Questions about The Kite Runner Write statements, explanations with two examples from the text. Analysis of what these examples showed you and summary or restatement for the first five questions. 1. How did Amir react to his father’s disinterest? 1/ In his interests and talents 2. How does Baba appear to regard Amir? How do we know this? 3.How did Amir react to his father’s dissatisfaction with his behaviour? How does the reader learn of these dissatisfactions? 4.What was Amir’s relationship like with Rahim Khan? How do we know this? 5.How did Amir react to Hassan’s rape? E.g. 1/ His attitude to himself a) Guilt re not defending him b) guilt at not reporting it c) guilt at putting his need to please his father by recovering the kite than being their to support Hassan. 2/ His attitude to Hassan. What decisions did he make? What actions did he carry out to rid himself of facing Hassan each day? 6. What race were Amir, Baba, Assef and Rahim Khan? What socio-economic advantages did they have in Afghanistan? 7. What race were Ali and Hassan. What position did the members of their race hold in Afghanistan? What jobs did they hold? 8.What was the significance of the Pomegranate tree for Hassan and Amir? What did they do to the tree? 9.On what occasions did Hassan defend Amir? How did he defend him? 10. How did Baba regard the Mullah? What did he say would happen to Afghanistan if they ever had greater influence? 11. Baba showed his honourable, generous and compassionate side on many occasions. Give two examples. 12.What did Baba do on the truck journey that showed he was courageous and honourable? 13. Amir felt embarrassed and as though he was letting his father down “yet again” on the truck journey. Why? 14. Amir was forced to show courage on the journey out of Afghanistan. What did he do? 15.The tables start to turn for Amir and Baba when they settle into American life. Amir was able to adapt more easily. How was this shown in the story? 16. On what occasions did Amir step in to defend his father, or get him out of trouble, in America? 17.How were Amir and Soraya similar in background? 18.How were Amir and Soraya similar in life experience and family relationship (alienation caused by…) 19.What job does Baba end up having in America? How is this different to the occupations and socio-economic status that he had in Afghanistan? 20.Baba “says when and how he is going to die”. Baba makes up his own rules about his exit. What does this mean? 21. Amir is forced to conform to Afghan courtship conventions. What was he not allowed to do? What did he end up having to do? 22.Baba shows acceptance of Amir through the courtship routines and conventions. Examples/When does this show in the book? 23.Baba dies contentedly and on good terms with Amir. How do we know this? (Soraya). 24. What does Rahim Khan ask Amir to do that shows Amir still lacks courage? How do we know from the book that Amir lacks courage? 25.Who does Hassan turn out to be? 26.Why is Amir angry at Baba? 27.Why is Amir angry at Rahim Khan? 28. Rahim explains that much of Baba’s behaviour towards Amir was caused by Baba’s feeling about himself. Hurt people hurt people. Could this situation have been avoided in Afghanistan society? What do you think life have been like for both families if the secret had been made public? 29. Amir experiences the poverty of Afghanistan when he stays overnight with his driver. What happens? 30.Amir learns more about his mother when he reaches Kabul. What does he learn? 31.What does Amir witness at the soccer match? What had the couple done? 32.Amir showed bravery when he rescued Hassan’s son, Sohrab. What did he do? How far did he get and who was he fighting? 33.Hassan’s son, Sohrab replayed history to save Amir. What did he do? 34.What was Sohrab being forced to do before Amir tried to save him? 35.Sohrab felt dirty and ashamed. Why was this? 36.It was going to be very difficult to get Sohrab son out of Afghanistan. Why? And what promise did it look like Amir was going to have to go back on? 37.Finally Amir had good news to tell Sohrab that he had found a way to get him into America. Why was it almost too late? 38.Sohrab recovered his physical health but his personal demeanour was that of a broken spirit. He could not hope, trust or believe anymore. He had had a breakdown. He just wanted to do what? 39.What history was repeated here and how did this effect Amir? 40.Back in America Sohrab remained unable to respond. He was now also traumatised by having to adapt to his new culture. What happened to show that there was hope that his spirit would again soar? 41.What do you consider the main ideas or themes of this story were? 42.Can you relate to any of these themes from your own knowledge or personal experience? 43.Do you think that you would have been able to get through to Sohrab when he was feeling suicidal and unresponsive to Amir and his wife? What would you have liked or tried to say to him? 44.Would you like Baba if you knew him? Why/why not? 45.Would you like Amir? Why/ Why not? 46.Do you think that “God” would “order” people to be stoned or whipped for breaking a social or moral code? 47. Who did Assef admire and wish to continue their work in Afghanistan? If he continued this ‘work’, what would have happened to Hazara? 48.What would you say to anyone who shared Assef’s views and related them to our society?
Write statements, explanations with two examples from the text. Analysis of what these examples showed you and summary or restatement for the first five questions.
1. How did Amir react to his father’s disinterest?
1/ In his interests and talents
2. How does Baba appear to regard Amir? How do we know this?
3. How did Amir react to his father’s dissatisfaction with his behaviour? How does the reader learn of these dissatisfactions?
4. What was Amir’s relationship like with Rahim Khan? How do we know this?
5. How did Amir react to Hassan’s rape? E.g.
1/ His attitude to himself a) Guilt re not defending him b) guilt at not reporting it c) guilt at putting his need to please his father by recovering the kite than being their to support Hassan.
2/ His attitude to Hassan. What decisions did he make? What actions did he carry out to rid himself of facing Hassan each day?
6. What race were Amir, Baba, Assef and Rahim Khan? What socio-economic advantages did they have in Afghanistan?
7. What race were Ali and Hassan. What position did the members of their race hold in Afghanistan? What jobs did they hold?
8. What was the significance of the Pomegranate tree for Hassan and Amir? What did they do to the tree?
9. On what occasions did Hassan defend Amir? How did he defend him?
10. How did Baba regard the Mullah? What did he say would happen to Afghanistan if they ever had greater influence?
11. Baba showed his honourable, generous and compassionate side on many occasions. Give two examples.
12.What did Baba do on the truck journey that showed he was courageous and honourable?
13. Amir felt embarrassed and as though he was letting his father down “yet again” on the truck journey. Why?
14. Amir was forced to show courage on the journey out of Afghanistan. What did he do?
15.The tables start to turn for Amir and Baba when they settle into American life. Amir was able to adapt more easily. How was this shown in the story?
16. On what occasions did Amir step in to defend his father, or get him out of trouble, in America?
17.How were Amir and Soraya similar in background?
18.How were Amir and Soraya similar in life experience and family relationship (alienation caused by…)
19.What job does Baba end up having in America? How is this different to the occupations and socio-economic status that he had in Afghanistan?
20.Baba “says when and how he is going to die”. Baba makes up his own rules about his exit. What does this mean?
21. Amir is forced to conform to Afghan courtship conventions. What was he not allowed to do? What did he end up having to do?
22.Baba shows acceptance of Amir through the courtship routines and conventions. Examples/When does this show in the book?
23.Baba dies contentedly and on good terms with Amir. How do we know this? (Soraya).
24. What does Rahim Khan ask Amir to do that shows Amir still lacks courage? How do we know from the book that Amir lacks courage?
25.Who does Hassan turn out to be?
26.Why is Amir angry at Baba?
27.Why is Amir angry at Rahim Khan?
28. Rahim explains that much of Baba’s behaviour towards Amir was caused by Baba’s feeling about himself. Hurt people hurt people. Could this situation have been avoided in Afghanistan society? What do you think life have been like for both families if the secret had been made public?
29. Amir experiences the poverty of Afghanistan when he stays overnight with his driver. What happens?
30.Amir learns more about his mother when he reaches Kabul. What does he learn?
31.What does Amir witness at the soccer match? What had the couple done?
32.Amir showed bravery when he rescued Hassan’s son, Sohrab. What did he do? How far did he get and who was he fighting?
33.Hassan’s son, Sohrab replayed history to save Amir. What did he do?
34.What was Sohrab being forced to do before Amir tried to save him?
35.Sohrab felt dirty and ashamed. Why was this?
36.It was going to be very difficult to get Sohrab son out of Afghanistan. Why? And what promise did it look like Amir was going to have to go back on?
37.Finally Amir had good news to tell Sohrab that he had found a way to get him into America. Why was it almost too late?
38.Sohrab recovered his physical health but his personal demeanour was that of a broken spirit. He could not hope, trust or believe anymore. He had had a breakdown. He just wanted to do what?
39.What history was repeated here and how did this effect Amir?
40.Back in America Sohrab remained unable to respond. He was now also traumatised by having to adapt to his new culture. What happened to show that there was hope that his spirit would again soar?
41.What do you consider the main ideas or themes of this story were?
42.Can you relate to any of these themes from your own knowledge or personal experience?
43.Do you think that you would have been able to get through to Sohrab when he was feeling suicidal and unresponsive to Amir and his wife? What would you have liked or tried to say to him?
44.Would you like Baba if you knew him? Why/why not?
45.Would you like Amir? Why/ Why not?
46.Do you think that “God” would “order” people to be stoned or whipped for breaking a social or moral code?
47. Who did Assef admire and wish to continue their work in Afghanistan? If he continued this ‘work’, what would have happened to Hazara?
48.What would you say to anyone who shared Assef’s views and related them to our society?