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Kite Runner & the History of Afghanistan
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Amir's birth
In Kite Runner it says, "I became what I am today at the age of twelve, on a frigid overcast day in the winter of 1975." (pg 1 Kite Runner) This allows us to understand that he was born sometime in 1963. -
Hassan birth
In Kite Runner it says, "It was there in that little shack, that Hassan was born in the winter of 1964, just one year after my mother died giving birth to me." (page 6 Kite Runner) This tells us that Amir is a year older than Hassan and that this is when Hassan was born. -
The supposed "shooting ducks."
In the Book "The Kite Runner" it explains the shooting and bombing that went on that nightby saying, "We stayed huddled that way until the early hourse of the morning. the shootings and explosions had lasted less than an hour but they had frightened us badly, because none of us had ever heard gunshots in the streets. They were foreign sounds to us then." (pg 36 Kite Runner) -
Introduction of Assef
In "The Kite Runner" it says, "If you were a kid living in the Wazir Akbar Khan section of Kaboul, you knew about Assef and his famous stainless-steel brasss knuckles, hopefully not from personal experience." (Hosseini 38) This is a great introduction of Assef because it already tells the reader that Assef is the big bully in their area and it is a possible foreshadowing of his brass knuckles. -
Hassan has his lip fixed
In "The Kite Runner" it says, "[Hassan] looked from Dr. Kumar to Baba to Ali. His hand touched his upper lip." (Hosseini 46) This is an important event in Hassans life and it forshadows with the knowledge of Hassan never smiling again. -
Hassan is violated
In "The Kite Runner" Assef says, "And there's nothing sinful about teaching a lesson to a disrispectful donkey." (Hosseini 74) This is right before Hassan is violated and Assef is trying to make it sound like it right for this to happen. -
Amir's 13th birthday party
In "The Kite Runner" Assef says, "I picked out your present myself." (Hosseini 95) Assef picked an autobiography of Hitler because Assef suported Hitler and he knew it bugged Amir. This is another example of Assef as a bully who goes a little over the top. -
Hassan and Ali leave
In "The Kite Runner" Ali says, "We are leaving, Agha sahib." (Hosseini 106) This is the part in the book where Hassan and Ali leave Amir and Baba. They leave because of what happened to Hassan and the surrounding which leaves Baba in tears. -
Soviet troops
In the article it says, "the first Soviet troops parachuted into Kaboul on Dec. 27, 1979, to assist babrak karmal," (pg 2 The New York Times Article) -
Baba stands up for women on the transport
In "The Kite Runner" it says, "The Russian soldier's grin never faltered when he heard the stranslation. He clicked the safety on the gun. Pointed the barrel at Baba's chest. Heart pounding in my throat, I buried my face in my hands. The gun roared." (Hosseini 116) Baba doesn't die as the gun fired was one of anotherr russian soldier behind the one with the gun pointed at Baba. Baba stopped the soldier from raping a wife and a mother of a family by standing up to the guard showing Baba's care. -
Amir Graduates high school
In "The Kite Runner" it says, "That summer of 1983, I graduated from high school at the age of twenty." (Hosseini 131) This is an important part in Amir's life because he now has the major qualifications to do a few low paying jobs to sustain his family. It also is a step towards integrating into His new life. -
Baba diagnosed with lung cancer.
In "The Kite Runner" it says, "It turned out that, like Satan, cancer had many names." (Hosseini 155) This is a turning point in Amir's life as Baba is now diagnosed with a deathly cancer. Baba refuses to go through chemotherapy to prolong his death and Amir's life changes. -
Amir gets married
In "The Kite Runner" it says, "And I remember wondering if Hassan too had married." (Hosseini 171) This is the transition in Amir's life. He loses Baba but Gains Soraya. It also is a time were he thinks about Hassan, not a whole lot but he definately still remembers. -
Baba dies
In "The Kite Runner" it says, "Baba never woke up." (Hosseini 173) Baba dies and Amir switches his dependency to Soraya. Baba's funeral was attended by every afghan in the area in their local mosque. -
Soviet troops left Afghanistan
In the Article it says, "Eventually, after peace talks moderated by the United Nations, the last Soviet troops left Afghanistan in February 1989,"(pg 2 The New York Times Article) -
Hassan dies.
In "The Kite Runner" it says "-and shot [Hassan] in the back of the head." (Hosseini 219) Amir is absolutely shocked by the news of Hassans death. Hassan is now dead and Amir can't do anything to repay Hassan for what he did. -
Amir and Soraya can't have a biologically related offspring.
In "The Kite Runner" it says, "he sat acrosss from us, tapped his desk with his fingers, and used the word adoption for the first time." (Hosseini 186) This is a dip in Soraya and Amir's relationship but they find a way in the end to have children. -
Pakistan help
In the article it says, " As early as 1994, Pakistani intelligence officers began funneling arms, money and supplies to Mullah Omar's men, as well as military advisors to help guide them in battle." (pg 3 The New York Times Article) -
Taliban takeover
In the Article it says, "By the end of 1994 Mullah Omar had nearly 12,000 followers and was rolling up the warlords to the north and east." (pg 2 The New York Times Article) -
Rahim Khan sick
In "The Kite Runner" Amir says, "Rahim Khan is very sick." (Hosseini 190) This is why Amir Goes to Afghanistan. -
Terrorist attack on U.S.
In the article it says, "The sept. 11 attacks by Al-Qaeda." (pg. 1 the New York Times article) -
United States military
In the article it says "The United States has been militarily involved in Afghanistan since 2001" (pg. 1 The new york Times article) -
Sohrab is introduced in captivity.
In "The Kite Runner" it says "The resemblence was breathtaking. Disorienting. Rahim Khan's Polaroid hadn't done justice to it," (Hosseini 279) We meet Sohrab here who is almosta copy of Hassan in Amir's eyes. Amir is in taliban areas with Assef and trying to get back Sohrab. -
Taliban defeat
In the article it says, " Despite their defeat in 2001, the Taliban continued to wage guerrilla warfare from a base in the mountainous and largely lawless tribal area on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border." (pg 3 The New York Times Article) -
Obama and troops into Afghanistan
In the article it says, "drawing troops out of Iraq and increasing the numberin Afghanistan by almost 50,000." (pg 1 the New York Times article) -
Obama speech
In the article it says, " In a speech delivered Dec. 1, 2009, at West Point, Mr. Obama announced his plan to deploy 30,000 additional troops." (pg 4 The New York Times Article) -
Obama's plan
In 2011 obama planned for "United States forces will have forces in the country until at least the end of 2014." (pg 1 The New York Times Article) -
Amir is beat up by Assef for the last time.
In "The Kite Runner" it says "Another rib snapped, this time left lower. What was so funny was that, for the first time since the winter of 1975 I felt at peace. I laughed because I saw tht, in some hidden corner of my mind, I'd even been looking forward to this. I remembered the day on the hill I had pelted Hassan with pomegranates and tried to provoke him." (Hosseini 289) Assef is kicking Amir's butt and all he does is smile and laugh because he feel that he has made up for his mistakes.