The Kite Runner Journal Prompts

The Kite Runner Journal Prompts

Journal #1

(Ch. 1-2)

Directions: Write for 15-20 min in response to both of these questions:

Have you ever felt left out of a group or discriminated against? How did that make you feel?

-What do you know about other cultures that have been oppressed?

-What are some other examples around the world/throughout history of ethnic groups “quelling them with unspeakable violence” (9) ?

Amir begins the book by claiming that “I became what I am today at the age of twelve, on a frigid overcast day in the winter of 1975” (1). At the end of the chapter, we find Amir in a park, pondering something Rahim Khan said: “There is a way to be good again.”

What can one do to be “good again”? What does “good” look like/ feel like?
Amir’s mother died while giving birth to him. Do you think that Amir carries the guilt and burden of her death?

Journal #2

Ch 3 (pages 12-23)

Directions: Write for 15-20 min in response to these questions:

What does Rahim Khan mean when he says, “Children aren’t coloring books. You don’t get to fill them with your favorite colors” (21). Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not? Explain.

What kind of child do you think Baba expected? Does Amir fit his expectations? Explain.

Discuss Amir’s relationship with his father. Can you relate to Amir? Why or why not?

If you decided to have children, what do you expect your own children will be like?

Journal #3

Ch 4 (pages 24-34)

Directions: Write for 15-20 min in response to these questions:

-In Chapter 4, Amir shares his first story with Hassan & Rahim and tries to share it with his father, Baba. What is the story about?

-How does each character react to the story? How does Amir feel after sharing his story with each character?

-What is your favorite childhood story? Write a brief synopsis of it.

Journal #4

Ch. 5 (pages 48-58)

Directions: Write for 15-20 min in response to these questions:

-On page 38 we find that “Of all the neighborhood boys who tortured Ali, Assef was by far the most relentless.” How does Assef torment Ali? Use textual examples.

-What kind of person is Assef? How does he treat Hassan in chapter 5?

-Who does Assef consider a great leader? What does that tell us about Assef?

-On page 42 & 43, why does Assef threaten Hassan? What did Hassan do? Please write a summary of what occurred when Amir and Hassan came face-to-face with Assef and his friends.

Journal #5

Ch. 7 (pages 57-79)

Directions: Write for 15-20 minutes in response to these questions:

Why doesn’t Amir tell anybody about what happened to Hassan in the alley?
Do you think Amir could have stopped Assef ?
Why do you think Amir cries at the end of Chapter Seven when his father hugs him?
What is the difference between a memory and a dream? In specifics, what do the 3 memories Amir has during the traumatic event mean?
Is Amir correct in feeling that his sins are unredeemable?

Journal #6

Ch 1-8 (pages 1-100)

Directions: Write for 15-20 minutes in response to these questions:

-Who is the most interesting character in the novel so far? Why? Explain.

-Which scene in the novel stands out in your mind? Briefly describe the scene and note its importance. Explain why you remember this scene the most.

-Pick one of the following themes in this novel and discuss important people & events in the first eight chapters

Betrayal and Redemption: Amir’s quest to redeem himself makes up the heart of the novel. Early on, Amir strives to redeem himself in Baba’s eyes, primarily because his mother died giving birth to him, and he feels responsible. To redeem himself to Baba, Amir thinks he must win the kite-tournament and bring Baba the losing kite, both of which are inciting incidents that set the rest of the novel in motion. The more substantial part of Amir’s search for redemption, however, stems from his guilt regarding Hassan. (Spark notes).
Love and tension between fathers and sons: Amir has a very complex relationship with Baba, and as much as Amir loves Baba, he rarely feels Baba fully loves him back. Amir’s desire to win Baba’s love consequently motivates him not to stop Hassan’s rape. Baba has his own difficulty connecting with Amir. (Spark notes)

Journal #7

Ch 1-8 (pages 1-100)

Directions: Write for 15 minutes in response to the prompt.

Baba and Amir are able to bond over kite fighting. Kite fighting is one thing they both love, and they are both good at.

What do you like to do with your family or friends? What activities do you enjoy bonding over?

You may choose to answer in generalities and/or in specific trips/incidents.

-AND/OR-

Compare/Contrast your childhood memories with the Amir & Hassan’s childhood. Chapter 9 marks the end of telling the story of their childhood. What do you think Hassan’s life was like living somewhere else? What do you think Amir’s life was like? He mentions in chapter 10 that they had 7 different servants in five years and they didn’t trust the current servant to tell him that they were fleeing the city.

Journal #8

Ch 9-11

Directions: Write for 15 minutes in response to the prompt.

Chapter 10:

How does Baba almost die in this chapter? Explain the significance of this event and what Amir learns. Why does Baba stand up for the married woman? Why does he risk his life? IF he had been shot, he would have left Amir only 18 years and all alone!

Chapter 11:

“For me, America was a place to bury my memories. For Baba, a place to mourn his”.

Explain and respond to this discrepancy between Amir and Baba’s existence in America. Pay close attention to the scene at the grocery story & the “credit stick” in Afghanistan. How is America different for Baba?

JOURNAL COLLECTION #1

Journal #9

Movie vs book

Directions: write for 15 minutes in response to the prompt.

The movie The Kite Runner differs in many ways from the novel The Kite Runner.

Choose at least one scene from the movie & compare it to its counterpart in the book. What is similar? What is different? Why would the movie producers choose to make changes from the book?

In addition, choose at least one character from the book and compare the way that particular character is portrayed in the movie. Did you agree with the movie portrayal of that character? Did you personally imagine the character that way? Explain.

Journal #10

VOCAB REVIEW

Directions: write for 15 minutes in response to the prompt.

Write 10 original sentences using the words listed under “Completing the sentence section” on your Vocab Test Study Guide (units 1-3). Refer to the vocab list of definitions provided in the packet.

Example: Your first word is OBFUSCATE

Obfuscate means: to darken or obscure; to confuse or bewilder.

Sentence: Despite the extensive lecture, the philosophy professor only managed to obfuscatethe problem of evil in our world with extraneous information.

Journal #11

VOCAB REVIEW, PART TWO!

Directions: write for 15 minutes in response to the prompt.

*DO NOT use the same words from last class!

Example: Your first word is OBFUSCATE

Obfuscate means: to darken or obscure; to confuse or bewilder.

Sentence: Despite the extensive lecture, the philosophy professor only managed to obfuscate the problem of evil in our world with extraneous information.

Journal #12

Chapters 16-17

Directions: write for 15 minutes in response to the prompt.

One of the main themes in The Kite Runner is betrayal and redemption.

Choose one character and discuss his/her journey from betrayal to forgiveness & redemption.

Discuss specifics of the betrayal. Which characters were involved? D

Discuss the steps to redemption. How do you know the character has achieved redemption? Who offers forgiveness? How does this character’s life change after receiving forgiveness and redemption?

Journal #13- You do not need to write a full page for Journal #13. List the numbers.

Look up & choose one of the following passages, then number your journal #1-4 and answer the questions below.

p. 48 Winter- first paragraph

p. 192- around the middle of the page

p. 1-2 last paragraph p. 1 & first paragraph on p,2

p.194 – first paragraph

p.221 start “It isn’t about money, Amir!”

p. 231 – first pargraph

p. 246 returning to Kabul; the past

p. 232- tourist in his own country

p. 227 “I looked at the round face in the Polaroid….”

p. 226 Amir and Baba alike- “cliché paragraph”

Directions: Read the significant passage above. Number your answers on your paper.

What is the context and/or characters of the passage?

What is initial reaction to this passage?

What could be a possible theme? Why?
List the key words and phrases (underlined) & write the significance of those key words. Consider repetition, unusual word choice or word order, and/or literary devices.

EX:

“For you, a thousand times over” / Words that Hassan said to Amir during the kite flying tournament;
This phrase is repeated throughout the text
It reminds Amir of his betrayal of Hassan.

What are your concluding thoughts about this passage? WHY is it significant?

10/26 & 10/27

Journal #14

RED RIBBON WEEK

Directions: write for 15 minutes in response to the prompt.

READ the “Voices of Victims” sheet. You will have different stories so make sure you focus on YOUR story.

Record the name of your victim and briefly describe his/her story.

Does this story make you think twice about drinking? Do you think this could happen to you or one of your friends? Why or why not?

Has anyone in your life been impacted by drinking, drugs, and/or drunk driving?

Your journal will remain confidential.

Journal #15

Directions: write for 15 minutes in response to the prompt.

In what ways has Amir’s character been shaped or influenced by others?

The novel suggests the complex ways individual character is shaped or influenced by others. To answer this question, think about how Amir changes over the course of the novel. And ask yourself how other characters—whether major or minor—influence him. Write a thesis in which you make a clear claim about how Amir’s character is, directly or indirectly, the product of these influences. Your discussion should develop this claim, discussing in detail how Amir changes and analyzing the specific role of the other characters, using evidence to support your points.

... you’ll certainly focus on character. You may also discuss conflict, as you consider their relationships or the ways Amir changes.

Journal #16

Directions: write for 15 minutes in response to the prompt.

1) How does the novel present the relationship between the past and present?

The novel imagines recent events and conflicts, but also sets them against past events. To answer this question, think about how the novel invites us to think about the past, memory, or history, and how these things shape or influence the present. Develop a strong thesis in which you make a claim about the way the novel presents this relationship in the novel. Your body paragraphs should develop and support your claim, using specific evidence from the novel. You may choose one character or several to focus on—the choice is yours—but make sure that all your ideas are in support of your thesis.

…you’ll focus on theme, but in order to develop your ideas clearly, you’ll also need to look at character or conflict, and you may want to consider how Hosseini’s style contributes to his ideas.

JOURNAL COLLECTION #2-

DUE 11/9 & 11/10

Journal #1

In the first pages, Rahim Khan sets out a challenge to Amir: “There is a way to be good again” (2).
How does Amir attempt to take on this challenge and achieve redemption?

To answer this, first think carefully about what the novel suggests about goodness, about human flaws, their effects, and the possibility of redemption. Then, use Amir’s journey in the novel as a way to explore this idea thoughtfully. Develop a strong thesis about Amir, in which you make a claim about his struggle to achieve redemption. Your body paragraphs should develop this claim, explaining Amir’s conflicts and discussing specific steps he takes along his road to redemption, using evidence to support your points.

…you’re going to talk about the conflict that Rahim Khan’s challenge sets in motion. You may also consider character and the important themes of the novel.

EXTRA JOURNAL FOR END OF BOOK- USE LAST

Chapters 19 & 20

Directions: write for 15 minutes in response to the prompt.

Free write about The Kite Runner novel!

The front of the novel has the following quote:

“This is one of those unforgettable stories that stays with you for years. All of the great themes of literature and of life are the fabric of this extraordinary novel: love, honor, guilt, fear, redemption.” -Isabel Allende

-Respond to this quote.

DO NOT KEEP THIS SHEET !!

Journal #13

Look up & choose one of the following passages, then number your journal #1-4 and answer the questions below.

p. 49 Winter- first paragraph

p. 192- around the middle of the page

p. 1-2 last paragraph p. 1 & first paragraph on p,2

p.194 – first paragraph

p.221 start “It isn’t about money, Amir!”

p. 231 – first pargraph

p. 246 returning to Kabul; the past

p. 232- tourist in his own country

p. 227 “I looked at the round face in the Polaroid….”

p. 226 Amir and Baba alike- “cliché paragraph”

Directions: Read the significant passage above. Number your answers on your paper.

What is the context and/or characters of the passage?

What is initial reaction to this passage?

What could be a possible theme? Why?
List the key words and phrases (underlined) & write the significance of those key words. Consider repetition, unusual word choice or word order, and/or literary devices.

EX:

“For you, a thousand times over” / Words that Hassan said to Amir during the kite flying tournament;
This phrase is repeated throughout the text
It reminds Amir of his betrayal of Hassan.

What are your concluding thoughts about this passage? WHY is it significant?