathers idea of what an Afghan man should be like. What informs Baba’s bravely in the face of the Russian soldier, and also his anger an confusion when asked for identification in the Amiercan mini market?

Answer 16

the fact that despite his nominal religion, Baba has always considered himself as an Afghan no matter the situation- his ethnicity is an integral part of what is meant to be an Afghan man which drives him and Amir further apart

Question 17

In what 2 scenarios is Baba’s connection to being an Afghan clear?

Answer 17

1) when he stands up to the Russian soldier

2) when he becomes angry and confused when asked for identification in the American mini market

Question 18

When reinforces the suggestion that Amir does not, and has never been a true Afghan?

Answer 18

through his ease to slot into American society in comparison to the harsh adjustment of his father which is never solidified

Question 19

The tensions between the Pashtuns and Hazara ethnic group forms a thread throughout the novel. Baba passes on a liberal attitude to his son. When does Amir act on these beliefs?

Answer 19

not until the end of the novel

Question 20

what shows that Amir finally had confidence by the end of the novel to share in his fathers liberal beliefs?

Answer 20

when he instructs General Taheri never to refer to Sohrab as “that Hazara boy” ever in his presence

Question 21

how does the contruct Farid show that the ethnic divide was still a problem in contemporary Afghanistan?

Answer 21

as even Farid, a confirmed afghan demonstrates the same discriminatory views as were present in Amir’s childhood

Question 22

What does Hosseini suggest is the underlying problem in Afghanistan?

Answer 22

the lack of respect of different peoples

Question 23

Who are shown to be much more spiritual and devout than Amir and his father?

Answer 23

Hassan, Ali and Sohrab, as Hazara’s

Question 24

What scene in the novel suggests that Hassan, Ali and Sohrab, as Hazaras, are all intact shown to be much more spiritual and devout than Amir and his father?

Answer 24

the fact that Amir refers to Hassan having “prayed the morning name with Ali’ while he is still emerging from his bed, having taken no part in the morning prayers

Question 25

Why is the reader reminded to interpret the story for its underlying meanings, rather than simply accept the narrative at face value?

Answer 25

due to Amir’s career as a professional story teller which is regularly foregrounded.

Question 26

Why is it suggested that Amir does not write about Afghanistan?

Answer 26

due to his difficultly to accept his Afghan heritage, and his proneness to make things up and turn away from reality

Question 27

What did the stories Amir would read to Hassan form? (2)

Answer 27

a large part of their bond but also as another way to tease and bully Hassan

Question 28

What is significant about the name of Sohrab?

Answer 28

that his name derives from the stories Amir would read to hassan which references back to their strong connection and acts as a gesture of forgiveness from Hassan for Amir’s behaviour

Question 29

what allows us a little distance with which to judge how truthful Amir’s narrative has been?

Answer 29

the stories in the novel which come from Hassna and Rahim khan which offers us an alternative perspective

Question 30

Amir cannot bring himself to confront Afghanistans problems in his writing. this predicament is similar to that expressed by who?

Answer 30

Hayden Curruth’s poem “On being asked to write against the war in Vietnam” 1992 which examines the futility of being a poet when faced with the topic of war

Question 31

What year was Hayden Curruth’s poem “On being asked to write against the war in Vietnam”which examines the futility of being a poet when faced with the topic of war and links to how Amir cannot bring himself to confront Afghanistans problems in his writing?

Answer 31

1992

Question 32

How does Hosseini use the story of Amir to tell the story of Afghanistan?

Answer 32

through intertwining the story of Amir and Afghanistan Hosseini makes it so that the history does not become either a backdrop or an interruption, but an integral part of the plot and narrative

Question 33

What is the effect of Hosseini placing Kiterunning at the centre of the story for it to be taken away by the Taliban?

Answer 33

as through this Hosseini is able to show to what extent the Taliban were opposed to the desires and wishes of ordinary Afghan people