Formalist Discussions The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

I. Language

• Sentence structure
• addressing the creative use of fragments with students
• examples from the text; discussions of such
• Description
• examples from the text
• discussion on effectiveness of description in prose
• model paragraph writing
• Writing English as a second language
• Farsi inclusions
• sample list from text: define from text or context
• purpose in text

• structure by place and date; plot mapping
• plot elements in text
• subplots

• the importance of place
• geographical place; map work
• physical place

• the triangle of Amir, Hassan, Sohrab: the children
• Baba, Ali, and Rahim Khan: the fathers/father figures
• protagonists and antagonists
• other characters

• The Kite Runner as bildungsroman
• political implications
• social implications
• caste
• privilege
• the power of education
• ethical and moral considerations
• religious concerns
• personal responsibility
• social responsibility
• abuse
• personal: sexual and ethnic
• social: governmental and ethnic
• power
• fathers and sons
• friendship
• courage
• immigration
• guilt and responsibility

• What do we learn about ourselves and our culture from this novel?
• What do we learn about other people and other cultures from this novel?
• Are there more differences or similarities?
• What can we/should we do with the knowledge gained from thinking about these questions?
• What power does the reader have to effect change of any sort?

I. The history of Afghanistan

II. The culture of Afghanistan

III. The food of Afghanistan

IV. The languages of Afghanistan

V. The geography of Afghanistan

VI. The contemporary political climate of Afghanistan

VII. Women in Afghanistan

VIII. Ethnic minorities in Afghanistan

IX. Religion in Afghanistan

X. Emigrants from Afghanistan

Learning Opportunities:

• Research one of the above points, either individually or in a small group. Prepare both a written and oral report. Include visuals.
• Consider how gaining more knowledge about one of the topics helps the reader of The Kite Runner understand the novel at different levels.
• Consider how gaining more knowledge about one of the topics helps the reader better understand those who may have once been considered the “other.”
• Be prepared to discuss why such understanding is critical in our contemporary world.