The Kite Runner TRIMESTER 2
Where do Baba and Amir live in America in the 1980s? correct answers Baba and Amir
live in Freemont, California in the 1980s
According to Baba who are the "only three real men"? correct answers The only three
real men are America, Britain, and Israel.
"For me [Amir] America was a place to ___________________________________."
correct answers "For me [Amir] America was a place to bury my memories."
"For Baba, a place to ___________________________________." correct answers
"For Baba, a place to mourn his."
What do Amir and Baba celebrate in the summer of 1983? correct answers They
celebrate Amir's graduation from High School.
What does Baba say about Soraya's rumored past? correct answers Baba tells Amir
that there was a man in Soraya's life and it didn't go well and she had breast cancer.
Why does Amir envy Soraya? correct answers Amir envies Soraya because she was
brave, she acted. Unlike how he behaved when Hassan was being assaulted.
What is Amir's reason why he believes he will not be able to have children? correct
answers Amir's guilt makes him believe that he deserves not to be able to have
children. Hassan is never far from his mind, which foreshadows that Amir will someday
atone for what he did to Hassan and Ali.
Describe the disagreement between Mr. Nguyen and Baba and explain how this scene
reflects cultural differences. correct answers Baba writes a check for food at Mr.
Nguyen's store. Baba becomes offended when he asks Baba for proof of ID. Baba is
offended because he thinks Mr. Nguyen is accusing him of being a thief and Baba
believes that Mr. Nguyen should trust his word.
After Baba gives Amir the car, Amir comments, "My eyes were tearing over and I was
glad for the shadows that hid our faces." Why is he glad for the "shadows"? correct
answers Amir is "glad for the "shadows" because he and Baba never share emotional
moments and the shadows hide his tears when he is overwhelmed by Baba's gift, the
car.
Amir says, "But I would stand my ground, I decided. I didn't want to sacrifice for Baba
anymore. The last time I had done that, I had damned myself." Which event is Amir
referring to (connect to the winter of 1975)? correct answers Amir does not want to
, "sacrifice" for his father by giving up his choice to get a degree in English and become a
writer. In the winter of 1975 Amir wanted to please his father and "got rid" of Hassan
and has felt "damned" since he made that choice.
When Amir approaches Soraya when she is alone, many people began to take notice,
why? What is the "double standard"? correct answers When Amir approaches Soraya
when she is alone, many people began to take notice because she is a single woman
with a "history" who is talking to a single man. It is a "double standard" because the
people in the market will not gossip about him, but they will gossip about her because
she is a woman.
In Chapter Thirteen Baba dies. It is a very simple scene. Briefly describe the scene and
discuss how his death compares to the way he lived his life. correct answers After
dinner and watching Amir, his family, and friends play cards, Baba asks Amir and
Soraya to help him to bed. He gives both of them a kiss and does not take his medicine
because he says, "There is no pain tonight." He dies in his sleep. It is a simple scene
which contrasts with Baba's outgoing, expressive personality. However, he dies after
spending time with his family and friends which is how he liked to spend his time, with
people.
Analyze Soraya's character. List key words and phrases.
What does she wear? What does she look-like?
How does she behave?
How does she speak towards others? What does she say? correct answers - "sits
barefoot", wears "silver bracelets," she has "long black hair," wears a "white ankle-
length summer dress," has olive skin tone
-She sits alone, she reads-Wuthering Heights paperback
-She is polite, she says, "sad stories make good books," she engages in conversation
According to Carl Jung water associated with the sea, ocean, river etc. has traditionally
symbolized the unconscious. To dive is to probe beneath the surface for hidden
meanings, to learn about one's submerged desires and emotions. Amir comments, "I
could wade into the river, let my sins down to the bottom, let the water carry me
someplace far. Someplace with no ghosts, no memories, and no sins. "
- What is the context of this comment? How does this passage relate to Carl Jung's
symbolic meaning of water? And, why is Amir's reference to "wading" important to this
analysis? correct answers Amir thinks about wading in the water. Being that water
symbolizes the unconscious and probing beneath the surface helps one learn about
desires and emotions, Amir would rather not delve into the water. He rather let his sins
go "down to the bottom," so he can forget about his past and not face it.
Analyze Baba's speech, in Chapter Thirteen, to General Taheri and underline all the
important words:
Baba cleared his own throat. When he began, he couldn't speak in complete sentences
without stopping to breathe. "General Sahib, Khanum Jamila jan... it's with great humility
that my son and I... have come to your home today. You are... honorable people... from
