1. The Kite Runner
Chapters 1-7

2. Chapter 1 Introduces the main character and the conflict.
Fiction Elements – Foreshadowing and Flashback
Symbolism – Kites - betrayal – eyes looking down.
Main question – How can you be good again?
Theme – betrayal

3. Chapter 2 Atmosphere, mood and tone.
Sensory details – sight, sound, taste, smell, feel
Setting – Afghanistan in the 1970’s
Conflict – man vs. man
Comparison – Amir / Hassan
Social status – Pashtun / Hazara
Character development
Theme – discrimination

4. Chapter 3 Symbolism – Baba wrestling the bear. Atmosphere / Setting
Conflict – Baba / Amir
Character development – Baba
Quotation page 19 (my text)
Socio-cultural context – religion
Foreshadowing – Baba comments on how Amir never fights back and Hassan fights his battles for him

5. Chapter 4 Character development – background information
Similarities between Baba and Ali, and Amir and Hassan
Religion / History – why Amir and Baba never saw Ali and Hassan as equals. Caste system
Atmosphere – nostalgic – yearning for the past
Allusions – references to the movies. Rio Bravo, Bullitt (American influence)
Symbolism – Pomegranate Tree.
Allusion – page 38

6. Chapter 5 Conflict – Man vs. Man – Amir vs. Hassan – envious
Ironic – page 46
Background information – constitutional monarch to a republic
Character development – Assef page 49 – 50
Allusion – Hitler – symbolizes Assef
Irony – surgery to fix his face.

7. Chapter 6 Symbolism – winter / snow
Point of View – Amir – we know what he saw and experienced
Metaphor – comparing the kite to a gun
Simile – comparing kite running to war.
Kite Running is symbolic of the difference between the classes.
Atmosphere / Tone

8. Chapter 7 Hassan’s dream – symbolism Foreshadowing / omen / Symbolism
Kite Running – mind drifting – symbolic
Quotation page 93
Quotation page 100
Symbolism – snow
Loyalty – betrayal – theme.
We learn about one of the sins Amir is referring to in the first chapter.
Kites are symbolic of betrayal to Amir at this point.