He is a violent sociopath who is driven to assert dominance over others in ways that include violating, harming and killing other people. The story is ridden with strife, betrayal, corruption and deceit, and the central character, amir, is forced to reconcile his haunting and troublesome past. Sohrab is the bait that rahim khan uses to lure amir back to the middle east. Assef becomes a member of the taliban who idolizes adolf hitler and abuses his position of power in order to demonstrate the political muscle of the men in charge. Instant downloads of all 1291 litchart pdfs including the kite runner. The characters in the kite runner that show problems of mental illnesses are amir, sohrab, and assef. His hands were so large that they seemed capable of uprooting a willow tree. Assef is an antagonist from khaled hosseinis 2003 novel the kite runner, and its.
Amir struggles to win his fathers love and feels jealous. The kite runner assessment yazmine, shealeigh, dreana, alyssa 1 when amir is explaining the importance of sohrab smiling, what metaphor does he use. The kite runner, 2003, khaled hosseini the kite runner is the first novel by afghanamerican author khaled hosseini. Sexual deviance often starts to show itself at a younger age. Jan 20, 2014 journal one khaled hosseini marvelously captivated me with the opening pages of his international bestseller the kite runner. The story is set against a backdrop of tumultuous events, from the fall of afghanistans monarchy through the soviet military intervention, the exodus of refugees.
Character sketches of amir and hassan the kite runner. What is the physical description, role, and characteristics. What are character traits for baba in the kite runner. The symbolism and themes of the book are evident in the movie also. Mental illness in the kite runner the kite runner written by khaled hosseini a dramatic and emotional life story of life in afghanistan. Whats odd is that amir often identifies himself with assef, or with a talib executioner. Near the end of the novel we find that hassan is actually amirs half brother. Historical background is slightly more detailed in the novel, but either the book or movie make an excellent supplement to a modern history curriculum. Rape occurs several times in the kite runner as the ultimate act of violence and violation short of murder that drastically changes the lives of both the characters and the country. When spring comes, it melts the snow one flake at a time. Amir and his fathers servants son, hassan, develop a.
And while at a first glance most would assume that the book is just showing how violent afghanistan was, it was actually hosseni trying to. The kite runner, is set against a backdrop filled with hostility and commotion. Amir and his fathers servants son, hassan, develop a strong. Hassan is in the beggining amir boy of the house servant. Not only is assef a villain, but he also symbolizes all villainy. Assef is the most unambiguously evil character in the novel, emphasized by the fact that assefs hero as a. He is the leader of the taliban, so he was the one that turned afghanistan into a very different country than it used to be. The unforgettable, heartbreaking story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his fathers servant, caught in the tragic sweep of history, the kite runner transports readers to afghanistan at a tense and crucial moment of change and destruction. A racist who wishes to rid afghanistan of hazaras, he is incapable of remorse and enjoys inflicting violence and sexual abuse on those who are powerless. The kite runner cliffsnotes study guides book summaries. After awkwardly excusing himself, he unwrapped the present alone. Overall, the movie and book differences for the kite runner do not affect the poignancy of the story.
Like his father, sohrab is excellent with a slingshot. If hassan represents all that is good and kind, assef represents all that is evil and cruel. The mystery of what occurred on the frigid overcast day in the winter of 1975 and the first person narration creates an enticing first chapter. Describe the character of baba physically, socially and. Journal one khaled hosseini marvelously captivated me with the opening pages of his international bestseller the kite runner. A conflicted character, amir struggles between the logical and emotional sides of his being. Assefassef is a very mean man and does horrible things to hassan and sohrab. Hassan overcomes a number of obstacles to become a positive influence in the life of amir, the main protagonist in the kite runner. Assef assef is a very mean man and does horrible things to hassan and sohrab. There are more peripheral instances of rape as well it is implied that kamal, one of. This is an analysis of the character of assef in the kite runner which uses many quotes from throughout the novel.
The mood created by housseinis description of the crowd watching the. Just the simple way he refers to hassan as prince or the way he chooses to lie about. He taunts both amir and hassan, and ultimately he corners hassan in an alleyway and rapes him. Amirs courageous and violent encounter with assef to save sohrab ultimately enables him to transcend the inadequacy of character that was of such concern to his father. Amir relates to holden caulfield from the catcher in the rye through speech, action and internal suffering. The kite runner is a story written by violence, from hassans rape to amirs beating, almost every major point in the story is about a violent act. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Published in 2003 by riverhead books, it tells the story of amir, a young boy from the wazir akbar khan district of kabul, whose closest friend is hassan. Both children grow up with a measure of privilege, and both children hurt hassana socially and economically disadvantaged hazarawhen they abuse this privilege. Assef hassans and sohrabs rapist and the novels antagonist. Assef is a kabul bully who ends up joining the taliban. He gives a biography of hitler to amir for a gift, he rapes hassan, and thinks god wanted him to live for a reason. She resembles amir because she also has a checkered past.
Describe the physical characteristics of each character. Assef also showed off regarding his fathers relation to daoud khan. As amir fights assef to save sohrab, he is ultimately fighting the darkest part of himself that betrayed hassan. For each of the three characters answer the following questions. Hassan refuses to give up the kite, and assef severely beats him and rapes him. There are three central characters in the kite runner amir, hassan and baba amirs father. Assef wants to rid afghanistan of the hazaras, and he will do whatever he can to do so. After spending years in california, amir returns to his homeland in afghanistan to help his old friend hassan, whose son is in trouble.
Mar 30, 2011 journal one khaled hosseini marvelously captivated me with the opening pages of his international bestseller the kite runner. Assef even provides a copy of hitlers biography to amir on his birthday. What instances of irony are in the story the kite runner. In the kite runner, what physical traits does amir have. Teach your students to analyze literature like litcharts does. Analysis of the character of assef in the kite runner khaled. The kite runner became an international bestseller, with more than eight million copies in print.
Amirs laughter at the time assef was assaulting him signals that he is transcending the physical pain with emotional release. Film education resources the kite runner characters. These traits help us to understand why the reader admires hassan throughout the novel. Even if we thought really, really hard, were not sure we could come up with a single good quality in assef. Assef is also a racist against all hazaras so he wants to do anything in his power to get rid of them. A very clear descriptin of hassan is given on in the first 3 pages of the second chapter of the kite runner. May 29, 2003 the kite runner, 2003, khaled hosseini the kite runner is the first novel by afghanamerican author khaled hosseini. Amir amir is the narrator and protagonist of the novel and is a pashtun and sunni muslim. Oct 28, 2008 amirs courageous and violent encounter with assef to save sohrab ultimately enables him to transcend the inadequacy of character that was of such concern to his father.
The kite runner characters from litcharts the creators. The kite runner by khaled hosseini freebooksummary. This novel portrays two children growing up in the country afghanistan. In the kite runner how does the development of assefs character throughout the novel compare to that of hassan and amir assef is portrayed as a true antagonist to hassan and amir, and his actions are cruel and evil. Assef first appears with his companions to taunt and bully amir. There are more peripheral instances of rape as well it is implied that kamal, one of hassans tormentors, was raped by soldiers, and. Sep 12, 2010 because he is the narrator, it doesnt look like there is a physical description of him. The central act of the novel is amir watching hassan s rape by assef. Assef was a teenager, probably about 16 or 17 when he raped hassan. It is clear from the book that he has a sexual preference towards young boys and violence in general.
The kite runner by khaled hosseini was published in 2003, and though it initially didnt make a huge splash upon its publication, it soon gained prestige as the first afghan book originally written. The kite runner analysis assef by zachary white on prezi. The reader eventually discovers that hassan is actually the son of baba and sanaubar, although hassan never discovers this during his lifetime. He becomes an official in the taliban and takes hassans son from an orphanage. The mood created by housseinis description of the crowd watching the kite fighting can be best. Assef is an antagonist from khaled hosseinis 2003 novel the kite runner, and its 2007 live action film adaptation of the same name. What is the physical description, role, and characteristics of hassan from the book the kite runner. As a child, he rapes hassan, a member of the hazara minority whom he looks down.
His selfless acts live with amir long after he has moved to. From the fall of the monarchy is afghanistan, the soviet invasion, the flood of pakistani refugees into the united states, to the rise if the taliban, the reader travels through the history of afghanistan and is exposed to the eye opening events that took place. Hosseini chose to create sympathy for amir through circumstances rather than the personality he was given until the last third of the book. He tries to make amir and hassans lives miserable as his own childhood creates the monster he is in the future. Character analysis assef is assef dynamic or static. It also received numerous book awards, including the boeke prize, the barnes and noble discover great new writers award, and the literature to life award. He endures the loss of his parents, the loneliness and insecurity of the orphanage, and the daily abuse under the atrocious pedophile, assef. Unlike amir, though, soraya actually fesses up to her checkered past ok, amir eventually does, but its very late in the book. The kite runner characters from litcharts the creators of. An analysis of the setting of the kite runner synonym. Then assef offered amir his gift, a book he picked out himself. Hassan, amirs closest childhood friend, is described as having a china doll face, green eyes, and a harelip.
With khalid abdalla, ahmad khan mahmoodzada, atossa leoni, shaun toub. The kite runner is the first novel by afghanamerican author khaled hosseini. What are character traits for baba in the kite runner answers. The main characters in the kite runner are amir, baba, hassan, assef, and soraya amir is the protagonist. The kite runner study guide heanor gate science college. This essay will discuss the central themes of the book the kite runner, by khaled hosseini. In the book, the kite runner, hassan is seen to have many different characteristics. And while at a first glance most would assume that the book is just showing how violent afghanistan was, it was actually hosseni trying to show something entirely different. As well as the political conflict, private conflicts also grew worse. When we are first introduced to assef, he is very childish. A devout reader of the koran, the bottom half of his face was paralyzed, and polio destroyed the muscle in his right leg, giving him a severe limp. Even as an adult, assef uses a pair of brass knuckles to.
The kite runner by khaled hosseini tells the story of love and friendship between two half brothers. However, hassan has three major traits that are seen throughout the entire book. Baba was a physically imposing man, standing 65 with a thick beard and unruly brown hair. What are the physical traits of amir the kite runner. Living in a lavish house in the richest district of kabul, afghanistan, amir has everything he could ever wish for, except the loving attention and acceptance of his father, baba. Mocked ali and hassan for their physical deformities. What does amir in the kite runner look like answers. The antagonist of the book, assef is a fundamental muslim who believes that all hazaras should be eradicated from afghanistan. The theme of violence and rape in the kite runner from. Because he is the narrator, it doesnt look like there is a physical description of him. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on litcharts. The kite runner movie vs book differences and analysis. Because the story is told at a time before the war on terror, it brings the reader back to an afghanistan the average american never knew existed and presents the current socioeconomic reality of a united states one may choose to ignore.