The Kite Runner (Chapter 7)

Unconcealed Past

Betrayal, Guilt, Sacrifice

"For you a thousand times over!" (Page 67, Hassan) (Foreshadowing of sacrifice)

"'There's no monster,' you say, 'I'll show you all.' And before anyone can stop you, you dive into the water, start swimming away. I follow you in and we're both swimming" (Page 59, Hassan) (Foreshadowing of betrayal.)

"He was going to miss prayer tonight, though, because of me" (Page 69, Amir) (Guilt)

"I hit him with another pomegranate, in the shoulder this time. The juice splattered his face. 'Hit me back!' I spat. 'Hit me back, goddamn you!' I wish he would. I wished he'd give me the punishment I craved," (Page 81, Amir) (Guilt)

"They change the name of the lake after that, and call it the 'Lake of Amir and Hassan, Sultans of Kabul...'" (Repetition, 60)

Bravery, Friendship

"Hassan understood I was just nervous. Hassan always understood about me." (Pg 53, Amir)

"Hassan couldn't read a first-grade textbook but he'd read me plently. That was a little unsettling, but also sort of comfortable to have someone who always knew what you needed." (Pg 54, Amir)

"Hassan clapped his hands, whistled, and ran back to me." (Pg 55, Amir)

"Remember, Amir agha. There's no monster, just a beautiful day." (Pg 54, Hassan)

Thematic Ideas

• Betrayal, Guilt, Sacrifice
• Redemption, Family
• Unconcealed Past
• Bravery, Friendship

Redemption & Family Relations

"In my head, I had planned it all: I'd make a grand entrance, a hero, prized trophy in my bloodied hands. Heads would turn eyes would lock. Rostam and Sohrab sizing each other up. A dramatic moment of silence. Then the old warrior would walk to the young one, embrace him, acknowledge his worthiness. Vindication. Salvation. Redemption" (Page 69, Amir)

"Baba was on the roof, watching me. I felt his glare on me like the heat of a blistering sun. This would be failure on a grand scale, even for me. " (Page 54, Amir)

"Then I saw Baba on our roof. He was standing on the edge, pumping both of his fists. Hollering clapping. And that right there was the single greatest moment of my twelve years of life, seeing Baba on that roof, proud of me at last." (Page 58, Amir)

Big Questions:

• What does Hassan's dream foreshadow?
• Who is the monster in Hassan's dream, what does this represent?
• How do Hassan's attributes play a role in setting up Amir's guilt?
• Why does Amir feel that he needs to prove himself to Baba and how does this affect others around him?
• In what ways are the pomegranate tree (chapter 4), and the lake symbolic, and how are they connected?

Thesis

Throughout chapter 7, the author portrays the significance and meaning of thematic ideas regarding relationships. The author uses various literary devices in order to express the following thematic ideas; betrayal, guilt, sacrifice, redemption, unconcealed past, bravery, friendship, and family relations.

The Kite Runner

Chapter 7A

Samanta Mendoza and Ashley Flores