The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Page references taken from the Bloomsbury edition of the novel published in 2007; ISBN 978-0-7475-9003-3.
Learning activities
Changing perceptions (pre-reading, during reading and post-reading)
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Before you read the novel, write down what you know about Afghanistan and what views you have
about it.
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During your reading of the novel, note down what you learn about the geography, history, religions,
politics and culture of Afghanistan.

When you have finished the novel, write down how it has influenced your knowledge and opinions
of Afghanistan.
The kite
‘. . . Afghans are an independent people. Afghans cherish custom but abhor rules. And so it was with kite fighting.
The rules were simple: No rules. Fly your kite. Cut the opponents. Good luck.’ (page 52)

In what way is The Kite Runner more than a catchy title for the book?

What qualities does Hassan possess that make him such a successful kite runner?

Hassan is a successful kite runner and yet Amir takes the credit. How is this unequal relationship
explained in the book?

How might the kite relate to concepts of freedom, power, relationships and disabilities?
The ending

How might the book be considered to have a happy ending?

What issues are left unresolved at the end of the book?
Characters
Amir

As you read the novel, describe each moral dilemma that Amir has to make. What is the outcome
in each case and how does this affect the structure of the novel?
Hassan

What extra dimension does Hassan’s hare-lip give to the novel and why do you think Hosseini
brought this (visual) disability into the novel in addition to Hassan’s lack of status?
Assef

As you read the novel, make a list of Assef’s predictions. How many of them come true? How
does Hosseini use Assef to manipulate what you are thinking about the novel?
Rahim Khan

What is Rahim Khan’s role in the first part of the novel?

What is Rahim Khan’s role in the last part of the novel?
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The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Relationships
Amir and Hassan

Find quotations that illustrate that Amir might be afraid to be Hassan’s true friend.

In what way do Amir and Hassan view Hassan’s stories differently?

List three instances of where Amir tests Hassan’s loyalty and find a quotation that illustrates how
well Hassan does in each test.

Why, after all Hassan has done for him, does Amir no longer want to be Hassan’s friend, even
before Hassan’s rape?

Explore the possible parallels between the sacrifice of the sheep at the Afghan celebration and both
Hassan’s rape and Hassan’s departure from the household.
Amir and Baba

Find three quotations that illustrate difficulties between Amir and Baba.

Find three quotations that illustrate positive points in Amir and Baba’s relationship in the early part
of the novel.

‘Baba and I were more alike than I’d ever known.’ (page 226) How is this true?

What is similar and dissimilar about the relationship Soraya has with her father?
Amir and Soraya

Is their marriage a distraction from the rest of the novel? Why do you think Hosseini developed
this part of the novel in this way?
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The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Characters – from beginning to end
For each of the main characters listed below, look up the first thing they say and the last thing they say.
Give a brief description of how the events in the book link the two.
Character
First quotation
Events
Last quotation
Amir
Rahim Khan (1)
Baba’s business
partner
Baba (2)
Amir’s father
Hassan (2)
Servant and Amir’s
friend
Ali (2)
Hassan’s father
Sanaubar (6)
Hassan’s mother
Sofia Akrami
(15)
Amir’s mother
Assef (37)
childhood and adult
antagonist
Kamal (37)
friend of Assef
cont ….
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The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Character
First quotation
Events
Last quotation
Soraya (140)
Amir’s wife
General Taheri
Soraya’s father
Khala Jamila
Soraya’s mother
Farzani (205)
Hassan’s wife
Farid (228)
Amir’s driver in
Afghanistan
Zamen (253)
director of the
orphanage
Sohrab (211)
Hassan’s son
Character summary question
Which characters are affected by the changing politics of Afghanistan and how do these change their
views?
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The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
On location
Afghanistan

‘What is Afghanistan’ to Amir?

How does he reflect on
Afghanistan when he first moves
to America?

What changes in his perception of
Afghanistan when he visits it
again towards the end of the
novel?
The Road to Bamiyan, Afghanistan © 2008 Carl Montgomery
http://www.flickr.com/photos/carlmontgomery/3068056966
America

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“Baba loved the idea of America. It was
living in America that gave him an ulcer”
(page 125). How does the novel
explain these two contrary statements?
How else is irony used in comparisons
of America and Afghanistan
How does America initially affect the
relationship between Amir and Baba,
and what are the long term effects?
In what way do Amir and Baba view
America differently from Americans?
The Golden Gate Bridge, California
Peshawar

Summarise Amir’s dream about his father
wrestling a bear. What different meanings
might this dream have? Justify each one.
Interior of Mohabat Khan’s Mosque
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The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Consideration of themes
Identity

What hopes do Amir and Baba share with other immigrants?

How successful are Amir and Baba as immigrants?

How much does Amir consider Afghanistan home when he returns?

Amir belongs to a number of groups in the book including his family, the dominant Pashtun ethnic
group, the Sunni religious group, his country, and those immigrants who went to America. How do
these different identities conflict with each other?
Power

Draw a diagram which illustrates the power relationships in the novel.

What abuses of power are there by:





Amir
Baba
the Soviets
the Mujahideen
the Taliban?
Friendship

List the friendships in the novel. Rank them by strength. Then rank them in order of what you
consider the best relationships.

The friendship between Amir and Hassan clearly had its problems, but in what respects was it a
true friendship?
Guilt

Guilt shapes Amir and the novel. Find quotations which illustrate what Amir feels about his guilt
for (a) not intervening in the Hassan’s rape and (b) being instrumental in Hassan’s dismissal.
Forgiveness/redemption

Amir’s efforts and sacrifices to rescue Sohrab are an obvious act of redemption. What other acts of
redemption does Amir make?

What indications are there that Hassan has forgiven Amir for forcing him to leave? What
indications are there that Hassan has not forgiven him?
Destiny

In what ways have the major characters avoided their destinies imposed by hierarchy and class?

Much of Assef’s taunting suggests Hassan’s destiny as victim and Amir’s destiny as perpetrator.
Write down Assef’s assertions and explain how each has or hasn’t come to be.
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The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Religion

Comment on how true each of these statements is:




Amir exercises religion in a private way
Hassan is a victim of religious discrimination
for Assef, Islam is a pretext for his pathological cruelty
Baba is secular in a very traditional society.
Betrayal

Was Amir’s betrayal of Hassan inevitable?

When Baba’s betrayal of Ali is revealed, how are we enlightened about earlier events in the novel?
Evil

How has ‘evil’ been visited upon the Afghanistan nation by many generations of soldiers?

Is Assef evil?
Explain the symbolism of the following in The Kite Runner:

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the kite
Hassan’s hare-lip
the slingshot
the pomegranate tree
fruit
tree carving
Mr Anderson’s tomato plant
stories about Rostam and Sohrab in the Shahnamah
Sohrab’s silence.
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The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Glossary
Key words
Whilst you are reading the novel, write down any Afghanistan words you come across, along with a
description of what they mean. In particular look out for the following words and subsequently explain
how Hosseini uses these and other Afghanistan words to reflect key events and imagery in the novel.
Kunis
Laaf
Mujahideen
Namoos
Nang
Saratan
Shorawi
Tar
Food in Afghanistan
You will recognise some of the foods/dishes below; write a brief
description for those you already know.
Use the internet to find a brief description of the other foods/dishes from
the book that are listed below.
Naan
Kofta
Mantu
Pakora
Qurma
Potato bolani
Qabuli palaw
Sholeh-goshti
Sabzi challow
Nihari
Chai
Samosas
Biryani
Print out one recipe that you have not heard of before that you would like to try at home!
Glossary – group task
1. Each person should pick a set of five pages from the book.
2. Write down all non-English words. Create a brief glossary by using the explanation in the book if
given, otherwise use the internet.
3. Write down any reference to Afghanistan’s culture, history, politics and ethnic groups. Create a
second part to your glossary that explains each reference in the context of the book.
4. Merge your work together to form a more comprehensive reference.
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