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Great Expectations
Jane Eyre
The Merchant of Venice
The Outsiders
The Scarlet Letter
No Fear Shakespeare
Literature
Other Subjects
Teacher
Blog
Help
The Kite Runner
Khaled Hosseini
Study Guide
Infographic
Study Guide
Infographic
Summary
Plot Overview
Key Questions and Answers
What Does the Ending Mean?
Summary & Analysis
Chapters 1–3
Chapters 4–5
Chapters 6–7
Chapters 8–9
Chapters 10–11
Chapters 12–13
Chapters 14–15
Chapters 16–17
Chapters 18–19
Chapters 20–21
Chapters 22–23
Chapters 24–25
Characters
Character List
Amir
Hassan
Baba
Ali
Sohrab
Assef
Main Ideas
Themes
Plot Analysis
Protagonist
Antagonist
Setting
Motifs
Symbols
Genre
Allusions
Style
Point of View
Tone
Foreshadowing
Key Facts
Quotes
Important Quotes Explained
Quotes By Theme
Male Friendship
Betrayal & Redemption
Religion
Racism & Ethnicity
Quotes By Section
Chapters 1–3
Chapters 4–5
Chapters 6–7
Chapters 8–9
Chapters 10–11
Chapters 12–13
Chapters 14–15
Chapters 16–17
Chapters 18–19
Chapters 20–21
Chapters 22–23
Chapters 24–25
Quotes By Character
Amir
Hassan
Baba
Rahim Khan
Assef
Quotes By Symbol
The Cleft Lip
Kites
The Lamb
Further Study
Context
The Kite Runner and The Taliban
The Kite Runner and Coming-of-Age Stories
Movie Adaptations
Full Book Quiz
Section Quizzes
Analysis of Major Characters
Chapters Eight and Nine
Chapters Eighteen and Nineteen
Chapters Four and Five
Chapters Fourteen and Fifteen
Chapters One to Three
Chapters Six and Seven
Chapters Sixteen and Seventeen
Chapters Ten and Eleven
Chapters Twelve and Thirteen
Chapters Twenty and Twenty-One
Chapters Twenty-Two and Twenty-Three
Character List
Context
Plot Overview
Themes, Motifs, and Symbols
Study Questions
Suggestions for Further Reading
Companion Texts
Writing Help
How to Write Literary Analysis
Glossary of Literary Terms
How to Cite This SparkNote
Suggested Essay Topics
Teacher's Handbook
Further Study
Themes, Motifs, and Symbols Quiz
Further Study
Themes, Motifs, and Symbols Quiz
1
of 5
Why does Amir go to Kabul in search of Sohrab?
He must prove to his father that he loves his homeland.
He must see if there is anything left that he recognizes.
He must redeem himself for failing Hassan.
He must see if his worst fears are justified.
2
of 5
How does the novel present the past?
As a series of mistakes to be forgotten
As a romantic and idealized delusion
As always influencing the present
As better than the present but irrecoverable
3
of 5
What is the significance of rape in the novel?
It symbolizes the violent nature of political change and development.
It represents the domination of the powerful over the powerless.
It stands in for the lack of emotional connection between Amir and Baba.
It shows how the outside world views Afghans and Afghanistan.
4
of 5
Why is Amir's failure to stop Hassan's rape ironic?
He believed Hassan's rape would end the cycle of violence, but it merely started it.
He imagined that his father would save Hassan, but he actually hurt him more.
He thought it would help him be happy, but he ended up feeling torn by guilt and sadness.
He saw the rape as an unfortunate byproduct of war, but it was really the cause.
5
of 5
What does Amir's split lip represent?
The divided feelings he has about his father.
The fractured landscape of contemporary Afghanistan.
The pointlessness of revenge and violence.
The merging of his identity with Hassan's.
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