Khaled hosseini author style questions

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini is a powerful novel that explores sin, redemption, love, friendship, and suffering. The book is set mostly in Afganistan and the United States. The book also explores the changes in Afganistan from the fall of the Monarchy to the fall of the Taliban. It follows the lives of two best friends as global politics and family drama come together to shape their destiny. The main character, Amir, is forced to leave his home because of the Soviet military invasion. Because of this, the reader is given a glimpse into the Muslim American immigrant experience.

Hosseini considers the story to be the tale of a father and son, though most readers focus on the relationship between the two brothers. An unimaginable childhood trauma will set off a chain reaction of events that will forever change both the boys' lives. Use these discussion questions to lead your book club or literature circle into the depths of The Kite Runner.

Spoiler Warning: These questions may reveal important details about The Kite Runner. Finish the book before reading on.

Literature Circle Questions About The Kite Runner

1. What did The Kite Runner teach you about Afghanistan? About friendship? About forgiveness, redemption, and love?
2. Who suffers the most in The Kite Runner?
3. How does the turmoil between Amir and Hassan mirror the tumultuous history of Afghanistan?
4. Were you surprised to learn about the racial tension between the Pashtuns and Hazaras in Afghanistan? Can you think of any culture in the world without a history of oppression? Why do you think minority groups are oppressed so often?
5. What does the title mean? Do you think the kite running was meant to symbolize anything? If so, what? 
6. Do you think Amir is the only character who feels guilty for their past actions? Do you think Baba had regrets about how he treated his sons? 
7. What did you l

1.    What minority class was Hassan a member of?

2.    What was Hassan’s most noticeable physical characteristic?

3.    What Afghanistan city did Amir and Hassan grow up in?

4.    What one and only sin did Baba think all sins were a variation of?

5.    Who first welcomed the orphaned Ali into Baba and Amir’s home?

6.    According to Amir what things most connected him to his father?

7.    What dream did Hassan share with Amir on the morning of the first kite-flying tournament?

8.    What did Amir do when Assef raped Hassan?

9.    How did Amir compare Hassan’s face when he was raped by Assef?

What gift did Assef give to Amir on his 13 birthday party?

How did Baba die?

How did Ali die?

Who tried to commit suicide by drowning in a bathtub?

When did Amir see his father weep the first time?

How did Amir and his father leave Afghanistan?

Where did Baba work when he came to America?

How did Baba and Amir make extra money?

How did Amir break through Sohrab’s silence?

What year does Amir narrate the story?

How did Amir’s mother die?

What was Amir’s mother’s name?

What was Amir’s mother’s profession?

What key idea concept distinguishes Sunni and Shi’a Islam?

How was Amir and Hassan related?

How did Sanaubar treat Hassan when he was born?

What was Amir’s first word?

What was Hassan’s first word?

How did Amir learn about Hazara history

What was Baba’s opinion of the fundamentally religious?

What did Baba wrestle in Baluchistan?

What did Hosseini compare the arrival of war with?

What did Amir remember about happy times with Hassan?

What is a kite runner?

What is it that worries Baba about Amir?

How was Hassan’s physical deformity fixed?

Why do Baba and

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1. 1

   Could the story of the novel exist without the class difference between Amir and Hassan? Make a case, using specific plot points and historical facts to ground your argument.

2. 2

   Examine the concept of circularity in the novel. What important cycles exist in the characters' lives and histories? How is circularity connected to redemption?

3. 3

   Explore the way in which courage is portrayed in the novel. What constitutes true bravery? What are the key moments when characters are brave and who is the bravest character, if any? Use specific examples from the text to support your argument.

4. 4

   Each character in the novel is shaped not only by his particular circumstances, but by the historical and political events that occur during his life. Consider Sohrab, the only character of his generation; how is he different from the other characters and how are these differences a function of what he has experienced?

5. 5

   Consider the idea of a homeland or "watan." How do you think the novel defines a homeland? Make sure to consider the opinions of Farid and Assef. Also, consider this question in terms of Amir and Sohrab, two characters who leave Afghanistan when they are still growing up.

6. 6

   Even though countless events occur in the novel, the title refers to kite fighting and kite running. What do these activities represent in the novel and why are they so important? To whom or what does the title, "The Kite Runner," refer?

7. 7

   Examine what it means to be American in the novel. How do different characters see America and is there one perspective that comes across most definitively? Some characters you may want to consider: Amir, Baba, General Taheri, Omar Faisal, Farid.

8. 8

   Think about the fathers in the novel. According to the novel, what does it mean to be a father? How can one measure one's success at fathering? Some characters to consider: Baba, Ali, Amir, H