Kite Runner (Step One)

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.