...The book caught my interest from the very first chapter, in which Amir, the main character, received a phone call from Rahim Khan, telling Amir that “there is a way to be good again” (Hosseini 2). The author provided very minimal information in the chapter given the fact that the author only starts to mention the main character’s name in the next chapter, which helps develop curiosity and mystery. Furthermore, the phrase that Rahim Khan told Amir suggests that Amir had done something dishonorable and that the story will focus on his redemption. The following chapters reveal the friendship between young Amir and his servant’s son, Hassan, how they would always play and support each other. The end of the second chapter explains that Amir and Hassan had similar experiences, such as that they never met their mothers and that they had breastfed from the same person, which creates “a kinship that not even time could break” (Hosseini 11)....
Words: 519 - Pages: 3
...Unit 1 & 2 Holiday Homework Over the summer break you will be expected to complete the following tasks: • Become familiar with the Year 11 English course outline • Read The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini and answer the activities attached • Find the key words in your text and begin a glossary Your English teacher will collect this homework in Week One of Term One, 2014. All the best!! Failure to complete the required reading and activities will mean that you will be unprepared to begin the year and giving up time to complete the work afterschool. YEAR 11 ENGLISH UNIT 1 & 2 OUTLINE 2014 UNIT 1 Reading & Responding – Outcome 1 The Kite Runner - Text response essay (800 – 1000 words). Creating & Presenting – Outcome 2 Visual Text ‘Redfern Now’ - One written piece in an imaginative, persuasive or expository style (600 - 800 words) related to the context of Identity and Belonging + 2 hurdle tasks exploring imaginative, persuasive or expository styles. Language Analysis – Outcome 3 You will focus on the use of persuasive language techniques written articles and visual images. You will then produce a language and visual analysis essay. (600 – 800 words) Exam: Reading and Responding and Language Analysis - 2hrs 15mins • A reading and responding essay for The Kite Runner • A language and visual analysis essay on the issue studied in class UNIT 2 Reading & Responding – Outcome 1 The Crucible - Text response essay (800 – 1000 words) Creating...
Words: 892 - Pages: 4
...The Kite Runner Psychoanalytic criticism was first founded and developed by Sigmund Freud. Freud’s theories were mainly sexual deriving from the libido which is a colloquial term for the sex drive. Freud has many theories which are based on sexuality. One of his many theories includes the theory subconscious mind. This theory states that the ego is divided into three sections, the id, the ego and the superego. The id is the mind’s more primitive and impulsive part of the ego, where are the super ego is where all of our morals and values are placed. The ego is the part of the subconscious mind which mediates between the two. When making decisions we make them based on these two parts of our subconscious mind. Freud believed that the subconscious sexual drives were the bases for all human behavior, and that dreams were an important indicator for understanding human behavior. The kite runner is a novel written by Khaled Hosseini, which first takes place in the city of Kabul located in Afghanistan. It’s a story about a man who is named Amir who reflects on his past as a child in Afghanistan. Amir lived with his father, and his servants, ali and Hassan During that time period was a caste system in Afghanistan which was in place. Amir and his father were Pashtu, which is considered “pure” afghan. They were placed much higher than their servants Ali and Hassan who were Hazara. After a kite flying competition that Amir and Hassan attended together, Amir saw Hassan getting...
Words: 1145 - Pages: 5
...reading both “Oedipus Rex” and “The Kite Runner” the authors of each employ the device of irony to develop the major themes in both text. Irony is the expression of using one’s meaning by language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for emphatic effect.Throughout each story the irony was used to reveal truth, mood, and lessons. Displayed in the book “The Kite Runner”, many ironic scenes were present. This leads to the reveal of the mood of the story. In the book it states “ You steal a wife’s right to a husband, rob his children of a father.”(pg18) In this quote Baba tries to give knowledge to his son Amir but the shaded fact about it is that he steals his servants wife and has a son with her. The son that has become from...
Words: 992 - Pages: 4
...How betrayal can lead to redemption Betrayal is an issue several people can relate to, either done by a family member or a friend. In the book The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, we witness how betrayal played a vital role in the downfall of the main characters Amir and Hassan’s friendship, and how it influenced Amir’s pursuit to redeem himself in hopes to move on from his mistakes. The novel begins with Amir as an adult, recalling an event that took place in 1975 Kabul, Afghanistan and how this event was what changed the rest of his life and made him who he now is. This event was Amir’s reluctance to help Hassan while he was being raped, and how this impacted his desire to, later on, mature and be “good” again. Khaled Hosseini shows how Amir’s Islamic faith and guilt over abandoning Hassan ultimately led Amir to forgive himself and seek redemption. All in all, this novel demonstrates that even in cases of betrayal, redemption is possible. In The Kite Runner, Hosseini tells a story of the close friendship of two young boys who come from different social classes, Amir, the Pashtun wealthy boy and Hassan, the Hazara servant. Taking place in Kabul, Afghanistan in the 1970s a time where there was a huge...
Words: 1275 - Pages: 6
...“There is a way to be good again.” (Hosseni 192) These words hold a powerful meaning to Amir, the main character of Khaled Hosseni’s novel The Kite Runner. This quote is essential to Amir whom struggles with the guilt of the self-centered choices he makes at the beginning of the novel. Hosseni incorporates the theme of betrayal throughout the book; this is done through the occurrence of Hassan’s rape and the discovery of Baba’s second child Hassan. In the book The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseni uses foreshadowing and irony to demonstration the sin of betrayal. In the book The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseni uses foreshadowing and irony in order to effectively communicate betrayal as a means of egocentric behavior which is a sin and leads to the unraveling...
Words: 832 - Pages: 4
...In Khaled Hosseini's fictional novel, The Kite Runner, the characters Amir, Baba and Saunabar are used to demonstrate the constructive forces of shame. Baba was generous to make up for his shame of Hassan, Amir was more than willing to do whatever it took to make up for his unatoned sins and Hassan’s mother, Saunabar, came back to him after she abandoned him as a baby. Sanaubar’s shame and guilt for leaving Hassan when he was a child...
Words: 801 - Pages: 4
...Alienation in my understanding is seen as the withdrawal or separation of people from each other or from what is important or meaningful to them. This can be expressed through a range of representations such as novels - Kite Runner, a poem – Polynesian old man and a film – The help. These certain depictions have enriched my understandings of how alienation can emerge from disconnections made through cultural and family matters Kite Runner by Khalid Hosseini expresses several different concepts; one significantly represented though is cultural alienation. In this text it highlights the contrast between two races that are present in Afghanistan, the Hazaras a lower class race that society looks down upon and treats as servants and the Pashtuns a higher class race that society has approved of. This is exposed by quotes reflecting the way the Pashtuns refer to the Hazaras, “You! The Hazara, look at me when I talk to you, you mice eating flat nosed donkey.” Throughout the novel these two races are continually compared and contrasted against one another, showing us they can become disconnected by stereotypes formed in certain societies. Throughout the novel the composer really exaggerates the disconnection by using certain techniques such as motifs and symbolism. The Hazaras lived in mud huts that were partially destroyed, broken down, with no living space. Whilst the Pashtuns lived in stable buildings with working facilities and were significantly larger, so by this it could...
Words: 1267 - Pages: 6
...societies. Oppression usually refers to a great power such as government applying control over a large group, such as the population of a country. The Youth Action Center of Canada identifies six main forms of oppression based on race, gender, class, sex, ability and age. Oppression can be categorised into four different groups, social oppression, institutionalised oppression, systematic oppression and internalized oppression. Kite runner: In the novel, Kite Runner written by Khaled Hosseini, many occasions are reflective of situations that occur in reality. Oppression is a prevalent theme throughout the novel, just as oppression is prevalent in society. Many oppression regimes have become adopted by society causing some forms of oppression to go unnoticed because it is accepted as a part of social structure. If people try to break out of the social code, they are usually silenced unless more people follow the lead of the rebels and change the inequality that is occurring. Many different people can be oppressed for different reasons and in Kite Runner, racism and ableism are two forms of oppression that are addressed. The novel shows how both of these ostracized people are being oppressed because of their race, or disability. People need to open their eyes and see the oppression that is going on in the world and recognize that they themselves may be victims of oppression, or that they are the oppressors. Society needs to become informed about this issue that seems to be accepted...
Words: 494 - Pages: 2
...What are the essential values and ideas presented in The Kite Runner? Analyse and assess how effective their representation is Hosseini has expressed copious essential values and ideas in his novel The Kite Runner (TKR) including Loyalty, Culture, Gender and Ethnicity and Atonement. Hosseini has expressed these through the combination of style, structure, characterisation, themes and setting. Due to the context of The Kite Runner, culture is an important idea presented because it has major significance in Afghanistan life and the characters are shaped by it. The majority of the novel is set in Afghanistan which is a country with a very strong culture. The culture of this novel is caused by the setting and is shown through language features, such as the use of Afghani words, and characterisation. “Tashakor.” Thank you This quote shows how Hosseini uses language features to demonstrate the culture and create a novel in which the characters seem real which gives it textual integrity. He uses these words to enrich the language but also explains what it means in English so that the reader can follow. Culture is also expressed in this novel through characterisation. Even when Amir and Baba go to America they still keep their Afghani culture and still partake in Afghani customs. This is shown in the novel through the relationship between Amir and Soraya. Even though they are living in America they follow the Afghani culture in their courtship and their engagement/wedding. Baba...
Words: 1321 - Pages: 6
...Gender roles have been used in novels and plays all throughout the course of time. When authors or playwrights write their works, most of the time they take the ideas of stereotypes from authors and playwrights before them. Gender roles can be seen in Les Miserables, The Kite Runner, and so much more. It is almost like a standard in writing. Females are almost treated like objects in some works. This isn’t always morally right, but it just seems that it is how things are. It would seem the most that role, power, and responsibility for males and females are determined by the stereotypes of people before us and their amoral ways of thinking. Gender role, power, and responsibility are usually determined by culture and society. Changing culture...
Words: 336 - Pages: 2
...With this quote, Amir reveals his character development, his acceptance of everything that has happened and his freedom after twenty-six years of guilt, as he embraces one of Hosseini’s main messages in The Kite Runner. For most of his life, Amir was incredibly guilty about what happened to Hassan, and before that, he was jealous of Hassan’s attention from Baba. Now, finally, Amir can just remember his amazing, loyal friend, and all the good times they had together. He reveals this when he says Hassan’s old saying, “for you, a thousand times over.” Those words used to bring Amir to tears, but now that he has accepted everything-- Hassan’s rape, Baba’s sins, Hassan’s death, and what happened to Sohrab-- Amir can use them to remember his dear...
Words: 258 - Pages: 2
...The Kite Runner Essay Questions Due Date:________________ Directions: Write a clear, concise, and coherent essay on one of the following topics. Your essay should be a minimum of 400-500 words. • Proper essay format: organized through proper paragraphing, indenting, double-spaced, typed, etc. • Clear thesis statement in the introduction, along with an indication of title and author. • Supporting quotations properly integrated (with page numbers). • Spell checked, edited, and submitted with pride. You may choose from one of the following topics. 1. Explore the way in which courage is portrayed in the novel. What constitutes true bravery? What are the key moments when characters are brave and who is the bravest character, if any? Use specific examples from the text to support your argument. 2. "Like father, like son." "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree." "Monkey see, monkey do." Use one of these cliches as a starting point to consider the way characters in the story behave. Characters to consider: Amir, Hassan, Assef, Baba, Sohrab, Rahim Khan. 3. Make a list of instances in the novel where someone is forgiven. What constitutes true forgiveness? Why is forgiveness so important? You may want to consider moments between Hassan and Amir, Baba and Hassan, Hassan and Sanaubar, Amir and Sohrab, General Taheri and Soraya, and Amir and himself. 4. "The past is always there"- How is this quote central to the themes of the novel? 5....
Words: 340 - Pages: 2
...The Kite Runner: Violence, Guilt, and No Happy Ending Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner is an honest yet disturbing, work of historical fiction told from the point of view of the protagonist, Amir. He describes his childhood living in Afghanistan with Hassan, a Hazara boy, who worked as a servant to Amir and his father, Baba. A main conflict of the story is the fact that Amir allows Assef, the antagonist, to do horrible things to Hassan with no attempt to intervene. This scene is very intense and upsetting. Although it could be considered as a representation of “real-world” situations that sadly occur in the Middle Eastern area, the situation is purely troubling. Amir commits an act of dreadful betrayal. Hassan and his father part their ways with Amir and Baba, who go to America to live in California. They live a typical American life, making a good amount of money and living in a safe area, but Amir’s thoughts are filled with guilt and remorse. Amir’s guilt lasts ridiculously long. He says, “That was a long time ago, but it’s wrong what they say about the past, I’ve learned, about how you can bury it. Because the past claws its way out. Looking back now, I realize I have been peeking into that deserted alley for the last twenty-six years”(1). This quote from Amir represents that although he tried to forget his painful past, he could not. He did not have the will power to simply drop what occurred between him and Hassan from his thoughts. The fact that he has not resolved...
Words: 608 - Pages: 3
...love. This event leads to two paths, one in which a person tries anything to redeem themselves and another where selfishness takes over. Likewise, Macbeth by William Shakespeare and The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini use the main characters from their works to demonstrate that sometimes without a second thought, betrayal takes place. They also show how some characters use betrayal to their advantage while others redeem themselves, as well, how even those who stay loyal end up having to pay the same price. At the end however, how people react to the guilt that they encounter in the past is what makes them who they are in the future. Macbeth and The Kite Runner both show how the main characters betray those who respect as well as trust them. Macbeth's eyes are blinded by the power of the throne and he will do anything just to obtain it. Since no one expects Macbeth to betray anyone close to him, he takes this as an advantage and says to himself “a false face must hide what a false heart doth know.”(I, vii, 94-95) With this in mind, it is evident that Macbeth betrays Duncan, Banquo and the whole of Scotland. He uses his innocence and trust that he gained from others to hide what his true intentions are and ends up betraying many people just for the good of himself. Similarly, in The Kite Runner the main character Amir is troubled by the guilt that builds inside of him after he betrays his best friend- Hassan, his father- Baba and Hassan's father -Ali. All these characters are...
Words: 1744 - Pages: 7
