Themes - Afghanistan History

Question 1

chapter 16

“a society has no chance of success if its women are uneducated, Laila. No chance.”

Babi

Answer 1

• a comment on the backwards views Afghanistan holds against women and their need for education
• repetition of “no chance” - emphasises how the country is seemingly doomed without educated women.

Question 2

chapter 18

“Laila, my love, the only enemy an Afghan cannot defeat is himself.”

Babi

Answer 2

• The cultural clashes continue to cause unrest in Afghanistan, and Babi’s words describe a conflicted history.
• forshadowing - the fighting that will break out among the tribal factions after the Soviets are forced to leave Afghanistan

Question 3

chapter 18

“Rivalry. There is. There always has been.”

Babi

Answer 3

• makes the readers feel strongly for the characters: war is all they have known
• short, declaritive sentences - simple sentences because the “rivalry” is just that simple because it’s all they’ve ever known

Question 4

chapter 21

“And that, my young friends, is the story of our country, one invader after another […] it’s not pretty to look at, but it’s still standing.”

Answer 4

• ‘my young friends’ - even with the graphic details of this countries history is doesn’t change the fact that children have to endure these horrors
• ‘it’s still standing’ - a miracle; shows how they are grateful for what they have

Question 5

chapter 26

“One could not count the moons that shimmer on her roofs/Or the thousand splendid suns that hide behind her walls.”

Babi

Answer 5

• From the poem ‘Kabul’ by Saib Tabrizi
• Displays how much Babi loves his city and he doesn’t want to leave
• ‘behind her walls’ - Babi and Laila have become outsiders to their home city

Question 6

ASHNCOSIIWAU, L. NC.

Answer 6

“a society has no chance of success if its women are uneducated, Laila. No chance.” - Babi

Question 7

L, ML, TOEAACDIH.

Answer 7

“Laila, my love, the only enemy an Afghan cannot defeat is himself.” - Babi

Question 8

R, TI. TAHB.

Answer 8

“Rivalry. There is. There always has been.” - Babi

Question 9

AT, MYF, ITSOOC […] INPTLA, BISS.

Answer 9

“And that, my young friends, is the story of our country […] it’s not pretty to look at, but it’s still standing.”

Question 10

OCNCTMTSOHR/OTTSSTHBHW.

Answer 10

“One could not count the moons that shimmer on her roofs/Or the thousand splendid suns that hide behind her walls.”