1. Mr. Dahlke's Lecture Notes
The Kite Runner
Mr. Dahlke's Lecture Notes

2. About the Author The Kite Runner is the first novel by Khaled Hosseini
The first novel published in English by an Afghani.
Set in both Afghanistan and the United States immediately before and during the rise of the Taliban.
Hosseini was born in Afghanistan
Immigrated to the United States in 1980
Much of the novel is drawn from his personal experience.

3. Author's Style: -Simple; Straightforward
-Almost Cinematic- reads like an action movie
-Generally objective representation
-Remorseful and Tragic Tone
Frequent Techniques:
-Interior Monologue
-Flashback and Foreshadowing
-Irony

4. Examples of Style:
“I became what I am today at the age of twelve, on a frigid overcast day in the winter of I remember the precise moment, crouching behind a crumbling mud wall, peeking into the alley near the frozen creek. That was a long time ago, but it’s wrong what they say about the past, I’ve learned, about how you can bury it. Because the past claws its way out. Looking back now, I realize I have been peeking into that deserted alley for the last twenty-six years” (Hosseini 1).
“I had one last chance to make a decision. One final opportunity to decide who I was going to be. I could step into that alley, stand up for Hassan- the way he’d stood up for me all those times in the past- and accept whatever would happen to me. Or I could run. In the end, I ran” (Hosseini 77).

5. Setting: Afghanistan
Terrain – rocky and dry, mountainous in the central part of the country
Climate – hot summers, cold winters
Geography – borders Iran, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikstan

7. Politics
In the 19th century, Afghanistan ceded many territories to Great Britain.
In 1919, the Anglo-Afghan wars returned the ruling power to the Afghani monarchy.
In 1973, the king’s brother staged a coup to create a Republic.
In 1978, communists overthrew the ruler and took over the government.

8. Politics Cont.
In 1979, the Soviet Union sent troops to Afghanistan to bolster the communist regime.
The Soviet occupation resulted in a mass exodus from Afghanistan.
Over 5 million people left the country and settled mainly in Pakistan.

9. Politics Cont.
However, the world-wide push against communism was considerable, and the Soviet Union finally left the country in after much opposition from rebel groups inside Afghanistan.
The chaos that was left by the Soviet withdrawal spawned the rise of the Taliban, and it seized Kabul in 1996.

10. The Taliban
Under the Taliban’s rule, human rights and civil liberties were slowly peeled away.
The Taliban instituted cruel and inhumane treatment of those who opposed them in order to solidify their power over Afghanistan’s citizens

11. How does it relate?
In the beginning of The Kite Runner, the monarchy is still in place and the country is relatively calm.
However, chaos starts to erupt as the king is overthrown by his brother.
In the second half of The Kite Runner, the Taliban is in power, creating a much more volatile and dangerous Afghanistan.

12. Islam
A religion based on the interpretations of God’s word by the prophet Muhammad found in the Qu’ran (sometimes spelled Koran)
Followers of Islam, Muslims, are devoted to daily prayer (five times a day facing Mecca, the holy city)

13. The tenets of Islam
There are several tenets of Islam, but there are three mentioned early on in the book:
Zakat – charitable giving
Hadj – pilgrimage to Mecca
Namaz – five daily prayers facing Mecca

14. Divisions of Islam
Islam is divided into two denominations, Shia and Sunni. Because of the differing views of these two groups, they maintain a rather tense and hostile relationship.
The Pashtun (majority) are typically Sunni, and the Hazara (minority) are typically Shia.
Thus, the racial differences are compounded by the religious differences.

15. Racial Conflict
The distinct racial division in Afghanistan occurs between the Hazara and the Pashtun.
The Pashtun are the majority race, and discrimination against the Hazara is widespread.

16. Hazara
The Hazaras are most easily identified by their tendency to have lightcolored and almond shaped eyes and round faces.
They are possibly direct descendents of Genghis Khan, who invaded Afghanistan in the 13th century.
Thus, they are seen as “invaders” and not true Afghanis.

17. Hazara Cont.
The Hazaras typically function as the servant class and partake in few of the freedoms enjoyed by the Pashtun upper- class.

18. Afghani Words
jan – a term of endearment often used after a person’s name: Baba jan
agha – leader, ruler, master, lord
sahib – friend (original), lord
naan – bread
Other words will be explained in context on a need-to-know basis

19. Characters Amir – the main character; narrator
Baba – Amir’s father; wealthy Afghani
Rahim Khan – Baba’s best friend and
business partner; an uncle to Amir
Hassan – Amir’s best friend; servant
Ali – Hassan’s father

20. Conflict: Father vs. Son Friend vs. Friend Guilt vs. Redemption
Pashtun vs. Hazara
Man vs. Culture/Society

21. Irony:
Amir bringing home the winning kite was supposed to bring happiness, instead it turns him into a coward and brings a lifetime of guilt.
Amir wants to share Baba's positive traits, instead what he shares is the betrayal of friends.
Assef, who caused Amir's guilt, allows him a path to atone for his past by taking a beating.
Baba believes that stealing is the greatest sin (and by extension lying) yet lies to conceal his relationship with Hassan.
Amir only discovers the “True Afghanistan” after he no longer lives there.

22. Symbols:
Kites
Watches
The Cleft Lip
Pomegranate Tree
The Lamb

23. Motifs: Watch Slingshot Escapism Cultural Violence
Loss of Innocence (Rape)
Resurgence of the past
Racial/Class Inequality

24. Essential Questions
Is it ever appropriate or necessary to remain a silent bystander when someone is being hurt (physically or emotionally)?
Is it possible to atone (make amends) for our wrongdoings?
Do we have an obligation to be loyal and truthful to our friends and family members?

25. Themes: People need to find redemption and atone for past sins.
Fathers and sons exhibit a complex relationship—full of both love and tension.
The past has a powerful influence on the present.
Loyalty and betrayal have a price.