AP English: Literature and Composition Name___________________

Major Works Data Sheet

Biographical information about the author:

This
Title: ________________________
Author: _________________________
Date of Publication: _______________
Genre: __________________________
Historical information about the period of publication:
The Kite Runner includes information about
Afghanistan and how it was invaded by
Russian and destroyed by Taliban rule.
Afghanistan was changing in drastic ways
throughout the time period covered in the
book, this allowed Hosseini to make direct
connections to the real world in his novel
"Khaled Hosseini was born in Kabul, Afghanistan,
in 1965. His father was a diplomat in the Afghan
Foreign Ministry and his mother taught Farsi and
history at a high school in Kabul."
"Hosseini graduated from high school in 1984 and
enrolled at Santa Clara University, where he earned
a bachelor’s degree in biology in 1988. The
following year he entered the University of
California, San Diego, School of Medicine, where he
earned a medical degree in 1993."
'The Kite Runner,' published in 2003, was Hosseini's
first novel. He went on to have a very successful
literary career.
Characteristics of the genre:
Historical fiction, often focuses on real events
and social issues in the world while creating a
fictitious story. Historical fiction is often set in a
real place during a significant time period, just
like this book;

Plot summary:Amir looks back on his life as a young boy in Kabul, Afghanistan. He lives in a very nice house with
his well respected father, Baba, and their two servants, Ali and Hassan. Ali and Baba grew up together, now Amir
and Hassan are doing the same. Although Hassan is Hazara and is Amir's servant, they are practically brothers.
Baba treats Hassan very well and doesn't necessarily favor his son Amir, this makes Amir sad and jealous. Kite-
fighting is very popular in Kabul and Amir is one of the best. Hassan is one of the best kite-runners, the boys who
chase the kites as they fall from the sky. After the big tournament, Amir is victorious and Hassan goes to do what
he does best, run the kite. Amir searches for Hassan and ultimately finds him with the kite, he is surrounded by 3
older boys, Assef, Kamal, and Wali. Assef, the "leader" of the trio, rapes Hassan with the assistance of the other
two boys. Amir freezes as he watches and does nothing to help Hassan, he then runs away and pretends that he
doesn't see it. After this, Amir and Hassan drift apart and both go through drastic changes. Hassan is
traumatized and Amir feels guilt. Wanting to get Hassan out of his life in hopes to feel better, he frames him for
stealing and tries to turn him into Baba. Hassan admits to stealing, even though he was innocent. Baba forgives
him and says Ali and Hassan can stay, but Ali refuses and the two leave. A couple years after Hassan and Ali's
departure, the Soviets invade Kabul and Baba and Amir escape to Pakistan and eventually to California. Baba
works as a gas station manager while Amir completes high school an enrolls in the community college. Baba
struggles to change and assimilate to America. At the flea market, Amir meets Soraya and the two fall in love.
Around this time, Baba gets sick and begins to die. Amir's wish is that Baba will ask Soraya's father for consent
for the two to marry. They marry successfully but struggle to have children, Baba dies shortyl after the wedding.
Amir gets a call from Rahim Khan, his biggest supporter from back home, who tells him he is sick and that Amir
needs to come see him in Pakistan. Amir goes and meets with Rahim Khan, he learns that Hassan got married
and had a kid. They had been living in Baba's old house with Rahim Khan for all these years. Unfortunately, the
Taliban shot Hassan and his wife and their son, Sohrab, is now an orphan. Rahim Khan wants to find Sohrab
and take care of him. When Amir questions why, Rahim Khan reveals that Hassan was Baba's son and not Ali's.
Although devastated by the news, Amir sets out to find Sohrab. Eventually, Amir finds Sohrab, he had been
bought by a Taliban official and sexually abused. The Taliban official turns out to be Assef, he wants to fight
Amir to the death over Sohrab. Amir is beaten pretty badly but Sohrab safes him with his slingshot, just like his
father Hassan. Eventually, Amir gets Sohrab to the US where the two fly kites together. They battle another kite
and win, Amir goes to run the kite for Sohrab.
Major Works Data Sheet Page 2
Describe the author’s style: An example that demonstrates the style:

Hosseini utilizes a unique style as the plot of this

story bounces around from time to time and doesn't 'December 2001.... I realize I have been
follow a strict day-by-day timeline. Amir, who is peeking into that deserted alley for the last
twenty-six years."
grown, flashes back to his time as a young boy to tell
the story. Throughout this, he also skips ahead to
major events. This style allows the reader to think on "Winter"
a deeper level about how the events in the plot have
impacted characters in these "empty" time frames. "In the winter of 1975"

"March 1981"

Memorable Quotes: You must have a minimum of five

Quote Explain the Significance

"There is a way to be good Rahim Khan says this to Amir during their conversation on the
again." phone. It sticks with Amir and he thinks about it often. This
quote is significant because it tells Amir that Rahim Khan
knows about Amir's guilt along with many important other
things. This quote helps convince Amir to go to Pakistan and
ultimately to find Sohrab. It has a huge contribution to the plot
towards the end of the book and influences Amir's changes as
he tries to "fix" his past sins.

"Maybe Hassan was the price I had
to pay, the lamb I had to slay, to
win Baba. Was it a fair price?"
After Hassan is raped and Amir does nothing, Amir's mind
starts to lose focus and becomes full of jealousy. This quote is
significant because it starts the shift in the plot that drive
Hassan and Amir apart, which contributes to conflict in the
plot. Amir sets himself above Hassan and betrays the one
person who was there for him no matter what. Amir tries to
remedy these issues later in the story by finding Sohrab after
Hassan's death.

¨But I think a big part of the reason I
didn't care about Soraya's past was
that I had one of my own. I knew all
about regret.
This quote is significant because it highlights the lasting
impact of Amir's action into his adult life. Opening up and
understanding Soraya's past allows the reader to fully grasp
how Amir feels about his own, which leads him to find
Sohrab

"A boy who won't stand up for
himself becomes a man who can't
stand up to anything."
Baba says this to Rahim Khan about Amir and what he says
is true. It emphasizes the weakness in Amir's character, he is
weak and selfish. This weakness and selfishness is what
leads to his lack of action when Hassan is being raped and
also influences Amir's actions as he gets older.
Major Works Data Sheet Page 3
Characters
Name Role in the story Significance Adjectives

Main character, Amir is the main

Amir character/narrator in the story
son of Baba. His Cowardly, guilty,
actions and it is his actions throughout
the plot that can help the reader weak, creative
contribute to the
conflict in the learn a lesson from the story.
book. The story is Amir's selfish and jealous
his life. personality drastically harm the
life of himself and those around
him.

Hassan Servant to Amir and Hassan is a very honest and

Loyal, forgiving
Baba. Amir's loyal loyal character. His "purity" helps
bestfriend. Is contrast and therefore highlight
actually Baba's son. the negative traits in Amir that
Father to Sohrab lead to the major conflict.
Hassan was raped and Amir did
not step in to help. This event
sparked the conflict and was
connected to the plot for the rest
of the story(sohrab.)

Wealthy and popular

man. Amir's father, Amir hyper-fixates on winning
Baba Baba's approval. Baba's Powerful, intelligent,
also is Hassan's true impatient
father. personality regarding Amir is
what reveals the true nature of
Amir's character.

Sohrab Hassan's son, was Sohrab and his return to safety is Young, unsure, quiet
ultimately rescued what allows Amir to lose the guilt
by Amir associated with his actions. His
character helps drive the
resolution of the conflict.

Cruel, powerful
Assef Childhood bully of Assef rapes Hassan, which
Amir and Hassan in creates the conflict between Amir
Kabul. Grows to be a and Hassan that drives the
Taliban official. conflict of the book. Assef comes
back into play during the falling
action of the plot as Amir looks
to save Sohrab. Sohrab hits
Assef with his slingshot, this is a
connection to Hassan's character
and can be seen as an act of
revenge, freedom, liberation, etc.
Major Works Data Sheet Page 4
Setting Significance of the opening scene

The opening scene is very significant because

Kabul, Afghanistan- Used to be beatiful and full of
it gives the reader some insight into the story
joy, Amir lived in a pretty White house. Any alleyway
while also creating suspense. We know from
is the setting during the scene in which Hassan
the opening scene that an event in Amir's
was raped, which is essential to the plot.
childhood has caused lasting impact even
into his adulthood. The opening scene
California- the changes in the setting correlate with
regarding the phone call with Rahim Khan
changes in the characters. Baba and Amir attempt
then connects back to the plot later in the
to conserve their tradition and culture while also
book and allows the reader to connect the
assimilating to American culture.
events of the plot back to the information in
the opening scene.
Amir returns to Kabul and finds it dirty, destroyed,
dark, etc. The beautiful place he used to call home
is now simply rubble. Significance of the ending/closing scene

In the final scene, Amir and Sohrab win a

Symbols
Kite- the kite is a large symbol in the story that
represents happiness and freedom, but also changes
to become a representation of Amir's action against
Hassan.The kite becomes a symbol of freedom once
again in the end of the story when Sohrab and Amir
win a kite fight.
Slingshot- Hassan was deadly with the slingshot and
almost harmed Assef with it to protect Amir. His son
Sohrab also becomes deadly with the slingshot and
uses it to fight Assef, who harmed his father. The
slingshot connects the two generations and supports
the idea that Amir's rescue of Sohrab can help him
recover from his previous actions regarding Hassan.
kite battle together and Amir goes off the
run the kite just like Hassan used to do for
him. Sohrab is finally opening up,
accepting American, and looking away
from his past. This scene is so significant
because this connection between Amir
and Sohrab allows Amir to lose the
feelings of guilt that he has regarding his
actions toward Hassan. Hassan was the
most loyal and honest person towards
and quoted "For you, a thousand times
over,' to run Amir's kite after the
tournament. In the closing scene, Amir
whispers the same quote before he runs
for Sohrab's kite. This shows that Amir is
loyal to Sohrab, just as his father was
loyal to him.

Possible Themes—Please state in complete sentences

Father and Son Revenge

Guilt

Amir constantly searched for

Amir's actions as a young boy Amir/Sohrab get revenge against
Baba's approval and this caused
caused him to feel guilty for his Assef for harming Hassan, but
many issues. His selfishness for Hassan does not seek revenge
entire life until he could "fix" the
his fathers attention caused him
issue and feel better again against Amir for betraying him.
to betray his best friend. This
This shows that revenge can but
theme is connected later in the
liberating and fair but is not
book when Amir has the
always the answer.
opportunity to save Sohrab, who
is the son to Hassan.