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Kite Runner Events
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Buzkashi Tournament
When Baba takes Amir to his first Buzkashi Tournament, Amir sees how brutal of a sport it is starts crying. On the drive home, he "never [forgot] Baba's valiant efforts to conceal the disgusted look on his face" (Hosseini 21). Baba is very disappointed that his son is not as manly as he expected, and is more into writing than sports. This event was significant because from then on, Amir always tried to win his father's attention and please him. -
Afghanistan's Monarchy Collapses
On this night, Afghanistan's "monarchy was a thing of the past" (Hosseini 36). The king's cousin took advantage while the king was away and "ended the king's forty-year reign with a bloodless coup" (Hosseini 36). Now Afghanistan had become a republic. This power shift is significant because it indirectly helped pave the road for the Taliban to take over. -
Hassan's Slingshot
When Amir and Hassan encounter Assef, they are threatened by his brass knuckles. However, Hassan took out his slingshot and "pulled the wide elastic band all the way back. In the cup was a rock of the size of a walnut... pointed directly at Assef's face" (Hosseini 42). Hassan just threatens Assef back and in the end, Assef leaves. This event was important because it showed that Hassan is very loyal to Amir, even if Amir doesn't treat him that well. -
Hassan's Harelip Surgery
When Amir learned that Hassan's birthday gift was a surgery to repair his cleft lip, he felt that "it wasn't fair. Hassan hadn't done anything to earn Baba's affections; he'd just been born with that stupid harelip" (Hosseini 46). Amir is jealous that Hassan gets Baba's attention, even though he is just a servant boy. This brings the reader to think, why did Baba do that? The surgery and Amir's feelings foreshadow that Hassan is not just a mere son of a servant. -
Wazir Akbar Khan Kite Competition
Amir and Hassan win their neighborhood kite competition, but Amir "saw Hassan run a kite for the last time" (Hosseini 55). Even though they won, Hassan's promise to Amir triggered an event that scarred both of them for life. This was important because this was what caused the conflict of the novel. -
Hassan's Encounter with Assef
After winning the kite competition, Hassan goes to run the last kite just like he promised to Amir. After he disappears for a long time, Amir goes looking for him and finds him being raped by Assef. He noticed Hassan's face and "saw the resignation in it" (Hosseini 76). In the end, Amir ran away from the situation because he was a coward. This event is significant because it drives the entire plot of the story. His guilt would eventually cause Amir to try to atone for his sins. -
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History of Afghanistan
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Ali and Hassan Depart
After Amir frames Hassan for stealing, Ali decides that it is time to leave Baba's service. Upon hearing this, Baba cried and plead with them to not go (Hosseini 107). Regardless, they still left. After this, Baba was devestated and only then did Amir realize the depth of what he had caused. Ali and Hassan's departure is important because by the way Baba reacted, it foreshadowed that he had a much deeper connection with Ali and Hassan than Amir thought. -
The Soviet Invasion
Afghanistan was thriving as a country until "the turmoil and extremism that have dominated its history since then can be traced to the 1979 invasion by the Soviet Union" ("Afghanistan - An Overview"). -
Baba and Amir Move to America
After the Taliban take over, Baba and Amir flee to America, specifically Fremont, California. There, Amir goes to college and Baba takes a job at the gas station (Hosseini 125). Their move is important because it signifies a new beginning for both Amir and Baba. -
Baba's Supermarket Incident
When Baba goes grocery shopping and has no cash, he writes a check to pay for the bill. As a result, the cashier "asked for an ID" (Hosseini 127). From this question, Baba freaks out and feels humiliated and embarassed. He believes that the cashier is violating his reputation of integrity. Then Amir walks in and calms both Baba and the cashier. Amir's actions are important because it shows that he has grown up and can stand up for himself now. -
Amir and Soraya Wed
Amir is estatic when the General accepts his hand for Soraya's marriage. During their wedding, Amir suddenly wonders "if Hassan too had married" (Hosseini 171). This thought is important because it brings up Amir's past, his unatoned sin. It makes him feel guilty that he is happy, but he does not even know how his best friend is doing. -
Baba Dies
As Baba's cancer condition worsens, he get more and more tired everyday. One day, he says "there is no pain tonight" (Hosseini 173) and never wakes up. Baba's death is significant because it means that Amir has to step up and fill his shoes. -
Soviet Troops Leave Afghanistan
After fighting for control for more than nine years and suffering humiliating losses, "the last Soviet troops left Afghanistan in February 1989" ("Afghanistan - An Overview"). -
The Rise of Mullah Omar
Once the Soviets left, they left behind a devastated country whose power was divided among competing warlords. Then a particularly strong group, the Taliban, led by Mullah Omar, eventually gained control and "[b]y the end of 1994 Mullah Omar had nearly 12,000 followers and was rolling up the warlords to the north and east" ("Afghanistan - An Overview"). -
Pakistani Aid
Mullah Omar and his group may not have even made it to the top if not for its neighbor, Pakistan. Pakistani officers "began funneling arms, money and supplies" ("Afghanistan - An Overview") to Omar's men in 1994. -
Taliban Rule Begins
Thanks to all the help from Pakistan, "the Taliban by 1996 had taken control of Afghanistan" ("Afghanistan - An Overview"). -
The Arrival of Osama bin Laden
Now with the Taliban in rule, they "also provided a haven for Mr. bin Laden, who arrived by chartered jet at Jalabad Airport in May 1996, and for Al Qaeda" ("Afghanistan - An Overview"). -
Rahim Khan's Call
Over the summer, Rahim Khan calls Amir and asks Amir to go see him in Pakistan. At the end of the phone call, he says "there is a way to be good again" (Hosseini 2). He is speaking of Amir's sin when he betrayed Hassan. This phone call was significant because it forced Amir to face his past and stop running away from it like a coward. -
Sohrab's Slingshot
When Amir goes to retreive Sohrab from the Talib, he is shocked to learn that it is actually Assef who is the Talib and soon they get into a fight.As the fighting becomes more intense, Sohrab interferes by firing his slingshot at Assef's eye, causing agonizing pain (Hosseini 291). His actions allowed him and Amir to escape from Assef. This was important because if Sohrab did not interfere, Amir may have died, failing to complete his duty. -
Invasion in New York
Al Qaeda made an "attack on the World Trade Center in New York on Sept. 11, 2001" ("Afghanistan - An Overview"). -
Amir Has a Brother?
When Amir goes to visit Rahim Khan in Pakistan, secrets about his past are reveal. He learns that Hassan is his half brother and that his 'whole life [was] one big lie" (Hosseini 223). Amir is furious and even worse, Hassan never lived to know the truth. As a result, Amir has to go rescue Hassan's son, Sohrab. This was the only way he could atone for what he had done to Hassan. -
New Government
After the Taliban was defeated, "[i]n December 2001, Hamid Karzai, a supprter and relative of Mohammad Zahir Shah, the exiled former king of Afghanistan, was named chairman of an interim gobernment" ("Afghanistan - An Overview"). -
Kite Competition
After Amir and Sohrab win the kite competition, Amir saw "a smile. Lopsided. Hardly there. But there" (Hosseini 371) on Sohrab's face. It was the first sign of emotion after being in America for a year. Sohrab's faint smile is important because it signifies that there is hope for the Amir, his family, and the future. -
New President
After being named chairman, Hamid Karzai "took office as interim president in June 2002" ("Afghanistan - An Overview"). -
Mr. Obama's Speech
To lessen the terror of another attack, "Mr. Obama announced his plan to deply 30,000 additional troops" ("Afghanistan - An Overview") in a speech on December 1, 2009.