1. Approaching the violence of Chapter 7 of The Kite Runner; either writing about or discussing Chapter 7 while keeping the following in mind:
“Violence is one of the most personal and even intimate acts between human beings, but it can also be cultural and societal in its implications. It can be symbolic, thematic, biblical, Shakespearean…Violence in real life just is. If someone punches you in the nose in a supermarket parking lot, it’s simply aggression…Violence in literature, though, while it is literal, is usually also something else. That same punch in the nose may be a metaphor.” --Foster, How to Read Literature Like a Professor
- What were the most upsetting parts of reading Chapters 7 and 8?
- How do you feel about Amir right now?
- What questions do you want to ask the author about this scene?
- What might the violence in Chapter 7 represent on a larger scale? Think about the world of Afghanistan and how it's starting to change in these chapters.
- What other stories does this scene of violence make you think of? Can those connections help you understand the nature of the rape in Chapter 7?
- Why this sort of violence and not some other? For example, why not just have Assef beat up Hassan?
- Wondering what the author has to say about this convtroversial scene?
2. Exploring the symbolism of the kite and kite running on the white boards
Find three different quotations about kites and kite running; try to spread these passages out, finding one quotation from one of the first few chapters, one from the middle chapters, and one from the chapters you've just read.
With your partner, read your passages aloud and discuss the following:
- In each quotation, which specific words and images stand out and why?
- What might the kite symbolize in each quotation?
- Is the meaning of the kite changing? If so, how?
3. Overviewing and setting up our fishbowl discussions for The Kite Runner
HW:
1. For TOMORROW:
2. Remember that this Friday marks the end of the first 6 weeks; all make-up work, revisions, grade corrections, and re-taken quizzes are due this Friday.
1. For TOMORROW:
- Complete any two IXL lessons on NOUNS (Level J suggested).
- Bring your independent reading book to class.
- Bring your Kite Runner journals / annotations to class.
2. Remember that this Friday marks the end of the first 6 weeks; all make-up work, revisions, grade corrections, and re-taken quizzes are due this Friday.
What gave the author the idea of writing this scene? As a writer myself, I know that writing comes best when it comes from emotional experience. No tears for the writer, no tears for the reader. What part of Hosseini’s life made him connect to this scene so deeply?
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ReplyDeleteAmir didn’t have to run up to them and try to get them to stop, but he at least could’ve told somebody about the incident, and got the kids involved in trouble and brought justice to Hassan.
ReplyDeleteI have no respect for Amir after he did that to his friend, all Amir cared about was looking good for his father and the kite and did not care about Hassan, if it were me in Amir's shoes I would have handled that situation a lot better and I would have saved my friend. I would never let such a terrible thing happen to somebody that I love I would do anything to save them even if it requires me getting hurt.
ReplyDeleteI understand why Amir ran away, it is a very scary situation to come across. However, I do think that it was very wrong of him to not go find help and to put a kite over someone who he thinks of as a brother. I definitely was angered by how he simply turned a blind eye instead of making some effort to make the situation better.
DeleteI really hate Amir fr, he didn’t help Hassan at all instead he just stood there and watched. And then he ran away. He should've stepped in to help even though he would've gotten beat up too.
ReplyDeleteI'm honestly mad that Amir was such a coward in that situation especially because Hassan would’ve jumped in if the same thing was happening to Amir.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, I think that Amir is also a coward.
DeleteThe most upsetting parts of reading chapter 7 was the fact that Amir didn’t help his friend Hassan, who got in this situation to do something for Amir.
ReplyDeleteWhat were Kamal and Wali's reactions to what Assef did to Hassan?
ReplyDeleteAssef is an obvious sociopath, he believes in many values that Hitler once believed. Even his friends were cautious of what he wanted to do to Hassan. Many people in real life like Assef are extremely manipulative, and he was able to convince his friends that what he did wasn’t wrong.
ReplyDeleteWhy would you want to watch your friend getting beat up and do nothing.
ReplyDeleteWhy won't Amir actually talk to Hassan and tell him the truth that he saw everything that happened? Why is Amir acting so rude towards him?
ReplyDeleteI think Amir is embarrassed to be so close to Hassan because his peers have negative views towards Hassan so Amir believes that just because his peers don't like his friend, he can't either. I also think Amir feels all powerful because Baba is giving him more attention then Hassan for the first time ever.
DeleteI agree with this because after what happened, he should have comforted and been there for him. He didn't have to ignore him, which makes Hassan feel worse.
DeleteI’m I’m wondering about his as well. Maybe Amir is just scared that people will be angry with him for not helping Hassan
DeleteI think the violence in afghanistan shows how divided it is over there and how pashtun think they're the better religion or whatever it's called than hazara.
ReplyDeleteblue kite flying away
ReplyDeleteAs I was reading I kept getting mad at Amir and was screaming at my book when he was treating Hassan kinda like dirt after what had happened.
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DeleteI think that the reason he was treating him like that is because he was embarrassed about what had happened.
DeleteAmir is a coward and I can't believe that he allowed that to happen to his friend. I still can't process the thought of him just peeking around the corner all scared and afraid, then running. Never once telling anyone to try to help him.
ReplyDeleteSociety seemed to have shaped his views on those different from him. Asef especially shaped how he thought through fear and his strong opinions. Amir is scared enough of Asef that he will begin to believe everything he hears just because he doesn’t want to get hurt. I feel like it’s more of the same when it comes to Asef’s friends and they only stick around because they are scared of what he might do.
ReplyDeleteMy question for the Author is, Did Amir think of Hassan as his equal? I ask this because it mentions at various part throughout the book that Amir only hung out with Hassan if others were not around. Also, it says that they each considered the other as their friend so which is it, equal or not equal?
ReplyDeleteI think that Amir is very insecure and cares what others think of him. He might be friends with Hassan while others are not around, but when they are around he is hesitant.
DeleteIf you were in Amirs shoes, how would you treat Hassan? What would you do differently when you find Hassan in the alleyway?
ReplyDeleteThis probably makes me sound like a bad person for saying this but I probably would have done the same thing Amir did in the alley. However, I wouldn't treat Hassan the same way Amir did after I would actually try to be so much nicer to him and I would fess up about what happened in the aly to some type of adult.
DeleteI would run to get help as soon as it started happening. I would try to be there for Hassan afterwards as well, after everything Hassan has done for Amir, he should at least be there for him.
DeleteThat would defiantly be a tough situation to be in, but I definitely would have jumped in and defended my friend. I defiantly feel very strongly about this subject because I have two friends who were raped and one had a defendant there. However the other was alone and this person definitely wished there would have been someone there to stand up for them.
DeleteOverall doing anything is better than nothing.
I think that Amir dosnt have a reason to be mean to Hassan after what happened.
ReplyDeleteDo you think Hassan knew Amir was watching?
ReplyDeleteI think he dose and that's why he's so upset
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ReplyDeleteRape is very traumatic and degrading. Sure being beat up is not great either, but there is something about rape that stays with you for the rest of your life.
I think that's the reason that Assef did it to Hassan.
Delete"Then a smile played on my father's lips. He opened his arms. I put the kite down and walked into his thick hairy arms."
ReplyDeleteI don't understand how Amir could act like he hadn't just watched his childhood "brother" get raped.
DeleteWas this violent action used to show the difference between the two ethnic groups?
ReplyDeleteYes, I think that it shows how one race believes it is a superior race.
DeleteMy question for the author is, why does Amir treat Hassan as an equal sometimes but then other times he hurts him and asks him to eat dirt?
ReplyDeleteI think that Amir only treats Hassan as an equal when it's convenient and beneficial for him.
DeleteI think Amir thinks it will make him fit in better, and maybe he is also doing it to hide the fact that he saw everything that happened.
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ReplyDeleteDoes Assef have a hard home life? If so, does he use those emotions to harm others?
I think he does have a hard life because his mom is German so kids probably make fun of him for being different. His dad also seems like a scary figure because he some sort of Air Force officer so maybe he gives Hassan a hard time.
DeleteI think his mom is being abused by his dad at home, so he thinks it's okay to treat others like that because that's what he grew up with.
DeleteEven if Assef had a hard home life, that doesn't't give him the right do do something so hurtful to another person. Even if Hassan was a peasant.
DeleteI have a lot of anger towards Amir because he tried to come up with any excuse as to why he didn’t help Hassan and all of them were very selfish. The way his father thought about him was more important than Hassan.
ReplyDeleteI agree with that, it's bad enough that he ran but it makes it worse that he kept trying to make excuses to defend himself.
DeleteI agree, Amir didn't do anything to try and help because he was scared and a coward. Maybe since this was something so degrading and how Hassan doesn't know that Amir saw what had happened to him maybe he is sparing him the embarrassment. But still he could tell someone about what had happened, like a trusted adult, because no one should get away with something like this.
DeleteI completely agree with you.
DeleteFor me personally the most upsetting parts of chapters 7 and 8 aren’t particularly the rape it’s the way Amir treated Hassan and how he wouldn't stand up for his friend who had stood up for him so many times before.
ReplyDeleteI agree, I feel like it was just as horrible.
DeleteI agree, especially when Amir started throwing things at Hassan and started yelling at him.
DeleteAfter Hassan had been beaten and raped, Amir looked at the kite to make sure it was in good shape. He's no friend, he is just treating Hassan like a servant.
DeleteAmir is scared and treats hassad very poorly.
ReplyDeletefacts bro because he just stood there and watched his friend get beat up
DeleteAfter what happened, I'm really starting to hate Amir. The least he could've done it alert someone about what was happening. Assef even said it “But before you sacrifice yourself for him, think about this; would he do the same for you?....Because to him you’re and ugly pet.”
ReplyDeleteThis scene of violence makes me want to ask the author, what punishment will Assef receive for this, is it just? If he doesn't receive any punishment why? I was also wondering what if something like this happened to Assef in his own past to, maybe not too long ago. Is this why he thinks its okay to do something like this.
ReplyDeleteI think Assef maybe got abused or something along the lines of that in his past, and that's why he acts the way he does.
DeleteI think that Assef might end up feeling guilty. I believe Amir will make up for it by putting in effort to change the way Assef views people different from him. The affect will be less of a punishment and more of a change of heart.
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DeleteI think that Assef will end up not getting punished for this just because of the way Assef appeals to adults, however I think that Amir will start to stand up for himself and other more after what has happened
DeleteI think Assef won’t be punished because at Amir’s birthday party his parents seemed very scared of him.
DeleteWhat is up?
ReplyDeleteThis guy Assef is just plain crazy. He isn't just any average bully. I think he might've had a traumatizing experience as a younger kid to turn out so terrible.
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DeleteI am a little upset that he ran away from the situation and didn't try to help it at all, but personally what pushed me over the edge is that he tried to make excuses to make him feel better about what he was doing and how he treated Hassan after the incident.
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ReplyDeleteI think Assef's mom is being abused by his dad at home, so he thinks it's okay to treat others like that because that's what he grew up with.