kite+runner

Ackerman's comments || * Has a wife and 2 children Javon Moore- New Historicist || 1. How does the fact that the //Kite Runner// was published in 2003 affect your opinion on this being written about struggles in Afghanistan during the coup?
 * **DATES** || **Leader Questions** || **Link to Summary Response** || **Other Interesting Info. to Share with Group** ||
 * Monday, 5/4 - Brian Cheney - Biographer || # How is //Kite Runner// a response to Khaled Hosseini's past?
 * 1) From what we've read so far, how does the story differ from his actual experiences?
 * 2) Could //Kite Runner// be considered an autobiography?
 * 3) Based Khaled's life, what do you predict will happen next/later in the story?
 * 4) How did Khaled's job as a Physician influence his writting. || Summary Response
 * Currently a Goodwill Envoy for the UNHCR
 * When he was young, A Hazara man worked for his family whom he taught to read and write. ||
 * Wednesday, 5/6

2. Based on what we have read up to chapter 10 so far, What are the major conflicts you see Khaled developing in the story, and how does this relate to the info I gave in the response?

3. Do you think 9/11 had an affect on the story or no?

4. How do you feel Khaled is making a breakthrough with this novel to this point?

5. What is Khaled's purpose in writing this novel, to entertain, inspire, provoke questions, and why?

6. When you think of 9/11 does it affect your view on the book?

7. Why are there no woman ever mentioned in the story, how can you relate this back to his life as well as what has happened in Afghanistan?

8. He Says this book is completely ficticious on the inside cover what does that say to us? How does it change our views and beliefs that we regard about Afghani life?

9. What message do you think Khaled is making when Amir doesn't help during the rape, does it have to do with a bigger message about help on a global scale, what do you think?

10. And why does Amir distance himself from Hassan after that, what does this suggest about people of Afghanistan?

11. Why do you think Baba cries when they, and why doesn't Amir feel any pain at all? || SummaryResponse Ackerman's comments || * He was raised in California, didn't even see any of the stuff he describes in the story 2. What power struggles do you feel are most important? Why? What metaphor/deeper meaning can you see in the struggles? 3. Amir has always been in a power struggle for the affections of his father, especially with Hassan. Did he ever win? Why or why not? 4. What are some examples of reifications in the book? What about in our society? Are there any similarities/suggestions? 5. How do social in economic class play into this book, in both Afghanistan and the US? 6. How has the power struggle over Afghanistan affected the story? How would things have been different? 7. What is the significance of the dog, Aflatoon? 8. Secrets are a huge part of this story. Will Amir be able to live with his big secret about Hassan? What are some predictions on what's to come the the chapters ahead? 9. What makes Hassan still care about Amir, even with Amir being such a terrible person to him? || Smmary Response Ackerman's comments || * Marxism is mostly concerned with issues in the context of economic and social status. Mitch Lueders Modern Connections || 1. What are your thoughts on the quote "Like father like son?"
 * He wrote in his book and said in an interview that the book was completely fictitious.
 * He had a very influential mom who was intelligent and is where he got his writing ability from, but doesn't mention women in the book
 * He writes based on what he has heard and imagines up the details. ||
 * Friday, 5/8 || 1. What are some ideologies in America? In Afghanistan? How Do they differ? How has this affected Amir and Baba's adjustment?
 * Another aspect to Marxism has to do with diametrically opposed opposites, such as illusion vs. reality
 * True Marxists believe in the statement "tell me how much money you have, and i'll tell you what you believe." This illustrates their thinking about different social classes and how they are unequal.
 * Usually, a Marxist critic is looking for what the text is hiding, not what it's showing.
 * I'm making cookies for tomorrow. Hooray! ||
 * Monday, 5/11

2. Do you think that Amir's childhood would have been better or worse knowing that Hassan was his half-brother?

3. Why do you think Hassan's mother came back to see him?

4. What are your thoughts about the Taliban killing Hassan and his wife and saying that it was out of self-defense?

5. If Hassan was really Baba's son, why would Baba have let Ali take him away?

6. What are your feelings toward Baba after knowing that he did not tell Amir he had a brother, and in a way he stole part of Amir's and Hassan's childhood while earlier in the book he gave a big speech about the worst sin one can commit is to steal. || Summary Response Ackerman's comments || * The Taliban took control of Afghanistans government until 2001 when the US invaded and drove the Taliban from power. Louise Betz
 * The Taliban still have influence in south and east Kabul.
 * The Taliban had many supporters in Afghanistan, because the Taliban fought corruption and gave Afghanistan a stable government. ||
 * Wednesday, 5/13

Wednesday 5/13 Lisa L || What was the significance of the colored kites in this story? 2. What were some symbols of western influence in Afghanistan? How did these symbols affect Amirs life? 3.What do you think the title, The Kite Runner represents for the main characters? Why do you think the author chose this as opposed to something else? 4. Amir frequently has odd dreams, such as when he dreams of his father fighting a bear. What do these dreams symbolize, what deeper meaning could they have and how can they relate to the characters lives? 5. How do you think that the changing politics of Afganistan influenced Khaled when writing this novel? 6. Why do you think that both Amir and Baba keep their secrets to themselves no matter what the circumstance? Is there a significance in this and does it relate to their relationship?

Here are the symbols and motifs I found significant in //Kite Runner//. I attached the page numbers of passages that contain a description of each symbol.  1. Pomegranate Tree (264)  2. Harelip 297  3. Assef’s Brass Knuckles (287-288)  4. The Color Red (247)  5. Blood (32)  6. Kite (49)  7. Graveyard (264)  8. Insomnia ( 86)  9. “Rostam and Sohrab” (29)  10. God and Religion (25)  11. TV (340)  12. Sling Shot (290)  13. Baba’s House (262) Now that we have finished the book, what are your thoughts on the significance of these symbols and how they relate to Kite Runner’s over all theme? || Louis'sSummary Response I researched the symbolic significance of kites in Aphgan culture as well as in //Kite Runner//. I found they symbolize national pride, history, independence, personal pride and religion. Kite flying and fighting were very popular before the Russian invasion; especially among young boys. To officially fly a kite two people are needed: one to fly the actual kite and the other to hold the charkha which was a drum-like device to control the wire. When a kite fighter looses it is often blamed on the charkha gir for holding the charkha incorrectly. Kite fighting is looked at as an art and also a fight for honor. There is said to be only one rule when it comes to kite fights: winning. The significance of kites in //Kite Runner// have much to do with their significance in Aphgan culture. Scholars look at the kites in correlation with many of Amir’s relationships. For instance they say, “ The kites represent the relationship between Amir and Hassan, they float close to one another occasionally bumping each other accidently or manipulated on purpose.” Other relationships the kites represent are Amir’s power struggles with Baba, Assef, and Sohrab. From my research, I have concluded kites or rather kite fights symbolize Amir’s life. Amir himself is the kite fighter. His ultimate goal is victory and honor and he will do anything to win his father’s approval. Hassan is Amir’s charkha gir; the one who controls the wire that keep’s Amir’s kite in perfect position. Hassan is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to help Amir in his quest for personal glory. The kite is the uncontrollable set of circumstances which decides the fate of both Amir and Hassan. It is the kite that bridges the gap between Amir and Baba, the kite that leads Hassan to the ally, and the kite that finally brings Sahrab back to reality. It has bittersweet significance. It is the cause of Amir’s troubles but also the link that allows him to redeem himself and help Sahrab recover from his grief. The kite is the piece of our lives we are trying to control but it is not until it spins //out// of control that we can redeem ourselves and truly fulfill what were made to accomplish.
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Works Cited

Afghana Search Engine. Aphgan Kite Discussion Forum. 12 March 2009. [] English @KKC. Symbolic Significance of Kites. 12 March 2009. [] Hossenini, Khaled. //Kite Runner//. New York: Penguin Group, 2003.

Ackerman's comments || * Symbolism is the applied use of symbols iconic representations that carry particular meanings.
 * Symbols allow greater diversity of language and create a picture that is individual to each reader.
 * The Aphgan word for kite is "Guadiparan" which literally means flying doll
 * Unfortunately kite flying was actually a dangerous sport. Young boys would fly their kites on top of their roof and are reported to have fallen off. Many died or broke bones. ||