Thursday, October 22, 2015

Literature Is the Question Minus the Answer: October 22, 2015

Focus: What changes at the end of The Kite Runner, and why?

1. Warming up by reading our way into the ending with the following focus on shifts (feel free to use sticky notes or any extra space on your reading journals):

Shift Happens

Find one thing a character says out loud that shows a shift in that character. How has this character changed and why?

Find one thing a character does (an action, a facial expression, etc.) that shows a shift in that character. What kind of change does it indicate?

Find one symbol that has changed somewhat throughout the book. How has it changed? What might that shift signify?

Identify some interesting images on the final two pages of the books. What pattern/tone do they create?

2. Enjoying our final fishbowl discussion on The Kite Runner!

3. Wrapping up: What question does this book pose? What kind of answer does it offer?

HW:
1. If you're catching up with your Kite Runner annotations, please do so tonight.

2. Bring your independent reading book to class tomorrow so you can work on your speech.

3. Want to revise your essay? Come on in for a conference, kids!

141 comments:

  1. In the future, do you think Sohrab will ever open up to Amir and the rest of the world? If the book were to continue, how would Sohrab change as the seasons change?

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    1. I feel he would grow up because just that last part where he finally smiled showed us that he is willing to grow.

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    2. Spring symbolizes the rebirth of the world. The snow melts and the ground grows green again and I think that corresponds with Sohrab and how by the end of spring no snow will be left and the world will return to normal.

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    3. I think Sohrab will eventually open up to the world because at the end of the book when he finally smiled, that could be a little bit of foreshadowing for later on in their life. I also think since Amir ran for the kite, it shows that Amir cares about Soharb.

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  2. pg 371 "Because when spring comes, it melts the snow one flake at a time, and maybe I just witnessed the first flake melting." What is the significance of one snowflake? How long will it take to get Sohrab back to a happy child if it took a whole year for the first snow flake to melt?

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  3. Yes, he was alreadyu starting to open up to him a little bit. On page 371 Amir states "Maybe I just witnessed the first flake melting." A smile doesn't mean a lot but it is a good start.

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    1. Once the first flake starts melting, the rest follow soon after and its gradual. After that smile Amir feels like he's finally getting somewhere. It's like when the cute girl smiles at you and all the sudden your confidence is boosted. Amir got the feeling that he and Sohrab will gradually become friends.

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  4. Page 317 says, "Time does that to you." Has enough time passed for Amir to finally forgive himself?

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    1. I think after saving Sohrab Amir can finally forgive himself

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    2. I think it has because he was able to move on and do things from the past. Like flying the kite with Sohrab.

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    3. I think Amir has done everything he can to make up for what he has done and it has been over 20 years since the incident happened

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    4. I don't think he has entirely forgiven himself but getting Sohrab was a start to letting go of the guilt.

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  5. Does that one smile form sohrab symbolize forgiveness for Amir?

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    1. I think it is the start. It's like meeting a new dog for the first time, you let it sniff your hands and get comfortable with you before you pet it. This is like Amir is holding out his hand and Sohrab is slowing getting closer to accepting him.

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    2. Amir had to learn to forgive himself throughout the entire book at a young age and he hadn't until he was an adult. He then realized that there is a way to be good again and guilt doesn't necessarily have to be static throughout life. I think that Sohrab realizes the same thing when he smiles at Amir.

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    3. I think it does symbolize forgiveness or at least it makes Amir feel like he was forgiven

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    4. I think the author added this to the end to give the reader to ability to make up their own ending. Nobody knows what actually happens but this smile gives the reader hope and allows their imagination to come up with their own happy ending.

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    5. Well I think that if Hassan was also there then he would also smile, I feel if Hassan was added into that scene then that would've been the time where the two of them would've forgave him for everything.

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    6. I think it does because it is the first smile Sohrab has had since they have been in America. He has a state of happiness and a start to recovery from all of of the bad events in Afghanistan.

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    7. The smile shows somewhat of forgiveness. It gives Amir the sense that he can have a close relationship with Sohrab.

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  6. Do you think amir felt like a child again when he flew another kite?

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    1. I think he war remembering his life before guilt and before Afghanistan fell apart. The last time he was running kites was when he and Hassan were kids. Just like Sohrab Amir wants his old life back.

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    2. I feel it brought back the memories of the winter, but it brought back only the good memories like the one with Baba smiling on the rooftop clapping, cheering.

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    3. I feel it brought back the memories of the winter, but it brought back only the good memories like the one with Baba smiling on the rooftop clapping, cheering.

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    4. It brought him back to his days when he flew kites as a child. It provided a way to get away for a little. Amir was reminded of Baba cheering him on, and being proud of him. Having the feeling where you know someone is proud of you is better than any feeling in the world. Especially when it is someone you look up to.

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  7. When Amir is fighting the kite, Sohrab finally acknowledges Amir. Do you think Amir would use kite fighting as a way to connect with Sohrab again?

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    1. Yes because it seems like something they are both interested in it.

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  8. On page 371, "Because when spring comes, the snow melts one flake at a time,..." How do you think this line relates to Amir's life throughout the story?

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    1. It was a slow process to "melt" all of his troubles away and he isn't done but at some time all of it will be gone

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    2. From that winter of 1975 he was in this winter of his own. Progressing through the book a snowflake kept melting when he felt better each day and could live with his past.

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    3. Throughout the book the mood is always gloomy and down. Spring shows the changing of things. It's almost a second life for flowers and such. It is showing that Amir is starting over.

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  9. How do the two kite fighting scenes compare, how are they are different from each other?

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    1. I think the kite fighting at the end and at the beginning show the change in Amir. At the beginning, he was young, selfish and immature but by the time the second time comes around he has dramatically changed.

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    2. In the beginning of the book when Hassan and Amir were fighting the kite together Hassan was devoted to Amir. At the end of the book when Amir was flying the kite with Sohrab Amir mentioned, "For you a thousand times over". This shows the shift in devotion that Amir feels toward Hassan's son.

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  10. Amir asks if Sohrab wants him to run and get the kite he had just cut and when Sohrab slightly nodded and Amir said, "For you, a thousand times over." Why did Amir say that line? Was it intended to reference what Hassan had told Amir many years ago?

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  11. Do you think that sohrab and Amir will ever have a closer relationship?

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    1. I think they will certainly develop into a closer relationship because going back to the slight smile from Sohrab, I think it's foreshadowing how instead of being uncle and nephew, they will develop into a father son relationship.

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    2. I think eventually they will have a father-son relationship because I beleve that Amir has finally forgiven himself

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  12. I think Amir relates to Sohrab as a son because Amir doesn't want Sohrab to have a different parent and he has a good connection with Sohrab and Hassan.

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  13. Will Sohrab ever consider Amir to be his father as he grows and gets older?

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    2. I think he will it just might take a while because they are just now showing a lot of connection since Afghanistan.

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    3. I think it's going to take some serious time but I think there is a chance that it will happen.

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  14. Without looking at specific dates, how old do you think Amir and Hassan are in terms of their thoughts and actions.

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  15. Even if Sohrab accepts Amir, how will he feel about Soraya?

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    1. I think he might accept her easier because she didn't promise him anything and then go back on it like Amir did. She may help to fill the void that Sasa and his own mother left.

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    2. Soraya is such a nice and loving person I don't think it will be hard for Sohrab to warm up to her over time.

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  16. On page 370 when Amir starts to fly the kite with Sohrab. When Amir bought the kite, was it for Amir or was it for Amir's relationship with Sohrab?

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    1. I think that the kite was a remembrance for life before chaos. Amir wanted his life before Hassan got raped and Sohrab wanted his life with Hassan.

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    2. I think he did it because it was an outlet to get Sohrab to open up and be comfortable with Amir

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    3. It was probably a mixture of both as he wanted to remember the good moments from the winter of 1975 but he was also hoping that getting Sohrab into an activity that he loved would help open up their relationship.

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  17. Do you think Amir will ever change his life around later on in the book if the book went on?

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  18. Why do you think Amir can or cannot be considered a hero?

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    1. I think he can be considered a hero in the eyes of Sohrab because he saved him from Afghanistan where he was abused and wrongfully treated.

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    2. I think he can be considered a hero in the eyes of Sohrab because he saved him from Afghanistan where he was abused and wrongfully treated.

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  19. on page 361 amir says " And one more thing, General Sahib," I said. "You will never again refer to him as 'Hazara boy' in my presence. He has a name and it's Sohrab." What does this say about Amir and how he feels towards Sohrab?

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    1. This proves how passionate Amir is about Sohrab. He stood up for him like he was his own son and that is a perfect example of how he will continue to raise him.

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    2. Amir feels very strongly about Sohrab, this is for Sohrab mainly but I also feel if Amir fails to protect and raise Sohrab, all the guilt from the past will come back and ruin him.

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    3. Amir treats Sohrab like he would with Hassan, so Amir will stand up for Sohrab in anything because he cares too much for him.

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  20. As Sohrab was flying the kite, do you think that Amir looked down at him seeing specks of Hassan in his eyes? does this event remind him of what he used to do with Hassan?

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    1. Yes because both Amir and Sohrab want their life with Hassan back.

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  21. On page 370, in the middle of the page, it said, "The green kite hovered directly above us now. "He's going for it. Anytime now," I said, my eyes flicking from Sohrab to our kite. The green kite hesitated. Held position. Then shot down. "Here he comes!" I said." I thought that they banned the kite tournament so is this a flashback or it's happening right now?

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    1. The Taliban banned kite running in Afghanistan. Amir and Sohrab are in America at the time.

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  22. Can Amir truly be considered a hero? If so, why?

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    1. I think he is a Hero because he saved a life, risked his life, and took on the heroes journey

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    2. I think Amir can be considered a hero. I think his hero's journey may have been a little tougher and may have taken many years, but I think he can finally be considered a hero.

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    3. I think so because he did risk his life to save someone. And that makes him a hero. You can't say that and say he isn't a hero!

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  23. " So, Amir jan, you're going to tell us why you have brought back this boy with you?"
    Why does it matter to the general? If he doesn't like him he shouldn't be apart of his life? He doesn't know anything about Sohrab, he has no room to speak. I know its all about what other people think, but there not in Kabul anymore, there in America.

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  24. When do you think the actual turning point for Amir was? Do you think he would have been able to say "you will never again refer to him as 'Hazara boy' in my presence." on page 361 if he never had the fight with Assef, or whatever that turning point may have been?

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    1. I think the turning point was when Amir accepted Sohrab as someone he needs to take care of. When he saves him, he takes the "father figure" role.

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  25. On page 371, Amir says to Sohrab, "For you, a thousand times over." This quote is originally said by Hassan to Amir. Now that Amir is saying it to Sohrab, do you think Amir will share some of Hassan's qualities?

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    1. I think that Amir is trying to be a better person by adopting some traits that Hassan had.

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  26. I think Sorhab will have a good connection with both of them but i think it will just take some time

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    1. I agree that for their relationship to develop it will take time. On page 371 Amir said, "Because when spring comes it melts the snow one flake at a time, and maybe I just witnessed the first flake melting."

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    2. I like that quote, Ian. It really shows what Lizzie was saying in a metaphorical way. I think that he will have a stronger bond with Amir, but will not dislike Soraya.

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  27. Plot twist? hit me with it.

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  28. In those last moments of the book, something very simple but very meaningful happens. I feel like he just goes back to before the incident happens and remembers how great it was and he feel like he's back in that moment.

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    1. I also feel like since Sorhab is Hassan's child in a way Amir is flying a kite with a part of Hassan.

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  29. What do you think is the significance of the line, "For you, a thousand times over.¨ It is found on page 67 and 371.

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    1. I think Amir is trying to give back to Sohrab what Hassan had originally given him when they were children.

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  30. Sohrab is in a better place than Amir or even Hassan was. Sohrab has parents who care, and now Amir is a part of his life too. No matter what he has support.

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  31. I think eventually the more time the spend with Sorhab the more like Hassan he would be and Amir could be a great friend to him.

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    1. I agree, I think Sohrab reminds Amir a lot of Hassan which is why he is trying to get close to him.

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  32. The book set up pretty well that Amir really wanted to have a kid, however, they couldn't. The fact that Sohrab is now sort of a "son" to Amir, do you think Amir has achieved full happiness?

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    1. I think he has hit a turning point where he will 1) try to get close to Sohrab and take care of him, for Hassan, and 2) raise Sohrab like his own. I think maybe he has achieved fully happiness.

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  33. Why doesn't Sohrab speak? Nothing seems to make him happy. Why isn't he happier? Yeah his parents were killed, but he got rescued, he was saved. Now he can start over. Does it have something to do with Amir? Was he scared straight in Kabul and made a promise he wouldn't talk? What truly happened to him in Kabul?

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    1. If your family was just taken away from you, and you are sent to live with some people you barely know, you would feel sad. Be depressed. It would be something you have to get used to. He has had a rough beginning, but it's getting better. Losing your parents is something that impacts children greatly. Especially if you are old enough to know them

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    2. I am not to sure why he is like that, but we see a slight change in his actions when he smiles on page 371.

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  34. Why do you think that Sorhab is in a better place than Amir and hassan? What changed symbolically

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    1. I think that since Amir is a lot more mature now Sorhab will be treated better than Amir treated Hassan.

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  35. Can Amir truly be a father figure to Sohrab? Is he ready for this responsibility? Is Soraya ready? How does Soraya feel about Sohrab not being talkative?

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  36. " It was only a smile, nothing more. It didn't make everything all right. It didn't make anything right. Only a smile. A tiny thing. A leaf in the woods, shaking in the wake of a startled bird's flight.
    But I'll take it. With open arms. Because when spring comes, it melts the snow one flake at a time, and maybe I just witnessed the first flake melting." Page 371. How do you interpret this texts? Is there a deeper meaning?

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  37. Will Amir be the same father figure that Hassan would of wanted?

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    1. I think he will be because him and Hassan were really close so he will give Sohrab good memories of his father.

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  38. I think that Sohrab will be closer to Amir than Soraya because he is the father figure. Once Sohrab realizes that there are finally people he can rely on he will be able to open up more but he did have a rough childhood so it can't necessarily be considered "normal". He has loving parents and that's what matters.

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  39. I think its hard either way when your young losing your parents or older but I do think that it is a lot harder on you when your older because you have all these memories with them and you just remember your parents more and that haunts you I think personally.

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  40. When Sahrob grabbed the kite, do you think it brought back memories from when him and Hassan were together?

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    1. I do, I think since Amir has finally hit a turning point, that it felt like when he was a kid when Sohrab grabbed the kite.

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  41. In every heroes journey, something tragic happens. For Sohrab, both his parents died. What does his journey contain? Is he going to overcome this non-talking phase? Is this part of his journey? What will he become?

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    1. If you think to "The Lion King," when the dad died, Simba went away, he didn't take over when he should have, he didn't really talk to anyone, until the monkey thing said something to him. It still took a while for Simba to make that progress, because he had witnessed a tragedy of his father dying, and of course he was sad. I think the same goes for Sohrab. He needs to get through this part of his own journey before he can move on. I think he is going to overcome it. I think he has potential to be a great person and have qualities of both Hassan and Amir.

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  42. "soraya had told me about the things she was planning for Sohrab..." (362)
    How do you think this is affecting soraya? Do you think she wishes Amir didn't bring him to America? Do you think that she wishes Sohrab was different?

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  43. When Amir said, "unaware that almost a year would pass before I would hear Sohrab speak another word.” At this point in the reading did you think that Sohrab was going to deny going back to America with Amir because he broke his promise or did you think something else?

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    1. I didn't expect Sohrab to go with Amir back to America so I was surprised when he did even after Amir had broken his promises.

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  44. "I had been the entitled half, the society-approved half, legitimate half, the unwilling embodiment of Baba's guilt." (359) Hassan and Amir were the two separate sides of Baba, the selfless side and the selfish side. Amir feels like because he was the legitimate half, Baba's actions, whether good or bad, fell onto his shoulders rather than Hassans. Hassan did not have to deal with any of Baba's transgressions.

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    1. I agree, I think that is most of the reason that Amir grew up to be the person he was.

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  45. I loved when the inner circle asked "Do you think Sohrab is going to be troubled like Amir was as a kid?". I honestly have no idea what the future holds for the both of them. Sohrab has neither parent, but Amir took him in. I hope Amir thinks about how hard his life was because of his bad decisions. If Amir makes himself the one that he can talk to and trust, he will be better off, but if he goes back to his selfish ways Sohrab will have a very tough childhood.

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    1. Because Amir has finally begun to accept his past he is much happier and much more capable of moving on. Amir and Soraya care for Sohrab SO much. Sohrab is in the best place that he could considering his past. Amir and Soraya will raise him like their own and show him the love he deserves.

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  46. Do you think Amir will raise Sorhab like Babe raised him?

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    1. I think that Amir will take things from Hassan and Baba so he can help Sohrab be the best person he can be.

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  47. Will Sohrab ever learn of the horrible events that happened to Hassan?

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    1. I think he has to one way or another because it was such a big part of Hassan and Amirs childhood.

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  48. "I felt a presence next to me and looked down. It was Sohrab. Hands dug deep in the pockets of his raincoat. He had followed me." page 368
    The Kite Fighting had changed. Not the game but the feelings. After the winter of 1975 Amir realized that the kite wasn't really worth it. Now it's a good thing again. It broke a relationship, but now its mending one.

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  49. What is one positive to come from what happened to Amir and Sohrab in that room with Assef?

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    1. Amir finally got what he felt he deserved.

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    2. I think this started their bond and relationship

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  50. ¨ The last time I had felt a rush like this was that day in the winter of 1975¨ Pg 370
    I feel as earlier in the book, Amir could not think of that moment without feeling the guilt of leaving Hassan, but know it seems that he has finally forgot about that moment, and is looking at the good thing that happened that day.

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  51. Why do you think that Sohrab went to such extreme measures to not have to go back to an orphanage?

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    1. I think that Sohrab didn't want to go back to an orphanage because every day when he would wake up it would be a constant reminder that both of his parents were murdered. Another reason could be that he is a Hazara and could be treated poorly in the orphanage.

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  52. What role did social class have on the raising of Hassan and Amir?

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  53. Amir deserved a second chance and he is doing the best that he can with the chance he received.

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  55. I think that everyone deserves a second chance and second chances are given out daily and ya I think Amir should have the opportunity to make and have second chance because he was young and scared and lied and couldn't deal with the guilt so he left which was the easy way to not face this and over the years he may have changed and matured so he should have the second opportunity to prove.

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  56. I feel like on some occasions people deserve second chances, it really depends on if the person is truly committed to change

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    1. I think it depends on the situation more than it depends on a person.

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  57. I do think Amir deserved the second chance to be good again, everyone deserves a second chance and he understands what he did wrong and he knows it wasn't good

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    1. I agree because it is obvious to the reader that he is changing, but the author is making so hard for us to truly trust Amir.

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  58. I think this story follows the hero's journey, but there are multiple things that do not usually occur in other journeys.

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    2. I think it is a perfect example of the hero's journey. One part that definitely stuck out as hero's journey is when Amir was at his lowest point in life. There is always a part in movies where something happens that puts the protagonist(s) in a dark place in life. Something usually happens at the end to cheer them up again. That "thing" is Sohrab in this book

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    4. I think it follows the hero's journey as well, but every journey is different and I think this one just took longer at certain moments and events.

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  59. If you were to compare the Amir to superman or any hero, how would you compare

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    1. I compared it to The Lion King? Just how the death affects him and how it took him a while to go the path he wanted to go/was supposed to go.

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  60. When talking about the Hero´s journey, we usually placed Amir as the hero. But unlike all the other heroes we talked about, they had a tragic event that they could not control. WIth Amir, he chose not to help, therefore he could have controlled what had happened. Knowing that, is Amir really a hero?

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    1. yes i think so because most heroes have to overcome something and he overcame the guilt, while learning from it.

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    2. Yes. I believe even if he went and helped Hassan would have the same thing happen to him. When Amir got to the alley way he saw Assef and if he went to help the same would have probably happened to him.

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  61. "Then i remember i haven't prayed for over 15 years." page 345. Why do you think he has never prayed? You would think with all thats happened and how much he has regretted, he would have prayed before?

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    1. I think a lot of it has to do with how he blamed himself. He tried to forget everything, not accept it and move on. He felt enormous guilt. And then later on, he finally mentioned that he didn't want to forget anymore.

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  62. Is Amir going to be a father figure to Sohrab or will someone else take care of him

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  63. For the books title "The Kite Runner" who do you think the kite runner is Amir or Hassan?

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