12 AP English
The Kite Runner
Summer Reading Expectations
Read the following information as a supplement to the novel, The Kite Runner (we
recommend that you read this handout before you read the novel). You should also read
the handout, Tips For A Successful Summer Reading. We expect that a) you will give the
novel a thorough reading, b) you will have evidence of text interaction (notes in your entire
book), and c) you will come to class prepared to begin the deepest level of analysis.
Khaled Hosseini (1965) – Hosseini, the oldest of five children, was born in Kabul,
Afghanistan where his father was a diplomat with the Afghan Foreign Ministry and his
mother was a teacher of Farsi and history. Hosseini’s father’s diplomat position relocated
the family at different times to Tehran, Iran and Paris, France. In between assignments,
the family returned to Afghanistan where, in July of 1973, the Afghan king, Zahir Shah, was
overthrown in a bloodless coup d’etat. During the Hosseini’s stay in France Afghanistan
underwent a bloody communist coup and an invasion by Russian forces. Nervous about
the impact of the invasion and the safety of his family, Hosseini’s father sought political
asylum in the United States and in 1980 the family moved to San Jose, California, where
they subsisted on welfare and food stamps, having been forced to leave all their property in
Afghanistan. Hosseini graduated from high school in San Jose in 1984, and, after earning a
Bachelor’s in Biology from Santa Clara University in 1988, completed his Doctor of
Medicine (MD) degree at the University of California in 1993. Dr. Hosseini has recently
given up practicing medicine in order to devote his time to his successful career as an
author. The Kite Runner is Hosseini’s first novel, which was published in 2003 and
became an international best seller. His second novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns, was
published in May of 2007.
You can read a more detailed biography of Hosseini at the following web site:
http://www.khaledhosseini.com/hosseini-bio.html
Background on Afghanistan – Afghanistan has along and complicated history and
Hosseini does a good job of informing the reader of the relevant events that affect his story.
Below are a few links that may be of interest and will provide some more extended
background.
The Taliban and its history -- http://www.infoplease.com/spot/taliban.html
Maps of Afghanistan past and present --http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/afghanistan.html
An historical timeline of Afghanistan http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/1162108.stm
Questions for Analysis You will be expected to arrive on the first day of school
with your book fully notated on the following areas among other motifs, devices, and
themes that you notice.
•
Baba teaches Amir, and Amir constantly recalls, that the only sin is theft (original
mention occurs in chapter 3 on page 17). Evaluate Baba's philosophy and how it
works as a thread in the novel. Do you think that his commandment is true in
general and/or true in the novel? How might his commandment connect to a
theme for the novel?
•
Make note of and analyze the complexity of Amir and Hassan's relationship -- we're
leaving it wide open here. You can go in many directions and there are lots of
areas for great text support and complex commentary.
•
Explore the following as symbolic motifs in the novel. Analysis should explore how
Hosseini used the motif to convey his purpose/theme: Kites; Scars (real and
figurative); the pomegranate tree by Baba's house in Kabul; Amir's dream of Baba
wrestling the bear; the sheep sacrifice (originates at Amir's 13th bday); any others
that you notice.
•
Clearly, the Afghani culture dominates the novel. Notate your reaction to any
aspect of the culture that Hosseini depicts (food, social customs, gender roles, folk
lore, story telling, Afghani immigration to America, Mullah Nasruddin jokes, etc.).
How does the culture affect the story? (e.g.: Could the story be the same in other
countries/cultures?) A subset of the question could deal with the general setting as a
war torn country -- the Russian invasion, Taliban control, etc.
•
Consider the first story that Amir writes (Ch 4, pgs. 30-34). Discuss the significance
of the irony in the story and Hassan's deceptively simplistic reaction to it. How is
Hassan's reaction metaphoric for Amir's life
•
Hosseini obviously uses father-son relationships as a major focus of his novel.
Consider not only Amir and Baba's relationship (in its full complexity) but the
other father-son relationships in the book (for example: Ali/Hassan; Baba/Hassan;
Hassan/Sohrab, etc). Through exploration and comparison, consider what you feel
is the author's intention with the topic (think thematically).
•
The concept of forgiveness, both one person of another and the individual of
himself, is a heavily explored motif in the novel. Notate specific examples (both in
reference to character situations and using direct text support) and be ready to
analyze Mr. Hosseini's purpose and critique or evaluate his skill/ability in bringing
about his purpose.
•
As many good writers do, Hosseini's uses a variety of literary and rhetorical devices
such as personification, foreshadowing, wit, irony, imagery, and humor. Many of
these metaphors and similes referenced nature, an important part of Afghan
culture. Whether it be the very elements of nature (fire, water, etc.) or nature in the
form of life (birds, especially, since they share as close a relation to the skies as kites
themselves), the book is filled with such references. Make note of them as you go
and analyze the significance of his usage.
•
How does the story of Rostam and Sohrab work symbolically in the novel?