...The Kite Runner Final Essay AG Novel A literary work conveys a compelling story specific to its time and place. Additionally, a memorable one explores issues and themes (universal truths) that are important, and timeless, for all readers. Keep this in mind as you think about each essay prompt. A convincing essay will include direct citations from the novel, commentary and use of scholarly analysis. Visit the Gale Digital Library, accessible from the Venture website (password: venture) to search for support. Additionally, use MLA format for your essay and utilize correct citations. Questions taken, in part, from the Khaled Hosseini Foundation curriculum. 1. Writer and human rights activist Isabel Allende writes of The Kite Runner: “This is one of those unforgettable stories that stays with you for years. All the great themes of literature and of life are the fabric of this extraordinary novel: love, honor, guilt, fear, redemption.” Which of these major themes resonates the most with you? Choose one to focus on and show how author Khaled Hosseini communicates this universal truth through characters, plot development and use of symbols. 2. In great literature, no scene of violence exists for its own sake. In a wellorganized essay, explain how a violent scene in The Kite Runner contributes to the meaning of the complete work. Apply the concept of an extended metaphor to discuss the political and social portrait of Afghanistan. 3. Leo Tolstoy once wrote...
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...the novels, “The Kite Runners”and “A thousand splendid suns” by Khaled Hosseini, is guilty. both main characters, Amir and Mariam, faced challenges and both of them feel guilty what they did. In the “A thousand splendid suns”, the main character, Mariam, she left her mother and start to live with her father. But, when her mother died, it broke her apart. After her mother's death she starts thinking that it was her fault that her mother died, she feel guilty for leaving her mother. “I shouldn’t have left her. I should have… these thoughts are no good, mariam jo. You hear me child? No good they will destroy you. It wasn’t your fault. It wasn’t your fault. No” (Hosseini, A thousand splendid 41). This quote proves that Mariam feels guilty for leaving her mother and she keeps saying that I should not have left her. Mariam blame herself for her mother death, but Mullah Faizullah, her teacher tells her that it was not her fault and she should stop saying that., Amir (a main character of the book, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini) faced problems because of his own mistakes. When Amir was a kid, he had a best friend named Hassan. Both, Hassan and Amir, were really close; they use to do everything together. But, one day everything...
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...This man flew into burning builds and crossed dangerous roads. Is this man truly brave? In Khaled Hosseini’s novel, The Kite Runner, several characters demonstrate profound bravery. In their course to redemption, the characters find that to obtain their redemption, they will need to overcome challenges. In these situations, the characters profess instantly actions of bravery. Amir, the protagonist,travels on a long, painful journey to find atonement for his childhood sins which lead to his acts of bravery. Baba, Amir’s father, works on redeeming his preceding sins by giving a helping hand to people in his life. These actions develop his character of bravery. In The Kite...
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...The Kite Runner by Khaled Hasseini The Kite Runner by Khaled Hasseini is an intriguing story of life in Afghanistan during a time period. Amir and his father, Baba are Pashtun’s living in a successful home in Kabul, Afghanistan while their servants, Hassan and his father, Ali whom are considered Hazaras lived in a mud hut on the same grounds of Baba’s property. Since being a Hazara was discriminated against in Afghanistan, Amir was bullied by Assef and his friends for hanging out with one. Later, a moment happened when Amir was twelve that changed everything and as he claims made him the man he is today. The discrimination of ethnic minorities in Kabul, Afghanistan shows disastrous events in the lives of two young boys. This story relates to past and present time Afghanistan. In Afghanistan, a Hazara is a persecuted ethnic group whom came from further East Asia. Their features are different from other Afghanistan’s because they have more of an Asian look and flat noses. Pashtuns, are a different ethnic minority and they are accepted. Pashtuns dislike Hazaras and cause many grief to them. Hazaras are sunni Muslim, as Pashtun’s are shia Muslim. They claim different features and speak different languages. Later, in the 1980’s when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, many fled to Pakistan. Later in the 1990’s, a group called Taliban’s began making severe changes in Afghanistan making living their more difficult...
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...Victoria Bernhardt Period 7 Mrs. Buchanan English 2 Honors 1-25-2013 A Change In The Future The theme or message is the central idea or ideas explored by the literary works. In other words, it’s the message the author wants you to realize from the story. There are multiple themes in A Thousand Splendid Suns and The Kite Runner, both written by Khaled Hosseini. Putting together these stories, I thought finding hope, and fighting for what you believe in as the themes. Hope is the feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. Hope in A Thousand Splendid Suns is happening to very few people, considering the Taliban, the war, and the bombing of family and friends. You never know what is going to happen next or if there will ever be a tomorrow. For Laila, she has had a very rough life and even worse, having her parents blown up right in front of her. Not being loved your entire life by your own mother is something everyone wants to avoid, but Laila was one of the unfortunate. She only had attention from her dad and then she became alone from the bombing. She married at a youth life to a man who was three times her age who was very abusive to Laila and his other wife, Mariam. This life she had never wanted, but it happened, and she didn’t know what to do. When she was a teenager before marrying Rasheed, she met a boy named Tariq. She fell in love with him from day one even after he moved away with his family. She thought she would never see him again until...
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...“Redemption” The Kite Runner Kati Hernandez 3/3/15 AP English 12 Period 1 Three Questions 1. Why do you think Baba refuses to refer to Ali as his friend? Is it the divide between servant and master? 2. Does a character like Assef even choose between good and evil? Could Assef be innocent in ways Amir is not? 3. Why doesn't Amir admire Rahim Khan as much as he admires his father? What does this tell us about admiration? Literary Criticism New historicism criticism insists that to understand a literary piece, readers need to understand the author's biography and social background. Every human action is actually the effect of a network of material practices. Every act of unmasking, critique and opposition uses the tools it condemns and risks falling prey to the practice it exposes. No discourse, imaginative, scientific, or archival, gives access to unchanging truths, nor expresses inalterable human nature. A critical method and a language adequate to describe culture under capitalism participate in the economy they describe. What makes a legend, is it someone who is a hero or someone who is infallible from making mistakes? In the novel, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, the character described as a legend is Baba. Seen as the most perfect figure to be looked at for its bravery, generosity and caring for others. His actions describe him better than words can, as he always defends others in time of need and stays loyal to his home and country...
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...A Separate Peace Essay Introduction John Knowles’ novel A Separate Peace is the story of Gene Forrester who struggles to come to grips with the guilt over his role in a traumatic event from his childhood. The novel, told as a flashback from the perspective of an adult Gene, looks back on his friendship with a private school classmate and Gene’s destructive feelings of jealousy, fear, and anger. Assignment Write a 3-5 page literary analysis that explores one of the attached essay topics. Structure You might want to think of a five-paragraph structure, but because of the length requirements, you may need to expand on that to adequately explore your topic. Intro: This should include a “hook,” background information, and a thesis. It should clearly lay out what you are going to discuss in your essay. Body: Provide analysis and supporting evidence. Mention several key events or moments from the novel. Include at least three carefully chosen quotes to help capture larger ideas from the novel. Blend them in with your own writing. Conclusion: Finalize your argument with final thoughts related to the main idea. Reminders: This is a literary essay so there should be no uses of “I” or “you.”Include an original title to capture interest. Requirements Your essay should have the following: ✓ A clear argument of opinion and purpose expressed in a thesis statement and introduction...
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...A Separate Peace Essay Introduction John Knowles’ novel A Separate Peace is the story of Gene Forrester who struggles to come to grips with the guilt over his role in a traumatic event from his childhood. The novel, told as a flashback from the perspective of an adult Gene, looks back on his friendship with a private school classmate and Gene’s destructive feelings of jealousy, fear, and anger. Assignment Write a 3-5 page literary analysis that explores one of the attached essay topics. Structure You might want to think of a five-paragraph structure, but because of the length requirements, you may need to expand on that to adequately explore your topic. Intro: This should include a “hook,” background information, and a thesis. It should clearly lay out what you are going to discuss in your essay. Body: Provide analysis and supporting evidence. Mention several key events or moments from the novel. Include at least three carefully chosen quotes to help capture larger ideas from the novel. Blend them in with your own writing. Conclusion: Finalize your argument with final thoughts related to the main idea. Reminders: This is a literary essay so there should be no uses of “I” or “you.”Include an original title to capture interest. Requirements Your essay should have the following: ✓ A clear argument of opinion and purpose expressed in a thesis statement and introduction. ...
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...Fears The Kite Runner by Hosseini, depicts the story of Amir and his life. Throughout the story the author shows how certain characters face their fears or never get to have what they wanted because of the reputation they held. Characters like Amir and Baba, they both have fears of what will happen if they don't do something or if they do. Amir runs away from Hassan fearing what will happen and Baba never gets to call Hassan his son because of how he will be judged. Like father like son they both had fears that control them,but Amir actually confronted his to stone for his sins. Khaled Hosseini’s novel, The Kite Runner, teaches the reader that one’s fears will never disappear, they need to be dealt with before they get worse through Amir leaving Hassan to be sexually assaulted and Assef beating Amir up years later, and Baba’s decision to not tell anyone...
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...what happens you can always redeem yourself. This statement is especially true for the novel “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini. In the novel the main character is a Pashtun boy named Amir who is the son of a wealthy father and a Hazara boy named Hassan who is the son of a poor father. Hassan and his father Ali are the servents to Hassan and his father Baba located in Afghanastan. In a land where reputation is like a gun which is aimed at you at all times Amir is constantly reminded of how poorly Hazara’s are treated throughout the novel. Amir and Hassan are no exception to the problems in Afghan society and this is seen through Amir’s treatment and jeasolousy of Hassan. Throughout the entire novel all Amir wanted was his fathers love and attenetion but he realized that he had to constantly live up to his fathers expectations in order to gain it. Amir wants to be the only person in his fathers life but instead he has to share the spotlight with Hassan as well who Amir claims is just a “Hazara boy”. Amir feels guilty in many situations because Hassan always takes the blame for Amir’s actions and always shows love and dedication to Amir even in the face of danger. One such incident where Hassan was in the face of danger and even death was right after Amir and Hassan won the kite fighting championship. Hassan being Amirs servent decides to “run the kite” which means to get the kite that was cut and return it to Amir so that he can show his father. Amir at this point of the novel...
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...The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, explores the personal struggles and relationships of Amir, a wealthy young Pashtun boy in Afghanistan in the 1970’s. The story narrates the hardship of living in a socially divided, culture based environment with various sides of humanity. As the novel progresses, the relationship between Amir and his father, Baba, goes through multiple pivotal phases. These phases are the direct cause of the switch between the two main settings of Kabul, Afghanistan and Fremont, California. The change in setting helps portray the rollercoaster of Amir and Baba’s relationship over many years. It illustrates the story of Amir’s longing to be noticed and loved by Baba, Baba’s dissatisfaction with Amir, and their inability to relate to one another....
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...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...
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...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...
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...because “There is [always] a way to be good again” (2). In The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini there are many examples of guilt and redemption. Amir, the main character in the story, commits many mistakes but he always finds a way to redeem himself and cover his mistakes. In order for Amir to beat the shadows that haunt him, he decides to rescue Sohrab, his best friend and half-brother’s son, and do for him what he did not do for Hassan. Baba also commits many mistakes, but he attempts to make up for them in his everyday life. There is always something people can do to expiate their guilt. Throughout Amir’s childhood, he constantly feels that his father blames him for his mother’s death and that he does not love him. Amir does everything he can to make up for the mistakes he made in the past. “I always felt like baba hated me a little. And why not? After all I had killed his beloved wife,” he says (19). Since Amir feels no love from Baba, he thinks of ways to make things right with him. Amir sees his father as a perfect man because everyone in their neighborhood looks up to him. In order to convince Baba that he is an ‘ideal’ son, Amir decides to sign up for the kite running competition, he sees it as the only opportunity to become closer to his father and prove his worth. Amir tries to redeem himself, so that Baba does not blame him for the death of his mother anymore. Overall Amir did redeem himself by winning the kite running competition. In Hassan’s attempt to make Amir;...
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...Nothing Gold Can Stay Guilt. Cancerous almost, spreading through your body, manipulating your thoughts, working as a deterrent against any type of long term vivacity. As seen in Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner one of the main themes is seeking redemption. Hosseini uses the motif of selflessness to show that in order to seek redemption and earn it, you must have the self-motivation deeper than other people pushing you (illustrated by Rahim Khan motivating Amir with his phone call). For most of the book, Amir has little self-confidence to achieve redeeming himself. It was an incredibly afflictive situation for Amir or any person to go through. Selflessness does not have a determined end or beginning; it happens when you’ve given your best...
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