The Kite Runner

By ginomd1

  • Hassan's Surgery

    In the winter of 1974, It was Hassan's birthday. When Hassan didn't see any wrapped gift or toy Baba said, "'I have summoned Dr. Kumar from New Delhi. Dr. Kumar is a plastic surgeon"'(Hosseini 45). in this quote, Baba shows his relationship with Hassan by paying for the surgery to fix his cleft lip. This quote is important because later on in the story when we find out that Baba is Hassan's father, we start to know why he did those things for Hassan.

  • START OF THE KITE RUNNER TIMELINE

    Created by Gino D'Ambra
    Kite Runner written by Khaled Hosseini

  • Kite Event

    When the kite event was around the corner, the author says that "In the winter of 1975, I saw Hassan run a kite for the first time"(Hosseini 55). This was a very important event because not only did Amir and Hassan win the kite event, Amir gained Baba's acceptance and was treated with appreciation. This event showed the passion from Amir and Hassan and how well they work together.

  • Hassan's Rape

    While Hassan was being raped, Amir thought, "I could step into that alley, stand up for Hassan-the way he'd stood up for me all those times in the past- and accept whatever would happen to me. Or I could run. In the end, I ran"(Hosseini 77). In this quote, Amir is put up with a decision to either help Hassan or not. This event shows Amir's selfishness for caring more about himself and not repaying Hassan for all the other times he was there for him. This demonstrates Amir's cowardice.

  • 1979

    According to http://www.bbc.co.uk, "Soviet Army invades and props up communist government."

  • Ali and Hassan Leave

    It was Amir's birthday in the summer of 1976 where Amir had a party and received many gifts. After Amir put the gifts under Hassan's mattress, Baba asked, "Did you steal that money?Did you steal Amir's watch, Hassan?'...'Yes'"(Hosseini 105). In this quote, Amir shows how he no longer wants to be friends with Hassan by setting him up. Later in the story, we find out that Baba is Hassan's father which explains why Baba was treating Hassan more like a father than how he treated Amir.

  • 1978

    According to http://www.bbc.co.uk, "General Daud is overthrown and killed in a pro-Soviet coup."

  • Communists Invade

    Russian tanks invaded Afghanistan "Bringing the death of Afghanistan I knew"(Hosseini 36) In this quote it explains the hardships of the setting where Amir lives. All these events significantly impacted many Afghans including Amir which is what led him to move to America.

  • 1980

    According to http://www.bbc.co.uk, "Babrak Karmal installed as ruler, backed by Soviet troops."

  • Hassan and Farzana are massacred

    While Amir was talking to Rahim Khan, Amir found that "in 1988, [the taliban] massacred the Hazaras in Maza-i-Sharif"(Hosseini 213). This event not only killed many Afghans bu also killed Farzana and Hassan which left Sohrab in an orphanage. This evnt affected Amir a lot becuase he wanted to speak with him and attone for the things he has done in the past.

  • Baba Dies

    During Baba's funeral, some people in the crowd said, "'...helped me build the house in Taimani...''...bless him...''...no one else to turn to and he lent me...''...found me a job...barely knew him...''...like a brother to me..."'(Hosseini 174) In this quote, the death of Baba impacted many people, especially those who he helped. This quote is important because it shows all the good deeds Baba did in his life to mask his feeling of quilt.

  • 1985

    According to http://www.bbc.co.uk, "Mujahideen come together in Pakistan to form alliance against Soviet forces."

  • 1986

    According to http://www.bbc.co.uk, "US begins supplying mujahideen with Stinger missiles, enabling them to shoot down Soviet helicopter gunships."

  • 1988

    According to http://www.bbc.co.uk, "Afghanistan, USSR, the US and Pakistan sign peace accords and Soviet Union begins pulling out troops."

  • Amir writes his first novel

    Amir always had an interest in writing stories when finally, "In the summer of 1988, about six months before the Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan, I finished my first novel, a father-son story in Kabul"(Hoesseini 182). This is a very important event because of Amir's drive to tell and write stories. This quote shows how his passion has become his job and when Rahim Khan told Amir that he had a talent of making up stories.

  • 1989

    According to http://www.bbc.co.uk, "Last Soviet troops leave, but civil war continues as mujahideen push to overthrow Najibullah."

  • Sohrab is born

    After Hassan finds his mother, "Sanaubar who delivered Hassan's son that winter if 1990"(Hosseini 211). This event has a lot of significance including finding Hassan's mother and having Hassan's and Farzara second child. The birth of Sohrab also was very important becuase it led to the only way Amir could atone for his actions with Hassan by taking care of his kid.

  • 1996

    According to http://www.bbc.co.uk, "Taliban seize control of Kabul and introduce hard-line version of Islam, banning women from work, and introducing Islamic punishments, which include stoning to death and amputations."

  • 1998

    According to http://www.bbc.co.uk, "US launches missile strikes at suspected bases of militant Osama bin Laden, accused of bombing US embassies in Africa."

  • Amir goes back to Kabul

    As Amir was sitting on the park bench in San Francisco, Amir thought of, "Come, there is a way to be good again, Rahim Khan had said on the phone just before hanging up... A way to be good again"(Hosseini 192). This talk that Amir had with Rahim Khan is what motivates Amir to go back to Kabul and atone for his wrongdoings towards Hassan. If it weren't for this talk Amir would still feel guilty for not making amends with Hassan.

  • Sohrab becomes suicidal and mute

    After Sohrab's attempted suicide, he chooses not to speak a lot. Sohrab eventually says, "I want my old life back"(Hosseini 354). This event was a very important part in the story because it shows how Sohrab has become depressed from all the situations that have been happening to him. He wants his old life back to when his family was alive and before he was taken by the Taliban.

  • Amir and Soraya Get Married

    During the "giving word", General Taheris said, "Amir jan, as for you, I welcome you to my home as a son, as the husband of my daughter who is noor of my eye...I pray for your love and our lovely Soraya jan's happiness"(Hosseini 168) In this quote, it explains how General Taheris is accepting Amir as if he were his son and wishing Amir and Soraya a great marriage and life that follows. This is an important event because this is where Amir and Soraya start living as adults and grow up.

  • Amir Confronts Assef with Sohrab

    Once Amir is shown Sohrab, he realizes that Assef is now a part of the Taliban, Assef says to Amir says,"'I wonder,' Assef said. 'I wonder why you've come all this way, Amir, come all this way for a Hazara? Why are you here?"'(Hosseini 284) This quote shows how Amir's childhood bully has become relevant towards the end of the novel. Assef raped Hassan while he did nothing. This time when Amir is faced with Assef he doesn't run away by himself but runs away to save Sohrab.

  • Plan to bring Sohrab To America

    After Faisal said that getting Sohrab a visa was very slim and Sohrab would have to go to another orphanage, Soraya calls and says, "'I heard back from Kaka Sharif. He said the key was getting Sohrab into the country. Onc e he's in, there are ways of keeping him here"'(Hosseini 343). This quote gave Amir hope to bring Sohrab back to America. Sohrab was really upset because Sohrab didn't want to ever go to a kid for homes and that ended up being the only way until Soraya called.

  • 2002

    According to http://www.bbc.co.uk, "2002 January - Deployment of first contingent of foreign peacekeepers - the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)"

  • Sohrab Smiles for the first time and they fly kites

    Int eh very end of the story, Amir says what Hassan said when they were flying kites in the kite event. Amir said, '"For you, a thousand times over'...It was only a smile, nothing more"(Hosseini 371). This quote explains the friendship that Sohrab and Amir currently have once they are in America flying kites. Sohrab's smile symbolizes how he is finally happy and how he enjoys being with Amir just like how Hassan enjoyed being friends with Amir.