Essential Questions for our study of The Kite Runner
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What does redemption mean and how important is this quality in the world today?
What does resilience mean and why is it a vital quality to have in the world today?
How does the theme of man’s consistent inhumanity to man inundate not only our global current events,
but our personal lives as well?
How far would you go—physically, emotionally, intellectually, spiritually—for a friend?
How important is it to have empathy for other cultures?
How different is the Afghan culture from our culture? How are we similar—what do we share?
Key Themes
Some insights or themes in Khaled Hosseini’s novel The Kite Runner
1. A shameful event in one’s youth may take many years to overcome, if at all
2. A true friendship may demand great loyalty.
3. Religious or social differences may get in the way of true friendship.
4. War disrupts the lives of many people and relationships.
5. When migrating to another country one’s traditions are carried into the new world.
6. One’s shameful past may stay with you forever.
7. To develop a sense of integrity and character one may have to sacrifice.
8. On can redeem the past through sacrifice.
9. Loyalty in friendship is a great thing.
10. To know one’s past may help to better understand one’s present.
11. To adopt a child from another country often involves complex international
bureaucracy.
12. To build positive human relationships is one of the greatest treasures of living.
13. To share one’s shameful past with another human being has the potential to
lead to great intimacy and understanding.
14. Having a friendship and close relationship is not to be taken lightly.
15. Harsh and arbitrary rule of a government produces disastrous results.
16. Giving birth to a child may be more difficult than it appears.
17. Forgiveness is possible in facing one’s past, but may be difficult and demands
a change of attitude and action to be real.
18. Building a new relationship with an adopted child may demand great patience
to build trust with a hurt child.
19. Adapting to a new country may be difficult, especially for adults who hold on
to the values and traditions of their home country.
Also consider the following:
Identity
Power
Friendship
Guilt
Honour
Forgiveness and Redemption
Destiny
Identity
Religion and Spirituality
Betrayal
Evil
Loss of Innocence
Violence
Family
Strength of Character
Fathers and son relationship/parent-child
relationships
Love and Sacrifice
Courage and Cowardliness
True Bravery
Man’s inhumanity to Man
Loyalty and Devotion
The role of women
Discrimination, Biogtry, and Class Structure
Symbols
Kites
Pomegranate Tree
Dreams
Stories
Slingshot
Harelip
The lamb
The alley
Myth of Rostam and Sohrab
Amir's Scar
Baba and the black bear
Brass Knuckles
Blood