Symbolism in The Kite Runner Im bad

Amir and Hassan being brothers  When Amir and Hassan were young, they both fed from the same breast, symbolizing that they were brothers.  This obviously has greater significance later in the story when Amir visits with Rahim Khan.  “Hassan and I fed from the same breasts. We took our first steps on the same lawn in the same yard. And, under the same roof, we spoke our first words.” (11)

Amir’s Move to America  “Baba loved the idea of America.” (125)  Amir’s move to America symbolized his renewed relationship with his father.  They began to do many things with each other, including going to the flea market on every Sunday.

“Rebirth”  In Christian theology, going over or going through water symbolizes a rebirth or transformation.  This rebirth represents the renewed relationship with his father.

Read chapter 17 and 18 page 214  Amir has returned to Pakistan, where he meets Rahim Khan, who is dying. During their conversation he hears about Hassan and his family, and what became of them....and Amir comes to understand the meaning of his friends’ challenge: “There is a way to be good again.”

The Pomegranate Tree  When Amir and Hassan were young, they always went to the pomegranate tree to be alone, and away from the hustle and bustle of Kabul. The tree represented their friendship.

 “Hassan had said in his letter that the pomegranate tree hadn’t borne fruit in years.” (217 and then when he sees it himself 264)  Whenever Amir and Hassan where children, the tree would always bear fruit, symbolizing that their friendship was strong.  But when their friendship faded, the tree died, and it would never bear fruit again, symbolizing that their relationship had also died.

Essay... Using chapter 19  Read or re-read chapter 19 closely and address the following prompt....in about 250 to 400 words!!!  On page 231 Amir says the “I feel like a tourist in my own country.” His driver, Farid, a moment later challenges him, pointing to an elderly Afghani in “ragged clothes trudging down a dirt path, a large burlap pack filled with scrub grass tied to his back.” Farid remarks: “That’s the real Afghanistan, Agha sahib. That’s the Afghanistan I know. You? You’ve always been a tourist here, you just didn’t know it.”  A definite transformation is taking place within Amir, beginning in this and the previous chapter. Using specific examples from the text—imagery, symbols, diction, specific plot elements— explain how Amir is becoming more of a “real Afghani.”  (Note the gifts he gives them and his changing motivations)

Amir’s Scar  Amir’s scar is a symbol of the scar that Hassan had after he had surgery on his harelip.  The scar almost resembles that they were both brothers.  “What was so funny was that for the first time since the winter of 1975, I felt at peace. I laughed because I saw that, in some hidden nook in a corner of my mind, I’d even been looking forward to this.” (289)

David and Goliath Sohrab and Assef   Sohrab’s slingshot is a symbol of the sling that David used to defeat Goliath.   Assef and Goliath are both symbols of evil and fear. Both of them were defeated by the smallest of enemies.   Amir fighting Assef represents the Hebrews failing to defeat Goliath.

 Amir found a strange joy from being beaten up because he had always wanted Hassan to fight him back whenever he insulted him when they were children.  There is a great deal of symbolism in this; “paying for” or “atoning” for one’s own sin...” There is something in each one of us that wishes to “balance the scale;” but this is not true grace.....  “I don’t know how many times I hit him. All I know is that when I finally stopped, exhausted and panting, Hassan was smeared in red like he’d been shot by a firing squad. I fell to my knees, tired, spent, frustrated.” (93)

Kite Flying with Sohrab  “Because when Spring comes, it melts the snow one flake at a time, and maybe I just witnessed the first flake melting.” (371)  Amir running for the kite symbolizes his new beginning.  A kite-bird was used as a prophecy and fate in ancient Egyptian religion; here it represents hope...both for Amir and Sohrab.

 This event shows how Amir’s life is cyclical and how Amir had run kites with Hassan.  Now he is running the kite with Hassan’s offspring and it symbolizes him being reborn, and that his guilt has been taken away. In a sense Amir’s “chasing” Sohrab all the way back to Kabul is also highly symbolic, and may be represented in the title as well.

Book Reduction due Friday  Work today to finish the book and your book reduction. This will greatly help in your final paper, as well as helping you review for the actual AP Lit test in May.  We will be starting a play tomorrow, called The Glass Menagerie. We will probably read the first scene or two, then watch the play in class.