The Kite Runner; Reading Group Guide; Reading Group Guide. Discussion Questions The Kite Runner. By Khaled Hosseini. The novel begins with Amir's memory of peering down an alley, looking for Hassan who is kite running for him. As Amir peers into the alley, he witnesses a tragedy. The novel ends with Amir kite running for Hassan's son, Sohrab.

I'll be teaching Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner for the first time this fall. To prepare, I've spent the last few days gathering resources and thinking about how I might frame this story when I present it to students. I teach a tenth grade World Literatures course, where students study fiction, non-fiction, and creative texts from the non-western world. As we read the various texts, we hone in on perspective - What perspective does the narrator represent/present? What perspective do we as readers from particular backgrounds and with particular experiences bring to a text? What perspective do other readers and writers offer on this text? So in thinking about how I might bring this theme into our reading of The Kite Runner, I'm considering presenting the students the basics of literary criticism to help frame the reading of the text.I've taught students literary criticism basics in the past.

We've discussed the foundations of historical, formalist, feminist/gender studies, psychoanalytical, and reader response theories as a type of lens that a reader might don to help understand the particulars of a text. By teaching literary criticism as a lens, I have found it also helps students understand some related literary tropes and devices. In the past, students have completed a WebQuest activity to help introduce the various theories.The Kite Runner could prove fruitful for this type of study. However, I worry that using this type of frame might reduce the story to nothing more than its devices and context. I suppose this is the danger when teaching literary criticism in general. I'd love your thoughts and feedback on anything I should consider as I work on this curriculum unit.In the meantime, I thought I would share some of the resources that I found online that might help others as they consider teaching this text.RESOURCES UPDATED MAY 2014.Using many of the sources listed below, I created the linked lesson plans above that I use with my tenth grade English students.Kite Runner was selected as one of the 'One Book, One Bucks County' project. This document includes a wealth of resources listed by grade-level.This document contains an excerpt from the novel, background information, and follow-up activities, including a narrative based on an incident in the reader's childhood.I want to thank the Human Rights Education Program at Amnesty International USA for this comprehensive guide to The Kite Runner film.

I think they have done a terrific service to the students, and I am grateful to them for bringing to light the nuances and many complexities of Afghan society and Afghan life via this guide.In an effort to keep a current collection of resources for teaching The Kite Runner, I am using this Pinterest board to continually curate a contemporary collection of resources.As the table of contents shows, this Study Guide is organized into sections corresponding to the requirements any teacher might consider - pre-, during and post-reading activities. One of the virtues of this novel is that it unequivocally places the reader inside the narrator's experience of the Pastun culture. At the same time, this quality may create barriers for younger readers. This guide includes writing and reading activities to familiarize students with the background, history, and culture of Afghanistan.' Promote Independent Thinking with The Kite Runner' is a curriculum unit that includes discussion questions and links to a WebQuests and unit plans.Haven't used Teachers Pay Teachers before? Check it out! Registration is free.

Teachers post lesson plans for just about anything you can think of, some for free, some for minimal cost. This is a link to all the lessons on the site for The Kite Runner.Just found this. Apparently, WikiSummaries is similar to Sparknotes with chapter-by-chapter summaries.The Afghan government banned the film more than a month ago because of a rape scene of a young boy and the ethnic tensions that the film highlights, said Din Mohammad Rashed Mubarez, the deputy minister of the Ministry of Information and Culture.

Shops selling the movie would be closed, he said.A final assessment for reading The Kite Runner. Use the links on the left side of the page to also access the teacher's materials for teaching this book.This is the Prezi that I put together to introduce the historical background of The Kite Runner. Of my introduction. Said.My brain is not functioning for a highly intellectual comment; however, I can assure you your students will BEG you to read read read.

I taught this for the first time last year and we only had ONE set to share with FOUR classes which means we read the ENTIRE book in class. I had about 10 copies that kids could check out for 2 days at a time. Many kids borrowed these books non stop. My non-readers wanted to read for our entire 82 minute periods. My honors kids read it in two days and wanted MORE (so I gave them his second book):)I didn't have great lessons with the text that I recall right now but if nothing else, this book instilled the love of historical fiction in many of my 'I have never finished a book myself inner city kids'.Good Luck!

Misaki,No, I didn't send a letter home prior to reading Kite Runner. It is a required core text in our district, meaning that all 10th grade students across levels read this book. However, I do point it out on our syllabus during our parent Back to School Night each semester. So far, I've never had a parent objection to the text.I have had objections to other required texts, in which case, I've had students read a similar alternative text.Maybe others reading this can post links to how they've approached the rape scene with students and parents. Anonymoussaid.I am a parent and I am requesting an alternative to this book. There must be better options for teaching Literary Analysis than through the sodomizing of a child and the sex slavery engaged in by a brutal drug lord.

This novel is too new to have stood the text of time and its graphic subject matter will be a distraction to the discussion among a group so young. Most parents who have read this book, do not recommend it to their 15 yr olds.

I would ask that you carefully rethink this, and DO send a letter home offering other options. Said.Anon-Thanks for the comment. I'm happy to hear parents reading the same texts their students have been assigned.

It can really make for some fruitful discussions both at home and at school.As you mentioned, Kite Runner can be used to teach literary analysis, but really, any novel can. Teachers and districts don't select a novel with just one intention in mind. Instead, The Kite Runner opens up a number of discussions about the power of literature as a reflection of culture, a reflection of values, and the danger of power, and the influence of history.

The scene that you mention in particular has made for some very valuable classroom discussions about the danger of power, the role of the bystander, and the need to stand up, have courage. I believe those are lessons that all 15 year olds should learn. In fact, it is the text that many of my students finish long before it is due, drawn into the characters and the friendship between Amir and Hassan. In its story are themes that we return to again and again throughout our studies. Using a text that less accurately portrayed the violence between the Hazaras and Pashtuns would do a disservice to culture, the story, and students' understanding of Afghanistan's history. Many of my students' parents have applauded our selection of this text, so I have to disagree with your comment that 'most parents.do not recommend it to their 15 yr olds.'

I applaud your interest in your student's reading and wish that more parents were invested like you. However, I respectfully disagree with your assessment of The Kite Runner. It is a story that 15 year olds as well as 51 year olds should read. Said.Having now taught The Kite Runner for a number of years, I have a few more resources that I should add.

But first, as this is one of my most popular posts, I would love to connect with those teachers accessing my Kite Runner teaching resources. If you are currently teaching this novel and would be interested in connecting your students with my class via Google Hangouts to discuss the text, contact me!

Here are a few more details:.I also put together some of my introductory materials in this. Please feel free to use!

I have used the trial version for an hour and decided to purchase this one. If you are dyslexic, or even if you are not, I think this is very helpful to read!”Buddhi1080 via the App Store ScreenRuler Mac FeaturesThere are three possible ScreenRuler modes that are configurable in the ScreenRuler Settings screen: RulerThis is the default setting. Downloadable ruler for computer screen. “I am dyslexic, and therefore reading screen is a really difficult to do.

Contemplation QuestionsBelow are some questions I came up with as I prepared this curriculum unit. You can use these questions in any number of ways with your students. I print them out and give them to the students so they can answer them as they read.

We usually discuss them in class after we’ve read the section. My students answer the questions in their journals. I usually take up their journals once a week to make sure the students are completing their daily work.Some of the below questions are meant more as discussion topics and are written to remind me of various passages I want to discuss with the students. For those items I listed the chapter and page number, all page numbers coinciding with Riverhead trade paperback edition. Study Guide Questions Chapters 1-10Chapter 1-3 Study Guide Questions. How old did the narrator say he was when he became “what he is today”?.

Identify Amir, Baba, Hassan, Ali, and Rahim Kahan. Who worked for whom?. What happened to Amir’s mother?. What happened to Hassan’s mother?. Define Hazara, Shi’a Muslin, Sunni Muslim, Pashtuns, and Farsi.

Discuss textbooks and objectivity. (see page 9). What does the narrator seem to foreshadow at the end of chapter 2? What is the tone?. In Chapter 3, on page 22, what do you think Baba is talking about when he states that there is “something missing” with Amir?Chapter 4-7 Study Guide Questions. Why do you think Amir states that he never though of Hassan as his friend?.

Why couldn’t Hassan read?. What does “jan” mean? Is there an English word that is similar?. When did the bombing/fighting begin in Afghanistan, according to Amir?. Identify Assef.

Discuss similarities between oppressed peoples (pages 40-1). What did Baba give Hassan for his birthday?. Explain kite running.

Why did Amir feel he must win the tournament?. What parallel is the narrator illustrating on page 76? Why?. What happened to Hassan?. What would you have done if you were Amir?Chapter 8-10 Study Guide Questions. Why do you think Amir no longer wanted to play with Hassan?.

Which character’s character seems to be more emotionally mature? Explain. Why did Amir throw pomegranates at Hassan?. What is the significance behind Assef’s birthday present for Amir?.

What story did Rahim Kahn tell Amir on his birthday? Why?. What gift did he give him?. Why didn’t anyone tell the truth?. Ca clipper 5.2 step by step 1.

What did Amir hide under Hassan’s bed? Why?. Why did Hassan lie?. Why did Hassan and Ali leave?. Where did Amir and Baba flee to?. Why could people no longer be trusted in Afghanistan?This post is part of the series: The Kite Runner: A Curriculum UnitThis series focuses on The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini as a curriculum unit and as a tool to promote independent thinking. This curriculum unit will include study guide questions as well as project ideas and lesson plans for the novel.