English Lit - The Kite Runner

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The story is told in a series of..
extended flashbacks
1 of 43
Amir already knows the end of the story when telling it..what does this do?
Colours the Narrative, Able to Foreshadow events and build Dramatic Tension
2 of 43
What does Amir call Hassan?
'The harelipped kite runner' - lets reader know that Hassan will be most significant in progression of the story
3 of 43
This is in First person narrative..what could this infer?
Only shows Amir's side to story, not from objective viewpoint..possibly UNRELIABLE NARRATOR
4 of 43
'Bury' the past and how it 'claws its way out'
something that he does not want to bring up in his life again but he feels like he has to otherwise will be constantly on his mind. Something dead rising from grave.
5 of 43
'There is a way to be good again'
Something Amir needs to atone. 'unatoned sins'. Narrative will follow Amir's search for redemption for his previous actions.
6 of 43
'peeking into the alley'
peeking - doesn't want to look, does not want to go back to that but feels he has to. FORESHADOWS events and informs reader - key incident.
7 of 43
'a frigid overcast day'
PATHETIC FALLACY - implies oppressive and chilling emotions that day, something bad is going to happen
8 of 43
'a face like a Chinese doll chiseled from hardwood...eyes that looked, depending on the light, gold, green, even sapphire'
Expresses love he still feels for Hassan. LYRICAL language POETIC IMAGERY.
9 of 43
'Amir's was his Fathers name, while Hassan's was Amir'
relationship based on Hassan's unquestioning loyalty, and Amir having uncertain feelings about a friend and also a servant.
10 of 43
'Read one of those books of yours'
Early signs of Amir's attempts to win Baba's approval. Amir's intellectual abilities a sign of weakness.
11 of 43
Absent mothers
Role of woman is largely characterised by their absence. Makes relationship between Amir, Hassan, Baba and Ali all the stronger.
12 of 43
A main theme in the novel
History cannot be escaped.. could link to GG as he wants to repeat past.
13 of 43
'Lore has it my father once wrestled a black bear in Baluchistan'
Reinforces the IMAGE created in chapter 2, that Baba is strong and powerful. Amir feels love, pride and awe of his fathers reputation.
14 of 43
'there is only one sin, only one. And that is theft. Every other sin is a variation of theft'
Amir understands this and feels to blame for his mothers death, and feels Baba hates him for this.
15 of 43
Amir tells stories of Baba's great stature..
In this, Amir makes out his father to be a mythological creature rather than real man. His desires to get approval from Baba is futile as this a myth not reality.
16 of 43
'God help us if Afghanistan ever falls into their hands'
FORESHADOWS later rule of Taliban, injects future tragedy.
17 of 43
Amir tells Baba at the picnic, he thinks he has cancer
Extreme opposition creates barrier between them, throughout the novel, Amir tries to remove that barrier.
18 of 43
The 'monster' in the lake in Hassan's dream
FORESHADOWS Amir driving Hassan away after his ****, as Amir is preventing Hassan from entering the lake so he can avoid the guilt.
19 of 43
Baba asking Amir to hold his hat for him at the orphanage opening.
SYMBOLISM in this moment shows Baba's self sufficiency of not needing the hat to continue his speech, and Amir's need to cling onto Baba. Baba passing his stature to Amir however Amir is not ready to accept it. He can only hold the hat, not wear it.
20 of 43
Ali being Baba's servant when they were younger
Draws comparison with Amir and Hassan.The basis of their religion, Sunni's and Shi'a muslims - makes it hard for them to be friends.
21 of 43
Hassan and Amir going to the cinema to watch Western films
Connects to old Amir telling story from USA. MOTIF of Western Films (they have good and bad guys and justice being done)
22 of 43
Amir reading to Hassan
Amir never teaches him to read, just reads to him, retains power and hierarchy of him being the servant..can tease him as well.
23 of 43
The boys read in an old cemetery under a pomegranate tree.
Cemetery represents place of death but because it is disused, also represents place beyond death and life. Real world cannot reach them
24 of 43
The Pomegranate tree
symbolic of life and plenty, but also sweetness of bond before Amir reads to Hassan. Recurring symbol throughout.
25 of 43
In Chapter five what happens to the narrative?
Concious voice of adult Amir goes into the background of story, commenting and foreshadowing falls away, replaced by a SINGLE NARRATIVE
26 of 43
What does Assef's behaviour start to do to Amir??
Starts to change relationship between him and Hassan, presents outside threat to life which was once comfortable. Assef uses sexual swearwords which foreshadows sexual threat and events to come.
27 of 43
'he's not my friend, he's my servant!'
Shows how willing Amir is to sacrifice his friend for his own well being.
28 of 43
Repairing Hassan's cleft lip
This shows Baba's love for Hassan, which provokes Amir's jealousy. A symbol of healing, but Amir says when Hassan tries to smile that it will be one of his last , this foreshadows that the book is going to take a dark turn.
29 of 43
'The one paper-thin slice of intersection'
Kite flying brings Amir and Hassan closer together and at one. Father approves of it and Amir always wants to achieve Baba's approval. This quote implies that the kite is the intersection between him and his father's separate spheres.
30 of 43
Kite Flying
Shown as freedom and independence - one kite against many is typical Afghan attitudes. Amir is willing to get hurt doing this but in other situations he isn't.. shows he truly believes in it
31 of 43
'Would you ever ask me to do such a thing, Amir agha?'
Eating dirt- Amir is unsure about putting himself in a more superior situation to another human being, cannot handle it. Hassan has clearer understanding of balance of power than Amir does - then Hassan lets Amir win at cards (reinforces this)
32 of 43
Winning and Losing
Amir and Hassan win the kite tournament, winning is immediately contrasted with losing and the losing outweighs the winning. Amir chooses his father over Hassan to obtain praise.
33 of 43
Hassan's expression
Amir sees Hassan's expression before the ****, and says its the same expression he had when he asked if he would eat dirt. Amir- what he threatened to do to Hassan and what Assef is actually doing . Makes him as bad as the bully
34 of 43
'The sky was a blameless blue'
Winning of the tournament more glorious, but makes **** in alley more dark and disturbing - the event had dirtied the snow white day.
35 of 43
The Alley
The alley is dark and rarely used, representing secret nature of the act. It makes it hard for Amir to admit the event because it was something he saw that he shouldn't have been looking at. It makes it easier for him to dismiss -happened aside.
36 of 43
'biting down on his fist, hard enough to draw blood from his knuckles and weeping'
Amir's blood and tears mirror Hassan's. By focusing on Amir, Hosseini provides pain and horror without being too literal.
37 of 43
'He was just a Hazara wasn't he?'
Not typical of Amir, who is usually more open minded to ethnicity. How much personal believe Amir is willing to put aside for Baba's approval. Trying to make himself feel better by making out Hassan is worthless.
38 of 43
'he'd been wrong about that . There was a monster in the lake ... I was that monster'
Amir views his guilt as a punishment for not helping Hassan. Just like his bad relationship with Baba is a punishment for killing his mother.
39 of 43
Returning to the pomegranate tree
Amir brings his guilt with him this time, so it is not the refuge from the world anymore. Amir attacks Hassan with pomegranates which used to be a symbol of their bond, he is breaking the bond.
40 of 43
'chase the car, screaming for it to stop ... pull Hassan out of the back seat and tell him i was sorry, so sorry'
This realisation comes out too late and amir is left with his guilty secret, and the fact that Baba forgave Hassan for theft which shows his affection for him. Ali doesn't say anything about Amir to Baba to protect him, and not relieve him of guilt.
41 of 43
Baba nearly getting shot, and Amir being sick
these contrast, as it shows Baba will do anything to stand up for what he believes in , whereas Amir is weak.
42 of 43
Old Afghanistan and New
The old Afghanistan shows people having community and mutual respect for one another and New Afghanistan being a place full of unrest, exploitation and personal struggle. This is a JUXTAPOSITION
43 of 43

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Colours the Narrative, Able to Foreshadow events and build Dramatic Tension

Back

Amir already knows the end of the story when telling it..what does this do?

Card 3

Front

'The harelipped kite runner' - lets reader know that Hassan will be most significant in progression of the story

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

Only shows Amir's side to story, not from objective viewpoint..possibly UNRELIABLE NARRATOR

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

something that he does not want to bring up in his life again but he feels like he has to otherwise will be constantly on his mind. Something dead rising from grave.

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
View more cards

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