Chapter QuestionsI. CHAPTERS 1-5 (PP. 1-47) READING QUESTIONS
Chapter 1 1. The novel begins with a flashback.What do you think is its purpose? What do you learn about the narrator? Chapter 2 1. Who is Hassan? Describe him physically. What is a cleft lip? Describe him by his relationships. What was his first word? Why is that important? How did he come into Amir's life? What contrast is made between Amir and Hassan? 2. What does it mean to be Hazara, Shi’a Muslim, Afghanistan’s minority group? Who, in the story thus far, is Hazara? 3. What does it mean to be Pashtun, Sunni Muslim, Afghanistan’s majority group? Who, in the story thus far, is Pashtun? 4. How does Amir describe his home? Why do you think he elaborates this description so much? What do the details of the family pictures in Amir's house reveal? 5. Who is Sanaubar? How is she contrasted to Amir's mother? 6. Who is Ali? What do the neighborhood children call him? What does it mean? Why do they call him this? Chapter 3 1. How does Amir feel about his father in these chapters? 2. Who is Baba? Describe him. What are his values? 3 How does he relate to extremely religious leaders? Chapter 4 1. How does Ali come into Baba's life? 2. What parallels are there between Ali and Baba? 3. In what way are Amir and Hassan friends? In what way are they not friends? Explain. 4. Look up the film, The Magnificent Seven, on Wikipedia and write a brief summary of the film (no more than 6 sentences). The Magnificent Seven Wikipedia 5. What does Amir carve into the tree? What does this tell you about his feelings toward Hassan? 6. Explain the quote in the context of the relationship between the boys, "Words were secret doorways and I held all the keys" (Hosseini 30). 7. In what way does Rahim Khan rescue Amir? 8. Why do you think Hassan was able to point out the flaw in Amir's story? Explain your thoughts. Chapter 5 1. What is a cleft palate? Explain what it is and how it is fixed. Include the source for your answer - URL is okay, example: www.webmd.com. 2. What does Baba give Hassan for his birthday?
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
1. What happens at the at the market with Mr. Nguyen? 2. What happens after Amir's graduation? 3. What happened the summer of 1984? 4. Who is General Taheri? 5. Who is Soraya Taheri? Questions for Chapter 12: 1. Why has Amir's father been so hard on him? 2. Why does Baba reject the "palliative radiation"? 3. What last fatherly duty does Baba do for Amir? Why do you think he does it? 4. What do you think about Soraya's revelation to Amir? 5. Should Amir have revealed his secret to Soraya? Explain. Questions for Chapter 13: 1. Amir thinks about the "bears" his father has wrestled during his lifetime. What "bears" has Baba wrestled? 2. What good news does Amir learn? 3. Were there any differences or similarities you found when reading about Amir's proposal, engagement and wedding ceremony to weddings that you have been to? 4. Twice now, we have seen the word pari, what is a pari? "Soraya a veiled pari in white" (170). 5. How does Soraya care for Baba? 6.Describe Baba's funeral, what does it tell you about Baba? 7. How does Amir react to Baba's death? 8. What life changing decision does Amir make? 9. Amir and Soraya, what do they try to do? |
Major Themes:
Other Themes:
QuotationsQuotation for Chapter 1:
“That was a long time ago, but it’s wrong what they say about the past, I’ve learned, about how you can bury it. Because the past claws its way out. Looking back now, I realize I have been peeking into that deserted alley for the last twenty-six years.” Quotations for Chapter 2: "I can still see Hassan up on that tree...a face like a Chinese doll chiseled from hardwood: his flat, broad nose and slanting, narrow eyes like bamboo leaves, eyes that looked, depending on the light, gold, green, even sapphire" (3). "He took you for someone else, " I whispered. "He took you for someone else" (Hosseini 7). "I think the foundation for what happened in the winter of 1975 - and all that followed - was already laid in those first words" (11). Quotation OPTIONS for Chapter 3: "Baba saw the world in black and white….You can’t love a person who lives that way without fearing him too. Maybe even hating him a little” (15). “In those days, drinking was fairly common in Kabul…those Afghans who did drink, did so in private, out of respect” (16). “There is only one sin, only one. And that is theft. Every other sin is a variation of theft” (17”. “Children aren’t coloring books. You don’t get to fill them with your favorite colors” (21). •“A boy who wont stand for himself becomes a man who cant stand for anything” (22). •“If I hadn’t seen the doctor pull him out of my wife with my own eyes, I’d never believe he’s my son” (23). Chapter 4 "...a person who wastes his God-given talents is a donkey." (p. 32) |