Sunday, May 9, 2010

The Kite Runner

1. Discuss the significance of the novel’s title? What might the kite fighting tournament symbolize? Does the competition’s combination of physical brutality and aesthetic beauty parallel any other aspects of the book?

2. The novel begins with Amir's memory of peering down an alley, looking for Hassan who is kite running for him. As Amir peers into the alley, he witnesses a tragedy. The novel ends with Amir kite running for Hassan's son, Sohrab, as he begins a new life with Amir in America. Why do you think the author chooses to frame the novel with these scenes? Refer to the following passage: "Afghans like to say: Life goes on, unmindful of beginning, end...crisis or catharsis, moving forward like a slow, dusty caravan of kochis [nomads]." How is this significant to the framing of the novel?

8 comments:

  1. The novels title is significant because it is a turning point in Amirs life. He is recognized by his father, he sees his best friend get raped. Right after that there is a a coup d'eta. Many thing happen to Amir around this time, all of them significant to his life.

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  2. I think that the author chooses those two scenes to frame the book because they have the biggest impact in Amir’s life. After Amir witnessed Hassan being raped, he changed completely. He was not the same person he was before and needed to get away. I think that the scene at the end of the book is similar because Sohrab is going to have a completely different life living in America with Amir. He does not have to fear about getting sexually assaulted or harmed in any way. That Afghan saying is significant to the passage because even though they have both lived through hard times, Amir and Sohrab are moving on with their life and not constantly looking back on all the horrid times they have faced. It frames the novel because all the characters in The Kite Runner have faced a tragedy at a point in their life but it did not stop them from becoming who they were meant to be. They continued on with their life, sometimes slower than others but kept on moving forward.

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  3. The name of the story is to sybolize how Amir's life had a grace to it, until it was cut down by the hidden glass on the kite's string. As for the reason why the story was shape like it was with Amir running into Hassan's son was a way to make amends to his old friend who he failed to help when he was raped.

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  4. It is signifigant because the whole book based around a friendship that inovles kites and running around as friends. It is different then other aspects of the book because the other aspects of the book discuss how a man is into reading and not fighting.
    This is signifigant because it shows a true good person. IT shows that even Amir made a huge mistake by the way he was with hassan he is trying to make up for it by helping hassan son. Its good example of how everyone in this world sometimes deserves a second chance.

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  5. The title of the book is significant because it refers to two innocent boys who just tr to have fun. However I believe the title also is a reference to the fight they endure as they age or as there innocence is broken especially when Hassan is raped. The kite flying contest is somewhat parallel to other aspects of the book in terms of future experiences. Both young men learn that life is brutal and waits for no one. However, Amir also finds out life can be beautiful especially when he is united with Hassan's son and watches him grow up like himself and Hassan.
    - Andrew Stephens

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  6. I believe the title, The kite runner, is significant to its story because throughout the book the event of the Kite running contest plays a big role within there childhood lives. However, as the story goes on, and they win the contest, it leads to a tragic turning point in the story. I agree with Andrew, because as you carry on reading the story you notice a severe change with both characters. As they grow and turn into adults, Amir suffers with this horrid incident he'd witnessed by not telling a soul about it, while Hassan learns and grows to deal with it. I believe that the main focus of the story was on how the two were able to "run with their own kites"
    -Samantha Cram

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  7. The reason the novel is called the Kite Runner is because the novel is as much about Hassan as it is about Amir. The kite flying tournament was such a significant point in the novel because it really showed how loyal the kite runner, hassan, was to Amir. Hassan would rather sacrifice himself then disappoint Amir. It's sad because the reader wants Amir to step up and defend Hassan, but instead he does nothing and pretends like he saw nothing. The author ties the book up with Amir running Sohrab's kite. This moment almost seems like a redemption moment. As if running Hassan's son's kite will make things better even in the smallest way. I loved this book and it will go as one of my favorites of all time.

    -Christopher Croteau

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  8. The title Kite Runner is very significant throughout the story. The reason why it is so significant is because it explains Hassan and Amir's relationship. Their relationship was with the kite, they forgot about how Hassan was Hazara, and just enjoyed the competition. It also showed Hassan's loyalty to Amir, and how he would do anything for Amir.

    The author chooses to frame these two scenes at the beginning and the end of the novel because it shows how Amir grew throughout the novel. At first, he was very selfish, he knew that Hassan was Hazara, and depsite the fact that they grew up together, he still deep down knew that Hassan was worthless. Whenever Hassan was picked on, Amir just stood there, and did nothing. Hassan always stood up to Amir, yet Amir did nothing for Hassan in return. However, after many things happened to Amir, and as he grew up and everything he endured, he soon changed how he was. He no longer worried about people's backgrounds, but looked at them as who there were on the inside. Amir changed a lot from the beginning of the novel, and he finally realized that it's what matters on the inside.

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