Kite Runner 18-25

Connection - Text to Self


In chapter 25, the final chapter of the novel, Amir realizes what he has done and feels guilty and ashamed. Amir turns to prayer and his strength as a human to help him through this rough time. Sohrab is fighting for his life during this time and Amir can only hope that it will turn out for the best. Sohrab survives and claims that he wishes Amir never saved him. I can relate to this because as anyone in the world, I'm sure there has been some point in every one's lives that they turned to prayer or their inner strength to pull them through when they needed reassurance. Whether it be a god, a friend, yourself, everyone has or will have a time in their life when they need someone to help them stay strong. I am going through a situation in my life now where I give my self reassurance everyday that a family member of mine will keep fighting and stay healthy. Without hope, there is nothing. Keep believe and hope for the best in the long run, giving up will get you nowhere!

Vocabulary

• samovar (pg196) - a metal urn with a spigot, used to boil water for tea and traditionally having a chimney and heated by coals.


• ruminate (pg202) - to chew again or over and over, to meditate on; ponder.


• sahib (pg204) - sir; master: a term of respect used.


• furtive (pg209) - characterized by stealth; surreptitious, shifty.


• cavernous (pg211) - being, resembling, or suggestive of a cavern, hollow and deep-sounding.


• commodity (pg215) - an article of trade or commerce, esp. a product as distinguished from a service.


• gorge (pg217) - the throat; the gullet.


• haphazardly (pg229) - in a haphazard manner; at random.


• craggy (pg230) - rugged; harsh; rough.


• intravenous (pg268) - of, pertaining to, employed in, or administered by injection into a vein.
  

Culture Information

During my reading of the last few chapters of The Kite Runner, kite running was a major aspect of the plot ending. The novel spoke briefly of what is was and why Amir decided to do the race in honor of Hassan's son. Therefore I wanted to learn a little more about the background of kite running, so I did my own research. Kite running is the practice of running for drifted kites throughout the air that have been cut and let loose through kite fighting. The strings become tangled together and they try to cut them by pulling on the strings. The kites then become loose in the air and when they reach the ground if a person catches it, they can keep the kite. The winners kite is left flying and the losers are cut and slowly approaching the ground. Kite running is very popular in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India.

Kite Runner 10-17

Connection - Text to Self

In chapter twelve of the novel, we find out that Baba has cancer and does not want to do anything about it. Amir wants to do anything in his power to help him and make him understand he needs treatment but, he refuses and does not want to be seen by a doctor until the time comes that he is too ill. This relates to a situation I have been through before and unfortunately am going through again. A family member of mine was diagnosed with cancer a few years back. She did not want to deal with doctors or radiation, anything that had to do with the word "cancer." After a while of being weak and sick, she finally came to the conclusion to see a doctor and find a cure. Thankfully all went well and two years later she was cured and no longer had her cancer. All was well until her cancer came back this year, and now we are reliving the past in the present. Therefore I can relate to Baba and Amir very closely and understand what they are going through.

Vocabulary

• innards (pg96) - the internal mechanism, parts, structure, etc., of something.


• tarpaulin (pg96) - a protective covering of canvas or other material waterproofed with tar, paint, or wax.


• trek (pg99) - a journey or trip, esp. one involving difficulty or hardship.


• fretting (pg101) - to make a way by gnawing, corrosion, wearing away.


• braying (pg107) - to make a loud, harsh, disagreeable sound.


• staccatos (pg107) - characterized by performance in which the notes are abruptly disconnected.


• ochre (pg116) - any of several earthy mineral oxides of iron occurring in yellow, brown, or red and used as pigments.


• laborious (pg131) - characterized by or exhibiting excessive effort, dullness, and lack of spontaneity.


• mullah (pg135) - (in Islamic countries) a title of respect for a person who is learned in, teaches, or expounds the sacred law.


• burqa (pg183) - a loose, usually black or light blue robe that is worn by Muslim women, especially in Afghanistan, and that covers the body from head to toe.

Culture Information

As I was doing my vocabulary, I came across the word burqa, which is is an enveloping outer garment worn by women in some Islamic traditions for the purpose of cloaking the entire body. I wanted to learn why the women wore them and what they were for, so I did my research. The women wore them as sand masks in windy conditions, some men also wore burqa's. This is still very common in the Middle East today. They also wore them in raids that involved the taking of women of child bearing age. The chance of a women being taken slowly decreased because it was extremely hard to distinguish the age.

Kite Runner 1-9

Connection Text To World

Throughout the first nine chapters of The Kite Runner, Amir, a child of a wealthy Afgan by the name of Baba, considers himself to be an upper class child. Unlike his "so called" friend Hassan who is the son of Baba's servant. Amir enjoys Hassan's company when others are not around because he feels he will be judged on who he hangs out with. In our world today, many children and teenagers hang out with people having the same interests and or ethnic background. If they choose to hang out with others outside of their interests and such, they feel as though they will be looked at differently. Hassan is a Hazara and Amir considers him to be at a lower level than himself and does not consider Hassan a true friend due to his ethnicity.

Vocabulary

• harelipped (pg1) - a congenitally deformed lip, usually the upper one, in which there is a vertical fissure causing it to resemble the cleft lip of a hare.


• squatty (pg6) - short and thick; low and broad.


• unscrupulous (pg7) - devoid of scruples; oblivious to or contemptuous of what is right or honorable.


• veracity (pg11) - habitual observance of truth in speech or statement; truthfulness.


• blundering (pg17) - a gross, stupid, or careless mistake.


• vehemently (pg21) - strongly emotional; intense or passionate.


• amid (pg23) - in the middle of; surrounded by; among.


• imbecile (pg25) - a dunce; blockhead; dolt.


• plodded (pg27) - to proceed in a tediously slow manner.


• akin (pg37) - having a similar quality or character; analogous.

Culture Information

While reading the beginning of The Kite Runner, Hassan was a Hazara. The book did not give much information about his kind, therefore I decided to do my own research. Hazara people are mainly from central Afghanistan. They live in groups throughout Pakistan, Quetta, and Iran, mainly as refugees. Amir was embarrassed by his friendship with Hassan due to the fact that he was Hazara, it made him lower than the others. In Afghan today, the Hazara people, Shia Muslims, are treated just like any other group of people. I think this is because a major part of the population of Afghanistan are Shia Muslim's.

Macbeth!

I choose this picture because it is the discovery of Duncan's murder. It reveals the symbolize of Macbeth's dark and evil side. This is also a major turning point during the play. Macbeth is determined to kill Duncan for the simply fact that he is the only thing standing in his way of becoming king. Lady Macbeth helped her husband become angry and she somewhat forcefully made him kill Duncan. This picture reveals the discovery of a shocking turning point in the play. It shows hows evil and dark Macbeth was and that he would do anything to become king and did not let anyone get in his way of doing so.