Kite Runner * Chapters 18-25

1. Connection
Text-Self
In chapter 24 Amir and Sohrad discuss the topic of going to America together. Amir wants Sohrad to come to American with him because he and Hassan are half-brothers, and Hassan being Hazara is the reason for their distance. Therefore Amir wants Sohrad to come to America to meet with Hassan again. Sohrad has some doubts and is somewhat scared. He worries about the future together, will everyone like him, will they tire of him, and will he ever go back to an orphanage? But, the good character Amir is promises and reassures that Sohrad will never go to an orphanage ever again. This relates to me and everyone in life. Just like Amir and Sohrad, everyone has a time or person where there is assurance. Amir assured Sohrad that he would never be in an orphanage again, and this gained trust. Every family member and friend must have assurance and trust in order to be believed.

2. Vocabulary
dilapidated- adj. reduced to or fallen into partial ruin or decay, as from age, wear, or neglect
arduous - adj. requiring or using much energy and vigor
furtive - adj. taken, done, used
tarpaulin - n. protective covering of canvas or other material waterproofed with tar, paint, or wax
burlap - n. a plain-woven, coarse fabric of jute, hemp, or the like; gunny
strewn - v. to let fall in separate pieces or particles over a surface; scatter or sprinkle
cleric - n. a member of the clergy
adulterer - n. a person who commits adultery
minarets - n. a lofty, often slender, tower or turret attached to a mosque, surrounded by or furnished with one or more balconies, from which the muezzin calls the people to prayer
queries - n. a question; an inquiry

3. Culture


Throughout the enitre novel, the taliban was mentioned. I know nothing about the Taliban or Afganistan whatsoever, therefore I decided to reserach a little about the Taliban.

During a soccer game, the Taliban enter the field. The entertainment is the public stoning of two people accused of adultery. Using God as an excuse, the Talibs murder both the man and the woman.

The Taliban:
-Ruled Afghanistan from 1996 until 2001
-Came to power during Afghanistan's civil war
-Managed 90% of the country's territory
-Treated women horribly
-Supported terrorists
-Ousted from power in December 2001 by the U.S. military and
Afghani opposition forces in response to the 9-11 terrorist attack on the U.S.

Kite Runner * Chapters 10-17

1. Text Connection
Text-Text
Chapter 12 relates to the movie A Walk to Remember. In chapter 12 Amir finds out that Baba has cancer. Baba refuses to be seen by a doctor, and also refuses chemotherapy. After several months of of being weak and sick, Baba is hospitalized. While in the hospital, Baba refuses to receive radiation treatment. Once Baba is released from the hospital, Amir asks his father to visit the General and ask for his daughter's hand in marriage, and Baba agrees to do so.

In a walk to remember, the main character, Jamie and Landon start a relationship based on completely different upbringing. The two fall in love, leaving their old lives behind to be with each other. But then a heart-breaking secret becomes known that puts their relationship to the test: Jamie has cancer. Jamie and Landon do not have too much time together, so Landon asked for permission to marry the minister’s daughter. The consent is given and the two are married. Sadly, Jamie dies.
2. Vocabulary
trek - a journey or trip, one involving difficulty or hardship
coiffure - a style of arranging or combing hair
fretting - to make a way by gnawing, wearing away
prognosis - forecasting of the probable course and outcome of a disease
ochre - any of several earthy mineral oxides of iron occurring in yellow, brown, or red and used as pigments
innards - the internal mechanism, parts, structure, of something
legitimized - to make legal
exasperated - to irrate or provoke
indecency - the state or quality of being unseemly or immodest
mortarboard - a board, usually sqaure, used by masons to hold mortar
3. Afghani/ Islamic Culture

"As per Afghani custom, Amir and Baba return to the Taheri house the next day for lafz, the 'ceremony of 'giving word.' Baba had instructed Amir to kiss Khanum Taheri's hand, which he does, and, according to tradition, Soraya is not initially present."

Kite Runner * Chapters 1-9

1. Text Connection
Text-Text
In Kite Runner the main character are Amir “Baba”, a wealthy, upper-class child and his best friend. Amir best friend, Hassan portrays no wealth similarities to Amir whatsoever. Hassan is the son of Baba's servant. These two are friends despite the superiority one has over the other. They are friends because they enjoy each others company and they do not let backgrounds and upbringings interfere. This relates to The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. In this novel the main character is a boy named Bruno. He is a 9-year-old boy growing up during the World War II in Berlin. He lives in a large house with his parents, his sister and servants. His father is a high-ranking official, who, after a visit from Hitler is promoted to Commandant. Then Bruno meets a less fortunate Jewish boy named Shmuel. Almost every day, they meet at the same spot and talk. Ignorant of what is going on Bruno decides to climb under the fence to be with his new friend. Bruno does not know or understand what is happening on the other side of the fence, but he just wants to be with his friend. These two novels show what a true friend is and how a true friendship should be. No matter what background, religion, color, sex, or lifestyle, they shouldn’t stop anyone from befriending someone else.
2. Vocabulary
shard - n. a fragment
appendage - n. a subordinate part attached to something; addition
affluent - adj. having an abundance of wealth, property, or other material goods; prosperous
hemorrhaged - n. a profuse discharge of blood, as from a ruptured blood vessel; bleeding
squatty - adj. short and thick; low and broad
oscillating - v. to swing or move to and fro
quelled - v. to suppress; put an end to; extinguish
garrulous - adj. excessively talkative in a rambling, roundabout manner
kinship - n. the state or fact of being of kin; family relationship
lore - n. learning, knowledge, or erudition
veracity - n. habitual observance of truth in speech or statement; truthfulness
apt - adj. inclined; disposed; given; prone
3. Afghani/ Islamic Culture
Shi’a Muslim and Sunni Muslim were mentioned in the novel trough examples. My ignorance to the Islamic religion made me wonder and research the difference between the two. The Shi'a Muslims are the Hazaras, the lower class, known as the servants. Ali and Hassan are Shi'a Muslims. Although worshipping the same book, The Koran, the two religions argue who is the Muhammad’s rightful heir. Often times, they even go to war over this dispute.

Macbeth

Blood appears frequently in Macbeth, from the bleeding commander in the beginning to Macbeth's bleeding head at the end. The first mentioning of blood is one of honor. This is symbolic of the brave fighter who was injured in a battle for his country. Then the symbol of blood changes to show a theme of betrayal. Lady Macbeth wants to make herself thoughtless for the act which she and her husband, Macbeth, are about to commit; the killing of Banquo, a friend of Macbeth. Lastly, blood symbolizes guilt. Once Macbeth and Lady Macbeth begin the murderous plan, blood comes to symbolize their guilt. They feel that the crime stained their hands in a way that cannot be cleaned.