1.
The novel begins with a flashback.What do you think is its purpose? What do
you learn about the narrator?
The purpose of the flashback is to create suspense. It also shows the themes of
the book which are theft and the past memories is influenced the present. We
don’t learn anything about the narrator which gives the anticipation to the first
chapter only because his father is famous in town and he doesn’t have a mother
due to death during birth.
2.
Who is Hassan? Describe him physically. What is a cleft lip? Describe him by
his relationships. What was his first word? Why is that important? How did
he come into Amir's life? What contrast is made between Amir and Hassan?
Hassan is the son of Rahim Khan, father, and he is describe as “ Chinese doll
chilled from hardwood: flat, broad nose, and slanted, narrow green eyes, cleft lip.
“ (Kite Runner Chapter 2 Line 10-12). Cleft lip is a large split in the middle of
the lips. Hassan’s family is poor and he isn’t close to anyone. Hassan and Amir
were nursed by the same woman, so if 2 people were taken care by the same
person, and breastfed by the same person are known to share a brotherhood.
Hassan’s first words were “
Amir”, which was significant because they grew up together and it express how
both of them are close to each other.
3.
What does it mean to be Hazara, Shi’a Muslim, Afghanistan’s minority
group? Who, in the story thus far, is Hazara?
Up till now, in the book, people who are Hazara are Sanubar, Ali and Hassan.
Hazaras are type of people which are kings descendants, but they are portrayed as
flat-nosed, mice-eating, and load-carrying donkey.
4.
What does it mean to be Pashtun, Sunni Muslim, Afghanistan’s majority
group? Who, in the story thus far, is Pashtun?
They are the group of people who abuse and mistreat the Hazaras. They drove
them out of their lands and burned down their houses. Amir’s family is Pashtun.
5.
How does Amir describe his home? Why do you think he elaborates this
description so much? What do the details of the family pictures in Amir's
house reveal?
His strong description allows the reader seeing things from his point of view, He
is displaying his memories about growing up at his house. He wants to express
how it was safe, happy, and marvelous to live. A course of pictures bring
background understanding: King Nadir Shah and Grandfather - 1931 - two years
before the King’s death; parents’ wedding photo - cheerful picture; Baba (father)
and his buddy and his business partner standing outside the house - none of them
are smiling - Amir is a baby in the picture, and his father is cradling the baby
looking exhausted.
6.
Who is Sanaubar? How is she contrasted to Amir's mother?
Sanaubar is Hassan mother who ran off with a tribe of traveling singers and
dancers right after his birth. Amir’s mother died at the birth of Amir because of
hemorrhaged. Sanaubar is 19 years younger than Hassan’a dad. She has a
shameful reputation and was her husband’s first cousin.
7.
Who is Ali? What do the neighborhood children call him? What does it
mean? Why do they call him this?
Ali is Hassan’ dad and he was called Babulu, or Boogeyman, by the kids. He had
the condition of polio, so he had difficulty of walking and have paralysis on his
lower part of his face which keeps him from smiling.
8.
How does Amir feel about his father in these chapters?
Amir mention to him as a strength of nature and explain his glare as something
that could “drop the devil to his knees begging for mercy”. Amir respects Baba’s
potential to build and open an orphanage on his own. Amir not only loves him but
also fears him.
9.
Who is the king’s cousin? What did he do and why?
10. Who is Baba? Describe him. What are his values? How does he relate to
extremely religious leaders? Baba is Amir’s father. He built the most beautiful
house in Kabul, also built and own an orphanage. He is rich, adventurous, and
trustworthy.
11. What does Baba give Hassan for his birthday? What does his present suggest
about his character? How does Amir react to this present? Why did the
present turn out to be ironic?
12. Who is Assef? What is his ancestry? What is he famous for? What is his
political vision?
13. Who are Wali and Kamal?
14. What happens between Assef/Wali/Kamal and Amir/Hassan? What does
Assef threaten (foreshadow)?
15. Hassan has plastic surgery to be able to smile “normally” by the following
winter. Why does Amir think that is ironic?