After this week's reading I'd like for you to focus on several things when you blog:
1) Comment on the structure of this novel. How is it organized and how does the organization aid or guide the reader?
2) Comment on Amir. How do you feel about him now as opposed to earlier in the novel?
3) Comment on Hosseni's style of writing. What are elements of his word choice, sentence structure, tone that make his writing style unique? Perhaps choose a short passage that illustrates what you notice.
4) If you didn't in the last post, write a thematic statement that indicates what Hosseni is trying to say about one of the subjects I listed. Remember that themes are universal statements that comment on the human condition. For instance, you wouldn't want to write on the AP exam that the theme of a passage is guilt. That is a subject, not a theme. A theme could be that guilt has the power to consume and destroy. That is a universal idea that relays what the author is trying to say about guilt.
Or how about love?? That is a subject, but what is the author trying to say about love?
Love is a double-edged sword; with the joy of love comes an equal amount of pain.
People exhibit love in many ways; some through kindness and tenderness, some through jealousy, some through obsession.
See how these are complete sentences that actually pinpoint what the author is trying to say about a particular subject????
Writing thematic statements will be a focus for us in class because you will be expected to identify them and compose them on the AP exam. Do the best you can.
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Here is my attempt at a thematic statement (please critique J): Hosseini show that literature has the ability to emphasize life’s lessons; whether it be guilt and redemption or the importance of friendship.
In the beginning of the novel, Amir was by far my least favorite character in just about any novel I have ever read. As I have read farther and saw how his guilt ate away at him, I sympathize with him. His guilt is his punishment for not helping Hassan and that imagine of the alley on that winter day constantly shoves itself into vision every time he closes his eyes. His suffering and experiences with life have brought tears to my eyes and I find myself believing that the world is being to harsh to him. He feels he is a disappointment to his father and his soul eating secret doesn’t help him at all. His trip to Pakistan is exactly what he needed. The trip and his talk with Rahim Khan bust the doors off the dark room in his heart and mind that had enclosed his demons; the pain was unbearable but they were something that had to be dealt with. Amir is the perfect example of how guilt can lead to good. His guilt pushes him to go to Pakistan and although an immense amount pain is waiting for him, he guilt won’t allow him to run away anymore.
In the end of chapter 13, Hosseini describes how their unexplained infertility has become apart of Amir and Soraya’s marriage. The passage reads, “ And I could almost feel the emptiness in Soraya’s womb, like it was a living, breathing thing. It had seeped into our marriage, that emptiness, into our laughs and our lovemaking. And late at night, in the darkness of our room, I’d feel it raising from Soraya and settling between us. Sleeping between us. Like a newborn child.” This passage stood out to me because it gave a face to this challenge that has stormed its way into Amir and Soraya’s marriage. It is this unspoken curse that eats away at Amir and Soraya and yet it is compared to a cherubic newborn child. Hosseini uses irony throughout his novel and this to me, makes him the stand out author that he is.
I looked up the structure of the novel and what I came up with is that Amir is a "stuck character". That means that Amir reacts to all of the other characters instead of causing the other characters to react to him. When Hassan is raped Amir reacts by trying to get rid of him. Amir reacts to Rahim wanting him to go get Hassan's son and so on.
I still am not a big fan of Amir. He treated Hassan badly because Hassan was raped. That still does not make much since to me. He is redeeming himself somewhat by going to get his nephew, but not nearly enough.
I agree with Brittney that his use of irony makes his writing style unique. An example are the different times he puts money under a matress. One time for evil purposes and one time for good. I also like the fact that the novel could easily be believed to be a real biography of someone's life.This biographical tone, I believe, is the reason that the novel is so good and realistic.
I talked about themes last post, but I did not really make a thematic statement, so here is one. The relationship between master and slave is artificial in that both are human beings with one being no better than the other. This is shown by having Amir (the master) behaving selfishly and mean towards Hassan who has done Amir no wrong. This shows that Amir is no better than and probably not as good as Hassan even though he is according to the structure of society. Also, by having Amir and Hassan being brothers is what I believe a statement against having one group being over another.
Something I've noticed while reading is Hosseini's use of imagery. There are numerous times throughout the book I can picture exactly what is going on because of the vivid details. Sometimes I even feel like I'm there. I also like how Hosseini would throw in the Afghan language. Several sentences would have words from their language, but also say it in English. I think this just gives you a better feel of the Afghan culture.
I never completely disliked Amir at the beginning of the novel. Although I couldn't believe what he had done to Hassan by not saving him, I still felt some sympathy for Amir. Amir did so much to try to get away from Hassan and escape the guilt he felt. He finally managed to do that atleast to a certain extent after living in America and starting a new life. But going to Pakistan brought it all back. He feels even more guilt now. He believes that he is the reason Hassan and his wife were killed. That becomes clear in his dream of the day Hassan was murdered because Amir seen himself killing them in his dream. Learning that Baba was really Hassan's father doesn't help either. He realizes he is making the same mistakes his father did and they both did horrible things to the people who would have done anything for them. I really feel bad for Amir now. But I believe his guilt will soon set him free. I think once he rescues his nephew and gets him to a save home things will start changing for the better.
I think guilt is the reoccuring theme in The Kite Runner. So here's my thematic statement: Guilt can challenge you to do things you never thought you would. I'm not sure if that's even good, but I think it fits Amir.
I agree with Terry in that Amir is a stuck character in deciding the structure of the novel. Amir is dominated by the other characters and reacts to what they do and go through. He has trouble doing anything really for his self with out feeling or being reminded of his past guilt. The organization of the novel is helpful in reading it. I like how it skips a number of chapters and then tells all about what happened in those years. It makes the novel easier to read and not boring.
I the beginning of the novel I felt sorry for Amir and was not a big fan. Now I still think he lets people control what he does and he still lives in guilt of his past. I just want him to get over it and get closure on that part of his life. I was so glad that he was going back to his homeland and maybe would finally get the closure he needed so he could move on.
I agree totally with Kelly on Hosseni using imagery in the novel. I love how there are native words in the novel. I think it adds to it so much. You really feel like you are in the novel. Like your there experiencing it with Amir. This book has some difficult parts to it but the style of writing made it not so difficult.
Guilt is a theme that keeps coming up in the novel. Here is my thematic statement: Guilt can control your life if you continue to live with it and not let go of it.
At the begining of the novel I really disliked Amir. The way he treated Hassan after he got raped for trying to protect his kite. Instead of appolgizing he just wanted to get rid of him. He really angered me. When they arrived to America, Amir changed. It kind of surprised me. He became a different person although his guilt still followed him. He was more helpful to his father and didn't hide anything. I like him better now. He is doing more good deeds and by going back and redeeming his nephew. Although it was really sad that Amir never wondered about Hassan or cared about him as much as Hassan did for him. And he never gets to see him again, after finding out he is his brother.
As Kelly mentioned earlier, I like the way Hosseini used alot of imagery. As I read I could see everything going on in my head, the actions that took place. I also like the way he started off in present tense and went back to telling his story and then brought it back to present. It makes it interesting and eager to find out what he's going to do. It also makes it kind of easy to read when he's telling it from his point of view and making it seem so real. Like it's a real biography of someone. This book has caught my attention.
In the beggining of the novel, I hated, but also felt sorry for Amir. I diliked how he just watched Hassan when he got raped, but I also felt sorry for him because no little boy should ever have to witness that. He was a coward, yes, but what more can you ask of him. He was young and didnt know any better. Im sure that if that had happened to one of his friends after he moved to America, that he would have stopped it, because he seemed to be a fifferent person after he moved. He was more compassionate and kind and willing to help his father. He actually cared.
I agree with what both Kelly and Katharine Anne said, about Hosseini`s use of imagery and how he used the different words to expose the reader to the Afghan culture a little bit more. I love learning about the different cultures of the world and find it very interesting and eye opening.
This novel has become more intriguing throughout the week. I find myself feeling more sympathetic with Amir as he struggles with many issues in Afghanistan (invasions, etc). I haven’t gone as far as crying like some of my classmates and teacher, but I do understand how emotional this novel can make someone.
Also, Hosseini employs a lot of irony throughout the novel which helps make up structure of the text. I also agree with my classmates when they state that they can imagine and see what exactly the author is telling us. His use of imagery is so strong. Here’s an example from page 142: “Lying awake in bed that night, I thought of Soraya Taheri’s sickle-shaped birthmark, her gently crooked nose, and the way her luminous eyes had fleetingly held mine.” I can actually imagine him lying in bed with a “cloud” over his head displaying Soraya and how she looks.
I have never actually had to create a thematic statement but here it goes: Guilt can create many impediments and hindrances in someone’s life if that person refuses to move on and look toward the future.
Sorry it took me so long to post. I've been at church camp this past week.
As far as the structure of this novel goes, Hosseini uses flashback and foreshadowing a lot. The book actually begins around 2001 or 2002 and Amir is remembering back to his childhood. He then tells us his whole story up through his boyhood and up through his early manhood. His use of time lets us know what has happened up to this point. After this, Hosseini just takes a timeline, and somehwhat autobiographical, approach to telling the rest of the story. He goes through each event that has happened in his life and he tells us what happened and sort of how it affected him. Then, he'll go on to something else.
I agree with Terry and almost everyone else about Amir. I haven't liked him since the book began and I disliked him even more for not trying to contact Hassan after Amir and his father moved to America. It's bad enough that he witnessed Hassan get raped and he didn't do anything about it and then he framed Hassan and forced him and Ali to leave. I know he's going to find Hassan's son, but I don't think even that can make up for what he's already done.
Hosseini uses a lot of irony in this book, and in a way, karma. There is irony when he hides the wad of money under the matress to help the family that fed him and gave him a bed that one night. There is karma when one of the kids that held down Hassan while he was raped died in the back of the tanker truck and then the father shot himself. This is like what happened to Hassan and his father; something tramatic happened to the son that ruined his and his father's life.
To add to my thematic statement, discrimination, prejudice, and class structure are evident because, even though Baba and Ali are like brothers and Hassan and Amir actually are, Hassan and Ali will always be servants to Baba and Amir and in their minds, they will always think they are somewhat superior to Hassan and Ali.
I commented on a couple of themes that you had posted for the last blog. I'm a bit confused on if I commented correctly and will hold it there for now. I'm glad we will be working on that during class because I'm not so sure I am grasping the theme so well or if I'm spouting out subjects of the novel.
As far a Amir I cannot like him as much as Hassen but I can admire him for changing his ways. At least he is trying to stop being a coward. He proves this many times over in these chapters with his actions. Attempting to get Soraya even though he doesn't want to venture into terrible danger. He is only human and has his own pains and Rahim is correct when he says Amir overthinks everything. I can relate to him on that. Overthinking everything tends to make life harder on the overthinker.
Irony is my favorite thing and this book is chock full of them. But it is also full of forshadowing. There is a bunch of sentences that forshadow about what is to come. You can tell that Amir might end up doing more for Hassen's son than just taking him to some safe orphanage. Also Hosseini's use of imagery portray Rahim Kahn's behavior so much that it is obvious he is not speaking the whole truth about something. I think he deliberatly brought Amir's guilt into play for a reason. To distract him from seeing that he was not being totally truthful. What it may be is not totally clear which makes the reader anticpatry and makes the book a good read. It allows the audience to finish it. Some authors can't accomplish that. The imagery, irony, and forshadowing so interlocked the reader has to finish the book to unravel all the twists and turns and how everything plays into one thing or another.
I hope I have answered the blog correctly. I have read further than chapter nineteen and am almost done with the book so I wasn't quite sure if I touched on what you wanted without revealing what will happen to those who haven't read so far.
1) Hosseini's narrative strategy is highly effective in several respects. The story is told in first person from Amir's point of view, which brings us close to him and his experiences. The structure of the story employs flashback until Chapter 14; much of the story, then, comes to us in the retrospective point of view as the adult Amir recounts his life as a child. It is during this portion of the story that Amir's relationship with Hassan is established and developed. The flashback ends, and the remainder of the story is told until its conclusion by Amir, in present time.
2) In the beginning Amir is just a selfish little boy who cares only for himself and what his father thinks of him only. Amir becomes a man when he stops acting in his own selfishness and finally accepts responsibility in his heart for Hassan's various misfortunes. He spends his adolescence and young adulthood running from Hassan and the painful memories associated with him; in fact his "running" may be symbolized by moving across the world and, yet he cannot shake his guilt even as he tries to bury it in his new life. Finally, Amir must face his father's death; a parent's death is a rite-of-passage into adulthood. Hassan's fate haunts him but he seeks to redeem himself by taking responsibility for Hassan's son, his nephew, Sohrab. He returns to Afghanistan and confronts Assef, the boyhood bully who abused Hassan and now abuses Hassan's son. Because he avoided this conflict as a child, the stakes are higher when he is an adult. But Amir succeeds, with the help of Hassan's son and his trusty sling-shot. He learns that he can stand up for what's right and that true friendship which is symbolized by the sling-shot Hassan passed down to his son that never dies. Now I feel more sympathetic towards Amir since he grew up and took on responsibility for his selfish act.
3) Khaled Hosseini uses pathos, which are the emotional or motivational appeals; vivid language, emotional language and numerous sensory details. I think Khaled Hosseini writes in a way which creates visual effects in the readers mind about Afghanistan and the terror of the Taliban, all through the eyes of a scared boy who grew up to be one of the bravest men ever. I guess the author uses a lot of metaphors and similes. For example, a scar in literature, much like life, is an indication of a past injury. Amir spends his life knowing he must, one day, atone for his past sin against Hassan. The scar is a constant reminder to Amir of injustice and weakness; his external scar becomes a metaphor for his internal hurt. He also uses flashbacks. An example of a flashback is pretty much the beginning of the novel until Chapter 14. Then the rest of the story comes to us in the retrospective point of view as the adult Amir recounts his life as a child. Which help us out to understand and be more into the novel. The use of Farsi, Hassan and Amir’s native language, in the novel provides local color and makes their culture and lifestyle come alive.
4) I wrote a thematic statement in the previous post for chapters 1-10.
Brittany, good comments - one note about your thematic statement, though - try to put the ideas of guilt and redemption into a statement that is a little more specific in regard to what Hosseini is trying to say. Yes, literature can emphasize life's lessons, so what "lesson" are we learning about guilt and redemption or the importance of friendship through this novel?
Terry, great thematic statement about slave/master relationship. In terms of structure, I was looking for something that hit on the organization of the novel a little more in terms of chronology and how the jumbled chronology affects the reader, but your ideas about Amir being a stuck character certainly ring true.
Kelly, good point about the Afghan language. The words certainly bring a sense of verisimilitude to the writing and make you as the reader think a little bit about what is being said. Your thematic statement is pretty good, also. We're going to work on leaving out the second person "you" pronouns when we speak about literature, but your idea is great. Katherine Anne, same thing goes for you. Good comment on guilt, phrased in a declarative statement that reveals what Hosseini is trying to say, but we'll work on taking out the "you."
Come on, Trent, that scene when Baba dies, when he refuses the morphine pills because "there is no pain tonight" and then he doesn't wake up - that didn't make you tear up??? I'm just giving you a hard time. But I think it's interesting how most of you seem to be emotionally invested in the novel - especially in Amir because he is such a dynamic character and we can't help but go along with him on this quest to find redemption. I like how a few of you mentioned Hosseini's imagery, but some comments were rather vague; it's nice to hear some examples connected, like Soraya's "sickle-shaped birthmark." Symbolic perhaps????
I like your comments about structure, Josh. I was hoping someone would notice how Hosseini plays with chronology. If you will also notice, the book is divided into roughly 3 parts: Amir's childhood, his time in America, and his return to redeem himself. 3 is a significant number in a lot of contexts. Fiction is no exception. A couple of you also commented on the irony and foreshadowing. It's really satisfying to re-read this novel because you pick up on so many more hints and clues the second go round. Josh, I'm glad you brought up the fact that Kamal showing up again was rather ironic. How about the fact that he himself had been raped and now stared at Amir with hollow eyes???? Chilling.
Sonia, good comments about structure and the idea of the scar being a metaphor. Just wait until you read further!! Pay attention to the wounds Amir suffers, and of course that slingshot will come up again.
For me, this novel has been a very easy read; not necessarily because of the way that it's written, but because of the things that it says. It sends you so many messages within the text and has so many great ideas. Hosseini does show that love is a double-edged sword, but he also shows that it can be worth it. Guilt can become your obsession and destroy you, but sometimes you need the guilt to motivate you. Brotherhood comes in many forms, not just through blood.... From the very beginning of the novel Amir and Hassan have loved each other, but it was a very strange kind of love. Hassan knew that he loved Amir and that it doesn't matter who or what he is. Amir loved Hassan also, but he felt guilty about it because of who he was; how could he love his servant? How could they ever be real friends? Once Amir realized how much he loved Hassan it was too late, and with that love came pain. The guilt from seeing Hassan raped built up over his entire life and helped to shape it, but it was part of the reason why he decided to rescue his nephew. All the way up until the very end of the novel Amir thought he was an only child, but there had always been a connection between himself and Hassan. When they were born they both fed from the same woman. Amir always felt that there was a bond between his father and Hassan. When they were children they always played together and lived at the same house, like brothers. Amir didn't find out that they actually were until it was too late to have that relationship with Hassan, but in my opinion they lived their childhood as brothers. Amir was the typical big brother that picks on the little one, and Hassan looked up to him as anyone who has little brothers (or sisters) knows they will.
I have always liked Amir. I felt sorry for him throughout the entire novel. From the beginning where he was striving for his fathers attention and could never achieve it until the end when he tries so hard to get Sorhab to talk to him. I don't believe that Amir is a bad person at all, I just think that he is a very confused and scared little boy. There isn't anything wrong with being scared, it's where that fear takes you that's wrong. Amir let his fear take him to a bad place, it led him to lie, which in turn was "committing the worst sin." He stole their right to the truth.
The order of the novel confused me at first. When I sat down to read it it seemed like he jumped around a lot and I was getting confused about if it was the present or the past. After I got into it though it was a lot easier.
My last thematic statement that I saw is that when you get what you want there is always a price; something else is taken away. Assef said that nothing in this world is free, and he's right. If you go to the store to buy dinner you have to give money; when Amir got the kite he wasn't the only one that payed, Hassan also payed. Hassan lost his innocence and Amir lost his right to a guilt-free childhood.
Hosseni's style of writing and the way he set up the novel is quite unique. His use of foreshadowing and flashback helped me better understand the characters and their thoughts/feelings on certain things. As Josh had already stated, the book started off in December 2001 and then began to backtrack to Amir's childhood. We followed him from his childhood to his adulthood. From his time in his homeland, to America, and then back again. Hosseni used alot of imagery throughout his writing. At times, it was kind of chilling.
"And I could almost feel the emptiness in Soraya's womb, like it was a living, breathing thing. It had seeped into our marriage, that emptiness, into our laughs and our lovemaking. And at night, in the darkness of our room, I'd feel it rising from Soraya and settling between us. Sleeping between us. Like a newborn child." (189)
that passage in particular stood out alot to me.
As for Amir, my thoughts on him is getting better. Watching your friend get raped is bad enough but at times, i did sympathize for him. No matter what he did, his father never really cared for him. He was never the son Baba really wanted. Rather than being athletic and tough, he was smart and weak. I'm glad to see that even though he had a content life in America, he risked it to go back to his homeland despite the danger as well.
My attempt at a thematic statement:
To love and be loved is an indescribable feeling in a way that it brings complete bliss yet just as much or even more hurt.
(so in general, with love comes great rewards yet also great sacrafices and sorrow.)
i realise this is all very late. i came back from vacation to find that our computer had contracted a virus which took a lot of time to sort out.
The novel is organized into three sections almost. Aphganistan before conflict. Life in America. and a war torn Aphganistan. that is what i can concur from reading the novel. im not sure exactly how this helps the reader, unless it's simply to help the reader see a culture through its own eyes.
i have to agree with Kelly about Amir. i felt somewhat sorry for him. the guilt plagued him and i think he learned his lesson. I agree with Kelly on the fact that going to America sort of gave him a new life and another chance.
Hosseni has a unique style of writing. Very descriptive. it allows me to picture the novel in my head and play it like a movie. lol.
For a thematic statement i would have to say "Guilt can plague one for very long and influence ones life in more ways than one
i realise this is all very late. i came back from vacation to find that our computer had contracted a virus which took a lot of time to sort out.
The novel is organized into three sections almost. Aphganistan before conflict. Life in America. and a war torn Aphganistan. that is what i can concur from reading the novel. im not sure exactly how this helps the reader, unless it's simply to help the reader see a culture through its own eyes.
i have to agree with Kelly about Amir. i felt somewhat sorry for him. the guilt plagued him and i think he learned his lesson. I agree with Kelly on the fact that going to America sort of gave him a new life and another chance.
Hosseni has a unique style of writing. Very descriptive. it allows me to picture the novel in my head and play it like a movie. lol.
For a thematic statement i would have to say "Guilt can plague one for very long and influence ones life in more ways than one
Amir is a very disturbed character. I can't say that I ever disliked Amir at any point in the book so far. He is a young boy struggling with his own internal demons. He is trying to gain any kind of relationship with his father. It frustrates me that Amir is such a wimp about everything. As the story develops though, Amir finds inner strength and begins to fight for what is right.
I love Hosseni's use of imagery in this novel. He describes things so vividly that it's easy to imagine yourself standing there beside Amir.
Thematic statement: No matter how loyal one person is too another or how much they do to protect someone, they will always be treated unfairly.
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