The Kite Runner Study Guide

1. Topics in the Kite Runner

• Role of Women- In America, the women are successful and can do what they want. In Afghanistan, the women are house wives and live their husband's lives
• Betrayal- Amir betrayed Hassan by saving himself instead of resucing Hassan in his time of need.
• Brothers-
• Guilt- Hidden Guilt-Amir carries his guilt of betrayal thoughout his life being miserable on the inside because he never expresses it. Open Guilt- When Sohrab cuts his wrist to kill himself, Amir guilt is visible due to telling Sohrab that he would be going to an orphanage.
• Redemption-Amir redemption is fighting Assef for Sohrab, something he should have done years ago for Hassen.
• Journey- Amir and his emotional journey through his childhood and into his adulthood.
• Fathers & Sons- It's traditional that the sons follow their fathers in everything they do.
• Class Distinction- Pashtuns are majority of Afghan population and Hazaras (the servants) are the minority of the population.

2. Style

• Parallelism- The use of the line "for you, a thousand times over." To see the chance for Amir to be again in the introduction and his carrying out of that in the last chapter. Both excerpts take us back to the tournament and the rape of Hassan. Seeing Sorhab in a volatile state and Amir becoming nervous because of his memories simply enchance the uneasy feeling.
• Character Foils- Hassan functions as a foil to Amir, and their ways that their relationship illuminates the meaning of the work. There are numerous of ways: protecting him form bullies, covering up the lie, Amir told about him, running kites for him, and promising to do things for Amir. Amir lacked his trait and showed it when he didn't help Hassan, when he needed it and lying about Hassan being the thief.
• Forshadowing- Is used at the beginning of chapter 7, when Hassan tells Amir about the dream he had that night. When Hassan and Amir are testing each other's loyalty and integrity.
• Flashback- The book includes flashbacks to his childhood because Amir is telling a story of his childhood.
• Postive & Negative Aspects of the Writing-

3. Setting

• time- 1975 until present day
• places- Afghanistan, Pakistan & the United States
• culture- Afghan & Muslin
• Hazara vs. Pashtun
• Kabul vs. Jalalabad
• America vs. Afghanistan
• Afghanistan before the war vs. Afghanistan after the war
• House of Kabul vs. House of California

4. Minor Characters

1. Assef- A Kabul bully who ends up joining the Taliban
2. Farid- the taxi driver who takes Amir back to Afghanistan
3. Sanaubar- Hassan's mother
4. General Sahib- A friend of Baba's in America & father to Soraya
5. Dr. Armand Faruqi- tends to Amir's injuries after being beaten by Assef
6. Rahim Kham- Baba's best friend and business partner & a father-figure to Amir

5. Symbols

1. the promegranate tree- symbolizes Amir & hassan relationship because they craved their names in the tree & it bears fruit
2. slingshot- symbolizes both childhood & the need to standup for what is right
3. Amir's scar- symbolizes his brotherhood with Hassan, the scar that happened after being beaten by Assef
4. the character of Rostam- symbolizes Amir, who acts dishonorably toward the king by sleeping wit his daughter
5. kites- symbolizes a lot of things in the book like both prophecy and fate