The Kite Runner

As I'am reading this novel, I want to answer some questions about it, so that it remains much better in my memory. I hope that they have an utility for you too.

Chapters 1-4

1)       Compare and contrast Amir and Hassan, noting their backgrounds, how each boy interacts with his father, and the circumstances surrounding their birth.

Amir and Hassan had both lost their mothers when they were young, and they were both raised together, as their fathers, Baba and Ali respectively, were also raised together as brothers. The difference is that Amir is Pashtun and rich, while Hassan is Hazara and poor.

2)       Discuss the origins of the ongoing conflict between Pashtuns and Hazaras. What effect might this have on Amir and Hassan’s relationship?

The origin of the conflict is religion, and also their origin, as Hazaras are descendants of Mongolians, and not exactly of the people that were controlling the lands in which they are nowadays. As Pashtuns control the government, the relationship between Amir and Hassan is more like a "master-servant" relationship, than of a real-symmetric friendship.

3)       How does Amir feel about Baba? Examine information about Baba, and discuss how Amir and Baba’s differences affect their relationship.

They love each other. But mostly just because of the blood relationship, as Baba thinks of Amir as a weak person that doesn't stand for himself.

4)       What does Baba say is the only sin? Explain his theory and whether Amir is able to understand it.

For Baba, the only sin is to steal. Because any other crime is a theft's variation. Killing someone is stealing his right to live, his wife's right to have a husband, his children's right to have a father...

5)       Examine Baba and Ali’s relationship. How is Amir’s relationship similar to theirs? What impact do their ethnic backgrounds have on these relationships?

They grew as brothers, just like Amir-Hassan, but Baba (and Amir) don't think of their mates as friends, just like servants or something similar, and also, just like Pashtuns controlled Hazaras.

6)       Discuss the significance of Hassan’s favourite book, the Shahnamah?

Its importance lies in that it is the only activity where, by one side, Amir can help and read to Hassan some stories, so that Hassan is entertained, and by the other side, that Amir feels as if he was better than Hassan. Hassan liked this book, because of one of the stories, a story in which Rostam, a belic hero, cries for his archenemy (that he didn't know until that moment that was his son), Sohrab, who lays in the floor, dying. Perhaps Hassan gets touched by the story, in which, even if they were enemies, both faced the truth as men, and loved each other no matter the circumstances that happened before.

7)       Assess the role Rahim Khan plays in Amir’s early life.

It was like a father for him. Even Amir says that he would like Rahim to replace Baba, as he was much more interested in Amir's activities than his own father.

Chapters 5-7

1)       Explain why winter is Amir’s favourite season.

It's the perfect moment to play with kites, as the tournament is held in this season. And holidays of course. Who doesn't like holidays?

2)       What emotions does Amir experience before the kite tournament? What is Hassan’s response? Refer to the simile “I felt like a soldier trying to sleep in the trenches the night before a major battle” (50)

Amir is really nervous before the tournament, and he says that he felt just like a soldier before an important battle. It was a moment in which he could demonstrate everybody that he was good at something. Hassan, of course, tries to calm him down, telling him that he doesn't need to demonstrate this to anybody.

3)       Discuss the aftermath of the kite-fighting tournament, and assess Amir’s initial reaction to Assef’s attack on Hassan. Why does Amir decide not to help Hassan?

Because, just as Baba said a couple of chapters before, Amir is not a person that stands for his rights (or his friend's rights). So, in one hand, he might be afraid of helping Hassan, and in the other one, he wanted to listen what Assef was telling Hassan about their relationship.

4)       Do you think Hassn knows that Amir witnessed the rape? Explain. What does Amir’s behaviour in the aftermath of the rape indicate about him?

Hassan certainly suspected that Amir was present at the moment of the attack, as from that moment, he began acting differently.

5)       Analyze the metaphor comparing Amir and Hassan’s interaction to the game of  “insect torture.” What is the “other face” Amir sees when he asks Hassan if he would eat dirt for him?

Amir realizes that, even if he envies Hassan, and is always trying to make him look stupid, his friend would do anything so that he isn't harmed. In the metaphor, Hassan is the insect that's being tortured by Amir, but not noticing it. In this episode, he understands the real meaning of friendship.

6)        List several instances in this section in which Amir envies Hassan. In each case, is Amir’s jealous justified or not?

There are many cases in which Amir envies Hassan. And one of the episodes that I thought more important, was when Baba gifted a plastic surgery to Hassan, and Amir said that he'd like to have a facial imperfection, so that Baba would have sympathy for him. Another case is when Amir and Hassan were both scared about the sounds they heard, and Ali hugged Hassan, to make him feel secure, or when Baba bought the exact same kite to Amir than to Hassan, even if Amir asked for a bigger one, or even when they ran, and Amir was by far slower than Hassan. I don't think that envy is ever justified.

Chapters 8-10

1)       Discuss the symbolism of the scene in which Amir throws pomegranates at Hassan. Why does Amir want Hassan to hit him, and why do you think Hassan refuses?

Amir wants Hassan to be able to defend from any Pashtun, as he didn't do it with Assef. Hassan couldn't attack Amir, as he respects him, and, as he said before, he would even eat dirt for him. 

2)       Examine the implications of Rahim Khan’s conversation with Amir at his birthday party? Why is Rahim’s gift important to him?

Rahim is like a father for Amir. He supports him in everything he wants to achieve. And that's why he wants Amir to be happy, to celebrate his party with his guests, and he also gave him a notebook so that he could continue writing, as he loved to.

3)       How does Baba react to Ali and Hassan’s decision to leave? What do you think Baba thinks is their reason for leaving? Why do you think Amir is not moved enough to tell the truth or try to stop them from leaving?

Baba doesn't want Ali and Hassan to leave. That's why he didn't kicked them out when he heard that Hassan was a "thief". Perhaps Baba thinks Ali is ashamed and sad because of what his son supposedly did, so that he wants to leave, because he can't stand to live there anymore with that guilt. I think Amir, as he was distanced with Hassan, didn't want to tell the truth because he really wanted Hassan to leave, because Baba always paid more attention to Hassan than to him.

4) What do Ali and Hassan give Amir for his birthday? How does Amir react to this gift?

Ali gives Amir a new version of Shahnamah, as he had only an old story. Amir feels really grateful, but thinks that he doesn't deserve it, as he wasn't good with Hassan anymore. And it wasn't a cheap gift, so it was worse, as he knew they didn't have money.

Chapters 11-25

1. Chapter 11 has a new setting. What is it?

The story is now settled in America.

2.. What does Baba give Amir as a graduation present? What is Amir feeling at this moment? What is Baba feeling?

Baba gives Amir a car, a Gran Torino, as he was proud of his son. In that moment, Amir felt really happy and glad, as at least for once, Baba would be nice with him.

3. What does Amir tell his father he wants to study in college? What is Baba’s
reaction?

Amir's only desire was to write stories. And that's what he wants to study: to become a writer. Baba was a little disappointed, as he wanted his son to study medicine. But, despite what he studied. he had to be a good person.

4. In 1989, what is going on in Afghanistan? Who are the Mujahedin? Who is in charge?

In 1989, Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan and a civil war started. The Mujahedin are Muslim fighters. Najbullah was in charge of Afghanistan, and he was supported by the Soviet Union, and he fought against the Mujahedin, supported by the US.

5. Chapter 14 brings us back to the opening of the book: the telephone call from
Rahim Khan. What is Rahim asking Amir to do?

Rahim was really sick, and he wanted to tell something really important to Amir. Rahim wanted Amir to visit him, as that information couldn't be given by phone. 

6. In Chapter 16, Rahim tells us what happened to Hassan. What has happened?

Hassan died, because of the Talibans. They thought he was stealing in Baba's house.

7.. Who is Farzana? Sohrab?

Farzana is Hassan's wife, and Sohrab is Farzana and Hassan's son.

8. In Chapter 17, Rahim gives Amir a letter from Hassan, who wrote it six months before. What is the tone of this letter? How does Amir react?

He has a mixture of feelings. In one hand, sadness, as he had recently heard the new that Hassan was dead. In the other hand, a mixture of happiness and confusion: he had never thought about the idea that Hassan could be his brother, and also, he was glad that, at least when Hassan wrote the letter, he was thinking in him, and was having a good time. 

9. In Chapter 19, Farid is engaged to drive Amir from Peshawar to Afghanistan.
Describe his first impression of Amir. When Farid said, “You’ve always been a
tourist here, you just didn’t know it,” (p. 232), what did he mean? What is
Farid’s impression of emigrant Afghans who return to visit Afghanistan?

He means that Amir was never living in the "real" Afghanistan. He was always in a good house, with everything he wanted. An emigrant that comes back, should have never leaved. They should have helped their country to succeed. 

10. In Chapter 20, the director of the orphanage, Zaman, tells Amir that Sohrab
was taken by a Taliban official, who takes children, usually girls, about once a
month, for his “sexual pleasure.” The official gives Zaman a great deal of cash.
How does Zaman defend his actions?

Zaman prefers to lose one boy, than to lose everybody. And that money he receives, he uses it in helping everybody else.

11. What is your reaction to Rahim Khan’s letter to Amir? Should the letter have
been presented to him earlier? Do you feel that Baba was a good man?

I don't think I'm able to judge if an action is good or bad. Perhaps Amir should have know from the very beginning that he had a brother. I think that Baba was a great person, as he just wanted to protect his family, always taking care of his weaker son: Hassan.

12. What happens as Amir runs the kite for Sohrab?

He said what he always remembered from Hassan: "For you a thousand times".

13. How is this another full circle?

Amir and Sohrab will have a good relationship, even better than Hassan and Amir.