from Kite Runner Literary Passage Analysis Answer Guide
by Khaled Hoseini
1. The Russian soldier sings a sweet, romantic wedding song moments before
demanding the right to rape a young wife. The irony is the sweet romance placed
right before the cruelty of the man’s actions. The answer is (A). The soldier is
Russian and is singing an Afghan wedding song, but that is not irony because it is not
necessarily unexpected or surprising (B). The text does not indicate the marital status of
the soldier (C). The Russian soldier shows no fear in this passage. At the end Amir hears
him singing the wedding song again, high on some drug (D). The text does not describe
the soldier aside from calling him a Russian soldier. If the Russian army would call him
a professional, he certainly does not act like one. The second Russian officer is far more
professional than the soldier (E).
2. The Russian soldier is high and is cruel in his treatment of those trying to cross the
border. He takes advantage of his power. The best answer is that he is mean (C). The
soldier does not display any humor during the passage. No one finds him funny because
his cruelty creates a very serious situation (A). The soldier’s appearance is not described
beyond this simile and the fact that he has a “cigarette dangling from the side of his
mouth.” His character, immoral behavior, and abuse make it very unlikely that we are to
picture him as being cute, playful, or attractive (B, D, and E).
3. It is unusual to describe the moon as “bone-colored.” Remember that these people
are afraid for their lives as they cross the border, and the purity of a young wife is
being threatened. The bone-colored moon may bring to mind the potential death of
the characters, representing their fears. The answer is (D). In addition to analysis of
the unusual description, the best way to answer this question is to look at the context.
There is nothing peaceful, playful, or restful about this passage. The men are “curt”
in their conversations. The Russian soldier shouts at the other men, making them
“flinch.” There is tension in the air, making (A), (C), and (E) incorrect answers. The
young woman does cry in this passage, but she is fearful of what will happen rather than
sorrowful about something what has happened. The entire passage is about determining
how much damage the Russian soldier will do before allowing them to cross the border.
There is no grief yet, only fear (B).
4. Baba is a tall man. Amir describes him as having legs like tree trunks, but in this
context it seems to mean more than just height. To eclipse the moonlight seems to give
Baba more than natural stature and strength. He seems to have power over even the
moon. Baba is not just tall (C), he is larger than life in this passage. His courage makes
him a hero to his son and to the other passengers; he is idealized in this passage.
The answer is (A). Baba is angry, but this does not seem to have anything to do with
eclipsing the moonlight. His anger does not make him tall or effect his relationship to
the moonlight in any way (B). Baba is not able to intimidate the soldier in this passage.
He is threatening and demanding that the soldier behave honorably, but the soldier
proceeds undaunted and would shoot Baba without fear if the second Russian soldier
did not intervene (D). Baba is anything but mean in this passage. He sees the fear in the
young woman and her husband and reacts to protect them. Baba is the voice of the weak
and defenseless in this passage (E).
5. People kiss Baba’s hand in gratitude. Amir returns to this idea later in the novel at
Baba’s funeral as the mourners pause to tell Amir all that Baba had done for them.
He is a gruff but very generous man who seems to attempt to do the right thing in
every situation. The answer is (B). Baba may frighten people. He is a powerful man,
but certainly this man is not frightened. Baba has just saved his wife. This kiss is filled
with gratitude and implies that the same is true every time Baba’s hand is kissed (A).
There is a photo in the family of Baba’s father with a king, but there is no relation (C).
Baba might use shame to protect people or to make people do what he thinks is right.
He does ask the Russian soldier where his shame is, but the question has little effect
on the soldier. Again, the husband is filled with gratitude, not shame. The kiss implies
only a grateful heart (D). Baba does command respect due to his courageous actions
and goodness, but he does not demand it except maybe from the soldier who seems to
respect no one. People kiss Baba because they respect him of their own free will, not
because he demands that they do (E).