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Hassan's Birth
When the story begins, Amir describes the shack where "Hassan was born in the winter of 1964" (6). This is extremely important because Hassan was born after Amir, which means after Sofia's death. This information becomes important when we learn that Hassan is Baba's illegitimate son. -
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Kite Runner and Afghanistan History
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Period: to
Afghanistan History
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The Night of Gunshots
Amir remembers the day the shah was overthrown as a child when "Ali had taken [he] and Hassan in his arms" and told them "not to be afraid" (365). That had been the end of the Afghanistan he had known and the start of a time full of fighting and war. It was the night that would eventually cause him and millions of other Afghans to flee into the uncertainty of America. -
Amir turns thirteen
Amir says that "in the summer of 1976, [he] turned thirteen" (92). Baba throws him a lavish party and everyone comes to celebrate with him. Assef gives him a book about Hitler, shaking him up quite a bit and he realizes the party isnt for him, it is for his father to show off what he has and his aging son. -
Soviet Troops Arrive
The New York TImes states "the first Soviet troops parachuted into Kabul on Dec. 27, 1979"(2). -
Baba and Amir move to America
After some time in Peshewar, Amir and Baba move to an apartment near "Lake Elizabeth Park in Fremont" in the UNited States (125). Thier lives completely turn around. In America, Baba is no longer a wealthy man with power, he is now only an immigrant who is forced to work long hours at a gas station. -
Baba and Amir flee Afghanistan
After years of turmoil in their homeland, Baba and Amir journey out of Kabul in "the tarpaulin-covered cab of an old Russian trcuk" in secret (110). They leave everything behind, besides one suitcase each and are forced to leave their house untouched so they can make it out of the war ravaged Afghanistan witohut detection. -
Amir graduates
After living in America for awhile, Amir "graduate[s] from highschool, at the age of twenty" (131). Baba is very proud of him and wears a suit to the ceremony. After some protest, Baba persuades Amir to go to college instead of working and helping Baba out, who has begun to work himself to death. -
Amir's novel
In 1988 Amir finishes his "first novel, a father-son story set in Kabul" on his typewriter (182). It is the beginnig of his career as a writer and is remeniscent of the beginning of the novel when he wrote stories in his journal and dreamed of becoming a writer. -
Soviet troops leave
After peace discussions "the last soviet troops left Afganistan in Ferbruary 1989" after being there nine years (2). -
Soraya tells her parents
After a series of doctors appointments and exhausting all possibilities, "Soraya broke the news to her parents" that she and Amir could not have a baby (186). This leads to tension and causes both of them sadness and dissapointment. -
Osama BIn Laden arrives
Osama Bin Laden "arrived by chartered jet at Jalalabad Airport in May 1996" (3). -
Taliban takes control
The Taliban, an extremist Islamic Group, "seized control in 1996 after years of civil war" (1). -
Amir hears from Rahim Khan
In America, Amir gets a hone call from Rahim Khan and finds out that he is "'very sick"'. He immediately tells his wife that he needs to go to Pakistan to see his dying role model. this is the start of his adventure in Afghanistan and the beginning of the truth coming out. -
Sohrab Arrives
After a long problem in the hospital, they "arrived home... on a warm day" (357). Sohrab never completely agreed to come and has fallen into a deep depression. Even afte rbeing a dopted, he still does not talk or do normal kid things in America. -
American Embassy
In the American embassy, Amir tells an agent about his plans and asks for help adopting Sohrab. The agent gruffly tells him that it is "'just about impossible" (331). This presents Amir with problems and he has to figure out how to keep Sohrab with him and out of an Orphanage. -
Al Qaeda Terrorism Attack
On September 11th 2001, Al Qaeda and Bin Laden organized a terrorist "attack on the World Trade Center in New York" (3). -
Nine Eleven
The "twin towers came crumbling down and, overnight, the word changed" (362). Amir notices that everywhere around him, American flags are more common and everyone is a patriot all of a sudden. This causes his homeland of Afghanistan to be bombed, and before long, his country is rubble. -
Amir meets with the Lawyer
After leaving the embassy, AMir meets with a lawyer named Omar Fasail in hopes he can help them adopt Sohrab but he does not give good news. he tells Amir that it may be necessary to "relinquish him to an orphanage" in Pakistan (339). this could be the only option and Amir is faced with a difficult decision. -
Sohrab Attempts Suicide
After Amir breaks the news to Sohrab that he may need to go back to an orphanage for awhile, he is in despair and is absolutely terrified. AMir finds out soon after, on the same night, that they will be able to adopt him and runs to tell him. he sees him in the blood filled tub and falls "on[his] knees, screaming" (343). This desperate moment turns out to be the turning point that silences Sohrab and stays with him not only in his scars, but his mind. -
Hamid Karzai as Interum Chairman
The New York Times states that "In Dcember 2001, Hamid Karzai... was named chairman of an interum government that replaced the defeated Taliban, making him the ruler of the country" (3). -
Taliban Defeated
After 9/11 "an air and ground campaign began that drove the Taliban out of the major Afghan cities" they continued to wage GUerilla warfare after "their defeat in 2001" (3). -
Afghan New Year Party
After months of Sohrab being silent and blending Amir finally offers him a kite and manages to get "a smile" and is ecstatic (370). Together they cut a kite out of the sky and Amir runs it, repeating Hassan's words "for you a thousand times over". -
Mr. Karzai elected
Mr. Karzai "took office as interim president in June 2002" after serving for a year as Chairman (3). -
General Petraeus Takes Over
the former Iraq commander "General Petraeus... had taken charge of United States Central COmmand in October 2008" (4). -
President announces more troops deployed
In "a speech deliverd Dec. 1 2009... Mr. Obama announced his plan to deploy 30,000 troops"(4).