The Kite Runner Chapters 1-7
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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.