-
Amir's birth
Hassan was born in the winter of 1964, which was "one year after my mother had died giving birth to me. Amir, the main character, is born. This significant event allowed the story of The Kite Runner to happen. -
Hassan's birth
Ali's son Hassan "born in the winter of 1964"(Hosseini 6). Hassan was born a short while after the main character Amir. He would become good friends with Amir. -
Hassan's surgery
After Hassan received plastic surgery on his cleft lip, "the swelling subsided, and then the wound healed with time. Soon it was just a pink jagged line running up from his lip"(Hosseini 47). Baba gave Hassan an unusual birthday gift of plastic surgery, which most kids would not be too flattered about. However, this was significant because it made Hassan very happy. -
Hassan raped
After Hassan had chased down the kite, Assef began raping him and "Hassan didn't struggle"(Hosseini 75). Hassan refused to give up the kite and Assef punished him for it. This is a significant event because in the beginning of the story Amir said that this event would shape the man he would become. -
Amir wins Kite Tournament
Amir entered an annual kite flying contest, and after he cut the final kite he told himself "this isn't happening" (Hosseini 66). Amir was overwhelmed with excitement and in complete shock. This was a significant event because it was the first example of Baba being proud of Amir in the story so far. -
Hassan and Ali depart
Ali had made a decision and told Baba that he and Hassan "are leaving"(Hosseini 106). This event was a total shock for baba, he was left confused and angry. This was significant because it would be a major change, Baba would lose a good friend and Amir would lose a brother. -
Soviet Invasions
The "Soviet Union invaded" Pakistan for the first time in 1979(The New York Times). -
Soviet Troops
On December 27th, 1979 the "first Soviet troops parachuted into Kabul"(The New York Times). -
Amir and Baba leave
Amir and Baba were leaving the what was now a war zone Kabul, to get to the "relative safety of Pakistan"(Hosseini 111). It was now too dangerous to continue to live in Kabul as the area had become war ridden. This is significant because Amir and Baba would have to make a big adjustment by moving someplace new. -
Arrival in San Francisco
In the early 1980s Amir and Baba had moved to California and were "still adjusting to life in America" (Hosseini 128). The story jumps forward a bit to a point where Baba and Amir were now living in the Fremont, California. This is significant because it is telling the readers how both of the characters have to learn to adjust to change. -
Amir graduates
In the summer of 1983, Amir "graduated from high school" (Hosseini 131). Amir continued his education in the United States and got through high school. This is significant because it shows how, despite moving across the world, Amir was able to land on his feet and finish school. -
Amir and Soraya get married
Amir felt very strongly about Soraya, so strongly that he said "I want us to marry"(Hosseini 165). Amir had very strong feelings for Soraya and obviously saw a bright future with them as a married couple. This is significant because Amir hadn't felt this way about anyone before and it was a sign of him maturing into a man. -
Ineffective Soviet Air Force
The Soviet Air Force was made "largely useless by advanced stinger antiaircraft missiles supplied by the United States to the rebels"(The New York Times). -
Baba's death
In 1986, "shortly after Baba had died", Amir and Soraya would move into a new house and adjust to life without Baba (Hosseini 180). Amir had lost his father who wasn't exactly all that much of a father to Amir. This is significant because Baba had died without really ever being a standout father figure to Amir. -
Soviet Troops leave Afghanistan
After peace talks were made through the United Nations, "the last Soviet troops left Afghanistan in February 1989"(The New York Times). -
Amir's novel
Amir had always had a passion for writing, he wrote a novel and it was "released in the summer of that following year" (Hosseini 183). Amir has quite the talent for writing, making some wonder why it took so long for Amir to become a published writer. This is significant because Amir is finally following his dream and doing what makes him happy. -
Warlords
After Soviet forces had left, "power was anarchically divided among competing warlords"(The New York Times). -
Mullah Omar
Mullah Omar was a member of the dominant ethnic group in Afghanistan, the Pashtuns. He believed that he needed to restore importance of the religion Islam in the country. Mullah had a "promise of restoring the centrality of Islam to daily life"(The New York Times). His movement gained many followers and this group was called the Taliban. -
Taliban Control
By 1996 the Taliban had "taken control of Afghanistan"(The New York Times). -
Hassan and Farzana are killed by the Taliban
The Taliban had their eyes on what was once Amir and Baba's home, but Hassan refused to let them move in and the Taliban "took him to the street and shot him in the back of the head. Farzana came screaming and attacked them-shot her too"(Hosseini 219). Amir had lost a close childhood friend that was always there for him. This is significant because that meant Amir couldn't tell him he was sorry or make it up to him for letting him get raped by Assef. -
Taliban Defeated, New leader elected
Hamid Karzai was "named chairman of an interim government that replaced the defeated Taliban, making him the leader of the country"(The New York Times). -
Amir brings Sohrab back to America with him
Amir and Sohrab arrived back home "on a warm day in August 2001"(Hosseini 357). Amir had brought home Hassan's son and he would take care of him. This is significant because Amir is atoning for what he did to Hassan when they were younger by taking care of his son, and he was also given the chance to become the father figure that Baba never was to him. -
Sohrab tries to kill himself
After Amir told Sohrab he would have to live in an orphanage, he became angry and stabbed himself with "the same razor [Amir] had shaved with the night before" (Hosseini 348). Sohrab nearly killed himself because he didn't want to relive the trauma of what life was like at his orphanage in the past. This is significant because this act was like a way for Sohrab to send a message to Amir and get out of living in an orphanage. -
9/11
The Taliban's "attack on the World Trade Center" in New York city was a devastating event in American history(The New York Times). -
United States elects new president, new involvement in Afghanistan
Barrack Obama was elected president in 2008. He emphasized the United States' involvement in Afghanistan when he delivered a speech in 2009 saying that he would deploy "30,000 additional troops into Afghanistan to help the struggling country(The New York Times).