Plot Overview About the Author

The story begins in San Francisco with the main Novel Notes
character, Amir, recalling an event that occurred 26 Hosseini life parallels The Kite Runner, but the book
years prior. He describes the event as the one that is not an autobiography. Hosseini lived in Kabul,
made him who he was today. Then, the story Afghanistan as a child, but moved with his family to
flashes back to when Amir was a child living in
Kabul, Afghanistan. He lived in a large house with
Paris before the communist group turned Kabul to
ruins. The family was going to go back to Kabul in The Kite-Runner
his father, who he called Baba, and was best friends 1980, but by then it was more of a war zone, so the
with the servants son Hassan. Hassan and his family was granted political asylum and moved to Khaled Hosseini
father, Ali, live in a hut next to the house. Hassan is the U.S. that September. After graduating high
often ridiculed because he is part of an ethnic school, Hosseini pursues a career as a physician,
Olivia Contreras
minority, while Amirs father is very wealthy and well before turning to writing as his main profession.
respected in the community. Hassan and Amir
3/10/17
spend most of their time flying kites and playing. On
the day of the kite flying competition, Amir and
Hassan spend the day flying their kite. When Amir Essential Quotes
cuts the string of the last blue kite and wins, Hassan
goes to run the kite for Amir. Amir goes to look for The generation of Afghan children whose ears
Hassan when he doesn't return home and discovers would know nothing but the sounds of bombs
Assef with two of his friends beating Hassan. Amir and gunfire was not yet born. Huddled together
watches as Hassan is sexually assaulted by Assef.
in the dining room and waiting for the sun to
Plagued by guilt, Amir ignores Hassan altogether,
and eventually, he frames Hassan for stealing.
rise, none of us had any notion that a way of
Though Baba steadfastly forgives Hassan, Ali life had ended (Hosseini 28).
decides to leave with Hassan anyway. Baba is
Historical Context I'd write him a hundred if I thought he'd read
heartbroken by this, and the two abandon their one. Maybe he'd call me Amir jan like Rahim
house to escape the Taliban. First, they go to The story begins in Kabul, Afghanistan during Khan did. And maybe, just maybe, I would
Pakistan, but eventually move to the U.S, settling in the mid 70s and moves to Pakistan, Fremont, finally be pardoned for killing my mother
an old apartment in Fremont, California. Here, Amir California, and back to Kabul during Taliban (Hosseini 46).
graduates high school and studies to pursue a rule. Kabul was ruled peacefully under
writing career and San Jose State University. Every Mohammad Daoud until 1978 until he and his
Sunday, the two go to a flea market to sell things Hosseini, Khaled (. The Kite Runner. New York:
family were murdered by the communist party
they buy at garage sales. Here, Amir meets Soroya. Riverhead , 2007. Print.
that took over the government. Middle Eastern
Baba is diagnosed with cancer, but refuses culture in Afghanistan before and after the
treatment. He lives long enough to ask Soroyas "Biography - Khaled Hosseini".
Taliban come into power is prominent
father for Amirs permission to marry her and Khaledhosseini.com. N. p., 2017. Web. 10 Mar.
throughout the book. These range from food, to
attends the wedding, but dies shortly afterwards.
Amir and Soroya discover that, for an unkown marriage customs, to activities such as kite 2017.
reason, they are unable to have children. As they flying, and to racism towards ethnic minorities.
research adoption agencies, Rahim Khan, Babas
close friend, calls Amir and asks him to visit him,
since he is dying. Amir agrees, and it is at this time
that Khan tells Amir that he and Hassan are half-
brothers. Khan also informs Amir that Hassan is
dead and his son is an orphan. Khan encourages
Amir to redeem himself for betraying Hassan by
rescuing his only child. Amir agrees and tracks
Hassans son, Sohrab, down to a house owned by a
Taliban official who buys children. The official turns
out to be Assef and he and Amir fight. Assef beats
Amir nearly to death, but he is saved by Sohrab,
who shoots Assef in the eye with his sling shot.
After recovering in the hospital, Amir takes Sohrab
to stay with him as he tries to adopt Sorab. One
night, Sohrab attempts to commit suicide in the
hotel bathtub by cutting his wrists after Amir tells
him that he might have to go back to an orphanage
for a while before he can go to the U.S. Sohrab
lives but refuses to talk or show emotion for a very
long time until one Sunday where he and Amir fly a
kite together and Sohrab smiles. The story ends
with Amir running the kite for Sohrab.
 Character Analysis Themes Motifs and Symbols
Amir Irony: Pomegranate Tree
For most of the story, Amir is cowardly and selfish. Though Amir only wants to find happiness, he ends The pomegranate tree, which has the phrase, Amir
He ridicules Hassan regularly and is jealous of him up overwhelmed in guilt. Since he was a child, he and Hassan, the sultans of Kabul carved onto it
because Baba treats the boys as equals, and Amir has strived to be more like his father. However, he represents the how good the relationship Amir and
wants Babas affections for himself. Amir feels guilty finds that instead of being like Baba in the sense Hassan have prior to Amir betraying Hassan. At the
for allowing Hassan to be sexually assaulted in the that he was successful, moral, and respected, Amir tree, the two boys grew up together. They played,
alley, so he rids himself of him by framing him for discovers that he is most like Baba in that they both Amir read stories to Hassan, and the boys ate from
stealing. Amir redeems himself, however, by going betrayed their best friends. Baba slept with Alis wife the tree itself.
back to Afghanistan to rescue Hassans son. and made her pregnant with Hassan, while Amir did
nothing to stop Hassans sexual assault. The Kite
Hassan In the beginning of the story, the kites represent
From the beginning, Hassan was loyal to Amir, his Redemption Amir and Hassans childhood and their happiness.
first word being Amir. Hassan makes sacrifices for Throughout the story, Amir searches for redemption. However, after Amirs betrayal, the kites takes on a
Amir time and time again, and despite how badly In the beginning, he tries to gain Babas affections new meaning. Instead of representing happiness,
Amir treats him at times, Hassan readily forgives because Amir believes Baba resents him because the kite becomes a symbol of guilt and a constant
him. Even after they are separated for years, his mother died giving birth to him. Amir betrays reminder of Amirs betrayal. The kites significance
Hassan continues to care for the family in the sense Hassan while trying to redeem himself in Babas changes for a third time by the end of the story
that he is shot and killed while defending Amirs old eyes, but does not find lasting redemption until he is when Amir and Sohrab fly a kite together. Here, the
house in Afghanistan. beaten by Assef while trying to save Sohrab from kite is a reminder of his childhood with Hassan, and
him. Here, Amir feels that justice is being served serves as a connection between Sohrab and Amir.
Baba because he is paying the price he knows he should
Baba is presented as a strong figure of power in his have in order to save Hassan from assault years The Lamb
community at the beginning of the story, but, by the prior. Also, by saving Sohrab, Amir feels he is Similar to Christianity, in Islam, the lamb represents
end, he loses his status and has only his morality making up for the betrayal of Hassan and for his an innocent being that is sacrificed. Amir describes
and dignity left. Babas relationship with Amir grows jealousy towards him. both Hassan and Sohrab as resembling lambs prior
after moving to America, and Amir realizes that they to sacrifice throughout the story. Amir describes
are actually more similar than he ever believed. Hassan as having the look of the lamb before he
One example being that he betrayed Amir by never was assaulted. Hassans sacrifice for the blue kite
telling him Hassan was his half brother. represents betrayal on Amirs part, but Sohrab is
saved from further sacrifice by Amir, representing
Rahim Khan Amirs redemption.
Acting as a father figure to Amir, Khan is the person
who encourages Amir to pursue a career in writing
novels. Khan is also the person who gives Amir his
shot at redemption by convincing him to go back to
Afghanistan. Amir is told that he and Hassan are
half-brothers by Khan and not Baba.