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Kite Runner & the History of Afghanistan
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(KR) Hassan gets raped by Assef
In the story, Hassan's loyalty to Amir is tested when he gets raped. The author says, "Then he charged. Hassan hurled the rock. It struck Assef in the forehead Assef helped as he flung himself at Hassan, knocking him back to the ground. Wali and Kamal followed. I bit on my fist. Shut my eyes."(Hosseini 73) In this quote Hassan is raped by Assef. This illustrates Hassan's loyalty to Amir, because all Amir needed to say was that he didn't need the kite, but he doesn't. He lets Hassan get raped. -
(KR) Hassan and Amir win the Kite Fight
In the story, Hassan and Amir work together to win in a kite fight. Amir's happiness is exemplified when the author says, "'We won! We won!' was all I could say. This wasn't happening"(Hosseini 66) In this quote, Amir and Hassan are happily cheering because they had won the kite fight. This was one of the last happy moments of Amir and Hassan's life together. This shows how Afghanistan changed. It went from a place where kids could have fun to a place of death and sorrow. -
(KR) Amir turns 13
In the story, Amir turns thirteen. The author says, “I turned thirteen that summer of 1976, Afghanistan’s next to last summer of peace and anonymity.” (Hosseini 93) In this quote Amir turns thirteen in the summer of 1976. This illustrates the fact that 1976 was one of the last peaceful and friendly years in Afghanistan. This is also when Amir really grew up to face the death and destruction of the Taliban. -
General Daud is overthrown and killed
In Afghanistan, their democratic leader is overthrown. This is clearly shown in A BBC article when the author says, "General Daud is overthrown and killed in a pro-Soviet coup. The People's Democratic Party comes to power but is paralysed by violent infighting and faces opposition by US-backed mujahideen groups."(BBC 1) http://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-12024253 -
Soviet Army Invades
The Soviet Army invades Afghanistan, and starts a communist government. This is illustrated when the author says, "At the end of December 1979, the Soviet Union sent thousands of troops into Afghanistan and immediately assumed complete military and political control of Kabul and large portions of the country."(history.state.gov 1) https://history.state.gov/milestones/1977-1980/soviet-invasion-afghanistan -
(KR) Baba and Amir move to America
In the story, Baba and Amir flee from the Soviet's grasp in Afghanistan. In America, Amir observes how happy Freemont is. He recounts, "I remember the two of us walking though Lake Elizabeth Park in Fremont, a few streets down from our apartment, and watching boys at batting practice, little girls giggling on the swings in the playground."(Hosseini 125) In the quote, Amir describes Fremont and how its so happy and free. This differs from Afghanistan with it's dangerous streets and ruined houses. -
(KR) Amir graduates high school
In the story, Amir works very hard and graduates from high school. His experience is illustrated when the author says, “That summer of 1983, I graduated from high school at the age of twenty, by far the oldest senior tossing his mortarboard on the football field that day.” (Hosseini 131) In the quote, Amir describes how he was the oldest graduate. This illustrates how he was set apart from the rest of his class in high school because how how he lacked a full education from Afghanistan. -
(KR) Amir first meets Soraya
In the story, Amir finds a girl at the flee market where he works. He goes up to her and says, "Would you like to read one of my stories?" (Hosseini 147) This is when Amir and Soraya truly found love. Amir uses his love for books to win over his future wife exemplifying the idea that America is really the land of true possibilities. This is because he would've never been able to do what he did with Soraya under the large restrictions of the Soviet Union, and later on the Taliban. -
The U.S. first supplies the Afghan rebels
The first time that the United States started supplying Afghanistan was very helpful to the Afghan rebels in the war. This happened when the "US began supplying mujahideen with Stinger missiles, enabling them to shoot down Soviet helicopter gunships."(BBC 1) http://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-12024253 -
(KR) Amir and Soraya get married
In the story, Amir and Soraya get married. Even after Amir tells Soraya about him and Hassan her everlasting love brings them closer together. Soraya says, "Nothing you said changes anything. I was us to marry." (Hosseini 165) This clarifies Soraya's and Amir's everlasting love for each other. This is because even though Amir had a bad past and had things that he'd rather forget, Soraya was able to look past that and love the person that she fell in love with. -
(KR) Baba dies
In the story, Baba refuses treatment for his cancer and dies. With this Amir and Soraya start a new chapter in their life when the author says, "Shortly after Baba's death, Soraya and I moved into a one-bedroom apartment in Fremont, just a few blocks away from the gerneral and Khala Jamila's house." (Hosseini 180) This quote emphasizes how when a chapter of one's life closes, another one opens. This is because right after Baba died, Amir and Soraya moved away into a new house. -
(KR) Amir gets his first novel published
In the story, Amir works really hard to make his new book happen. after lots of work and problems Amir get his big break. Tis is emphasized when the author says, "Six weeks later, a man named Martin Greenwalt called from New York and offered to represent me." (Hosseini 183) This quote shows how in America, one's dreams can be achievable. In Afghanistan there would be no way that Amir could go to school for writing, and become a novelist himself, which was his lifelong dream. -
Osama Bin Laden forms the military group al-Quida
The future terrorist Osama bin Laden forms the now infamous group al-Quida.This is exemplified when the author says, "In 1988, bin Laden created a new group, called al-Qaida (“the base”) that would focus on symbolic acts of terrorism instead of military campaigns."(history.com 1) http://www.history.com/topics/osama-bin-laden -
The last of the Soviet troops leave
In Afghanistan, the last of the Soviet troops leave after a brutal defeat in the war. Even though the war is over there is still a lot of fighting. This is shown when the author says, "Last Soviet troops leave, but civil war continues as mujahideen push to overthrow Najibullah."(BBC.com 1) http://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-12024253 -
(KR) Sohrab is born
In the story, Amir's best friend and servant Hassan has a son named Sohrab. This told by the author when he says, "It was Sanaubar who delivered Hassan's son that winter of 1990."(Hosseini 211) This quote talks about how Sanaubar, Hassan's mother helped deliver the baby. This clearly shows the power of atonement and forgiveness. This is because of how Sanaubar left Ali without a wife and Hassan without a mother. Then, when she came back Hassan was able to put that aside and let her be family. -
The Taliban Rises to Power
This is when the Taliban rises to power. Their story is illustrated when the author says, "There was rampant warlordism, and the Taliban came in as a cleansing force to establish law and order and wipe out the warlords and impose Islam, which they did. And they were quite popular doing it, initially. Their spread is really related to the support they got from Pakistan, which increased their military capability. And then they took Kabul in 1996."(rferl.org 1) http://www.rferl.org -
(KR) Hassan and Farzana get killed by the Taliban
In the story, Hassan and Farzana are killed in their their house. What happens is shown when the author says, "'Hassan protested again. So they took him to the street-' 'No,' I breathed. "-and order him to kneel-' 'No. God, no.' '-and they shot him in the back of the head.' 'No' '-Farzana came screaming and attacked them-' 'No.' -'shot her too.'"(Hosseini 219) In this quote Hassan and Farzana's deaths are explained in great detail. This emphasizes the Taliban's brutal power and violence. -
(KR) Amir gets a call from Rahim Khan
In the story, Amir gets a call in California from Rahim Khan in Afghanistan. He talks Amir that he is needed back in Afghanistan. He says, "Come. There is a way to be good again"(Hosseini 192) In this quote, Amir is asked to be back in Afghanistan. This illustrates how Amir was able to find forgiveness from what he had done with Hassan. It was his way of doing good again, and not just feeling sorry about it. -
(KR) Amir reads the letter from Hassan
In the story, Amir travels back to Afghanistan, and Rahin Khan gives him a note from Hassan. The note reads, "And I dream that someday you will return to Kabul to revisit the land our childhood. If you do, you will find an old faithful friend waiting for you" (Hosseini 218) This quote talks about how Hassan waited for Amir after he left. This exemplifies how Hassan was able to forgive Amir for what he had done, and just move on. Even though Hassan wasn't alive, it touched Amir's heart. -
The Taliban Falls
This is when the Taliban falls from power. They fell because of a U.S. led invasion. The author says, "The Taliban is a predominantly Pashtun, Islamic fundamentalist group that ruled Afghanistan from 1996 until 2001, when a U.S.-led invasion toppled the regime for providing refuge to al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden."(crf.org 1) http://www.cfr.org/afghanistan/taliban-afghanistan/p10551 -
The Militia Group al-Quida crashes planes into the World Trade Center
This is the fateful American day also known as 9/11. The sadness is illustrated with a description of what happened, "On September 11, 2001, 19 militants associated with the Islamic extremist group al-Qaeda hijacked four airliners and carried out suicide attacks against targets in the United States."(history.com 1) http://www.history.com/topics/9-11-attacks -
(KR) Sohrab almost dies after a suicide attempt
In the story, Amir finds Sohrab in a bathtub. What happens is shown when the author says, "the water drops dripping from the faucet and landing with a plink into the bloody bathwater; the left arm dangling over the side of the tub, the blood-soaked razor sitting on the toilet tank-the same razor I had shaved with the day before-and his eyes, still half open but lightless."(Hosseini 347-348)This quote emphasizes the horror as Amir glances upon Sohrab after he tries to commit suicide in a bathtub. -
(KR) Amir and Sohrab fly a kite together
In the story, Amir and Sohrab are flying a kite in San Francisco. Amir says to Sohrab, "'For you, a thousand times over,'"(Hosseini 371) This quote is very relevant because it was the same thing that Hassan said to Amir when they were kids. This illustrates how Amir finally learned from his mistake, and now will treat Sohrab with the uptmost respect. -
Suicide Bombers attack the Indian Embassy
The suicide bombings on the Indian embassy were horrible attacks. They carried out by terrorists in horrible ways. What happened was, "The 2008 Indian embassy bombing in Kabul was a suicide bomb terror attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan on 7 July 2008 at 8:30 AM local time. The bombing killed 58 people and wounded 141. The suicide car bombing took place near the gates of the embassy during morning hours when officials enter the embassy.(ndtv.com 1) www.ndtv.com -
Osama bin Laden is Killed
This was when the terrorist and 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden was killed. This sis what happened. "On May 2, 2011, Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden is killed by U.S. Special Forces during an early morning (approximately mid-afternoon on May 1 in the United States) raid in Abbottabad, Pakistan."(CNN.com 1) http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/09/world/death-of-osama-bin-laden-fast-facts/