...Foreshadowing is a literary device in which an author drops subtle hints about plot developments to come later in the story. An example of foreshadowing might be when a character displays a gun or knife early in the story. Merely the appearance of a deadly weapon, even though it is used for an innocuous purpose — such as being cleaned or whittling wood — suggests terrible consequences later on. 1. Foreshadowing is used as a literary device at the very beginning of the novel as Hosseini uses the first person narration through Amir, to hint at a major event to follow in the novel. This event is something that has changed Amir’s life, and life-path, forever. This foreshadowing is presented through the use of another literary device the flashback. I became what I am today at the age of twelve, on a frigid overcast day in the winter of 1975. 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 realise I have been peeking into that deserted alley for the last twenty-six years. 2. Foreshadowing is also used at the beginning of Chapter Seven when Hassan tells Amir about the dream he had that night. “it was warm and sunny, and the late was clear like a mirror. But no one was swimming because they said a monster had come to the lake. It was swimming...
Words: 676 - Pages: 3
...“There is a way to be good again.” (Hosseni 192) These words hold a powerful meaning to Amir, the main character of Khaled Hosseni’s novel The Kite Runner. This quote is essential to Amir whom struggles with the guilt of the self-centered choices he makes at the beginning of the novel. Hosseni incorporates the theme of betrayal throughout the book; this is done through the occurrence of Hassan’s rape and the discovery of Baba’s second child Hassan. In the book The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseni uses foreshadowing and irony to demonstration the sin of betrayal. In the book The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseni uses foreshadowing and irony in order to effectively communicate betrayal as a means of egocentric behavior which is a sin and leads to the unraveling...
Words: 832 - Pages: 4
...Write about the ways Hossieni tells the story in Chapter 18 of The Kite Runner. In chapter 18 of The Kite Runner, Hosseini continues to use a first person narrative, however the manipulation of past participles allows him to write from the perspective of Baba and Ali on occasion. The effect of this is haunting as the narration symbolises ghosts from the past, which is a dominant theme in the Kite Runner, and creates a reading experience which emulates suffocation. The chapter is told via analepsis, this is a key linguistic mechanism in deconstructing the psyche of Amir. By Chapter 18 he is truly a broken man; he is an orphan, infertile, betrayed his best-friend, and the man he considers a father is dying. In chapter 18 these psychological attributes culminate and form an Amir who reflects the setting in which he is narrating this chapter, Pakistan. Pakistan is an in-between place in Amir's journey, reflecting Amir who is on the cusp of realising his true potential - through the intertwining of setting (Pakistan) and character (Amir), Hosseini foreshadows an ending where Amir will achieve repentance and is entirely happy. On the other hand, the broken tone in which the chapter is written emulates that of a suicide note, the conjuring of past images and "gods greatest sin" suggests Amir is contemplating suicide at this point as he has "let down everyone I love", thus subverting the foreshadowed ending of repentance through the reflective symbolic imagery of character and setting...
Words: 894 - Pages: 4
...The Kite Runner Rape is something that affects many people emotionally, physically, and will stay with that person for a long time. It is an event that affects not only women but men as well. Rape is an issue that is ignored and many times goes unreported. In the Book I read, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, a young boy, Amir, watched as another young boy, Hassan, got raped. One of the major themes in this book is that you cannot escape your past no matter how hard you try. My perspective on this topic has changed because i had not realized how much of an impact rape has on people's lives. Many people think that only women/girls get raped, and that if men/boys do they were wanting to happen any way. Although it is very uncommon it does...
Words: 484 - Pages: 2
...e Runner begins with our thus-far nameless protagonist explaining that the past cannot be forgotten. A single moment in time defined him and has been affecting him for the last twenty-six years. This moment was in 1975 when he was twelve years old and hid near a crumbling alleyway in his hometown of Kabul, Afghanistan. When the protagonist's friend, Rahim Khan, calls him out of the blue, he knows that his past sins are coming back to haunt him even in the new life he has built in San Francisco. He remembers Hassan, whom he calls "the harelipped kite runner," saying "For you, a thousand times over." Rahim's words also echo in his head, "There is a way to be good again." These two phrases will become focal points for the rest of the novel and our protagonist's story. Chapter Two The protagonist remembers sitting in trees with Hassan when they were boys and annoying the neighbors. Any mischief they perpetrated was the protagonist's idea, but even when Hassan's father, Ali, scolded Hassan, he never told on the protagonist. Hassan's father was a servant to the protagonist's father, Baba and lived in a small servant's house on his property. Baba's house was widely considered the most beautiful one in Kabul. There Baba held large dinner parties and entertained friends, including Rahim Khan, in his smoking room. Though the protagonist was often surrounded by adults, he never knew his mother because she died in childbirth. Hassan never knew his mother, either, because she eloped with...
Words: 4022 - Pages: 17
...In my view The Kite Runner is an epic story with a personal history of what the people of Afghanistan had and have to endure in an ordinary every day life; a country that is divided between political powers and religiously idealistic views and beliefs which creates poverty, and violence within the people and their terrorist run country. The story line is more personal with the description of Afghanistan's culture and traditions, along with the lives of the people who live in Kabul. The story provides an educational and eye-opening account of a country's political chaos. Of course there are many things that are unsaid and under explained in this tragic novel which, in my observation, is an oversimplification. There is also a heavy use of emotional appeal, and an underlying message. This is a flag for propaganda. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini begins in the 1970s in Kabul, Afghanistan, when the country is in a time of an ending monarchy. The main character, Amir, is the son of wealthy Afghanistan business man, and his playmate, Hassan, the son of his father's houseman, Ali. Hassan is a Hazara and Amir is a Pashtun, which makes them from different social classes. The author has undoubtedly stirred my emotions and I admit that I did cry several times. I think that this was the author's objective; this is an appeal to emotion, one of the fallacies of propaganda. Propaganda is a message or an idea that persuades the audience to change their perspectives in one way or another...
Words: 1102 - Pages: 5
...In my view The Kite Runner is an epic story with a personal history of what the people of Afghanistan had and have to endure in an ordinary every day life; a country that is divided between political powers and religiously idealistic views and beliefs which creates poverty, and violence within the people and their terrorist run country. The story line is more personal with the description of Afghanistan's culture and traditions, along with the lives of the people who live in Kabul. The story provides an educational and eye-opening account of a country's political chaos. Of course there are many things that are unsaid and under explained in this tragic novel which, in my observation, is an oversimplification. There is also a heavy use of emotional appeal, and an underlying message. This is a flag for propaganda. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini begins in the 1970s in Kabul, Afghanistan, when the country is in a time of an ending monarchy. The main character, Amir, is the son of wealthy Afghanistan business man, and his playmate, Hassan, the son of his father's houseman, Ali. Hassan is a Hazara and Amir is a Pashtun, which makes them from different social classes. The author has undoubtedly stirred my emotions and I admit that I did cry several times. I think that this was the author's objective; this is an appeal to emotion, one of the fallacies of propaganda. Propaganda is a message or an idea that persuades the audience to change their perspectives in one way or another...
Words: 1091 - Pages: 5
...Kite Runner vs. Poetry Key quotes: “A boy who won’t stand up for himself becomes a man who can’t stand up to anything” – Baba says this to Rahim Khan as a comment on the behaviour of Amir. Through this he identifies Amir’s greatest flaw: cowardice. It is this trait that leaves him desperately craving Baba’s love, and ultimately leads to be letting Assef rape Hassan. It also foreshadows Amir’s return to Kabul in search of Sohrab; the test of Amir’s character also tests whether Baba’s statement is true. “Huddled together in the dining room and waiting for the sun to rise, none of us had any notion that a way of life had ended” – This sentence appears towards the start of chapter five and indicates the fall of the monarchy and the descent of Kabul (and indeed Afghanistan) into political instability. The peaceful world Amir knows, made possible by Baba’s wealth, turns into one full of violence and uncertainty. It ultimately leads to Baba and Amir fleeing the country. “There is a way to be good again” – Rahim Khan says this to Amir over the phone when trying to encourage him to come to Pakistan and in the dialogue this appears like an afterthought. It reveals that Rahim Khan knows the truth about what Amir did to Hassan. It also ties into the theme of redemption, allowing the reader to believe that by returning to the Middle East, Amir will be given the opportunity to break the cycle of guilt he is trapped in. “My body was broken—just how badly I wouldn’t find out until later—but...
Words: 2124 - Pages: 9
...A a key part in the story of the Kite Runner; the events that occur are so drastic that the chapters preceding it prepare us for the scenes and the following chapters deal with its aftershock. Many of the tensions have been building till now, the way Amir abuses Hassan’s loyalty, his desperation to please his father and the question of whether he can stand up for what right; all come together in the events of this chapter. Finally, in this chapter, the readers are faced with the much anticipated events of the “winter of 1975” that scar Amir for the rest of his life. Hosseini’s use of structure therefore, is particularly effective in teasing the readers for the first 7 chapters before the rape and help to build up the growing tension of treatment of Hazaras by Pashtuns. The author’s use of structure is further highlighted in this chapter by the way he introduces “a memory”, “a memory” and “a dream” immediately before Hassan’s rape to again slow down the pace and help to highlight the significance of what is about to occur. Hosseini starts the chapter by using dreams to help tell the story. Hassan tells Amir that in his dream, “a monster had come to the lake” and later claims there was “no monster, just water.” The dream here could be used to subtly prepare the readers for the horrific events that are to follow and to warn Hassan to keep away from the ‘monster’; whether this monster is Amir or Assef however is open to interpretation. If however, as suggested later by Amir, that...
Words: 1220 - Pages: 5
...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.” Amir thought in the beginning of the novel “The kite runner”. In the novel we meet two boys from two different ethnic groups living in Kabul, Afghanistan. Amir copes with his decisions 26 years after betraying his best friend, Hassan to get the attention and acceptance from his beloved father. The novel is written by Khaled Hosseini in 2003 and is a redemption story. In order for Amir to cope with his guilt, he needed to find redemption of his betrayal of Hassan. Amir develops through the story and is a dynamic person. The protagonist of the novel is Amir. He is the son of Baba, a wealthy man living in Kabul in Afghanistan. Amir and his father Baba are Pashtun, the larger ethnic group in Afghanistan. He thinks that his father blames him for killing his mother during childbirth, and he tries to get his father’s acceptance and attention. Amir as a young boy is very jealous of Hassan, and the attention Baba gives to him. The only time he really gets Baba’s attention and love is when he and Hassan wins the kite tournament i 1975. Amir describes himself as a coward, a description that is made clearly when Hassan gets raped by Assef, when Amir is watching without doing anything. “From just around the corner, I could hear Assef's quick, rhythmic grunts. I had one last chance...
Words: 1051 - Pages: 5
...February 19, 2009 Period 6 Fiction Analysis of The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini Setting: A. Time period – 1970s to early 2000s B. Place – Kabul, Afghanistan and San Francisco, California C. Time Sequence – The story Is told in order. Around 30 years passes. However, the story is told as one giant flashback. D. Standards of Behavior – Hazaras are considered lower than Pashtuns; one should be loyal to friends and family; one is expected to bring honor to one’s family; men are above women; one should put guests’ needs before one’s own Characters: Amir – The story’s narrator and protagonist. He is an Afghan man who had a privileged childhood in the Wazir Akbar Khan neighborhood of Kabul. The defining event in his life is his betrayal of his closest friend, Hassan. Amir lives in San Francisco from the age of eighteen. He returns to Afghanistan at the age of thirty-eight and finds out from Rahim Khan that Hassan is his half-brother. Unfortunately, Hassan and his wife are shot by the Taliban a couple months back. They leave behind their only son, Sohrab. Amir, in an attempt to be good again after his betrayal of Hassan, ends up adopting Hassan’s orphaned son. Hassan – Amir’s most loyal and devoted servant, who is born with a cleft lip. He and Amir were nursed by the same woman and, thus, share a bond unlike any other. Hassan is illiterate but smart and stands up for others. He is also the best kite runner in Kabul. He dies at the hands of the Taliban, defending...
Words: 1656 - Pages: 7
...Worst of all, her father married Sanaubar off to Ali simply to improve his reputation in the community. Here the author shows how powerless women are in Islamic society; they have no power over themselves and they cannot even choose the man they will marry. The author insinuates that Islamic society sees women as nothing more than livestock that can be married off for a bit of prestige. Furthermore, the author paints the picture that marriage serves no purpose in Islamic society other than to consolidate family power. Overall, the author portrays women in Islamic society as a helpless group that is discriminated against by men and used for their benefit. Another element that played a major role in Islamic culture, as portrayed in The Kite Runner was wealth vs poverty. Amir and Hassan represented the personification of wealth and poverty within Afghanistan. Amir was the wealthy legitimate son of Baba, he lived in a mansion, wore jeans, rode in an American car and was able to go to school. Furthermore, Amir never had to worry about having enough resources. Baba frequently threw lavish parties at his mansion and lived in luxury. As result of being a son of a wealthy businessman, Amir became blind to the societal ills all around him. However, this does not become apparent until years later when Amir revisits Afghanistan. After Amir Returns to Afghanistan Farid is driving him through town, meanwhile, Amir began to notice how impoverished the country is. Amir then exclaims “I feel like...
Words: 1339 - Pages: 6
...well-to-do Pashtun boy, and Hassan, a Hazara and the son of Amir's father's servant, Ali, spend their days in a peaceful Kabul, kite fighting, roaming the streets and being boys. Amir’s father (who is generally referred to as Baba, "daddy", throughout the book) loves both the boys, but seems critical of Amir for not being manly enough. Amir also fears his father blames him for his mother’s death during childbirth. However, he has a kind father figure in the form of Rahim Khan, Baba’s friend, who understands Amir better, and is supportive of his interest in writing stories. Assef, a notoriously mean and violent older boy with sadistic tendencies, blames Amir for socializing with a Hazara, according to Assef an inferior race that should only live in Hazarajat. He prepares to attack Amir with his steel knuckles, but Hassan bravely stands up to him, threatening to shoot Assef in the eye with his slingshot. Assef and his henchmen back off, but Assef says he will take revenge. Hassan is a successful "kite runner" for Amir, knowing where the kite will land without even watching it. One triumphant day, Amir wins the local tournament, and finally Baba's praise. Hassan goes to run the last cut kite, a great trophy, for Amir saying "For you, a thousand times over." Unfortunately, Hassan runs into Assef and his two henchmen. Hassan refuses to give up Amir's kite, so Assef exacts his revenge, assaulting and raping him. Wondering why Hassan is taking so long, Amir searches for Hassan and hides...
Words: 7335 - Pages: 30
...The Kite Runner: Reader’s Notes Cindy Kang Theme | Literary Device | Character Development | Chapter | Quote | Insight | | Imagery/flashback | | 1 | “I became what I am today at the age of twelve, on a frigid overcast day in the winter of 1975. 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… One day last summer, my friend Rahim Khan called from Pakistan. He asked me to come see him. Standing in the kitchen with the receiver to my ear, I knew it wasn’t juts Rahim Khan on the line. It was my past of unatoned sins.” (p. 1) | The introduction paragraph gives the reader an insight of the narrator’s haunting past. The narrator uses descriptive words (crumbing mud wall) and is evidently a gifted story teller. The structure of his writing easily grasps the attention of the audience. The tone of the story seems to be frightening and melancholy due to the author’s diction, syntax, and level of formality. The first page mostly consists of flashbacks more so by recalling them rather than reliving them. If flashbacks continue to recur, the past may symbolize an important theme throughout the story. | | Personification | | 1 | “Because the past claws its way out.”...
Words: 3498 - Pages: 14
...Chapter 1 Amir will narrate the whole book, except for Chapter 16, which is narrated by Rahim Khan. This first chapter is very cryptic if you haven't read the rest of the book, or at least read a summary of the plot. There, we've warned you. Amir tells us something happened in the winter of 1975 and this event made him what he is today. He gives us some scattered images: a crumbling mud wall, an alley, a frozen creek. Amir remembers a phone call last summer from his friend Rahim Khan. He feels like a past of "unatoned sins" is calling him up. So he takes a walk and looks at some kites, which remind him of someone named Hassan. During the walk, Amir sits on a park bench. He thinks of Baba and Ali, and Kabul, Afghanistan. The chapter ends where it began: "I thought of the life I had lived until the winter of 1975 came along and changed everything. And made me what I am today" (1.3). Chapter 2 This chapter is a slideshow of Amir's early childhood. Fasten the seatbelts on your recliners! Amir and Hassan get into harmless mischief together as kids. Hassan often takes the blame if the two troublemakers get caught. Amir describes his childhood home, built by his father. It has rosebushes, marble floors, mosaic tiles, and gold-stitched tapestries. Oh, and a crystal chandelier. Baba, Amir's father, has a smoking room in the house but he doesn't let Amir hang out there. Go away, Amir. Some of Baba's cabinets have a few pictures: Amir's grandfather and King Nadir Shah and one of Amir's...
Words: 6398 - Pages: 26
