1. Warming up: Figuring out the first step of the hero's journey
What is the hero's journey?
- Some critics believe that there exists a “collective unconscious,” or inner thoughts, feelings, instincts, and memories that reside in the unconsciousness of all people.
- The hero’s journey ties into this, as heroes across all times and cultures share certain traits and experiences.
2. Viewing two examples of the first step of the hero's journey:
As you watch, please respond to the following questions in your notes:
Which characters appear to be following this heroic pattern in The Kite Runner? How so?
How has the separation (physical or emotional) affected these characters’ self-perception, behavior, and motivation? Please include at least one specific passage from the novel to support your response.
3. Entering Fishbowl #3: Chapters 11 and 12 of The Kite Runner
HW:
1. Study for tomorrow's vocabulary quiz (Chs. 1-6). We will review at the beginning of class.
2. Bring your independent reading book and/or The Kite Runner for independent reading time. If I have not yet checked your annotations, I will be doing so tomorrow.
3. We will be reading Chapter 13 on Friday and Monday, then we will fishbowl Chapters 14, 15, and 16 on Tuesday (those three chapters put together are only 23 pages long).
Could Amir ever have a conversation with Soraya about what happened to Hassan?
ReplyDeleteI think he will but it will take time to do that because Amir has tried to hide that for most of his life.
DeleteI think yes because now that he is a grown up I believe that he can now talk to her about it. It was different earlier because he was so much younger than he is now.
DeleteI don't think that Amir ever wants to have that conversation with Soraya because she could think differently of him and Amir is trying to get rid of that event from his head anyways.
DeleteI think if they build a really strong relationship, and finally Amir could get it off his chest.
DeleteWhy does baba not want food stamps and takes pride in getting ride of them?(pg131)
ReplyDeleteIn response to Nick's question, I think he may be embarrassed by the fact he needs help and wants to do it on his own. He doesn't take pride in having to be helped so that may be a reason
DeleteI think that Baba is too independent for anyone but him to provide for his family.
DeleteBaba mentions that he has Afghan pride and doesn't want to take free money from the government, in my opinion its a reasonable move to not rely on anyone but yourself.
DeleteI assume that even though Baba wasn't in Afghanistan anymore he still felt like he needed to carry on his appearance in America as an honorable, rich gentlemen.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI would agree with this because Baba has too much pride to get his cancer cured so he does not like to get helped by people
DeleteOn page 130 on the top it says "one last gift for Amir". What does this symbolize or foreshadow for the future of Amir and the others?
ReplyDeleteI believe this shows Baba will probably be dying soon, since it is written in past tense, Amir will have known
DeleteIt's clear that Baba is going to die soon so this is Baba's last action to try to amend his relationship with Amir.
DeleteOn page 142 Baba says, "It may be unfair, but what happens in a few days,sometimes even a single day, can change the course of a whole lifetime, Amir" I directly relate this to Amir because Amir has gotten one of these days and it is interesting to here Baba say this.
ReplyDeleteI think this also symbolizes that Amir can change for the better and do the right thing that he should have done about Hassan all those years ago.
DeleteI do not think he could because he is already going through a har enough time with Baba and getting over Soraya and her former boyfriend. I think it would bring the bad out of Amir
ReplyDeleteWhy does Baba not want Amir to tell anyone about the cancer?
ReplyDeleteBaba doesn't want to have the pity of anyone because he has always been the strong one, the one that doesn't need anyone but himself. I think Baba is actually scared, not for his life, but his reputation of being strong.
DeleteI think because he doesn't want people to feel bad and it's not their fault so why should they pity him
DeleteAlso on page 157 Baba says "I don't want anybody's sympathy." SO that is another reason why
Delete"A pair of steel hands closed around my windpipe at the sound of Hassan's name. I rolled down the window. Waited for the steel hands to loosen their grip"(page 134). Years later Amir still has death-like fear of coming face to face with what happened to Hassan. Will he ever meet up with him and try to make things right or is he always going to act like a child and run from his fears?
ReplyDeleteI think he will try to make things right because if you refer back to page 2 when it says "there is a way to be good again" I think this is foreshadowing and I think Amir will try and make things right.
DeleteI don't think Baba and Amir are not communicating with Hassan because there's no way to communicate with Hassan, but they also miss Hassan after him and Ali left the house.
ReplyDeleteWhy doesn't Baba want Amir to be a writer?
ReplyDeleteBecause Amir tells Baba himself that he has to get discovered first to become a successful writer, and only some writers become discovered. Baba just wants Amir to have a sure-thing job, like a Doctor or a Lawyer
DeleteI feel it mainly has to do with them moving to America and Baba wants to feel more pride in his son before he dies.
DeleteThe business man within Baba doesn't see how writing will make Amir any money, given that the career is based on chance, and the education may not pay itself off
DeleteBaba wants Amir to be something that aspires more to his own interests and strong suits. But I think at this point that Baba has accepted that Amir is doing what he loves
DeleteI don't think Baba and Amir are not communicating with Hassan because there's no way to communicate with Hassan, but they also miss Hassan after him and Ali left the house.
ReplyDeleteI liked in Chapter 12 how Hosseini is subliminally talking about his book when he says, "I could feel the pulsating beat of my heart behind my eyes. 'It's a sad story.' 'Sad stories make good books.'"(Hosseini pg. 147). Do you think that Hosseini is just affirming us that even though we might be mad at this book, that it does get better?
ReplyDeleteHow well does Amir know Soraya? I feel like not a lot of interaction has occurred between them. Is it strange that they are going to be married? (page 165)
ReplyDeleteWell they have been talking every Sunday for almost the whole Summer, and in the Afghan culture, the dad just has to like you for them to be married. They are actually lucky in this case because they really like each other. Amir is totally in love with her, and when Soroya is on the phone on page 165, she starts crying, in a good way, when Amir says he wants to marry her.
Delete"I envied her. Her secret was out. Spoken. Dealt with. I opened my mouth and almost told her how I'd betrayed Hassan, lied, driven him out, and destroyed a forty-year relationship between Baba and Ali." (pg. 165) This shows that Amir is comfortable with Soraya because he isn't comfortable sharing that with most people but he feels close enough to her that he can.
DeleteIf Baba dies, do you think that Amir will live life a different way because he wont be under the constant pressure of Baba? (pg 153)
ReplyDeleteI think that Amir might not feel as much guilt when becoming a writer because he doesn't need Baba's approval once he's gone. However, Amir will probably feel like he needs to carry on in Baba's path to insure the image of his family.
DeleteIf Baba dies it might help Amir forget about what happened in Afghanistan and it might possibly make Amir want to make things good again.
DeleteIf Baba dies it might help Amir forget about what happened in Afghanistan and it might possibly make Amir want to make things good again.
DeleteSince we are connecting the super heroes and the loss of their parents do you guys think that Baba is going to die and Amir is going to make good out of it?
ReplyDeleteYes I do believe that if Baba dies then Amir will continue to strive in his classes and become a very successful writer.
DeleteI agree with Matt, and added that he will rely on people like Soraya, General Taheri, and others in his community
DeleteHow has the transformation from Afghanistan to America changed Baba and Amir's life? Baba has met a girl, but they were living on welfare for a little bit. Which place is a better place for them to live?
ReplyDeleteI believe Afghanistan was better, but given the amount of violence happening in the country, it was safer and more fulfilling to move to America and make a new life their, rather than live in harms way.
DeleteI think America is because it brought Amir and Baba closer together and helped build there relationship together that they never could in Afghanistan.
DeleteI think it has effected Amir's life a lot because he is now accepting the fact that he has to live the life that he has and not what he wants.
DeleteI feel Baba and Amir's life switches because Baba becomes a wreck for some time while Amir has to take care of him and give him hope.
DeleteSince America is a lot less dangerous at the time that the story takes place I believe America is better for their safety. In Afghanistan at the time there were wars going on with Russia trying to invade and take over so it would be safer for them to be in America. At the same time they had a better life with luxurious things back in Afghanistan.
DeleteI think now that they live in America they have a better lifestyle because Amir is in school doing very well and in Afghanistan I don't really think that Amir would be in college at all.
DeleteI agree with Dwason
DeleteWould Baba really rather die with his pride rather than get treated? Will he ever accept Amir as his son before he dies?
ReplyDeleteI believe he realizes that there is no way to save him from the cancer, just prolong his life, so he doesn't think treatment is worth the money he doesn't have, if there is no way to cure him
DeleteI feel like since coming America, Baba has accepted Amir. Baba knows that he must die eventually and he doesn't want to prolong the suffering.
DeleteIs Baba his real name??
ReplyDeleteI think Amir would be very upset that Baba dies because he was a large part of his life. But I also believe that Baba's death could help him forget about the event with Hassan. So this event may end up being a tragedy but it could help him get out of his "low."
ReplyDeleteI disagree I think if Baba dies then it may remind about Hassan and he will feel very alone and useless
DeleteIn my opinion, Baba and Amir are much closer. Baba gave Amir a truck, and Baba has been working hard to support Amir and their family. The loss of Baba is going to be hard for Amir.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Andre because throughout the entire book Amir has loved his father and all he wanted was his father to be proud of him and now since he is proud of him he will feel very sorrow for Baba when he dies.
Delete"He hung up. We looked at each other. I burst into giggles. Baba joined in."(page 162). It seems as if Baba enjoys the idea of Amir taking interest in a girl. Baba has always had a hard personality to impress but with this girl that Amir has taken a liking too, he seems happy, almost as if this is what he needed for Amir.
ReplyDeleteBaba probably thinks that when he dies nobody will be left to take care of Amir and show him how to be, in Baba's eyes, a "proper" man. I'm inferring that Baba thinks the general could be somewhat of a guidance figure for Amir once Baba dies.
DeleteDo you guys think lung cancer symbolizes something to Amir? If so what would it be?
ReplyDeleteYes I believe it symbolizes the enemy such as the robber in batman, or the big mean fish in Nemo, this is kind of the enemy of Baba that may or may not kill him.
DeleteI think lung cancer symbolizes the now for Amir. Now that Amir has been accepting the truth and is now living his life because Baba has lung cancer.
DeleteOn page 134, it says, "I think I'll major in English, I said. I winced inside, waiting for his reply." Then Baba said, "He took a deep breath and sipped his tea. Grunted something about medical school, law school, and "real work." So my question is, does Baba not want Amir to major in English and just want him to major in something else?
ReplyDeleteI forget what page it was on but somewhere it said that Baba wanted him to be able to support his family and for them to have a good upbringing so he wants him to find a major that he can get a job and earn more money because Writers are either big or they really aren't and don't do much with what they have.
DeleteHow do you think Baba's death will effect Amir?
ReplyDeleteI think Babas death will make Amir a lot less selfish and he will realize all of the things that he has done wrong in life and try to make up for them.
DeleteI think it will lift so much stress off of Amir's life because he will not have to be impressing him all the time
DeleteI think Baba maybe feels disappointed in himself because he hasn't been as much as a father figure as good as he could've so maybe that's why he's saying he doesn't want any treatment.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this because usually i feel like when people do die and they know it they start to open up to there mistakes and they start to reveal their mistakes.
DeleteI never thought of it like that, but I agree with Korbin because this explains why Baba is very inerested in Amir's life.
DeleteWould Baba have accepted chemo therapy is Hassan and Ali still lived with them because he'd want to take as much time as he could to spend with them? Or could Ali possibly have talked him into it? Or would nothing be different with Baba's decision to let the cancer continue at the same pace?
ReplyDeleteI was wondering the same thing. Does Baba think he doesn't have much to live for after the loss of his wife, Ali, Hassan, and his country?
DeleteI agree with Ethan, part of why Amir went to America was to forget about what had happened in Afghanistan, and what happened to Amir.
ReplyDeleteJust because of the writing style that the book has had, I have a feeling that Amir will say something about his secret to Baba on his deathbed as he his dying. It would happen a lot like the quote from page 2, where Hosseini says, "There is a way to be good again". The secret reveal could happen in that fashion.
ReplyDeleteI think Amir just doesn't understand that he was 11 years old during that situation so he's putting all of that on himself for no reason. I think eventually he will have to talk about it otherwise it's going to mess up his career.
ReplyDeleteWhat will Amir do if Baba does die? Who will he leave with?
ReplyDeleteDo you think that Amir is will be/is a good boyfriend/husband? (think about his past)
ReplyDeleteI feel that he will be a good match with someone because after discussing heroe's journey all of those who lost their parents became amazing individuals.
DeleteI think that he might be a good boyfriend/ husband but I do think that he might not know what exactly to expect to happen. In the book Soraya said "I don't want us to start with secrets" She told Amir her secret but Amir still feels ashamed so he still has this big secret he is walking around with this big lie.
DeleteI think he would be a good husband and an even better father, because he knows how important a father figure is in a child's life
DeleteThat is why i asked this Abby, because he can lie to someones face, about something so serious just at the age of 12. Fear didnt keep him from telling hassan. What is there to be scared of? Moving to America has kept his mind away from such things, but A good relationship includes communication, not running away from arguments ect.
DeleteThroughout the last few chapters the author has been giving small hints that Baba isn't going to live much longer. How would that affect Amir?
ReplyDeleteBecause Baba hasn't really been there for Amir as a father figure, I believe that his death will not really affect Amir all too much.
DeleteAmir is used to having things handed to him, hes a loser.
DeleteI think that it will make Amir grow up really fast.
DeleteI think that Amir can see that Baba is not going to make it much longer. I think that he also kinda is like why did I put Baba though this. Do you think that Amir carries around guilt about Baba and feel like he hasn't done enough for Baba?
DeleteI think Amir will try to go on his own and get through it for Baba. Granted their relationship isn't a very loving one and they don't show much affection, but I think he will try his best for Baba because in the back of his head he is always trying to get his approval.
DeleteI don't think Baba will ever redeem himself with his son. Amir and Baba are at a point of no return.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, but I feel like there is a slim chance that him and Baba will become tight again before Baba dies. In order for it to happen Amir will need to move on from his past first which does not happen. This is best exclaimed on page 1 when it said, "Looking back now, I realize I have been peeking into that deserted alley for the last twenty-six years"(1). It clearly states how Amir as not moved on from what he saw and did nothing in the alley.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDo you believe that people should get 2nd chances?
ReplyDeleteI think it depends on who the person is and what they mean to you. People only give second chances to people who matter to them. If they drop you after one mistake no matter big or small, you didnt mean much to them.
DeleteAbsolutely, but only if they realize what they did is wrong and is sorry for it. If you ask me, right now, Amir doesn't deserve a 2nd chance because he never apologized or tried to make anything right, he only made it worse.
DeleteI do think that people should get second chances but in Amir's case I think he already had his. Back when he ways in Afghanistan he had so many chances to either ask Hassan for forgiveness or tell someone what he had done. So no I do not think Amir should get another chance to get rid of this guilt.
DeleteI think that it depends on what the person did if you get a second chance or not. Also I think that you have seen both sides of the person and you need to know that they will try do something different and that won't happen again. If they do the same thing again then they should see that you are not someone that you can always take advantage of.
DeleteI think most people should get a second chance. But they have to learn from what they did wrong and change. And know that it not acceptable and really be different about how they go about things.
DeleteI think most people should get a second chance. But they have to learn from what they did wrong and change. And know that it not acceptable and really be different about how they go about things.
DeleteI think he will have the opportunity to redeem him self with Hassan but he won't take that opportunity.
ReplyDeleteI agree, but the way that everything is going and with multiple foreshadowing factors they will most likely cross paths in adulthood. When they do it will be very harsh but end peacefully.
DeleteI think baba will try to redeem him self with his son, but then at the same time, Amir will not accept it
ReplyDeletewhat would one think about how the author picked America for where they moved?
ReplyDeleteI feel like Amir as every day passes he feels more and more guilty about what he did but he doesn't ever think about a real way to fix it. And that is hurting him even more.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Riley. If Amir is able to quit blaming himself and leave this burden behind, then he will be able to be more comfortable with himself.
DeleteThe author makes it very clear that Amir has many issues, even though he is a young child. He has been haunted by the death of his mother and he believes it was his fault. He needs to be able to accept that the death of his mother is in no way his fault and once he does then he will be able to be more comfortable in his own skin.
ReplyDeleteAmirs relationship with baba is sort of odd. they get along and respect each other but there is definitely a tension between them because of their differences
ReplyDeleteI feel like because Baba is obviously older, he feels he should always be right. That is how most parents are in the real world. I think Baba needs to listen to Amir a bit more and see his perspective.
DeleteSince they have nothing in common it makes it very difficult for them to have a normal relationship.
Delete¨Thank you but I don´t want, Baba Said. I work always. In Afghanistan I work, in America I work Thank you very much, Mrs. Dobbins, but I don't like it free money.¨ 130
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think that quote says about Baba´s personality?
The problem with Hassan that Amir has will never be solved. I believe that they will meet again and Hassan will still be nice and possibly forgive him. This will drive Amir crazy because he demands a punishment.
ReplyDeleteAmir punishes himself for what he did, and he should. But the problem is that Hassan is too kind of a person to understand that what Amir did is unacceptable.
Delete"'He wants to see my license,' Baba bellowed.'" (127) This shows how Bab is dangerous and short-tempered so it gives a reason for Amir to have been scared of him. He probably was scared to tell Baba what happened because if he destroyed a store over I.Ds then imagine what Baba would have done to Amir if he knew that he was the main reason why Ali left and he still blames Amir for his wife's death. What do you think Baba would have done if he found out what Amir did?
ReplyDeleteI agree. I think that Amir has always been afraid of that Baba will be disappointed in him of not accept him. So because of that I don't really know how Baba will react but I do think that his relationship with Amir will completely crumble.
DeleteDo you think that hassan and amir will ever make up their friendship?
ReplyDeleteI feel like they will confront each other later down the road and something big happens. Maybe not make up but both tell each other what the know and how they feel about what happened in the past.
DeleteRember that Amir never thought they even had a friendship in the first place, so honestly what is there to save?
DeleteI believe that they will meet eachother later as well, but so far I haven't seen any growth in Amir and I don't think he will be grown up enough to apologize for what he has down. I also hope that Hassan will have matured enough to realize that Amir was never his friend nor should he ever be, because of the way Amir treated him.
DeleteIf Baba dies, do you think that he will struggle even more or will he use it as a turn around to fix things and change his life? Kinda like Bruce does in Batman and Simba in Lion King.
ReplyDeleteI think Amir will turn his life around like Batman and Simba did... I think he will step up and start things over because he will have that freedom.
DeleteI feel like he would. Obviously he is going to be sad, but I think he is going to try and fix all the wrong that he did in the past.
DeleteI think he will use it as a turn around and use it to improve his life.
DeleteI think that Amir would be better than he was with Baba because everything he did was a sacrifice to him and he would do things to make his proud instead of himself but when Baba dies Amir won't have to prove anyone that he is a "man" but and he would try to be a better person and make himself and Soraya proud of the improvements he might make after Baba passes.
DeleteHow do you think Amir and Soraya's relationship will be with all that has gone on between the two of them?
ReplyDeleteIf Baba dies, Amir would be upset because he spent his time being angry at his father and possibly regret that he could not tell his dad he loved him one last time.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the significance of the quote, "Baba loved the idea of America" (125) Why is 'love' past tense? Why is 'idea' italicized?
ReplyDeleteEither after a while Baba started to dislike America maybe because he isn't at the top of the food chain anymore. Or this could be another hint to Baba dying.
DeleteBecause Baba was so rich he thought he could just live anywhere. When he moved to the US and now works at gas station. Also in Afghanistan everyone trusted each other, and Baba was offended when his ID was asked for.
DeleteI think that this quote is a foreshadowing of what begins to happen to Baba in chapter 12 because Baba start to die.
DeleteI think that this quote shows how America didn't live up to Baba's expectations.
DeleteOn page 132 Baba said "Tonight I am too much happy... Tonight I drink with my son." Do you think that Amir and Babas relationship has gotten better since they moved to the U.S.?
ReplyDeleteAlso baba is used to being in power because of his wealth. I think that America is a big wake up call for him.
ReplyDeleteThis is a good way to think about it. I think that in the near future something traumatic will occur to Amir and he will begin to change his ways and attempt to fix the past.
DeleteI agree. I think that he misses life in the upper class and people knowing who is and respecting him. Amir mentions this when he tells the story of how they used to use a stick as a credit card. "At the end of the month, my father paid him for the number of notched on the stick. That was it. No questions. No ID." (128) I think this quote shows how different their lives are and how big the adjustment for Amir and Baba really is.
DeleteAt this point in the book, Amir feels a lot of stress and regret. He feels like he is responsible for terrible things like his mother's death and Hassan's raping. I believe that this woman that he met in Chapter 12 will be the happiness he needs in his life. She will show him happiness and take his mind off of all of the hard things in his life.
ReplyDeleteThe author has been showing how Baba is slowly dying. Even though Amir and Baba do not communicate well if Baba does die I think that it will open his eyes to how lucky he really was to at least have a father.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I feel if his death does occur, it will allow him to change his life around and be able to change all the bad decisions he made.
Delete"For two years, I tried to get Baba to enroll in ESL classes to improve his broken English." (126) This part shows how Amir cares about actual communication since Baba and Amir never had an actual conversation and it was more about unimportant things. Amir probably thinks communication is valuable because he always wanted to talk to his dad and thinks that they would have had a better relationship if they had communicated more often and dealt with issues they had instead of bottling it up.
ReplyDeleteBaba is probably uncomfortable because he is used to being powerful within a close-knit community and now it is almost the opposite.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on that one, but other than uncomfortable how do you think he is feeling
DeleteI think he is feeling old and out of it because of everything that has happened in the U.S. so far.
DeletePage 147 "Sad stories make good books," I think that this is kinda a significant quote because I feel like it is say how Amir is angry at himself for what happened that winter and he feels like his whole life is going to be terrible but it might make him change his ways down the road and do something great. Or do something that he would have never done if he had handled the situation differently.
ReplyDelete"Baba's beard was graying, his hair thinning at the temples, and hadn't he been taller in Kabul?" This quote I think shows while Amir is starting to move on in his life his father is on the way down. Amir is also started to fill that hole that his dad is going to leave.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a big foreshadowing quote.
DeleteDo you think that Soraya will have a positive or negative affect on Amir's life? Will the distraction away from Hassan be healthy or does he need to reflect with himself?
ReplyDelete“It may be unfair, but what happens in a few days, sometimes even a single day, can change the course of a whole lifetime...” This is true because what happened that day to Hassan in the Alley has managed to change Amir and Hassan forever
ReplyDeleteI think the relationship between Baba and Amir has the potential to improve since they moved to America. Baba is no longer powerful and because Amir fits in more so he is now more powerful.
ReplyDelete"For me, America was a place to bury my memories.
ReplyDeleteFor Baba, a place to mourn his." page 129
How different do you think things would be if he would have taken Hassan and not Amir. Who Hassan has already had a very tragic event happen to him.
On page 145, it says, " "I'm only going to get us drinks." "Just don't embarrass me, that's all I ask" " I won't. God, Baba." " Obviously nowadays that's not a normal way to speak to your child. What has made Baba want to talk to Amir this way? Why would he tell his son not to embarrass him?
ReplyDeleteOne page 165 when it says “I opened my mouth and almost told her how i'd betrayed Hassan, lied, driven him out, and destroyed a forty year relationship Baba and Ali.But I didn't." It shows how damaged Amir is and how guilty he feels even after years without seeing Hassan. It also shows Amir in a way coming to terms with what he did and admitting that what he did to the people he loved was terrible.
ReplyDelete