In your daybook, please respond thoughtfully to the following:

Text to text—Identify a critical theme, situation, or moment within the text of The Kite Runner that reminded you of another piece of writing or text that you have read. Explain it carefully, making sure to reveal points in comparison & contrast.

Daybook writing (previous slide) Journal writing topics (www.taravangeons.com) “Who am I?” and The Kite Runner essay due via email by

Friday at 11:59pm Kite Runner project (will give at the end of class) will be

due next Friday. This weekend- read “How to Blog” and respond to the

English II- Kite Runner blog at http://vangeons.blogspot.com/ - everyone should respond at least one time to the blog by Monday evening at 11:59pm

Today, we will take notes about The Kite Runner and about the culture in which is it situated.

Writing a Literary Analysis

A routine assignment for students in literature and composition classes is to write a literary analysis. In writing such an analysis, students discuss a work of fiction or poetry in terms of one or more elements of the work. For example, a story may be analyzed in terms of the importance that setting plays to the story; in terms of a particular problem it presents to the reader; in terms of specific symbolism in the work; or in terms of a character’s or an event’s role in the story.

Avoid the use of the first person (I) and second person (the pronoun you) in making your point.

Also stay away from writing that focuses on the writing process (“This paper will attempt to explain the symbolism in The Scarlet Letter . . .”) instead of the topic at hand (“The Scarlet Letter is rife with symbolism . . .”).

Do not use Firstly, Secondly, Thirdly, In Conclusion

1. Essays should consist of a minimum of 5 to 7 paragraphs:

1 introduction with thesis statement3 to 5 text paragraphs1 conclusion / summary

2. Paragraphs must be well-developed with strong topic and supporting sentences. Make sure to use complete sentences, good grammar, and correct spelling.

Spelling. Capitalization. Underline books Write in present tense (“Amir is an antihero”- Not,

“Amir was an antihero.” Do NOT use contractions e.g. Don't, wasn't, can't,

didn't, etc.  Avoid making evaluation comments e.g.

"tremendous, beautiful, brilliant, wonderful," etc. Never start or finish your essay with a quote or a

dictionary definition.

by Khaled Hosseini

• Terrain – rocky and dry, mountainous in the central part of the country

• Climate – hot summers, cold winters • Geography – borders Iran, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikstan

• In the 19th century, Afghanistan ceded many territories to Great Britain.

• In 1919, the Anglo-Afghan wars returned the ruling power to the Afghani monarchy.

• In 1973, the king’s brother staged a coup to create a Republic.

• In 1978, communists overthrew the ruler and took over the government.

• In 1979, the Soviet Union sent troops to Afghanistan to bolster the communist regime.

• The Soviet occupation resulted in a mass exodus from Afghanistan. Over 5 million people left the country and settled mainly in Pakistan.

• However, the world-wide push against communism was considerable, and the Soviet Union finally left the country in 1989 after much opposition from rebel groups inside Afghanistan.

• The chaos that was left by the Soviet withdrawal spawned the rise of the Taliban, and it seized Kabul in 1996.

• Under the Taliban’s rule, human rights and civil liberties were slowly peeled away.

• The Taliban instituted cruel and inhumane treatment of those who opposed them in order to solidify their power over Afghanistan’s citizens.

• In the beginning of The Kite Runner, the monarchy is still in place and the country is relatively calm. However, chaos starts to erupt as the king is overthrown by his brother.

• In the second half of The Kite Runner, the Taliban is in power, creating a much more volatile and dangerous Afghanistan.

A religion based on the interpretations of God’s word by the prophet Muhammad found in the Qu’ran (sometimes spelled Koran)

Followers of Islam, Muslims, are devoted to daily prayer (five times a day facing Mecca, the holy city).

• There are several tenets of Islam, but there are three mentioned early on in the book:• Zakat – charitable giving• Hadj – pilgrimage to Mecca• Namaz – five daily prayers facing Mecca

The Kaaba or "Cube" is a circular building located inside the al-Masjid al-Haram mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The mosque was built around the original Kaaba.

The Kaaba is the holiest place in Islam.[2] The qibla, the direction Muslims face during prayer, is the direction from their location on Earth towards the Kaaba. It is around the Kaaba that ritual circumambulation is performed by Muslims during the Hajj (pilgrimage) season as well as during the Umrah (lesser pilgrimage).

The Black Stone is a significant feature of the Kaaba, believed by Muslims to date back to the time of Adam and Eve. Located on the eastern corner of the Kaaba, it is about 30 cm (12 inches) in diameter and surrounded by a silver frame. Hajj pilgrims often attempt to kiss the Stone as Muhammad once did. Because of the large crowds, this is not always possible, and so as pilgrims walk around the Kaaba, they are to point to the Stone on each circuit.

Tradition has it that the Black Stone was white when it came to Earth, subsequently turning black under the burden of humanity's sins.

According to the Qur'an, the Kaaba was rebuilt by Ibrahim (Abraham) and his son Ishmael. Islamic traditions assert that the Kaaba "reflects" a house in heaven called al-Baytu –Mamur and that it was first built by the first man, Adam. Ibrahim and Ismail rebuilt the Kaaba on the old foundations.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzAJIXwc49A

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4132858888586976866&ei=uUasSOenA4fy4AL-z5Qi&q=about+the+Kaaba+mecca&vt=lf

Info on Islam http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/muslims/etc/faqs.html

• Islam is divided into two denominations, Shia and Sunni. Because of the differing views of these two groups, they maintain a rather tense and hostile relationship.

• The Pashtun (majority) are typically Sunni, and the Hazara (minority) are typically Shia.

• Thus, the racial differences are compounded by the religious differences.

The distinct racialdivision inAfghanistan occursbetween the Hazaraand the Pashtun.The Pashtun are themajority race, anddiscriminationagainst the Hazarais widespread.

• The Hazaras are mosteasily identified by theirtendency to have light coloredand almond shapedeyes and round faces.• They are possibly directdescendents of GenghisKhan, who invadedAfghanistan in the 13thcentury.• Thus, they are seen as“invaders” and not trueAfghanis.

The Hazaras typically function as the servant

class and partake in few of the freedomsenjoyed by the Pashtun upper-class.

• jan – a term of endearment often used after a person’s name: Baba jan

• agha – leader, ruler, master, lord• sahib – friend (original), lord• naan – bread• Other words will be explained in context

on a need-to-know basis

• Amir – the main character; narrator• Baba – Amir’s father; wealthy Afghani• Rahim Khan – Baba’s best friend and

business partner; an uncle to Amir• Hassan – Amir’s best friend; servant• Ali – Hassan’s father

• Is it ever appropriate or necessary to remain a silent bystander when someone is being hurt (physically or emotionally)?

• Is it possible to atone (make amends) for our wrongdoings?

• Do we have an obligation to be loyal and truthful to our friends and family members?

As a pair or trio, will create a teaching lesson. You will be asked to create a PowerPoint

presentation and a subsequent study guide incorporating all of these items, and teach your presentation to the class. All power points should be emailed to me as well before you present them. That way I can have them ready on my desktop for you to present. You will get a group grade, an individual test grade, and a quiz grade.

You must use text from the novel to support your claims.

Note- you are not to use any outside sources for this project. The only source you may use is the novel.

Group One- Symbolism in the novelGroup Two- Characterization of AmirGroup Three- Characterization of HassanGroup Four- Foreshadowing in the novelGroup Five- Compare and Contrast - America/AfghanistanGroup Six- Compare and Contrast- Pashtuns/HazarasGroup Seven- Imagery in the novelGroup Eight- “Man’s Inhumanity To Man” as a theme in the

novelGroup Nine- Tone and Mood in the novelGroup Ten- Theme of “the strength of character” in the

novelGroup Eleven- Theme of “discrimination and bigotry” in the

novel