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A Thousand Splendid Suns: Khaled Hosseini

This document provides character and plot summaries for the novel A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. It outlines the main characters such as Mariam, Laila, Rasheed, and Tariq. It then summarizes the major plot developments throughout the story in chronological order, from Mariam's childhood to Laila teaching at an orphanage. Finally, it lists three major themes of the novel: the status of women in Afghan culture, the impact of military conflict on civilians, and the political struggle for power in Afghanistan. Students are assigned an essay analyzing how the plot, characters, and current events relate to these themes.

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1K views11 pages

A Thousand Splendid Suns: Khaled Hosseini

This document provides character and plot summaries for the novel A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. It outlines the main characters such as Mariam, Laila, Rasheed, and Tariq. It then summarizes the major plot developments throughout the story in chronological order, from Mariam's childhood to Laila teaching at an orphanage. Finally, it lists three major themes of the novel: the status of women in Afghan culture, the impact of military conflict on civilians, and the political struggle for power in Afghanistan. Students are assigned an essay analyzing how the plot, characters, and current events relate to these themes.

Uploaded by

Amazon fan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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A Thousand Splendid Suns

Khaled Hosseini
Character List

Mariam illegitimate daughter of Jalil and Nana, born spring


1959, marries Rasheed at 15, 33 at 2nd marriage
Jalil Khan 3 wives / 9 children, one of Herat’s wealthiest men,
visits Kabul and dies in 1987
Nana lives outside Gul Daman
Mullah Faizullah elderly Koran teacher
Rasheed shoe-maker, wife died 10 years before / son died 3
years before, 42 marries Mariam, 60 marries Laila
Laila daughter of Hakim (Babi) and Fariba (Mammy), born 1978,
older brothers Ahmad and Noor, Tariq’s friend and wife, Giti
and Hasina’s schoolmate
Tariq (Mohammad Tariq Walizai) born 1976, lost leg to land
mine age 5, father carpenter, family flees to Nasir Bagh refugee
camp in Peshawar, 7 years in prison, janitor/ handyman in
Murree, working for French NGO for amputees
Aziza illegitimate daughter of Tariq and Laila, placed in
orphanage in 2001, 10 at end
Zalmai son of Rasheed and Laila, born September 1997, 6 at
end
Zaman director of Karteh-Seh orphanage
Hamza Mullah Faizullah’s son, gives Laila Mariam’s package
Map
Plot Developments

Mariam’s childhood in Gul Daman and fateful day in Herat at 15

Mariam’s marriage to Rasheed and first four years in Kabul (tour,


miscarriage, rice)

Laila from age 9-14 in Kabul (Khadim, Tariq’s return, Mammy’s


depression, trip to Bamiyan, Mujahideen fighting, party, Giti’s
death, relations with Tariq, preparations for Peshawar, parents’
death in bomb blast
Laila’s recovery (Abdul Sharif’s report from Peshawar), marriage
(conflict with Mariam) and birth of Aziza (Rasheed’s frustration,
Mariam’s change of heart, Rasheed’s suspicions)

growing friendship between Mariam and Laila

Laila and Mariam’s attempt to flee by bus to Peshawar with Aziza


and Rasheed’s reprisal (violent beating and 3-day lockup)

Rasheed’s intensifying violence toward Mariam and Laila during


3-year drought and fire
Tariq’s return, Rasheed’s murder, Mariam’s imprisonment / trial /
execution at Ghazi Stadium

Laila and Tariq’s life in Muree (marriage, work, outings), their


return summer 2002 via Iran and Herat to Kabul, and Laila
teaching at orphanage in April 2003 (expecting 3rd child)
Themes

status and treatment of women in Afghan culture

destructive impact of ongoing military conflict on Afghan


civilians

continuing struggle for political power in Afghanistan from 1970s


to present
Essay Assignment

Analyze how the plot and characters of Khaled Hosseini’s A


Thousand Splendid Suns and how current events in Afghanistan
relate to the three themes we discussed – the continuing
struggle for political power in Afghanistan, the destructive
impact of ongoing military conflict on Afghan civilians, and the
subordinate status and abusive treatment of women in Afghan
culture.

Digital copy due in class Monday. Final draft due at midnight


Wednesday on turnitin.

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