The Kite Runner Chapter Summaries
Chapter summaries written up from York Notes by Calum Kerr
3.0 / 5 based on 1 rating
- Created by: Erin
- Created on: 21-04-14 10:35
Chapter 1
- Amir, the Afghan narrator of the novel, now lives in San Francisco
- Amir has received a phone call from his father's old friend, Rahim Khan, asking him to come to Pakistan
- The phone call has reminded Amir of events from his past
1 of 25
Chapter 2
- Amir looks back and remembers how he and Hassan were childhood friends despite Hassan being the son of Amir's family servant, Ali
- We learn that Amir's mother died during childbirth
- Amir recounts how Hassan's mother abandoned her family shortly after giving birth to him
- We learn that the families of Amir and Hassan are from two different ethnic groups: the Pashtuns and the Hazaras
2 of 25
Chapter 3
- Amir remembers time spent with his father during his childhood, and how his fathr was disappointed with his lack of manly attributes
- Amir's father, Baba, was seen as a great man by the people around him e.g. wrestled a black bear
- Amir recalls becoming interested in reading and writing as a way to escape his father's lack of interest
- Amir takes out his resentment and jealousy on Hassan
3 of 25
Chapter 4
- We learn how Ali, Hassan's father, was an orphan raised by Baba's father
- When they were growing up, Hassan acted as Amir's servant
- Amir recalls writing his first story about a man who murders his own wife in an effort to gain riches but discovers that riches cannot replace the happiness he has lost by killing her.
4 of 25
Chapter 5
- The king of Afghanistan is overthrown in a coup
- Amir and Hassan are attacked by 3 bullies- Assef, Wali and Kamal- but Hassan scares them off with his slingshot
- Baba arranges for Hassan's cleft lip to be corrected as a birthday present
5 of 25
Chapter 6
- In the winter the schools close and the children take part in kite fighting tournaments
- Hassan is a gifted kite runner
- Amir tests Hassan's loyalty by asking him if he would eat dirt if he commanded to do so
6 of 25
Chapter 7
- Amir wins the kite-fighting tournament and Hassan runs to catch his kite
- Hassan is captured by Assef and the other bullies in the alley. He is *****.
- Amir sees the attack on Hassan but does nothing to help him, and runs.
7 of 25
Chapter 8
- After the events following the tournament, Amir feels guilty for not having helped Hassan
- Hassan tries to patch up his relationship with Amir, but Amir rejects him
- Amir has a birthday party and Assef the bully comes to the party and brings him a biography of Hitler as a present
8 of 25
Chapter 9
- Hassan and Ali give Amir a birthday present of a copy of the book Amir used to read to Hassan
- Amir falsely accuses Hassan of stealing birthday presents
- Ali and Hassan leave Baba's service
9 of 25
Chapter 10
- It is 1981 and Amir and Baba are escaping from Russian-controlled Afghanistan
- Baba stands up to a Russian soldier who wishes to **** a female Afghan refugee
- One of the bullies from the attack in the alley, Kamal, who is also escaping, dies on the journey
10 of 25
Chapter 11
- It is the 1980s and Amir and Baba are now living in California
- Baba is a little unsettled there but is still capable of commanding respect
- Baba and Amir buy items from garage sales and sell them from a stall in the Afghan section of the San Jose flea market
- Amir falls in love with a girl named Soraya whom he meets at the flea market
11 of 25
Chapter 12
- Amir is in love with Soraya, but is warned off by her father, General Taheri
- Baba falls ill with lung cancer
- Amir asks his father to approach Soraya's family for her hand in marriage, and it is all agreed
12 of 25
Chapter 13
- Amir marries Soraya
- Baba dies
- Amir publishes his first novel
- Amir and Soraya find that they are unable to have children
13 of 25
Chapter 14
- It is June 2001 and Amir has just recieved a phone call from Rahim Khan
- Amir and Soraya are still childless
- Amir flies to Pakistan
14 of 25
Chapter 15
- Amir arrives in Pakistan and meets a very ill Rahim Khan
- Rahim Khan recounts to Amir the terrible changes in Kabul
- Rahim Khan is dying and he wishes Amir to perform a final favour for him
15 of 25
Chapter 16
- Rahim Khan relates the story of what has happened to him since Amir last saw him
- Rahim Khan brought Hassan and his wife to live with him
- Hassan's mother, Sanaubar, returned
- Hassan and his wife had a son, Sohrab
16 of 25
Chapter 17
- Rahim Khan gives Amir a letter from Hassan
- Hassan and his wife have been murdered by the Taliban and their son, Sohrab, is now in an orphanage
- Rahim Khan asks Amir to retrieve Sohrab and informs him that Hassan was his half-brother
17 of 25
Chapter 18
- Amir considers the news that Hassan was his half-brother
- He wonders if his betrayal of Hassan led to his friend's death
- AMir makes the decision to go to Kabul to find his nephew
18 of 25
Chapter 19
- Amir returns to Taliban-held Afghanistan to rescue Sohrab
- Farid, the driver, accuses Amir of always having been a visitor in his own country
- Wahid, Farid's brother, gives Amir all the food he and his family have to eat
- Farid agrees to help Amir once he realises the reason for his return
19 of 25
Chapter 20
- Kabul has been severely damaged by 20 years of war
- The Taliban patrol the streets looking for people to punish
- Amir discovers that Sohrab has been sold by the orphanage director to a prominent member of the Taliban
20 of 25
Chapter 21
- Amir's old neighbourhood is largely undamaged because it has been taken over by the new leaders
- Amir climbs the hill to the old cemetry and discovers that the pomegranate tree has died
- Amir and Farid watch the man in sunglasses - the man who bought Sohrab from the orphanage- stone two people to death at a football match
21 of 25
Chapter 22
- Amir meets the man in the sunglasses who has bought Sohrab
- The man reveals himself to be Assef, who ***** Hassan
- Assef fights Amir and hurts him badly, but Amir is saved by Sohrab and his slingshot, which hits Assef in the eye
22 of 25
Chapter 23
- Amir is in hospital after his beating
- Rahim Khan has left to die in peace and there is no sign of the adoptive parents he promised for Sohrab
- Amir decides to take Sohrab with him to Islamabad while he considers what to do with him
23 of 25
Chapter 24
- Amir invites Sohrab to go back to the USA with him
- Soraya is happy for Amir to bring Sohrab home
- The process of adoption is difficult and Amir admits to Sohrab that he may have to go into another orphanage for a time
24 of 25
Chapter 25
- We learn that Sohrab has attempted suicide but has survived
- Amir takes Sohrab back to the USA, but the boy is now withdrawn and uncommunicative
- Helping to fly a kite fights the return of Sohrab's spirit as he smiles.
25 of 25
Related discussions on The Student Room
- AQA A-Level English Literature B Paper 2 (7716/2) - 8th June 2023 [Exam Chat] »
- approved NEA books »
- A level English lit »
- Detailed notes for A-Level AQA English Lit Social Political Protest »
- english literature resources »
- AQA A Level English Literature B Paper 2 (option B) 7717/2B - 20 Jun 2022 [Exam Chat] »
- personal statement »
- Best tips for an A in English Literature A level »
- english lit a level notes and resources »
- a level english lit kite runner »
Similar English Literature resources:
0.0 / 5
5.0 / 5 based on 1 rating
0.0 / 5
2.5 / 5 based on 2 ratings
5.0 / 5 based on 1 rating
Teacher recommended
0.0 / 5
0.0 / 5
1.5 / 5 based on 2 ratings
Comments
No comments have yet been made