Glossary of Terms- The Kite Runner
[Source: http://www.gradesaver.com/the-kite-runner/study-guide]
Hazara: A term describing the Hazara people, an ethnic minority originating in the
mountainous region of Afghanistan called Hazarajat. Characterized by their mongoloid
facial features, adherence to Shi'a Islam, and long history of persecution.
Hypochondriac: One who is consistently and habitually convinced he is ill when he is not.
INS: Immigration and Nationalization Service of the United States of America.
Formerly, the government agency that oversaw immigration issues. Now the United
States Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Mazar-i-Sharif: A large city in Afghanistan famous for its Blue Mosque. The Taliban
massacred the Hazara population there in 1998.
Mujahedin: A term used to describe a group of Muslims engaged in a war or conflict. In
this novel, it describes the Afghanistan Mujahedin Freedom Fighters Front, which
challenged the Soviet forces and later lost against the PDPA (People's Democratic Party
of Afghanistan) government.
Pashtun: An ethnic group forming a majority in Afghanistan and surrounding areas.
Characterized by adherence to Sunni Islam as well as Pashtunwali, an ancient code of
tradition.
Shi'a Islam: The second largest denomination of the Islamic faith. Shi'a Islam believes
that the teachings of Muhammad were carried through his descendants and do not accept
the caliphate.
Shorawi: The Farsi term for the Soviets, who invaded Afghanistan in 1979 and occupied
the country for a decade.
Sunni Islam: The largest denomination of Islam. Sunni Islam accepts the caliphate,
meaning that it considers the Caliph or head of a Muslim state a successor to Muhammad.
Wazir Akbar Khan: The neighborhood in Kabul where Amir and Hassan grew up.
Quick Facts-Afganisthan
-42% of Afghanistan’s population is made up of Pashtuns
-10-15% of Afghanistan’s population is made up of Hazaras
-The Soviets entered Afghanistan on December 27, 1979 and remained there until
February 15, 1989
-The Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 1996 and remained in power until 2001
The Kite Runner -IE Film Series- Mar 10, 2010
Instructional Resources compiled by CETL
Major Themes- The Kite Runner
Kites One can tell kites are central to the novel just by reading its title, "The Kite Runner." On a plot
level, the grand kite tournament of 1975 sets a circle of betrayal and redemption into motion, around which
the story revolves. Beyond their significance to the plot, kites have multiple layers of symbolism in the
story: Class difference between Amir and Hassan, which largely dictates and limits their relationship; kite
fighting itself is violent by nature, which symbolizes the conflicts that rage Afghanistan nearly throughout
the course of the novel. The mere act of kite flying is innocent and speaks of freedom. Amir and Hassan do
not have control over the differences between them; yet despite their differences and the symbolism of their
respective kite-fighting roles, flying kites is an activity that brings the boys together.
Discrimination The Kite Runner tackles the issue of ethnic discrimination in Afghanistan with an
example of the relationship between Pashtuns and Hazaras. Even in Baba's house, the house of best
intentions, the class barrier between the Pashtuns and Hazaras endures. In Taliban-controlled Afghanistan,
discrimination is everywhere and nowhere at the same time. On the one hand, the Taliban do not seem to
care whom they are beating, torturing, or executing. Hosseini has mentioned in interviews that his focus on
discrimination in The Kite Runner angers some Afghans, who feel it is inappropriate. Throughout The Kite
Runner, Hosseini shows that the Taliban's persecution of the Hazaras and other Shiites is not new, but a
greatly intensified outgrowth of long-held discrimination.
Sin and Redemption In The Kite Runner, redemption is so important because sin is so enduring.
Amir opens the story by telling us not about how exactly he sinned, but about sin's endurance: "... 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." Hosseini uses structure to emphasize the themes of sin and redemption. Because Amir tells the story
in retrospect, every memory, even the blissful ones of his childhood before the rape, are tainted with it.
One Amir finds out about Baba's sin, he feels as though his entire life has been a cycle of betrayal, even
before he betrayed Hassan. But having a taste of betrayal himself does little towards redeeming Amir. In
Ghazi Stadium, the Taliban skews the words of Muhammad in order to justify murdering the alleged
adulterers. The mullah announces that every person should have a punishment befitting his sin. Although
he would not want to compare himself to the Taliban, Amir believes this in regards to his own sin. When he
tries to get Hassan to pelt him with pomegranates, he is expressing his feeling that in order to be forgiven
for hurting Hassan, Hassan must hurt him. When Assef almost kills Amir, he feels "healed," as though now
that Assef has hurt him, he is redeemed.
Literacy and the Written Word: In the novel, writing is both a dividing force and a uniting one.
Amir's wish to be a writer separates him from Baba, who wants him to be athletic and equates his
bookishness with weakness. Discussion Topics: How does Amir’s ability to read and write separates him
from Hassan? How does Hassan's illiteracy brings him closer to Amir? [Being literate gives Amir power
over Hassan. He lords his advantage over the unsuspecting Hassan. Only later does Hassan realize the
power of literacy and its connection to social power. He makes sure that Sohrab can read and write and
expresses his wish for Sohrab to be "someone important."] Despite the connection between literacy and
discrimination, the written word is largely a unifying force in the novel. Amir admires Soraya even more is
her story of how she taught an illiterate woman to read and write. Traditionally, the power of the written
word is located in its endurance beyond death: Amir reads Hassan's letter. Hassan's letter is that it puts him
on an equal level with Hassan; now that he is literate, written words are no longer a barrier between them.
Rahim Khan's letter is the final one in the novel, and it is also the one containing the ultimate message
about forgiveness. Hosseini gives extra emphasis to writing's importance by putting this central message in
written form.
Family Ties: Family is extremely important in the story, especially because it takes place in Afghanistan
where culture and tradition are of monumental importance, especially to the older generation.
Source: http://www.gradesaver.com/the-kite-runner/study-guide/major-themes
The Kite Runner -IE Film Series- Mar 10, 2010
Instructional Resources compiled by CETL
Quiz- The Kite Runner
1. From what year does Amir narrate the story?
O 2002.
O 2007.
O 1975.
O 1996
2. What does Rahim Khan say to Amir over the phone?
O
“The harelipped kite runner.”
O “There is a way to be good again.”
O “For you, a thousand times over.”
O “Let's go fly a kite.”
3. Which of the following did Baba NOT do?
O Throw frequent dinner parties.
O Build an orphanage.
O Miss Hassan's birthday.
O Neglect Amir.
4. According to Ali, why did Amir and Hassan have a special kinship?
O They were nursed by the same woman.
O They were half-brothers.
O They both loved the story of Sohrab and Rostam.
O They were the city's champion kite fighters.
5. How were Amir and Hassan really related?
O They were half-brothers.
O They were kite fighting opponents.
O They were schoolmates.
O They were both Baba’s servants.
[Source: http://www.gradesaver.com/the-kite-runner/study-guide/major-themes]
The Kite Runner -IE Film Series- Mar 10, 2010
Instructional Resources compiled by CETL
Source: http://www.travlang.com/factbook/maps/af-map.gif
Discussion Questions
1. In one of the opening scenes of the film, we see Amir and Hassan returning home
from a game of kite-fighting. The boys part ways and Amir walks up his redbrick
driveway lined with trees and rosebushes towards his magnificent house; whereas
Hassan walks towards a little mud hut. In what way does this scene set the stage for
this film?
2. What did Rahim Khan mean when he said to Amir “there is a way to be good again”?
Was it important for Amir to redeem himself? Why? Are we always able to reconcile
with past mistakes? Is it important to do so? Why?
3. How do pride and privilege affect Amir and his actions?
4. Baba says to Amir, “I grew up with Ali. My father took him in, loved him like his
own son. Forty years Ali’s been with my family.” Yet the cycle continues where
neither Ali nor Hassan could read or write and both eat Baba’s and Amir’s leftover
food. In a society where individual roles are so defined and ingrained, how can one go
about changing them?
Source: http://www.amnestyusa.org/education/pdf/kiterunnerhigh.pdf
The Kite Runner -IE Film Series- Mar 10, 2010
Instructional Resources compiled by CETL
Websites worth visiting for research on Afghanistan
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Afghanistan Relief Organization: http://www.afghanrelief.com/
Amnesty International: http://www.amnesty.org
The International Rescue Committee: http://www.theIRC.org
Human Rights Watch: http://www.hrw.org
Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan: http://www.rawa.org
History/culture
Shah, Sirdar Ikbal Ali (1982). Afghanistan of the Afghans. London: Octagon Press.
Travel
Chaffetz, David (1981). A Journey Through Afghanistan: A Memorial. Chicago:
Regnery Gateway
Cresson, Os (2002). We Felt Their Kindliness: An American Family’s Afghan
Odyssey (1949-1951).Haddonfield NJ: Emerald Pademelon Press
Klass, Rosanne (1964). Land of the High Flags: A Travel-Memoir of Afghanistan.
N Y: Random House
Girardet, Edward & Jonathan Walter (1998). Afghanistan (Essential Field
Guides to Humanitarian and Conflict Zones). Geneva: International Center
for Humanitarian Reporting
Newby, Eric (1958, 1998). A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush. Footscray, Australia:
Lonely Planet
Stark, Freya (1970). The Minaret of Djam: An Excusion in Afghanistan. London:
John Murray
Stewart, Rory (2006). The Places In Between. Harvest/Harcourt
Toynbee, Arnold J. (1961). Between Oxus and Jumna. NY: Oxford University Press.
Women
Doubleday, Veronica (1988). Three Women of Herat. Austin, TX: University of
Texas Press
Grima, Benedicte (1992). Performance of Emotion Among Paxtun Women.
(Modern Middle East, No. 17) Austin: University of Texas Press
Hosseini, Khaled (2007). A Thousand Splendid Suns. Riverhead Books.
Latifa, with Shekeba Hachemi (2002). My Forbidden Face, Growing Up Under
the Taliban: A Young Woman’s Story. NY: Talk Miramax Books/Hyperion
Zoya, with John Follain & Rita Cristofari (2002). Zoya’s Story: An Afghan
Woman’s Struggle for Freedom. NY: William Morrow
The Kite Runner -IE Film Series- Mar 10, 2010
Instructional Resources compiled by CETL