Monday, September 30, 2013

Fish Bowl #5, Chapters 19 and 20 of The Kite Runner

Welcome to your fifth fishbowl!

A few reminders if you're looking for an A for the day:

(A) Bring at least one quotation and/or page reference into at least one of your responses.
 
(B) Explain your thinking thoughtfully and thoroughly (try to avoid the one-sentence response).

(C) Keep it professional, including the usage of proper grammar and spelling.

(D) Comment frequently from the beginning of the conversation to the end.


Remember also that you're welcome to get into a hotseat in the inner circle for a little while and earn some of your daily participation points there.


Enjoy!

121 comments:

  1. On page 231 Amir says "I feel like a tourist in my own country." Why does Amir feel this way? How does this affect him?

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    1. I believe that since it has been about 20 years since Amir was in Afghanistan, especially considering what had happened with the war and the Taliban, everything is so different now that it has changed his point of view. What he comes to see is not the Afghanistan he remembers. Also, Amir has tried to bury much of his past, and so when he gets there, he is treated like an outsider when some people feel like he has abandoned his country in a time of need.

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    2. He feels this way because he hasn't been to Afghanistan since the 1970's and after living in America for so long he has become equip to the American lifestyle and is in culture shock like any tourist would be in a country they have never been to or haven't been to in a while.

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    3. This is a very powerful statement. Amir feels like a tourist in his own country because he has been gone for 20 year. Amir missed most of the war. This must make Amir feel sad like his life his first home is gone.

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    4. He grew up as a privileged child. He really wasn't exposed to any hardships as a child and didn't get to see the sacrifices and struggles many Afghans had to endure. When he comes back he doesn't see the Afghanistan that he knew as a child, but it was a Afghanistan that was always there.

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    5. Because when he was a child it was so grand based on the description of his childhood home. Amir had it good compared to most as in he was well off. Obviously he really loved Kabul as a child for the most part based on the memories the author shared with us in the beginning. And now, it has changed so much that it might not seem like even the same place.

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    6. Amir feels this way for two different reasons. The most obvious reason is how much Afghanistan has changed since he was there. The destruction of the city and degradation of civilization must be absolutely shocking to Amir. He is also a completely different person from when he lived in Kabul. When he lived there he was young, innocent and had a very different perspective on life. He is seeing Afghanistan in a different light, it is no longer his home, his country, it is a place that he remembers a certain way, and has changed drastically since he was there.

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    7. I believe that when Amir says this he means that in his own country, his own home the place he used to know and love, he feels lost. Nothing looks/feels the same that it used to. He doesn't know his way around anymore. He doesn't feel like he belongs here because everything has changed. Nothing is the same and he doesn't even feel like its Afghanistan anymore.

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    8. I feel that he has always been a tourist in afghanistan and that he grew up in a rich family not having to wear a pakol. And also when he moved to america it wasn't for like a couple years it was 20 years and if you move away for that long and move back to your home country anyplace would make you feel like a tourist. And also Afghan is a total wreck like there are zero buildings that still stand up.

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  2. On page 243, Amir says "Twenty years earlier I had seen some of the first war with my own eyes... The second war, I had watched on my TV screen." Do you think that this shows Amir has changed or do you think he still has the same values, etc?

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    1. I think it shows how Amir has changed throughout the years. Just like on page 243 when Amir says "I feel like a tourist in my own country." he has become Americanized through his years living there for man years. A part of that could be him watching on his TV which shows how is wealth has grown since he's moved to America.

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  3. Do you think Amir is glad to know that he can have a child even if it belongs to Hassan? Do you think that finding and taking care of Hassans son is an act of redemption or selfishness?

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    1. I think he is happy to take care of Hassan's child. I think he see's it as a way to repay Hassan for all Hassan did for Amir. To me it shows that he is growing into a more mature person.

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    2. In a way, I think it could go both ways. I think that he still has that sense of "jealousy" that he couldn't have a biological child and Hassan could so I think that Sohrab brings those feelings back but I do think that he's glad that he can take Sohrab into his family as a way to payback Hassan and a way for Hassan to "forgive" him.

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    3. I think that Amir is trying to redeem himself and become good again, as was foreshadowed by Rahim earlier in the book. He is happy probably to meet his nephew and be able to get to know him, and I think he is trying to rebuild lost relationships in a way.

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    4. I think that Amir is grateful to raise a child. Even though it is Hassan's child, it is like adoption. The parent will still love the child as much as their own. I think that Amir is glad to be raising a child. I think the act is an act of redemption for all that Amir didn't do while they were young.

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    5. I believe Amir is growing to be a better man, finding and caring for Hassan's baby is something he would do because Hassan would do the same thing not as an act of redemtion or selfishness, but a favor. Hassan has always been loyal to Amir and this is Amir's showing that he cares too.

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    6. I don't think Amir is worried that he is being selfish by taking care of Hassans child. Having a child in your family is not something that is easy, it will create a whole different lifestyle for Amir and his wife. Also, the simple fact that Sohrab will lead a much better life in America with relatively successful parents, and a promising future, shows that coming with Amir is the best outcome for Sohrab.

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  4. On page 228 Amir gets sick in the car ride on the way to his home town. What does this symbolize, or foreshadow, and why?

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    1. Well it doesn't really mean anything, he gets sick all the time. But, if you want a deeper meaning then I guess it would be he is scared. This also foreshadows the fact that he feels disheartened or sick when he gets there.

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    2. I think that this foreshadows that something bad might happen. This also symbolizes that Amir is scared, not only because Kabul is scary with everything going on with the Taliban but also he might be scared that he never really knew how Kabul was and maybe he is in shock because it is so different from what he remembered.

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  5. On page 231 Amir says "I feel like a stranger in my own country." What do you think the deeper meaning of this. Based on the video we saw today in class, it obviously changed in physical appearance but do you think he could also could be talking about his feelings about Kabul?

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    1. I think that your right that it changed drastically in its physical appearance, but I also think the spirit of the town has changed. Everybody is sad and depressed due to the Taliban, and they are all living in fear.

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    2. This goes to show that Amir really never saw the true said of Kabul. He always lived on the royal side of things because of his father, so he never really saw or lived what people were going through. Now that he is back and he isn't with his dad and he isn't living the royal life it is very different to him and I almost feel as if he doesn't know how to deal with it.

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    3. I think that Amir means that all that he knew when he was young changed so much that it feels like he is experiencing Kabul again. And now that Amir was living in America for so long, it is a culture change.

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  6. on page 240 Amir says "I woke up with a scream trapped in my throat."What does Amir mean by saying this?

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    1. I believe Amir just means he woke up wanting to scream, but he just couldn't. It was trapped.

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    2. Amir is just waking up from a very bad dream that he has had pg 239-240. When Amir said "I woke up with a scream trapped in my throat" I think the author the taking us back to that moment in the alley on pg. 75 where Amir froze and this dream is a time where Amir froze.

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    3. I think he is horrified that his mind could come up with such a dream. .It obviously was not a good dream. I also think it is his guilty conscience eating away at his soul. It could also be foreshadowing of upcoming events.

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    4. This is a symbolism for Amir's entire life. His scream (old life), is trapped by his new life. Amir feels the need to revisit his old life, and make things right (scream), yet if he does that, his current life will be shattered, and that is not an option for Amir. Thus he is trapped by his new life.

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  7. As in the video we just saw. I have a prediction that Sohrab will get shot from the Taliban because he is the next of kin to Hassan and Hassan was executed. So Amir will have to try to save Sohrab.

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    1. I agree completely with your prediction. I think that Amir will at first hesitate on whether to step in and intervene, but then I think he will remember all the good memories of Hassan, and how Baba had saved that girl from the Russian soldier, and I think Amir will do the right thing and risk his life to save Sohrab.

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    2. I agree with this prediction because, the Taliban took Sohrab and nobody knew about it and as you said they had no problem killing Hassan and Hassan's wife so why would the have a problem killing Sohrab. It is sad that this orphanage is supposed to be a "safe" place for the kids but yet they are being taken to be killed. The people in the video weren't acting that scared they were almost acting as if it were normal and that's so messed up because it's not normal to just kill people.

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  8. On page 237, when Amir admits that he has an illegitimate half-brother, what is significant about this? Is it revealing about Amir's change, and why?

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    1. I think it's showing that he is finally accepting Hassan for who he is, it might also have to do with Baba and wanting to prove something to him.

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    2. This to me shows a major change in Amir. I think its significant because it shows such a change in Amir and that he isn't ashamed to have him as a brother.

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    3. This is important because it represents the change in Amir. In the beginning of the book, Amir didn't really care for Hassan and in a way was embarrassed by Hassan. This must have been very daring and hard for Amir to say because it is the first time Amir has admitted Hassan as an important person in his life.

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  9. "Keep yours eyes on your feet when he Talibs are near" Farids advise to Amir. The Talibs want to be feared, and they will do anything to ensure that they are feared and will have followers.

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    1. This is a very significant passage because it shows how much control the Taliban had over Afghanistan at this time. It shows how feared the Taliban actually were and how much control and power they had over the country. It is scary to think that they had this much control because when events like 9/11 occur it just shows how scared and vulnerable Afghanistan was at this time to fall under Taliban control.

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  10. On page 258 it states, "I saw he had put on his broken glasses." What do you think the significance of this passage is? Much of what has occurred in the last few chapters has been nothing short of broken. What do you think the significance of the theme of broken is? How do you think his applies to the book so far. Provide an example.

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    1. This means that everything is falling apart in Amirs life and he is back to try and rebuild it maybe. For example Hassan got shot, Baba died, Amir can't have kids. Everything is going wrong, and a lot of things are broken within the past few chapters. I think broken is a great way to describe the past few chapters because Amirs life is kinda falling apart and a lot of things are "breaking" such as him losing people close to him.

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    2. I think that Hosseini uses the idea of "Brokenness" as a similar trait in all people that are a part of the story. Although all people in this story are broken in some way, they "..put on [their] broken glasses." and persevere. This idea shows that there is hope, if a person can be as broken as Hassan or Amir, yet persevere and keep on living, seeking peace and happiness; then anyone can persevere and attain their own peace and happiness.

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  11. The Talibans attacking Afghanistan is also like when the Nazis would kill many upon many Jews, just because of their different belief, now the Talibs kill Hazaras because they are different. There are also smaller similarities than that, such as bullies. People don't understand that it's okay to be different, instead they have to bring them down (or "exterminate") them.

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    1. A lot of this I believe has to be with self confidence. People like Hassan provide a perfect example of this, yes Hassan was different from most people in Kabul at this time but Hassan had one of the biggest and most genuine hearts out of them all. Some people feel threatened by what someone else has either physically or emotionally and all they can do to make themselves look better is to "terminate" or get rid of the person better than them.

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  12. On page 251 the old man tells Amir to come back to him when he remembers more about Amir's mother, but Amir never comes back as said in the book. Why doesn't Amir return to the old man? Doesn't he want to know more about his mother?

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    1. I think he does, but either the old man died, Amir was forced to flee the country, or the old man changed location.

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    2. He can't go back because his mother died in child birth and his dad never talked about it. He does what to go back and find out more about his mother but, he can't find any information about her to get the old man to talk.

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  13. What does Amir mean by this? Was it this bad when he left? Was it adapting to his old ways again of was it just shock from seeing his old home town again and the shape it was in?"for the first time since we crossed the border, I felt like I was back"?- Page 240

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    1. I believe amir felt like he wasn't really home until he actually got to see where he lived. For example, if you were seeing coming home to Colorado for the first time after a few years, it might not feel the same until you actually get to see your home town or familiar areas.

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  14. Amir had a dream in chapter 19 that he had killed Hassan. What do you think this means or foreshadows?

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    1. Maybe it is foreshadowing to Hassans child being killed by the Taliban for being a son of a hazara.

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    2. It is a representation of Amir's guilt. If he had not framed Hassan, then Hassan might still be alive. His guilt about his inaction and cowardice has manifested itself in a nightmare.

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    3. I think this represents a sense of letting go. Killing the guilt and everything negative involving Hassan. He wants to focus on the good and loving memories of Hassan and the love that they shared. He is sick of living two lives and trying to prove to himself that he is a good person. So by killing Hassan he is getting rid of the negativity involving Hassan that he has carried around his whole life and he is finally ready to let it go. This may foreshadow Amir getting rid of something else negative in the future.

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    4. I think its his past getting to him and the guilt has built up so much that now he is having nightmares about killing Hassan.

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    5. I think that this is a symbol of him not being a good friend. I think Amir is making up for it now but when Hassan and Amir were younger he never was the great to Hassan and Hassan would have taken a bullet for Amir and I don't think Amir would have done that in return. And I also think that, this shows that Amir used to not be a good person and all he thought about was his money and maybe judged Hassan so it might have been a flashback type of dream. Kinda like his past is haunting him.

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    6. I agree with Olivia that it is him letting go, but almost foreshadowing because someone close to Amir is gonna get killed or even the baby of Hassan because someone came and picked him up already and I think that he will die before Amir can get to him or he will see Sohrab die.

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    7. I think that Amir's subconscious is very angry at Hassan. In the first section of the book, when Amir is describing his early life, it is clear that Amir does not really like Hassan. Because of the love Baba shows Hassan, he detests him, he wants Hassan to leave, which he does. Now Amir feels awful about this, he recognizes how terrible these feelings are and how terrible his younger self was. His subconscious wishes that Hassan was never alive, it wants to rid Amir's thoughts of Hassan forever, and therefore tries to kill him in his dreams.

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  15. On page 232, farid says that "you've always been a tourist, you just didn't know it." What can this quote tell us about how the Afghans feel about Amir living a wealthy life and moving to America?

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    1. I think it shows how many of the Afghans he knew while he was growing up are slightly spiteful of Amir just giving up on all he had in Afghanistan and moving to America while they had to stay and face all of the harships while Amir had a better life in America.

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    2. The Afghans feel as if Amir is not a real Afghan because Amir was wealthy and he was always treated well when everyone else had to suffer living a life that is work heavy. I also believe that they think that Amir had the easy way out of Afghanistan and they are envious of that.

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    3. I think that they are somewhat against the fact that Amir and Baba had moved to America when many other people had to stay in Afghanistan and live with the Taliban leaders but on the other hand, I think that they should give props to Baba for taking a risk and moving his family for their benefit when he had no idea what to expect.

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    4. I think is tells us that they are up set that he would take all his money out of this home country and take it to america where it does not help his country it fights against them really.

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    5. To me it almost seems to show that they are jealous. They are so jealous that they did not have the funds to leave and go to a better country like Amir and Baba were able to. Rather than excepting that Amir and Baba were fortunate and able to leave they try and tear Amir down and act like he is the bad guy for leaving.

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    6. The quote tells us that since Amir was rich when he lived in Afghan that he never really experienced what it felt like to be one of the average people living there. Amir didn't experience the daily life of someone who needed to work to stay alive.

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  16. The Talibs are ruthless killers who kill men, women, children, dogs, you name it and if it in their way or they don't like it, it's dead. However, why do they feel the need to do this? When did humans ever decide that killing others is okay? Has it always been this way? How would you change it?

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    1. I think this is an example of the reoccurring theme of power. This book deals with a lot of violence to show power over one another. For example, Hassan was raped and also how he and his wife got shot. I think that having the talibs very violent is also another way to show power over one another.

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  17. On page 238, Wahid tells Amir, "You are an honorable man, Amir Agha. A true Afghan." And then it says that Amir "cringed inside." How does Wahid's statement towards Amir make him feel? Why does he cringe? Is that a good or bad feeling?

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    1. I think that Wahid's statement makes Amir feel guilt. He was guilted in a way to go and rescue Sohrab from Kabul, and I think that the fact that he is being praised for going to get Sohrab makes him feel like a coward. I believe that it could also possibly be bringing back old memories of what he had let happen to Hassan, and how Sohrab's life right now could also be Amir's fault.

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    2. I think that Amir is far from being a true Afghan. Since he never wore a pakol, was friends with a hazara, and left to america when he was young and learned their ways. But I think Afghan to him is kinda what it is to me that they are scrub and very poor and that every man is a Taliban. So the name is kind of tabooed for Amir.

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    3. I think the reason Amir cringed was because deep down, he knew that praise was the last thing he should receive. After all that Amir has done and been through, He believes that he should not be described as that. I think this just adds more burden and guilt towards Amir himself which is why he cringed.

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    4. I think it makes Amir feel slightly guilty for being called a true Afghan because he left his country to move to America for a better life. He might feel like he betrayed his homeland.

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  18. Why do you think Amir had the type of dream he did? What does it represent?

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    1. This dream represents Amir and the failures he feels he has. The times where he has not done what he has wanted to do and felt trapped.

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    2. I think Amir had that dream because he had believed that Hassan's death was his fault and everything he did to Hassan had ultimately lead to his death. It represents Amir pulling the trigger that caused Hassan's death.

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    3. The dream to me represents how his life is catching up to him and he can't really do anything to save himself or the others. He is at a dead end and he can't turn around.

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  19. Fitting in, to me is the biggest symbol portraying desperation in theses chapters, because it shows that those trying to fit in want something out of it like satisfaction of being involved in the community.

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  20. Even though many have warned Amir about the state of Kabul, Amir was still shocked at the difference. On pg. 247, Farid makes a point by asking Amir, "What's the matter to you?" I think the reason that Amir was still extremely shocked was because growing, up he was living the high life. He never really experienced a normal life because Baba was very rich and had power. Now that Amir is back, he finally gets to see what really was happening in Kabul.

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  21. On page 245, Amir states that "The wars had made fathers rare in Afghanistan." I find it interesting that this is basically the opposite of how Amir and Hassan grew up. They grew up motherless and never had a mother figure, but now, it is more likely for children to not have a father figure. Do you think Amir would have rather not have a father?

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    1. I think that he does not have an opinion. I think that Amir is growing past that although he missed having a mother. The question is, If he had been lacking a mother instead, how do you think the story would have changed?

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    2. I think that Amir is thankful for having Baba as a fatherly figure growing up. I also believe that Amir always longed for that motherly figure as well because he predominantly had fatherly figures like Baba, Ali, and Rahim- Ka.

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  22. Are baba's and amir's betrayals and similarities in their relationships of their servants similar or different? Discuss the difference between Baba and Ali and between Amir and Hassan?

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  23. Will Sohrab be the part of Hassan that Amir needed his whole life as a reminder and token of Hassan that can only bring good and happy memories of Hassan, or will Sohrab cause more pain and guilt because its the first part of Hassan that Amir has been confronted with in many years?

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    1. It depends on Sohrab's state of mind. If Sohrab is traumatized or broken, then perhaps Amir will see this as what he should have done for Hassan. If Sohrab is fine, then I do not believe Amir would take him in. He would feel that he redeemed himself, and probably leave Sohrab in Peshawar.

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    2. I think that it will bring both of those types of feelings. I think that Sohrab will bring good and happy memories because it will remind him of Hassan and the good times that they did have as friends. I think that Sohrab will also bring pain and guilt because what happened to Hassan will always be in Amir's memory, it's one of those things that will never truly disappear.

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    3. I think the part they are missing is each other I do not think there is anything that can be put in to that place and make it right. For Example: If you lost your brother for many years there would not be a person and an object that could replace that. the only thing would be that person and the only person for Amir is Hassan.

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  24. On page 240, when it says "I am the man in the herringbone vest." I think it means that Amir is blaming himself on the death of Hassan. I think that Amir feels guilty about lying to get Hassan to feel so bad that he left Baba and himself when he framed Hassan from stealing the money. I think he feels guilty because if him and Hassan got along after the winter of 1975, then him and Hassan could have moved to America together or they could have protected each other. I also think that Amir feels like "he is the one in the herringbone vest" because he is the one who pushed Hassan away.

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  25. On page 241 Wahid says, "We're hungry but we're not savages! He is a guest! What was I suppose to do?". This was obviously referring to when that family gave up their food for the night in order to feed their guests. I think this embodies the culture of Afghanistan and the morals they uphold. This leads to the question of, "if Amir had been in the same situation as Wahid, would he have given up food for his family and fed his guest?".

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    1. I think Amir wouldn't have done the same as Wahid because Amir has never had the chance to be so welcoming to a guest. Especially in Afghanistan because they have such polite morals and hospitality. Amir likes to think for himself in situations like this.

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    2. I think Amir would have given up the food because the guilt from the incident with Hassan is still eating away at him. That being said I would think he would want to do everything in his power to prevent anything that would cause him to feel guilt from happening.

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    3. I agree with Skylee because Amir is trying to slowly get rid of the guilt that was eating him alive. Repaying a person little by little will probably eventually take away Amir's guilt.

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  26. At the end of chapter 20, Amir and Farid come across a person who knew Amir's mother. I think this represents the light in Amir's darkness. Amir has had to face some pretty difficult times in the past few chapters and finally meeting someone who can take part of the weight off his back represents a ray of light.

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    1. I agree with this because since Amir's mother passed away shortly after he was born, he never had those memories most kids have of their mothers. I agree that it was a "ray of light" in his dark life and I think that it was well needed in Amir's dark life.

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    2. I agree. The meeting with the man who knew Amir's mother is also a point of realization for Amir. On page 251 he says "I learned more bout my mother from this man on the street then I ever did from baba." He understands how distant he and his father were.

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  27. On page 244, Amir tells about a dog leaning against a wall "sleeping" although it ends up not moving...leading to the obvious. How did it die? Starvation, thirst, or did someone kill it? Also, since usually in movies, when someone kills a dog, it's the worst thing ever, how did you feel about this dead dog? I was sad to read about it, although reading about the rest of the deaths is also incredibly awful.

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    1. I think this detail is more representative. I think that it is further stressing the fact that Afghanistan is struggling and poverty is at its highest. the fact that the Taliban are succeeding in conquering this country.

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  28. On Amir's trip back to Afghanistan he stays at his driver Farid's house. After he leaves he says on page 242 "When I was certain no one was looking I did something I had done 26 years earlier : I planted a fistful of crumpled money under a mattress. I believe that this is a major part of this story because he is finally getting back to his roots.

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    1. It also shows how Amir has changed over the course of the book. By repeating an action, but with the right motives, Amir is showing a heroic side that was not present at the beginning of the Kite Runner.

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    2. I don't think it is as much going back to his roots as sort of repeating his past. However, this time, he is doing it out of the goodness of his heart and is being compassionate and generous, while last time he was being selfish and ignorant.

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  29. Do you consider the fact that Baba is Hassan's biological father a form a betrayal? Do you think that Baba is still a good man? Is this in any way similar to what Amir had let happen to Hassan?

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    1. Well what I think happened from the context is Baba had an affair with Ali's wife, and that's how Hassan was born. I think this is a very harsh term of betrayal, however it doesn't make Baba a bad man. Baba has done a ton of good things in his life, and one mistake doesn't take away from all of those. Furthermore, I think this is a very similar situation from what happened to Amir and Hassan, the only difference is Baba and Ali learned how to forget and move on and realize that it was just a mistake, while Amir and Hassan never got to this point.

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    2. I agree with Jaret. The relationship between Amir's father and Ali, and his relationship with Hassan are similar in many ways. For example, they both betrayed the people they loved in their own ways. I also agree with Jaret in that this does not make Baba a bad man. He made a mistake but he moved on and did a lot of good in the world such as helping a friend in need.

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  30. I think that Amir was shocked about what Kabul was like even though he had been warned. I think he was shocked because I don't think he ever thought it would be that bad. I wonder if he expected Hassan to be dead? I wonder what he thought about that? I wonder if he would have visited Hassan if he was still alive, and i wonder what would've happened if they found out that they were brothers?

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  31. How was Amir never able to see the poverty in his own country ? I think Amir was blinded by the life he had grown up in. When you grow up somewhere and that's all you know. How do you learn? I would say you learn through you mistakes, or by going back and seeing something with fresh eyes

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    1. You can learn by walking around and observing other peoples lifestyles. I think Amir learned by going to America and coming back, seeing such a difference of the two countries.

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    2. I think that Amir was so focused on trying to please his father, that he was blinded by what actually was happening in his country. He didn't ever realize how good his life was until something went wrong.

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    3. Baba had given Amir this great life probably to blind him from the truth of the world. So when Amir went back he finally noticed that life wasn't ever just piece of cake in Afghanistan.

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  32. Zaman, the owner of the orphanage where Sohrab was supposed to be, sells children to the official of the Taliban to get money for food for the children. Do you think this justifies what he doing? Explain your reasoning.

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    1. Yes, he is not doing this for selfish reasons, and it is to prevent a worse tragedy, as seen by the quote, "If I refuse giving one child, they take ten." Zaman is doing everything and anything he can to provide food for the Orphanage.

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    2. I think that what Zaman is doing is very wrong and immoral, however I don't think he has a choice. In the book it said that the Taliban was going to get what they wanted anyway, so at least if Zaman is selling the children he is going to help the other children in the orphanage.

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    3. I disagree with Joseph and that you don't just sell KIDS to people who are gonna kill them or make them into killers. I would die from starvation than rather to give up a baby.

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  33. On page 233, Amir says "My mother died giving birth to me" in a conversation, and almost immediately requested that the driver pull over so he could throw up. Do you think amir feels guilty for being the cause of his mothers death, and why?

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    1. I think that Amir does feel guilty in a way. Earlier in the book, Baba said that the worst form of sin is stealing and I think Amir feels like he stole his mother's life away and stole her chance to live her life as a mother.

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  34. On page 228 Amir gets sick. I think that this shows that he is kind of worried about going into a town he hasn't seen in a long time and also he is worried because he doesn't want to see his good memories of the place he grew up in get turned to bad.

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  35. Farid was bitter to Amir probably because he got away from Afghanistan before the war got even worse. So maybe Farid was jealous, or just mad that he didn't stay and fight for his country like many did. However, I believe it was most of the upper class citizens that were able to get away. I would honestly probably be jealous and upset at those who got away from the war and came back to call it "their country." Even before they gave me a good reason why they were here, although I would feel awful after hearing their reasoning.

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  36. Giving all the food to your guests over your own family. I get why this was done but I'm not sure if it's right. It must just go back to custom and what your society defines as okay and unacceptable.

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    1. It is probably because honor and being a good host is all that Wahid has left. Without honor, Wahid would not have anything left, and the Taliban would have won.

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    2. I agree. I believe that Afghanistan's values and culture is highly based off of social stature, manners, and pride. Afghan men especially never wanted to wound their pride and even if it meant that his children did not have food, Wahid was still going to give Amir a good meal to give the facade that he and his family were well off even during the war. While it was not fair to his family, it was what he knew for his culture, and I think Wahid and all Afghans struggled throughout the war times to keep their pride and self esteem high.

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  37. Do you think such betrayals are inevetible with the master/servant relationship or do you think that they are due to the flaws in Amir and Baba's character.

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  38. What makes the Taliban so much more powerful than the rest? How does the hierarchy work in Afghanistan?

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  39. Does Amir feel guilt or shame looking back on leaving his country during the war?

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  40. Faird and Wahim, the brothers, one driving and letting passengers stay at his house and the other giving all his food away to the starving. Do you think the hero's journey could apply to them? Why or why not?

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