(Page 73-77) "A Memory:..."
-A style of writing that portrays the inner (often chaotic) workings of the character's mind.
This is the most intense part of the book so far. This leads Amir to make choices that will effect the rest of his life. Hassan is being attacked by Assef and his two friends and Amir is watching from out of sight at his friend is raped. This passage is marked by the thoughts or memories that Amir has while watching his friend. The stream of consciousness begins with a memory Amir has of his father telling him that hassan and himself were fed from the same breast as infants. This shows the closeness he and Hassan have even as children. Next Amir thinks of a dream in which he is in danger and a hand reaches out to save him. This is symbolic and shows how Amir always had help from Hassan and others but Amir denies Hassan in his time of need. Amir then remembers the sacrificing of the lamb. He is always bothered by the face the lamb has right before it is slaughtered and it reminds him of Hassan's face now. This shows how Amir has compassion and feelings but he doesn't act on these but sits back and watches the harm being done. This style of writing was appropriate for the scene. Amir was faced with danger and a choice to make. It is difficult to think clearly at times like this and these past memories show the person he has become. The style of writing allows the reader to learn more about Amir as a character and why he made the choice he did.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
motif
page 23 "morning" page 36 "sunrise" page 44 " winter" page 47"winter" page 49"winter"
Page 55"blind" page 73 "shut my eyes tight" page 81"night" page 86"night" page 95"total darkness"
Motif- a reoocuring image, word or phrase that ties back to the theme
Through out the story there is a repetition of words such as the ones listed above that are linked to the struggles Amir is dealing with. in the begining of Amir's childhood, all the chapters seem to start with morning and sunrise. However this ends and is replaced the winter that Hassan is attacked. Winter is then used through out the story stymobizing not only the season in which Hassan was abused but the way Amir felt. These feelings include cold/heartless and guilty. He was trapped with a secret and guilt. After Hassan leaves and Amir and his father have to flee the country, there are many uses of phrases that hint at darkness. These are related to the people smuggling and fear associated with it. These phrases attach important events together. They key the reader into the significance of an event and symbolicly express the emotion associated with this event.
Page 55"blind" page 73 "shut my eyes tight" page 81"night" page 86"night" page 95"total darkness"
Motif- a reoocuring image, word or phrase that ties back to the theme
Through out the story there is a repetition of words such as the ones listed above that are linked to the struggles Amir is dealing with. in the begining of Amir's childhood, all the chapters seem to start with morning and sunrise. However this ends and is replaced the winter that Hassan is attacked. Winter is then used through out the story stymobizing not only the season in which Hassan was abused but the way Amir felt. These feelings include cold/heartless and guilty. He was trapped with a secret and guilt. After Hassan leaves and Amir and his father have to flee the country, there are many uses of phrases that hint at darkness. These are related to the people smuggling and fear associated with it. These phrases attach important events together. They key the reader into the significance of an event and symbolicly express the emotion associated with this event.
Who's to blame!?
(page 77) "Maybe Hassan was the price I had to pay, the lamb I had to slay to win Baba."
Through out the book, it is a common theme that Amir is trying desperately to win Baba's approval. However Baba is not pleased with his son that never stands up for himself, cries, is scared of things, and is often car sick. As a child it is Amir's ultimate goal to be wanted by Baba and to make him proud. Amir will go to any means to do this. This is certainly clear when Hassan is attacked and Amir does not go and help him. He says at first that it may have been partly due to fear or cowardance but in the end he knew it was because he wanted to please Baba and in order to do that he needed the kite that Hassan had and he wanted to run home and be praised. Amir's wish comes true and Baba wants to spend time with him. In reality they never really get any closer and in the end Amir looses Hassan and the short-lived pride of his father. The reader's first instinct is to blame Amir for what happened to Hassan. He could have prevented it or at least lessened the horrific outcome. However I have found that the root of this evil can be traced back to Baba. If Baba had had just a little pride for his son, maybe he woun't have gone to such extremes. If Baba hadn't lied aobut Hassan being his son, Hassan wouldn't have had to endure such ridicoule. It is difficult to put the blame souly on Amir when his father has impacted the actions of his son and the people around him.
Through out the book, it is a common theme that Amir is trying desperately to win Baba's approval. However Baba is not pleased with his son that never stands up for himself, cries, is scared of things, and is often car sick. As a child it is Amir's ultimate goal to be wanted by Baba and to make him proud. Amir will go to any means to do this. This is certainly clear when Hassan is attacked and Amir does not go and help him. He says at first that it may have been partly due to fear or cowardance but in the end he knew it was because he wanted to please Baba and in order to do that he needed the kite that Hassan had and he wanted to run home and be praised. Amir's wish comes true and Baba wants to spend time with him. In reality they never really get any closer and in the end Amir looses Hassan and the short-lived pride of his father. The reader's first instinct is to blame Amir for what happened to Hassan. He could have prevented it or at least lessened the horrific outcome. However I have found that the root of this evil can be traced back to Baba. If Baba had had just a little pride for his son, maybe he woun't have gone to such extremes. If Baba hadn't lied aobut Hassan being his son, Hassan wouldn't have had to endure such ridicoule. It is difficult to put the blame souly on Amir when his father has impacted the actions of his son and the people around him.
Characterization
(Page 3) "I can still see Hassan up on that tree, sunlight flickering through the leaves on his almost perfectly round face, a face like a Chinese doll chiseled from hardwood: his flat, broad nose,narrow eyes like bamboo leaves."
The author exersices many uses of characterization in the bigging of the book. He describes characters appearances and personalities. This is known as direct characterization and speaks clearly to the audience informing them of important information about the characters and their relationship in perspective to the plot. Further more the author goes on to tell us background information about the charcters. This includes the death of Amir's mother, Hassan's mother, and the relationship between hassan and Amir as well as Baba and Ali. This keys the reader into why the character makes certain choices that influence the out come of the story. The author also allows us to fully understand the characters through their actions and behavior towards each other. Hassan takes care of Amir and cares for him dearly. This is clear through his servatude, friendship, and defense. Baba finds Amir to be a disapintment. This is clear through Baba's avoidance and frustration. This characterization puts the charcters personality and past into action and lets the reader decide what they truly think about the character.
The author exersices many uses of characterization in the bigging of the book. He describes characters appearances and personalities. This is known as direct characterization and speaks clearly to the audience informing them of important information about the characters and their relationship in perspective to the plot. Further more the author goes on to tell us background information about the charcters. This includes the death of Amir's mother, Hassan's mother, and the relationship between hassan and Amir as well as Baba and Ali. This keys the reader into why the character makes certain choices that influence the out come of the story. The author also allows us to fully understand the characters through their actions and behavior towards each other. Hassan takes care of Amir and cares for him dearly. This is clear through his servatude, friendship, and defense. Baba finds Amir to be a disapintment. This is clear through Baba's avoidance and frustration. This characterization puts the charcters personality and past into action and lets the reader decide what they truly think about the character.
Aghanistan History
(page 25) "I was Sunni and he was Shi'a, and nothing was ever going to change that. Nothing."
(page 36) "July 17, 1973 Kabul woke the next morning to find that the monarchy was a thing of the past."
The historic background of the Sunni–Shia split lies in the schism that occurred when the Islamic prophet Muhammad died in the year 632, leading to a dispute over succession to Muhammad as a caliph of the Islamic community spread across various parts of the world which led to the Battle of Siffin. Sectarian violence persists to this day from Pakistan to Yemen and is the most common element of friction throughout the Middle East. Over the years Sunni-Shia relations have been marked by both cooperation and conflict, often with deadly violence. A period of relative harmony during most of the 20th century has been replaced by conflict, particularly following the start of the Iraq War. Today there are differences in religious practice, traditions and customs as well as religious beliefs.
The Soviet War in Afghanistan was a nine-year conflict involving the Soviet Union, supporting the Marxist-Leninist puppet government of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan against the indigenous Afghan Mujahideen and foreign "Arab–Afghan" volunteers. The mujahideen found other support from a variety of sources including the United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, Pakistan, Egypt, China and other nations. The Afghan war became a proxy war in the broader context of the late Cold War.
The initial Soviet deployment of the 40th Army in Afghanistan began on December 24, 1979 under Soviet premier Leonid Brezhnev. The final troop withdrawal started on May 15, 1988, and ended on February 15, 1989 under the last Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. Due to the interminable nature of the war, the conflict in Afghanistan has sometimes been referred to as the Soviet Union's Vietnam War.
Kabul is an ideal city because of its location. It was made the capital of afghanistan. Since the 1980s Soviet war in Afghanistan, the city has been a target of militant groups. It is currently being re-developed but attacks by Taliban and other militants are slowing down the reconstruction process.
The background of the story is centered around the historical events that have taken place in Afghanistan in the past fifty years. They greatly impact where Amir goes and the choices he makes.
(page 36) "July 17, 1973 Kabul woke the next morning to find that the monarchy was a thing of the past."
The historic background of the Sunni–Shia split lies in the schism that occurred when the Islamic prophet Muhammad died in the year 632, leading to a dispute over succession to Muhammad as a caliph of the Islamic community spread across various parts of the world which led to the Battle of Siffin. Sectarian violence persists to this day from Pakistan to Yemen and is the most common element of friction throughout the Middle East. Over the years Sunni-Shia relations have been marked by both cooperation and conflict, often with deadly violence. A period of relative harmony during most of the 20th century has been replaced by conflict, particularly following the start of the Iraq War. Today there are differences in religious practice, traditions and customs as well as religious beliefs.
The Soviet War in Afghanistan was a nine-year conflict involving the Soviet Union, supporting the Marxist-Leninist puppet government of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan against the indigenous Afghan Mujahideen and foreign "Arab–Afghan" volunteers. The mujahideen found other support from a variety of sources including the United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, Pakistan, Egypt, China and other nations. The Afghan war became a proxy war in the broader context of the late Cold War.
The initial Soviet deployment of the 40th Army in Afghanistan began on December 24, 1979 under Soviet premier Leonid Brezhnev. The final troop withdrawal started on May 15, 1988, and ended on February 15, 1989 under the last Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. Due to the interminable nature of the war, the conflict in Afghanistan has sometimes been referred to as the Soviet Union's Vietnam War.
Kabul is an ideal city because of its location. It was made the capital of afghanistan. Since the 1980s Soviet war in Afghanistan, the city has been a target of militant groups. It is currently being re-developed but attacks by Taliban and other militants are slowing down the reconstruction process.
The background of the story is centered around the historical events that have taken place in Afghanistan in the past fifty years. They greatly impact where Amir goes and the choices he makes.
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