The Kite Runner Questions (Chapters 11-25)

1. Chapter 11 has a new setting. What is it?

Fremont, California, the United States.

2.  “America was different. America was a river roaring along, unmindful of the

past. I could wade into this river, let my sins drown to the bottom, let the

waters carry me someplace far.” This quote from Chapter 11 is said by whom?

What does it reveal? What does this metaphor mean?

It was said by Amir, two years since they arrived to USA. It shows that America seems to be the new country, were Amir can be free of all the problems that were taking place in Kabul. It can also be considered as a reborn for Amir, in which he can forget his sins (Hassan's rape, maybe).

3. What does Baba give Amir as a graduation present? What is Amir feeling at this

moment? What is Baba feeling?

The gift was a Ford Gran Torino. He felt very excited and happy about the kindness that Baba showed, because he knew how hard was to get a car.

4. What does Amir tell his father he wants to study in college? What is Baba’s

reaction?

He says he wants to be a writer. Baba, in some way, accepted it and felt that he was going to be a very good writer (At least, he tells so to General Taheri). However, Baba didn't feel happy for it and he thought his degree would be wasted. 

5. Baba observes that “It may be unfair, but what happens in a single day can

change the course of a whole lifetime.” Whom is he speaking about? Why?

What else might be significant about that quote?

He is speaking to Amir about the General's daughter, as Amir asked about the stories floating around her. It means that one action at one moment can change the whole future of a person.

7. In 1989, what is going on in Afghanistan? Who are the Mujahedin? Who is in

charge?

In 1989, the Shorawi or Soviets left Afghanistan. The Mujahedin are that afghan muslins that are fighting against the soviert-puppet government of Najubullah.

8. Chapter 14 brings us back to the opening of the book: the telephone call from

Rahim Khan. What is Rahim asking Amir to do?

Amir has to go to Pakistan because Rahim Khan is very sick. He also says that there's something pending in his life. 

10. Who is Farzana? Sohrab?

Farzana is Hassan's wife, while Sohrab is their only son.

12. In Chapter 17, Rahim gives Amir a letter from Hassan, who wrote it six months

before. What is the tone of this letter? How does Amir react?

The tone in the letter is quite sad and negative. Although Hassan explains that the situation in Kabul is horrible, he also seems to be happier when he refers to his son Sohrab. In fact, he would like Amir to meet him. Also, Hassan is preccupied  by Rahim's health.

13. In Chapter 18, Amir finds out that both Hassan and his wife were shot by the

Taliban trying to protect Baba’s house, orphaning their son. Rahim tells Amir

it is his job to find Sohrab in Karteh-Seh, Afghanistan, and take him to an

orphanage in Peshawar, Pakistan. What is Amir’s reaction? Do you think

Rahim’s dying wish is unfair? Why or why not?
At first, Amir didn't want to go, probably because he had a comfortable life in America. Then he started to feel the responsibility (Maybe for the rape?). Rahim asked this as his last wish, as he would die soon. I think he is just being honest and that he want to end his life in peace, contributing to save Sohrab. After that, Rahim told him about his brotherhood with Hassan. At that moment, Amir broke and he rushed out of the apartment ("I'm thirty-eight years old and I've just found out my whole life is one big fucking lie!").

14. In Chapter 19, Farid is engaged to drive Amir from Peshawar to Afghanistan.

Describe his first impression of Amir. When Farid said, “You’ve always been a

tourist here, you just didn’t know it,” (p. 232), what did he mean? What is

Farid’s impression of emigrant Afghans who return to visit Afghanistan?

Farid gave him a dismissive look. The quote could mean that Amir never got into Afhganistan reality, as he was from a wealthy family. He also seems to think that returning afghans are coward people who escaped with the money they had and didn't had the courage to defend the country.

15. In Chapter 20, the director of the orphanage, Zaman, tells Amir that Sohrab

was taken by a Taliban official, who takes children, usually girls, about once a

month, for his “sexual pleasure.” The official gives Zaman a great deal of cash.

How does Zaman defend his actions?

He says that he gives out one child to pay for the food and necesities of all the others. He has a reasonable point, as he doesn't have any money to pay for those children's needs.

16. What is your reaction to Rahim Khan’s letter to Amir? Should the letter have

been presented to him earlier? Do you feel that Baba was a good man?

After reading the letter, I still think Baba was a good man. Living with a hided son and trying to keep the social view of the family was very hard for him, and he did a lot of social actions to be considered good.  Also, we get to know that Rahim knew what happened to Hassan and he understood it, although he thought Amir acted in the incorrect way.

18. Chapter 25 resolves the action with Sohrab and Amir returning to San Francisco.

Describe Sohrab for the first seven months he is in San Francisco.

He was calm and pretty sad, he doesn't speak much. He didn't seem to be happy at all, maybe he felt he betrayed his friends from the orphanage.

19. What happens as Amir runs the kite for Sohrab?

He shouts "For you, a thousand times over", the same phrase that Hassan said many years before. It gives a perfect end to the story, connecting it with Hassan's duty in the kite tournaments.

20. How is this another full circle?

It is very special, because in the 70s Hassan runned kites for Amir. Now, 30 years later, Amir runs a kite for Hassan's son. Maybe, it could be considered as the final redemption of Amir towards Hassan, as he always felt guilty for what happened with Assef.