- Where did they move to after Pakistan and what job did Baba get?
- Amir and Baba moved to America and Baba got a job at a gas station.
- His dislike of food stamps tell what about his character?
- When Baba dislikes the food stamps, I feel he gets upset and angry that someone has to pay for his own food and that he cannot gain it himself. This shows a mass amount of self maturity. He wants to be able to take care of himself, not have someone take care of him.
- What did Baba give Amir for his birthday? Why? What is the symbolic nature of this gift?
- What did Amir decide to study in college and how did Baba feel about Amir's decision?
- Amir decided to study English and major in it. Baba considers it petty and not an actual job. Amir wants to become a writer and a published author but he knows that he will have to wait until he is noticed to gain money from his writing, so therefore explains to Baba that he will work at a low budget place for a while. Baba gets angry and throws the idea back into Amir's face, but Amir finally stands tall and wants to do it anyway, despite Baba's wishes because it is what he wants to do with the rest of his life. No matter what Baba has to say.
- Compare the life of Amir to that of Khaled Hosseini based on the video shown in class.
- Amir and Khaled are very much the same, they both wanted to be authors except Khaled didn't know he wanted too until later in his life. Also, he was born in Afghanistan and Amir was as well, dealing with the disastrous conflict throughout their government. The character Amir seems to be based a lot on Khaled Hosseini.
- Why did the author say he “embraced America”?
- Khaled "embraced America" because he came to the country and finally found out who he wanted to be. He came to America with an open mind and found his fortune through it.
- Reflect on Baba’s comment at the end of chapter 11.
- Baba hit home on his comment. The comment: It may be unfair, but what happens in a few days, sometimes eveb a single day, can change the course of a whole lifetime, Amir," seems to be a hit to the shin to Amir's guilty conscience. Because Amir witnessed a terrible situation one day, it affected his entire life, therefore being a extremely ironic quote through the book.
- Discuss gender roles in America as compared to Afghanistan. Link to the theme of oppression and appearance versus reality.
Why do you think Amir no longer wanted to play with Hassan?
Amir no longer wanted to play with Hassan because of the horrific scene that Amir unfortunately witnessed. When Amir witnessed his friend/brother be raped by the neighbourhood bully Amir felt guilty for not being a hero and helping Hassan. His guilt for not helping caused Amir great anguish and unhappiness therefore making him want to be away from Hassan, to clear his shame by pushing him away.
Why did Amir throw pomegranates at Hassan? What does this symbolize?
Amir threw the pomegranates at Hassan because of his frustration towards himself. He wanted Hassan to be mad at him because Amir knows he deserves it, and feels terrible. The Pomegranates symbolize friendship and innocence but as well a pomegranate is one of the fruits in the Garden of Paradise in Qu'ran.
What is the significance behind Assef’s birthday present for Amir?
The significance is that Assef wants to rid the world of lower class status. He is foreshadowing to what he may become later in the pages. Assef clearly states in one of the chapters that Hitler was a fantastic leader, and if the world just him just continue his clean sweep then the world would be in a better place.
What story did Rahim Kahn tell Amir on his birthday? Why? How is this story an allegory and what does it prove?
Rahim Kahn told the story of his true love. How his true love was a Hazara and they had an entire Romeo and Juliet scene happening. Rahim Kahn was going to marry this women even though she was in a separate class and it was considered wrong in many ways. They hung out at night after their family members were asleep and they'd have their time. But when they went to tell everyone they were planning on getting married, Rahim Kahn's father sent the Hazara slaves away. He told Amir this because Amir was sad about something and even though he tried his hardest to keep it secret Rahim Kahn knew about it and therefore wanted to help Amir along. Rahim Kahn sometimes acted as Amir's father when his real father was acting high and mighty. This story is an allegory because it has a back meaning that Amir needs to figure out. Rahim Kahn told him this to help him through whatever he was dealing with.
What gift did he give him? Discuss the symbolism behind this gift.
Rahim Kahn gives Amir a leather bound book for all of his writing.
Why didn’t anyone tell the truth?
Afraid of the outcome or their punishment is they did explain the truth of all problems.
What did Amir hide under Hassan’s bed? Why? What does this say about Amir's character? What does the lie Hassan tells say about his character?
Amir hid his brand new watch from Baba and money under Hassan's bed. He did this because the guilt that Amir is facing was too much for him to handle, therefore making Hassan and his father leave was the only outcome Amir could think of to get rid of them. So Amir tried to make it look like Hassan stole the watch and money. This shows that Amir's character is very cowardly. Amir isn't very happy with himself and even though he knows he's doing all of the wrong things he does them anyway because he feels guilty. He is very conceded and nothing like a hero like Baba, which upsets Amir more, causing him emotional stress and emotional scarring. When Hassan lies and admits that he stole the watch and stole the money and still he didn't want his one and only friend to get in trouble and have a terrible life. This proves that Hassan is more of the hero, he is very much a giving person. He would do anything to make sure his friend never got hurt. He would go to unbelievable lengths to make sure his friend was safe, even if that meant he'd be left out of the picture.
Why did Hassan and Ali leave?
Hassan and Ali leave because Amir suspects that Hassan told Ali that he was raped and hurt in those ways and Ali found out about Amir's behaviour and didn't want to be around, also for the well being of his son, Ali wishes to protect his little boy.
Where did Amir and Baba flee to?
Amir and Baba go to flee to Peshawar but they were many stops on the way. They are refugees running to Peshawar.
Why could people no longer be trusted in Afghanistan?
In Kabul Amir describes that you cannot trust anyone because everybody is turning everybody in. You cannot tell anybody anything unless you wanted it spilled to the authorities. Everybody was looking out for their own skin, even if that meant telling other peoples business.
Discuss both the irony and the significance of Hassan's favourite story "Rostam and Sorab".
The story Amir reads to Hassan is ironic because it is about a boy who is desperately wishing to gain his father's approval and respect. Amir is battling to get approval from his "winning" father and wants to impress him with everything he has.
What happens politically to Afghanistan in 1978 and 1979?
When the Peoples Democratic Part of Afghanistan ruled over the country in 1978 and in 1979 the Soviet War of Afghanistan begins.
Who is Assef? What are Assef's views of a) Amir, b) his father and c) the Hazara people?
Assef is the cities bully, tough, mean and with a bad reputation of beating on people. His views on Amir are confused and angry that he is hanging around with a Hazara being and calling him a friend when clearly in their society that wasn't supposed to happen. His views on his father are confused as well because Baba's views on political and religious issues are different to what he thinks is right. His views on the Hazara people are that they are dirty and helpless people. He compares them to the Jewish people during Hitler's reign of terror. "'About Hitler. Now, there was a leader. A great leader. A man with vision. I'll tell Dauod Khan to remember that if they had let Hitler finish what he had started, the world be a better place now'" (Hosseini 43). Assef clearly has a strong hate for people of different views that do not relate with his and strongly dislikes the Hazara's, comparing them to jewish scum.
Why does Assef think Amir is worse tan the Hazara's themselves?
Assef thinks Amir is worse then the Hazara's because to the Pashtuns are superior to them and for Amir to being hanging around with Hassan, it's like a hypothetical punch in the face to their society and class of their world. Assef is clearly offended by these ways Amir and Hassan live and therefore want to right the world, but not in the right way.
The slingshot is symbolic in this novel. What is it symbolic of and why is it used by the author?
The slingshot is symbolic of bravery. When Hassan threatens Assef with the slingshot, giving him the two options of either walking away or losing an eye it shows bravery that Hassan is willing to stand up for is friend/master to this big bully. The bravery is strong and very will powered for a slave boy to be standing up to their supposed masters of their sort of class structure.
