Essay Topics for The Kite Runner UNPACKED - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Essay Topics for The Kite Runner UNPACKED

Introduction to all set promptsSlide2

Amir

and Hassan represent the divisions in Afghan society and how this dichotomy affects the direction of their lives. Discuss

A ‘discuss’ type of prompt

is best tackled as a debate

where you are using your skill

at

reasoning, backed up by

carefully selected

evidence to make a case for and against an

argument. In discussing your debate, you should point

out the advantages and disadvantages of a given

context, (in this case the divisions in Afghan society).

Remember to arrive

at

a conclusion.

Before you can commence however, you must unpack the prompt. This is best done by highlighting the key words and then rewriting the prompt in your own words. Try –

The Afghan society is divided. There are those who are rich and those who are poor. Being rich or poor in Afghanistan means that your life takes a different direction

. Slide3

Amir

and Hassan represent the divisions in Afghan society and how this dichotomy affects the direction of their lives.

Discuss. Continued…………………

Sample Introduction

The

contrast between social

classes in

Khaled

Hosseini’s ‘The Kite Runner’,

is seen in

the character’s Amir

and his friend Hassan. Amir is the son of Baba, a wealthy businessman and a Sunni Muslim.

His life is one of

privilege and comfort

living in

a fine home and

enjoying

every social advantage. Amir goes to school, owns books, and reads well. Hassan, however, is a member of

Hazara

, an ethnic minority in

Afghanistan.

The

Hazara

make up the lowest class in Afghan society; individually and as a group, they are

berated,

rejected, and dismissed as human beings. They live lives of

wretched

poverty and discrimination

. This dichotomy affects the direction of their lives as Amir has his dream of being a writer realized and Hassan’s life ends in a premature and traumatic death.Slide4

How is abuse of power emphasized through the characters in

The Kite Runner?

A HOW question will ask you to

present

, in a logical order, and with reference to relevant

evidence,

the stages and combination of factors that give rise to something

. In this case, giving rise to the abuse of power through the characters.

Lets unpack and re-write the prompt once again –

The characters in The Kite Runner show us how those in power abuse the weaker ones or those in lesser power.Slide5

How is abuse of power emphasized through the characters in

The Kite Runner

? Continued……

Sample Introduction

In Khaled Hosseini’s novel, ‘The Kite Runner’ Hosseini

defines power in modern day

Afghanistan as a political

or national

strength. Power is

an ability to do an act in order to

accomplish something and finally. Power is to

control or show possession over ones

authority

.

Hosseini

explores the corruption of power through characters and cultures, in Afghanistan. Firstly, Baba a rich

man and a

well respected business

man

has his own beliefs yet violates the use of power by going against his values and morals.

Moreover,

Assef

a half German and half Afghani with a lot of power takes his powers to the next level by abusing those

in his control including Hassan.

Lastly, the

Taliban's

who are

of Pashtun

ethnic

controlling

Afghanistan from 1996 until 2001.

All of these characters and members of the

the

Afghani society are shown to abuse their power.Slide6

Does Amir achieve complete redemption and atonement in the novel?

When you are asked a DOES question

weigh

up to what extent something is true. Persuade the reader of your argument by

including

relevant

information from the text, but

also remember to point out any flaws and counter-arguments as well. Conclude by stating clearly how far you are in agreement with the original proposition

.

Then of course re-write the prompt. Try this:

Amir is forgiven for everything he has done to Hassan by the time the novel ends.Slide7

Does Amir achieve complete redemption and atonement in the novel? Continued….

Sample Introduction

One of the central themes of

‘The

Kite

Runner’

by Khaled Hosseini,

is atonement and

whether Amir truly redeemed himself for what he

did to Hassan

. The quest for redemption makes up much of the novel’s

plot. Throughout

his childhood,

Amir’s

greatest struggle was to redeem himself to Baba for

killing

his mother during childbirth, and for growing up a disappointing

son, so much unlike Baba.

After Hassan’s rape, Amir spends the rest of his life trying to redeem himself

for betraying his

loyal

friend

.

His need for atonement

culminates in Amir’s return to Afghanistan and his attempts to save and adopt Hassan’s son

Sohrab

. This journey and Amir’s decisions along the way come to head and prove that he does achieve redemption.Slide8

The relationship between Amir and his father acts as a catalyst for the events in

The Kite Runner.

Discuss

A ‘discuss’ type of prompt

is best tackled as a debate where you are using your skill

at

reasoning, backed up by carefully by selected evidence to make a case for and against an argument. In discussing your debate, you should point out the

advantages and

disadvantages of a given context, (in this case the

relationship between Amir and his father being the main reason for what happens in the novel).

Remember to arrive

at

a conclusion.

Now let’s rewrite the question –

Because of the relationship between Amir and his father’s the story of ‘The Kite Runner’ can continue.Slide9

The relationship between Amir and his father acts as a catalyst for the events in

The Kite Runner.

Discuss Continue………….

Sample Introduction

In

‘The

Kite

Runner’

,

Khaled Hosseini uses the complex emotional bond between

Amir

and

his father as the catalyst which propels the narrative forward. Hosseini tells us that a

bond so cherished and sought after, may not always be one of love, but one filled with pain and

longing.

Baba has little emotional attachment to his son

early on and

because

of this emotional

detachment

Amir is denied the

fatherly

figure needed

in his life.

This

neglect and lack of fatherly interest created the problem prevalent throughout the entire

story, that is the need for a father’s love

and empathy. In his desperate attempt to win his father’s love, Amir makes the decision to lie and betray Hassan. The complexities of his decision is what moves the narrative forward. Slide10

Amir finds a ‘way to be good again’ and frees himself of guilt. Discuss

A ‘discuss’ type of prompt

is best tackled as a debate where you are using your skill

at

reasoning, backed up by carefully by selected evidence to make a case for and against an argument. In discussing your debate, you should point out the advantages and disadvantages of a given context, (in this case

by going back to Afghanistan and adopting

Sohrab

, Amir becomes good again).

Remember to arrive

at

a conclusion.

Now let’s re – write this prompt: Amir is no longer guilty of his crime because he goes back to

Afghnaistan

,

adopts

Sohrab

and bring him back with him to the U.S.Slide11

Amir finds a ‘way to be good again’ and frees himself of guilt.

Discuss Continue……

In

‘The

Kite

Runner’

,

Khaled

Hosseini presents his protagonist Amir as a complex character who is forced to face his nemesis in order to redeem himself. Amir

becomes good again by returning to Afghanistan and rescuing

Sohrab

, who, he discovers is his

nephew.

 Since he had failed Hassan when they were both children, this is a form of redemption for him. 

In rescuing

Sohrab

, Amir

has to not only face

Assef

his adversary but escape war torn Afghanistan and leave the country safely with the boy. In doing this, Amir risks his own life, the life of

Soharab

and faces the demons of his past in doing so. By conquering his daemons and risking his own life in the process and finally adopting the son of his half brother, Amir finally frees himself of guilt.Slide12

How does masculinity play a central role in

The Kite Runner?

When answering a HOW question,

present your argument

in a logical order, and with reference to relevant evidence the

stages

and combination of factors that give rise to something

.

Now let’s re-write the prompt: Masculinity is one of the main drivers of the novel.Slide13

How does masculinity play a central role in The Kite Runner

? Continued…….

Sample Introduction

Masculinity is a major theme

in ‘The Kite Runner’.

In fact, there

aren't a lot of women in

the novel. Hosseini

really only spends time

writing about

two

women

:

Amir’s wife

and mother-in-law.

Hosseini’s protagonist Amir, grows

up in a household full of

men

and his father embodies a robust

masculinity. Amir challenges this traditional model

of manhood

.

Amir isn't the masculine Pashtun Baba wanted. He isn't a sports-playing, bear-hunting man of a boy.

The novel asks some tough questions about what it really means to be an Afghan man – or a man in general – and ultimately embraces some ideas of traditional manliness

. Amir’s desire to become the man and son Baba always wanted

leads to disastrous consequences.