By Sam

 This is a literary device in which an author hints certain plot developments that perhaps will come later on in the story.

 This is the simple repeating of a word, within a sentence or a poetical line, with no particular placement of the words, in order to provide emphasis.

a). Of, relating to, or characterized by cycles. b). Recurring or moving in cycles c). In literature, a cyclical structure is one

 At the beginning and the end of chapter 1 in the novel ‘The Kite Runner’, the quote “And made me what I am today” is repeated. This shows that this quote is significant because it shows the emphasis in which he is proud of his country and he is comfortable with who he is.  “For you a thousand time over” would have to be the most significant quote in the book. We first see it on page 2 of the novel but it reappears throughout the book later on. It shows the loyalty and friendship and it is a quote from Hassan that haunted Amir from the moment he said it, until his adult life. Hassan tells Amir that even though they are different types of Muslims, not family, and classes apart, he will always be there for him. Amir does not show this type of sacrifice towards Hassan at all. It show’s us the relationship between the two main protagonists, Amir and Hassan.

 The idea of being / feeling like a stranger in his own country is also repeated throughout the book, but especially towards the end of the novel. In chapter 18 – 20, Farid is taking Amir to the house to meet the Taliban official, who turns out to be the bully from his childhood, Assef. Amir says, “I feel like a tourist in my own country”. Farid replied, “You still think of this place as your country?” He pointed to an old man wearing ragged clothes trudging down a dirt path... He said “That’s the real Afghanistan... That’s the Afghanistan I know. You? You’ve always been a tourist here, you just didn't know it.” This shows that it wasn’t Afghanistan that changed, but it was Amir that changed after him and Baba left to live in America.

 Hinting at something that might happen later. E.g. Assef’s threat: he will be back. This emphasises the violence that undertones the novel.  Sarah’s prediction: Hassan is going to get taken because he is poorer and weaker. The idea of redemption and unatoned sins will relate to Amir’s life long friend Hassan.  “Because that was the winter that Hassan stopped smiling.” Hassan’s surgery is an unexpected gift for a Pashtun to give a Hazara, it leaves us wondering if there is something more in this relationship and again it foreshadows future events. Amir himself uses foreshadowing and irony when he tells us that the following winter something will happens that makes Hassan stop smiling.

In chapter 22, we reach many “full circles” as we reach the climax of the story. What are these?  Assef pays back Amir – Amir visits the house to see the Taliban official, Amir does this without realising that it is Assef. Assef must of felt that what he did to Hassan as a child wasn’t enough so he took Hassan’s son and sexually abused him. Assef and Amir have a fight which Amir wins and walks out alive with Sohrab.  Amir stands up for something – Amir gets to know Hassan’s son, Sohrab. He loves him like his own and protects him. He fought Assef so he could take Sohrab back to America with him.  Amir gets the punishment he wanted – Amir felt as if he deserved punishment for how he treated Hassan when they were children. He purposely picked on Hassan so he would feel good about himself and tricked Hassan into feeling bad.

 Hassan (in a way) shoots him in the eye – Amir finally stood up for something, which was Hassan’s son, Sohrab. Sohrab, like his father was very good with a slingshot. He shot Assef in the eye with the slingshot to save Amir from Assef. This was like Hassan getting his revenge on Assef for what he did to him when he was a child.  Amir can atone for his sins by saving Sohrab – Amir did a good thing by taking Sohrab back to America with him to live with Amir and his wife, Soraya. By doing this, he makes up for the mistakes he made when he was a child.