1. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini HASSAN
Zoe Alexander

2. Who is Hassan? Hassan is: Amir’s best friend and half brother
Baba’s servant
A loyal friend to Amir
Brave, selfless and intelligent
A poor Hazara
A victim of racism
Not present in a significant proportion of the novel

3. Hassan’s Role in the Story
Hassan learns that his duty in life is to sacrifice himself for others
Hassan comes across as a representation of innocence
Hassan’s innocence gives Amir no justifiable reason to betray his friend

4. Hassan’s Relationship with Amir
Hassan and Amir are:
Practically brothers
Best friends

5. Hassan’s Relationship Baba and Ali
Hassan has close relationships with both men
Hassan feels that he can tell Ali anything
On his birthday, Hassan always receives a big, expensive present from Baba for a seemingly unknown reason
Baba forgives Hassan automatically

6. Hassan’s Impact on the Story
Hassan has changed Amir for ever
Hassan was someone Amir could hide behind when they were younger
At the end of the story Amir feels the need to pay Hassan back for the kindness

7. Key Quotations for Hassan
“Amir agha and I are friends,” Hassan said. – Hassan (Chapter 7)
  “For you a thousand times over!” he said. Then he smiled his Hassan smile and disappeared around the corner. The next time I saw him smile like that was twenty-six years later, in a faded Polaroid photograph. – Amir and Hassan (Chapter 7)
He knew I’d seen everything in that alley, that I’d stood there and done nothing. He knew I had betrayed him and yet he was rescuing me once again, maybe for the last time. – Amir (Chapter 9)