1. Exposition: Amir and his father Baba are very wealthy, well-known/popular, and live in Kabul with one another. While giving birth, Amir's mother died. In place of the mother and the work she would have done around the house and for the family, Baba hired a Hazara family to live with them and as their servants. Unlike other, ordinary servants, Baba and Amir's servants are different then because the father of the servant family, Ali, grew up with Baba his entire life. Baba and Ali have a super close relationship and consider each other brothers. Ali's son, Hassan, who is also a servant, is treated extremely well by Baba. Amir and Baba follow strict religious tradition in which it is unacceptable to have such a strong and close relationship with Hazara people. Because of this, they must be careful and aware of what could happen to them. Throughout childhood, Amir and Hassan become very good friends who spend almost everyday with one another. After giving birth to Hassan, his mother ran away a week after. She never even held Hassan in her own arms. Because of this, she gave the family a bad reputation and caused them to be not favored by most. Amir begins to be very jealous of Hassan because he feels that Baba pays more attention to him, appreciates and admires him more, and has a stronger connection with him. Although Amir is jealous of Hassan and portrays it quite often, Hassan does everything and anything for Amir and Amir realized it and begins to feel guilty.
Rising Action: All three of the boys, Hassan, Amir, and Baba began preparing for the annual Kite fight. All of them are extremely skilled at this sport and have high expectations for each other. Amir is very determined to win this Kite fight because he feels if he does so he will finally be accepted by Baba, meet his father's expectations, and form a stronger bond with him. The event begins and Amir and Hassan excelled and are cut down all the other kites. Hassan (the best kite runner around) will runs for the last kite cut. He won and Amir sprints after Hassan after seeing his father’s reaction. When he finally finds Hassan, he is in the alley cornered by one of the bully of the neighborhood, Assef. Assef demands that Hassan must give him the kite or else Hassan will regret it if he didn't. Hassan continually refuses to give him the kite. From a distance, Amir continues to watch and witnesses Assef take Hassan’s pants off and rape the innocent, harmless Hassan. Unfortunately, Amir never steps in to help Hassan, instead he gets selfish and runs away. Later on he feels extremely guilty for not helping his best friend in six a bad incident.
Conflict: Guilty from not helping Hassan in the terrible situation after Hassan had had Amors back in every situation, Amir was forced to live his entire life dealing with this guilt. His whole life, the incident haunted him and weighed him down like no other. Amir does anything and everything in his power to get rid of Hassan and Ali. He tried to come up with a plan, but weirdly, Hassan and Ali chose to leave on their own desire. Baba was so depressed and upset while Amir was content yet guilty. Later on in life, Baba and Amir move to the United States, due to the dangerous and unsafe conditions in Kabul. In America, Amir attends school and works with his dad at a market she'd he meets his future wife Soroya. Baba begins to feel ill and finds out he had terminal cancer. Before he passes away, he asks Soroya’s father for permission for Amir to marry his daughter, Soroya. Her father allows the marriage, happily and the two get married. Baba’s final months are spent in bed with constant care and catering by Amir and Soroya. Still to that day, Amir feels the weight of the guilt and decides to never tell anyone, not even Baba or Soroya. One day, Hassan receives a phone call from Rahim Khan, one of Baba’s long lost friends, asking Amir to go back to Kabul because he was dying. When Amir arrives to his childhood town, he finds out that Hassan, earlier in life, had married and had a child, but was killed along with his wife. For the kid, he was shuffled from orphanage to orphanage in Kabul. In the last encounter with Rahim, Rahim tells Amir that he can relieve the guilt he has felt all of the years if he finds Hassan's son and brings him back to a family who agreed to take care of him.
Conflict: Traveling through the most dangerous parts of Kabul in search for Hassan's son, Amir finds out that one of the Taliban's has him. Because he is so determined, Amir does not give up the fight and decides to go and meet the guy who has Hassan's son. He has to first go to the soccer stadium in Kabul and watch a soccer game who's half time show will star the man. When at the game, the man is the person who throws large stones a beaten up couple who was in trouble and kills them. The sight disturbed and frightens Amir, but decides to meet with the man anyways. When he meets with the man, he finds out that the man is Assef, the neighborhood bully and has been sexually abusing Sohrab. Assef and Amir agreed that if they fight and Amir wins, he could take Sohrab. The men are to fight with nobody in the room except Sohrab. Assef beats the life out of Amir with bras buckles until the point where Amir is almost dead. So grab, demented by what he just witnessed,steps in and demands Assef to stop. Assed refuses and Sohrab gets mad and slingshots a ball into Assef’s eye. Amir and Sohrab sprint out the room at this point and Hop in the cab and are free at last.
Falling Action: The cab driver takes Amir to the hospital and finds out that Amir is in and out of consciousness for a few days. After a few days, he gains his consciousness back and talks to Sohran, but Sohrab is very timid and doesn not say much. Amir is extremely injured, but knows he needs to get far away from where Assef is, so that he and Sohrab are safe and do not get found by the Tabilin. After they leave the hospital, they stay in a hotel and search for the parents who were supposed to take Sohrab, but find out that there was never really any parents for Sohrab and that Rahim had only told Amir that to get him to help Hassan and the boy. Stuck in a pickle, Amir did not know what do, but is considering bringing Sohrab home with him and Soroya to America.
Resolution: Amir tries very hard to adopt Sohrab legally, but finds its almost impossible because of all of the tragedy going on. Amir swears to Sohrab that he will never put him in an orphanage again and Sohrab was ecstatic to hear that. Although, the adoption agency told Amir that the easiest way to legally adopt Sohrab was to put him in an orphanage temporarily so that the process will be more simple. When Amir tells Sohrab the news he becomes very angry and attempts to kill himself in the hotel bathtub while Amir is sleeping. When Amir finds him, he rushed to the hospital. Fortunately, Sohrab survived but was in critical condition. Meanwhile, Soroya had been working with a Sharif that was good friends with them in help for the legal adoption. The Sharif made the adoption easier in which he got a temporary visa for Sohrab so that he can come to America. After Sohrab is released from the hospital, he goes back to America and lives with Amir, but communicated very little with Amir, Soroya, and Soroya's family. In the last scene of the book, Amir is in extremely happy because as he was flying the kite with Sohrab, Sohrab smiled and it was the first time he had seen him smile in a very long time.
The author of the novel is able to fulfill the purpose of the story because of how he bases the entire story off tradition and religious/cultural practices. Amir's family and close friends are depicted to have bad luck, but Amir finally resolves this problem and creates peace not only within himself but also within his peers. The authors effort to depict the purpose through the novel is shown by this and supports the purpose that breaking tradition, even when you've been taught to not, is in some situations the right thing to do and also the best for yourself and others.
2. The theme of this book is recovery and redemption. Throughout the entire story, Amir is dealing with the guilt of not helping out a friend who had helped him in every situation no matter what the circumstance was. This guilt affected everything he did throughout his entire life. After all the good Amir had done, he could finally get redemption for his wrongdoings in the past. He had then given back to Hasaan after all of the good Hassan had did for him throughout the years. He was determined to find Hassan's son even if it meant his own life was at risk. He did everything he could to get Sohrab into his possession in redemption for all of the wrongdoings he had committed when he was younger. He knew that what he was doing would be completed by Hassan with no hesitation or questions.
3. The tone of this novel was humane, undaunted, and sympathetic. The book has a undaunted tone because Amir is depicted as a determined, fearless character towards the end of the novel which reveals the person he really is. Also, there is many disturbing situations that the characters go through and acts as if its a breeze, doesn't even affect them. seem like nothing to the characters. He goes from being a selfish, cowardly individual to a brave and courageous one. There is an humane tone to this book too because as the audience reads the story, he/she is disturbed by what is happening and feel as if they are in the situation with the characters, but the characters treat it as if it is ordinary and not a big deal, which seems even more horrifying to the audience. There is a sensitive tone is portrayed by the relationships formed and existing in the story. Each and every one of the relationships shown in the story has its downs and troubles, but they also all have the loving and sensitive side in which the love they share for one another is truly there. For example, the sensitive side of Baba's and Amir's relationship is revealed when Amir wins the kite fight and also when Baba dies. Sohrab's and Amir's relationship even has its ups and downs as well as its positives and tenderness.
"Just before midnight, Baba asked us to help him into bed. Soroya and I placed his arms on our shoulders and wrapped ours around his back. When we lowered him, he had Soroya turn off the bedside lamp. He asked us to lean in, gave us each a kiss." this excerpt from page 173 shows the sensitivity of the relationships formed and existent in the story.
4. 1) "At parties, when all six-foot-five of him thundered into the room, attention shifted to him like sunflowers turning to the sun." This excerpt from page 13 is an example of a simile.
2) . ."After all, didn't all fathers in their secret hearts harbor a desire to kill their sons?" This excerpt from page 29 demonstrates a rhetorical question, in which it depicts the intensity of Amir and Baba's relationship that took place for a good bit of their lives.
3) "But he would not. He said it was a matter of ihtiram, a matter of respect." This excerpt from page 208 is an example of motif. This demonstrates the motif of the story, tradition. Tradition and th practices that come along with tradition is demonstrated and followed throughout the entire duration of story no matter what the situation.
4) "Strangely, I was glad that someone knew me for who I really was; I was tired of pretending." this excerpt from page 106 is an example of irony. It is ironic because Amir was depicted as a horrible person for what he did and now someone had finally found out who he really was and he weirdly liked it. This is ironic because usually individuals don't like it when people know the negative aspects of what you do and the kind of person you are.
5) "I wished I too had some kind of scar that would beget Baba's sympathy. It wasn't fair. Hassan hadn't done anything to earn Baba's affections; he'd just been born with that stupid harelip." this excerpt from page 46 is an example of Ad hominen. This depicts he intense jealousy that Amir felt towards Hassan and leads to his horrible decision in 1975.
2) . ."After all, didn't all fathers in their secret hearts harbor a desire to kill their sons?" This excerpt from page 29 demonstrates a rhetorical question, in which it depicts the intensity of Amir and Baba's relationship that took place for a good bit of their lives.
3) "But he would not. He said it was a matter of ihtiram, a matter of respect." This excerpt from page 208 is an example of motif. This demonstrates the motif of the story, tradition. Tradition and th practices that come along with tradition is demonstrated and followed throughout the entire duration of story no matter what the situation.
4) "Strangely, I was glad that someone knew me for who I really was; I was tired of pretending." this excerpt from page 106 is an example of irony. It is ironic because Amir was depicted as a horrible person for what he did and now someone had finally found out who he really was and he weirdly liked it. This is ironic because usually individuals don't like it when people know the negative aspects of what you do and the kind of person you are.
5) "I wished I too had some kind of scar that would beget Baba's sympathy. It wasn't fair. Hassan hadn't done anything to earn Baba's affections; he'd just been born with that stupid harelip." this excerpt from page 46 is an example of Ad hominen. This depicts he intense jealousy that Amir felt towards Hassan and leads to his horrible decision in 1975.
6) ."Never mind that we taught each other to ride a bicycle with no hands, or to build a fully functional homemade camera out of a cardboard box. Never mind that we spent entire winters flying kites, running kites. Never mind that to me, the face of Afghanistan is that of a boy with a thin-boned frame, a shaved head, and low-set ears, a boy with a Chinese doll face perpetually lit by a harelipped smile." this excerpt from page 25 is an example of anaphora and indicates how critical Hassan was to the childhood of Amir and also the life of Amir.
7) "'And where is he headed?' Baba said. 'A boy who won't stand up for himself becomes a man who can't stand up to anything.'" this excerpt from page 22 is an example of overstatement and shows Baba's feeling towards Amir and his great amount of disappointment towards the person his son has become. This is an overstatement because the person Amir has become isn't a bad person at all.
7) "'And where is he headed?' Baba said. 'A boy who won't stand up for himself becomes a man who can't stand up to anything.'" this excerpt from page 22 is an example of overstatement and shows Baba's feeling towards Amir and his great amount of disappointment towards the person his son has become. This is an overstatement because the person Amir has become isn't a bad person at all.
8) "As words from the Koran reverberated through the room, I thought of the old story of Baba wrestling a black bear in Baluchistan. Baba had wrestled bears his whole life. Losing his young wife. Raising a son by himself. Leaving his beloved homeland, his watan. Poverty. Indignity. In the end, a bear had come that he couldn't best. But even then, he had lost on his own terms." this excerpt from page 174 is an example of a metaphor in which it depicts Baba's struggles he has faced throughout his whole life, but also the determination, faith, will power, and strength he had while overcoming the obstacles.
9) "Summer meant long school days sweating in tightly packed, poorly ventilated classrooms learning to recite ayats from the Koran, struggling with those tongue-twisting, exotic Arabic words. It meant catching flies in your palm while the mullah droned on and a hot breeze brought with it the smell of shit from the outhouse across the schoolyard, churning dust around the lone rickety basketball hoop." this excerpt from page 108 is an example of imagery in which it provides detailed description of the setting of the story.
10) "Looking back on it now, I think the foundation for what happened in the winter of 1975- and all that followed- was already laid in those first words." this excerpt from page eleven is an example of foreshadowing that hints to what event will truly have the biggest impact on and change the story. This excerpt contributes to the story so much in which it bluntly indicates that the story is going to be altered in some way or another.
10) "Looking back on it now, I think the foundation for what happened in the winter of 1975- and all that followed- was already laid in those first words." this excerpt from page eleven is an example of foreshadowing that hints to what event will truly have the biggest impact on and change the story. This excerpt contributes to the story so much in which it bluntly indicates that the story is going to be altered in some way or another.
11)This excerpt below from page 189 demonstrates personification which helps to create a sense of reality and emotion"And I could almost feel the emptiness in Soraya's womb, like it was a living, breathing thing. I'd feel it rising from Soraya and settling between us. Sleeping between us. Like a newborn child."
Characterization:
1.Examples of direct characterization include"While Sanaubar's brilliant green eyes and impish face had, rumor has it, tempted countless men into sin, Ali had a congenital paralysis of his lower facial muscles that left him permanently grim-faced." "'Your boss could use some manners'... 'Poor Ray. He hasn't been the same since his daughter died.'"Examples of indirect characterization include "Baba and Rahim Khan built a wildly successful carpet-exporting business, two pharmacies, and a restaurant." "Midway though the speech the wind knocked his hat off and everyone laughed. He turned back to the microphone and said he hoped the building was sturdier than his hat, and everyone laughed again." Each of these examples give a side/aspect of a character that is straightforward and known by all the other characters but if you think about what the qu0te is actually saying, there is a much more meaningful and deeper meaning that augments the text and depth of each and every character. Each character in the story is obligated throughout the story and Amir is the only character that truly changed from a static character to a dynamic one.
The author uses both direct and indirect characterization to ensure that the reader has a straightforward view of each and every character, whether it is the perceived or accurate view.
2. No, the author is constant with his tone throughout the entire novel. The narrator depicts things in great detail, passion, and care. He continually adds his own personal opinion and thoughts into his story which adds depth to each of the characters"Baba slapped my hand away. 'Haven't I taught you anything?' he snapped. He turned to the grinning soldier." "Outside the walls of that house there was a war raging. But the three of us, in your fathers house, we made our own little haven from it."
3. The protagonist of the story is Amir. Amir is a dynamic character because he transitions from a selfish person into a selfless person over the duration of the play. In the beginning of the story, he is filled very jealous, hateful, and bitter which causes him to feel a great amount of guilt for his entire life. Throughout the book Amir loses his guilt through redemption and becomes a selfless individual that would does anything to help Hassan and his son. Amir is also a round character because over the duration of the book, he goes from being so bitter towards everyone else and Hassan and then changes to a selfless individual that even goes to the extent of risking his own life to give back to Hassan. His character was developed over the duration of the story and is a very complex character who encountered a lot of emotions and tragedy throughout the story.
4. The author does a really good job at explaining each character in depth because I walk away from this book and feel like I have met every character face to face and that I know their true character. To be honest, I shed a few tears in several parts of the book because of how well it was written, shaped, and how the plot turned out. It was such an amazing book and had such a great impact on me. I felt as if i could totally connect and relate to Amir as if i had experienced/live through the situation he was going through.The author portrays the characters was that enables the audience to easily connect with and relate to. The book was so good and had such a big impact on me that I still think about it and recommend it to all of my friends for their future literature analyses. I read the book in three hours, if that doesn't show you how good the book was then I don't know what will.
1.Examples of direct characterization include"While Sanaubar's brilliant green eyes and impish face had, rumor has it, tempted countless men into sin, Ali had a congenital paralysis of his lower facial muscles that left him permanently grim-faced." "'Your boss could use some manners'... 'Poor Ray. He hasn't been the same since his daughter died.'"Examples of indirect characterization include "Baba and Rahim Khan built a wildly successful carpet-exporting business, two pharmacies, and a restaurant." "Midway though the speech the wind knocked his hat off and everyone laughed. He turned back to the microphone and said he hoped the building was sturdier than his hat, and everyone laughed again." Each of these examples give a side/aspect of a character that is straightforward and known by all the other characters but if you think about what the qu0te is actually saying, there is a much more meaningful and deeper meaning that augments the text and depth of each and every character. Each character in the story is obligated throughout the story and Amir is the only character that truly changed from a static character to a dynamic one.
The author uses both direct and indirect characterization to ensure that the reader has a straightforward view of each and every character, whether it is the perceived or accurate view.
2. No, the author is constant with his tone throughout the entire novel. The narrator depicts things in great detail, passion, and care. He continually adds his own personal opinion and thoughts into his story which adds depth to each of the characters"Baba slapped my hand away. 'Haven't I taught you anything?' he snapped. He turned to the grinning soldier." "Outside the walls of that house there was a war raging. But the three of us, in your fathers house, we made our own little haven from it."
3. The protagonist of the story is Amir. Amir is a dynamic character because he transitions from a selfish person into a selfless person over the duration of the play. In the beginning of the story, he is filled very jealous, hateful, and bitter which causes him to feel a great amount of guilt for his entire life. Throughout the book Amir loses his guilt through redemption and becomes a selfless individual that would does anything to help Hassan and his son. Amir is also a round character because over the duration of the book, he goes from being so bitter towards everyone else and Hassan and then changes to a selfless individual that even goes to the extent of risking his own life to give back to Hassan. His character was developed over the duration of the story and is a very complex character who encountered a lot of emotions and tragedy throughout the story.
4. The author does a really good job at explaining each character in depth because I walk away from this book and feel like I have met every character face to face and that I know their true character. To be honest, I shed a few tears in several parts of the book because of how well it was written, shaped, and how the plot turned out. It was such an amazing book and had such a great impact on me. I felt as if i could totally connect and relate to Amir as if i had experienced/live through the situation he was going through.The author portrays the characters was that enables the audience to easily connect with and relate to. The book was so good and had such a big impact on me that I still think about it and recommend it to all of my friends for their future literature analyses. I read the book in three hours, if that doesn't show you how good the book was then I don't know what will.
