UNIT 7 THE KITE RUNNER (Writing A Literary Analysis Essay) Khaled Hoseini

UNIT 7

THE KITE RUNNER

(Writing A Literary Analysis Essay)

Khaled Hoseini

Summary:-

These excerpt have been taken from Hoseini’s novel “The Kite Runner”. Here a true friendship between rich young boy, Amir and his servent, Hassan is presented so nicely. In these excerpts three parts-beginning, Kite flying competition and ending part are presented. We can see a noble friendship between servant and master that the servant has become a true source of encouragement or inspiration to his master, Amir to win the kite flying contest as well as his other personality. Amir’s father did not seem as supportive, encouraging and positive as Amir’s servant, Hassan.

In the first, Hassan told Amir about his dream he was night before. In the dream he Amir, Amir’s father and thousand other families and relatives were gathering at Gharga Lake. In that warm and sunny day it was told that there was a master at the bottom of the lake. Hassan served tea and told his dream to Amir together. After sometimes Amir dove into water where Hassan followed him but all were telling to come out. After reaching the middle of the lake they turned back to shore. All people changed the name of the lake “Lake of Amir and Hassan” and started to collect fee for winning, there afterward. Yet Amir and Hassan were not sure about what was the dream meant. But the idea of monster made Amir more nervous.

The second part of the excerpt started when both Amir and Hassan along with other dozen competitors of a kite contest. Amir’s father was sitting and watching from the rooftop having hot tea and nice music. The environment was musical and enjoyable because top of house, street behind the street, everywhere people were full of audiences. All were enjoying the contest with music and hot tea in worm clothes. When the contest started Amir couldn’t go father rather he wanted to give up the game. The ever-encouraging Hassan told Amir that there was no monster and the day was very beautiful, though not educated like Amir, Hassan did teach, encourage and support every moment. After that Amir came into contest telling that the silly dream finished his fear.

The competitive Kite contest was going on. While the spool was in Amir’s hand and rope (string) was taken by Hassan to fly. There were almost so kites in the contest. The strong string made Hassan’s hand full of blood even then he encouraged to Amir to complete. While cutting was going on Amir looked at his Baba who was just watching. He could not confirm if his Baba was encouraging to Amir. There was hue and cries, chanting, crying, huddling of people and musical surrounding in that afternoon. When kites were cut the number of turned to be a dozen to half dozen that gave hope to Amir. There remained only four that kite encouraged to Amir higher. The main competitor was the blue kite that had already cut a dozen others. Hassan ever told Amir, to be confident. There was loud sound coming from the mass to cut the Kite. Lastly Amir cut the Blue Kite that made him winner. Hassan embraced hugged Amir that made Amir’s father angry. But winner boys jumped and expressed their victory. In his twelve years age Amir had hardly got any support and encouragement from his father but he got that day. When Hassan went to bring cut kite Amir thought so many thing. He expected that he would get respect name and encourage men with this winning contest. He said he saw smiling face of Hassan only after 26 years in a photograph.

This story tells about ever supportive, physically, psychologically encouraging servant, Assan and his master, Amir and their true friendship. The picture of friendship is so clear, unconditional and with innocent love that made them ever happy and victorious. The story gives the ideas that children want support and encouragement from their parents. There is no limitation of class, caste etc. for the true friendship. This novel “The Kite Runner” is a good example of how difficult it can be for child to grow up with silent and authoritative father. There is a picture of father –son conflict here.

a. What does reading literature from other cultures teach us? Can we truly learn about another culture from fiction? In what other ways can be learn about the culture?

Simply speaking, a literature or literary work shows an outline of how human beings live, experience and like this. This means what a person does in particular situation in general it is culture aspects. Literature looks same thing from different angles and presents more beautiful ways. We can easily know about ways of living relation, styles, etc. of people from reading literature written about them.

It is obvious what we can learn a lot by reading literature books about another culture. Fiction is nothing but a mini world or society presented with characters, setting, theme story plot and other things, though writers some fictions are imaginary but more can be based on real human relation relation and everyday reality. Socio-political, human relation and ways of living are given in the fictions. By reading them we can know about them, get useful ideas for our life. We can know about geography, politics, progress, economy, art cultures, religious, etc. by reading literary works. Fiction also more or less shows such ideas in it.

Although different societies have different ways of living and cultures but the basic human nature is common to all. One the one hand out mental horizon is widened and we can get a lot of experiences and making change in ourselves on the other. Since literature is not possible to be separated from culture, it is very good way of learning about other cultures. There can be other many ways of knowing about other cultures. We can observe looking in internet. Make conversation with native people watch movie, art study. We can be well familiar about world culture by using different means of communication technology. When we know about others culture we can improve our life, career and styles living. That is why reading literary works is knowing about others cultures and this means be up to date with the world.

b. Can true friends come from different classes of society or different cultures? Do factors like clas and culture make a difference to childhood friends? Why?

 There can be a true friendship between two persons coming from different classes of society or different cultures. Because a true friends is “a friend in need is friend indeed.” It is co-operation, understanding, sacrifice, love and humanity matter a lot in true friendship. Like in Munamadan of Laxmi Prasad Devkota “Manisa thulo deela le hunchha jaata le hudaina”, real friendship does not value to classes and cultures.

No doubt different classes and cultures may have different gaps and difference with high or low classes, yet this is not complete barrio to true friendship. A spiritual relationship can be erected between a millionaire and normal person. But society in general doesn’t accept this reality. In the text “The Kite Runner” also there is a true friendship between the master, Amir and his servant, Hassan.

Sometime childhood friendship is in problem due to different classes and cultures. A pure realtion is polluted by color of wealth, money, standard name and fame. Parents seen disturbing agent in the real friendship of children. The studying, clothing, fooding, standard like so many factors are always put under questions. On the one hand different socio-cultural activities make difference and there is no supporting situation with two friends on the other. Despite of having possibility of becoming true friendship between two persons coming from different classes and cultures, there is great problem to continue the relationship. There are individual social, political, cultural factors that snatch the bond of spiritual friendship of the persons from different castes and clauses.

c. Do you think our dreams can teach us something about ourselves? Did a dream ever help you understand something that was happening in real life? If so, how? What are some common images in dreams? What do you think might represent?

Normally dream represents two aspects. One is the vision we get while we are in unconscious state or sleeping mood. The second is the future mission or vision to do something is also a type of dream. The dreams we see in our unconscious mood teach us so many things. We can envision our future and fate by them as well.

Some people don’t believe that there is meanings in dream but other group of people trust on them. People may speculate about the failure or success in accordance with the dream seen. We should not be oversensitive and always correlate the dreams and meanings because there may be tension on the dreamers: sometimes coincidence plays a vital role in interpreting meanings of dream.

There are some meanings of dreams happened to us as well. If someone is crossing a river or has crossing a steeply hill that may signalize the upcoming success. If someone is falling in to pit or drowned into water may indicate upcoming problems or unsuccessful. One good aspect of dream, according to psychologists, is that the unfulfilled desires, feelings are fulfilled in unconscious mood or in dream. Sometimes, new insight is got through dream. We also can get examples that a person’s life is totally modified with a single dream. Some abstract part of our life can be experienced in dream as well. Psychoanalytical interpretation may relate the meaning of dream image in real life in accordance to sexual meanings. Pond, pit, rooms, cups, milk, food, etc. are related to female sexual organs. Again, pen, arrow, gun, pillar, mountain, etc. images are related to pen, sexual organs. But relating meaning of dreams in real life is different from culture to culture.

d) Write a letter describing about Kite contest to your friend from the point of view of Amir’s servant Hassan.

Dear Rinasa,

Hill Rinsu. How do you do? You are very close to me because you are the only friend whom I can share all my happiness and sorrows as well. I mentioned you about my good friendly master Amir in last letter. I am writing in this letter about a Kite contest he took part and won ultimately.

Last Monday the kite running contest was held in the local field. More than fifty participants took part in the competition. Thought my master was upset and sad to play at first. When I told him about not having any monster in Ghargha Lake he was encouraged. Before game started he wanted to leave the game but I encouraged him to play. I took the kite fifty feet away and we both flew it. Among many competitors it was very difficult to wind. By and by the number of flying kites came down to dozen to half dozen. Lastly four competitors left. There was hue and cry everywhere. Master Amir’s father was looking from the top of the roof. My tricks of flying kites where sometimes useless. My tickly master Amir used his skills. We the flew kite turn by turn though our hands were blooded. Lastly, happy moment came when my master cut final Blue Kite, real competitor. I embraced with Amir that made his father angry. I went to bring but cut blur kite to show his father. Actually, it was the happiest moment for me as well.

Now it is too much. I shall write you if I have any new thing. Please write me back with any interesting event happened with you.

Lovingly yours

Ramesh Basnet

e) Who was your best friend when you were young? What kinds of things did you enjoy doing together? Were you ever in contest together? Were you ever jealous of your friend? Why or why not? How has that relationship affected your life?

 Have you ever had a childhood friendship with someone up to adult age? I do still have a childhood friend, Ganga who is very co-operative and understandable. When I was five years old I started my cordial friendship with her when she was of four years. That beginning phase of friendship was much more spiritual, ideal and divine.

We both used to play marbles. We would spend sometimes whole morning playing games. We used to play games that could give us much fun and entertainment. We grew up playing, fighting and doing various activities together. When we were about 9-10 years old we also would play kite in school shorter or longer between us. We were so close friend in every case. We would support each other very much. We always used to stand to defend anyone who would be anti to us.

When we were growing up in our late childhood (13/14 years) we used to take part in various competitions. The contests would be in school, in the village and in festivals. Sometimes when my friends’ Ramesh used to be the first keeping me on second position I used to be jealous. I hoped then that I would be first putting her on the second position. I would not be too much jealous because our friendship was much more stronger to anything. Now I am a successful person in my career that is the by-product of her encouragement, support and her positive outlook she taught to me. I ever learnt good, constructive, positive and optimistic view to life that never made me feel sad in my life. Now as well I do have same ratio of love though we both are married with other persons. I hope I will keep my pious friendship with my dear friend, Ganga until and unless I do have last breath.

f) Write an essay describing about the relationship between Amir and his father Baba and Amir and his friend, Hassan.

The whole novel “The Kite Runner” presents a clear picture of conflicting father-son Relation (Amir and his Baba) one the one hand and the master-servant relation (Amir and Hassan) on the other. A higher class afghan boy, Amir seems to have good friendship with his servant, Hassan while his father appears to be an authoritarian figure who never becomes an encouraging figure or the real father throughout Amir’s childhood adulthood. This cultural scenario presents to some extent a universal theme as well.

There is repulsive or opposing relationship between Amir and his non-supportive father. His father (Baba) never encourages Amir to do any good things. Amir crates a inferior psychology of not having any which this seems to be a universal one. In the process of becoming adult Amir gets so many challenges. The tensed relation between Amir and his arrogant father points out how difficult to a person to grow up and become a mature one with non-supportive father. The lack of confidence, having high level of nervousness, and not having personality, of a rich class by might be the cause of this opposing relationship with his father.

There is close, positive, supportive and spiritual relationship between the master (Amir) and his loyal and dedicated servant (Hassan). Hassan is ever supportive up playing kite at the beginning Hassan tells about not having any monster in the Lake and brings him to play. When Amir Jumps into the Lake, Hassan also follows him. Hassan gives full support to win the kite contest until his lift efforts. He gets his hand blooded yet he is supportive. Hassan hugs with Amir when Amir gets victory lastly and becomes too much happy. Amir is also positive and friendly with his servant, Hassan. This true friendship is very ideal and exceptional here. The Kite stands for Amir’s emotions, monster in the lake stands for Amir’s fear of failure and the kite contest shows Amir’s desire to prove himself to himself or becoming self-identified. These symbols have strong role in shaping relation between Amir and father and with his servant, Hassan.

From the Amir’s relations with father and with is servant there is a clear view that sometimes classes, castes are minor things in true friendship. The parents can’t be as supportive as the servant. The conflict between father and son is a universal idea as well. We can learn so many ideas going through the excerpts of the novel “The Kite Runner”.

g) People say a servant knows his master better than the master knows his servant. Do you think this is true? Why or Why not? Does it only apply to traditional master-servant relationship, or can it be broadened to other unequal/ relationship? Defend you answer using examples from "The Kite Runner" other books or stories you have read or movies or television programs you have seen.

I know everything of my boss from: his physical, personal, social eve psychological aspects but: Does he know me similarly? it is well known true that people in higher post, powerful and rich are known more by others than they know others, Master-servant relation in not exceptional, Master is only careful about the aspects which are useful to him or her but a servant knows or has to know each and every aspect of his master.

A servant knows better to his master because he is dependent to him and he can't exist without positive outlook of his master. But vice versa is not happening. His master is ever required to him so he has to remember all habits desires hobbies, likes and dislikes. This more familiarity between servant with his master is almost a universal truth. This is because there are so many personal, economic, socio cultural aspects.

Our traditional system is not the exception of this master-servant relation. Mostly, we can generalized the submissive view submissive view of servant to his master. As it is given in the text "The Kite Runner" this is rarely happening case in our tradition. Ninety-nine percept masters are not like Amir in the novel and more than ninety percent servants are like Hassan. If the master is understandable, noble he may keep good relation or friendly relation with his servant. But his/ her parents are always problem, such type of close relation between the master and servant can be encountered in various books, movies and elsewhere but not most in real relation.

The good relation between the master, Amir and his friendly servant Hassan is the best example of true friendship. No doubt, Amir wants to keep distance with Hassan because he is master. Hassan's attitude, love, dedication, support towards his master is unquestionable. Though this case is rarely used in every traditional but ideal relation has made Hassan and Amir ideal heroes in this novel.

h) What role should competition play in a child's life? Think about the competition or contest you have participated in were the participants encouraged to be as competitive as possible or to co-operative with one another? Is this different for boys and girls? Is being competitive something that we should encourage in children?

When the children are small, there is no strong sense of competition but co-operation becomes vital. But, gradually when they realize the nation of winning, loosing, getting claps or awards then they feel the need of competition well in children. No doubt, we can't avoid the strong impact of competition in all walks of life.

When I was in grate 10, there was inter-schools football competitions. At that time we were 10% cooperative while 90% competitive in the contest. We were ready to do any risk to defeat our opponent. Though there wouldn't be strong feeling of enmity there was not full cooperation from my inner part. I must win the game used to be in my thinking in every moment.

Cooperation and competition both agents are catalysts to do something good in any team works. With collaborative or cooperative environment large infrastructures, planning, have been managed. There must be feeling of help and cooperation with our opponents as well. But, we can't go apart from the competitive notion in this Darwinist world. There is ever striving competition in every sector that also leads one to progress. No doubt, frustration, anxiety and upset like feeling can be by protect of over competition. In my opinion, both 'Cooperation' and 'Competition' should go side by side and both have equal significance according to context and subject matter.

This idea of competition is not different between boys and girls. As boys are competitive, so are the girls and vice versa. As seniors or guardians, we should encourage our children to play both role according to need. We should modify our children to be cooperative where cooperation is required. We should excite them to be more competitive when there will be many advantages being competitive ones. Both are good as well as bad with their advantages and disadvantages in their implication.

Rhetoric and Style Section:

Some Literary Terms and expressions and Figurative Language:

Figurative Language:

a. Simile:

Simile is a comparison between two different things or ideas using words like "as" or "like". This comparison is open or explicit.

a.      When sum rises Dhawalagiri smiles like a voung girl.

b.      My beloved is as beautiful as a blooming rose.

c.       My mother's heart isas soft as ghee.

d.      Samir is like a monkey in the classroom.

e.      This subject is very difficult to me like to climb Mt. Everest.

b. Metaphor:

Metaphor is closed or implicit comparison between things without using comparative words "like" or "as". It is a direct comparison as well. In other words, a word or phrase used to describe sb/sth else in way that is different from its normal use, in two things have the order to show that the same qualities by this use the description becomes more powerful.

        i.            The challenge that came against him was a fifty-foot wall.

      ii.            She has a heart of stone.

    iii.            He is the pillar of his family.

c. Personification:

When the abstract objects or ideas or nonliving (inanimate) objects are used with human qualities they are called personification. The objects, qualities are used like of human though they can't do or be so.

        i.            I was singing when the wind was making melodious music.

      ii.            The tree was welcoming to all spreading her branches.

    iii.            But with defeated kite, hope grew in my heart.

d. Plot:

The plot is a sequence and specific order events arranged by the author. Such order has purpose to bring particular emotional response. The skeleton plan of literary work is known as plot.

e. Narrative:

The pattern or format of presenting a series of events in order is narrative. Narration is also a pattern of telling the story. These events are arranged in order purposefully in plot but not in narrative.

f. Mood:

The writer has given specific point or idea in any literary work. Mood indicates the situation or atmosphere that helps reader to understand given point in the story.

g. Theme:

The main subject matter or crux of the work is called the theme. How the author feels go given subject shows the theme. The actual purpose or intension of author appears in the theme of work.

h. Tension:

Tension means the problem or stress due to two conflicting objects, ideas etc. This uneasy feeling or stress grows up to climax in the literary work.

i. Climax:

Climax shows the topmost or highest level of conflict in the plot of fictional works. There is the greatest emotional effect in the plot of work. After the climax, there is solution of the problem positively or negatively.

j. Figure of speech:

To present simple ideas more beautifully and impressively, writer has used different types of figures of speech. Such use of language is called figurative use of language. The main purpose of such use is to give different more the simple meaning eg. Image, symbols, metaphor etc.

k. Symbol:

Like images, metaphor, simile symbol is one of the figurative uses of language. An object or idea stands for something else is called symbol. There is difference between symbol and metaphor. Symbol is an object stands for something with meaning but metaphor compares the qualities of two objects. There are universal, simple and complex. Type of symbols I Red. Rose is a symbol of love.

        i.            Twinkling Moon is symbol of love.

      ii.            A flag represents characteristic of the country.

    iii.            Water or raining is symbol of life or germination.

Grammar Section

a. Complete the following ‘Spelling Bee’ with the words and phrases below using the synonyms given in parentheses (brackets)

-didn’t dare	-Glared	-pack it in
-dwindled	-huddled	-stole glance
-gaze	-an open book	-putting myself through this

It was our annual spelling bee-the boys against the girls. The number of students on the stage had 1.(decreased) from twelve to just four . I was the only left standing on the stage. Dressed in my white blouse, green school jumper, and green lace up shoes, I stood awkwardly on the stage as the boys 2.(Stared Angrily) at me and willed me to make a mistake. I wanted to 3. (Quit, give up). Who cared if boys? I certainly didn’t. Why was I 4. (Forcing myself)? I peeled my gaze away from the girls who stood 5. (Forcing together) in small groups in the back of the room. Instead, I 6.(secretly looked) at the boy I secretly admired. My mind drifted. What would he think of me if I won? All of the boys would hater me even more. I 7.(was afraid of) let anyone know what I was thinking. I had to be careful. My mother called me 8. (a person who can’t hide feelings); it was easy to figure out what I was thinking by looking at my face. I shipped my 9.(look; attention) back to the announcer as he suddenly called my name.

Answers:1. Dwindled      2. Glared     3. Pack it in    4. Putting myself through this    5. Huddled      6. Stole a glance      7. Didn’t dare   8. An open book     9. gaze

b. Use of Unreal conditionals in Literary Analysis:

Normally, we use the present tense to discuss literature but past tense can also be used. While discussing how things in a story might be different in the present or might have been different in the past we use present and past, we use present and past unreal conditionals respectively. Conditionals help to understand characters, behavior etc. of characters in literary works. If we are using present tense in discussion we must use present unreal conditional and in using past tense past unreal conditional id used.

Present Unreal Conditional

If + simple past ………………………… conditional (would/ might +base form)

        I.            If Amir and Hassan weren’t so close in age, their relationship might be different.

      II.            If political leaders of Nepal were good, the present condition would be different.

Past Unreal Conditional

If + past perfect ………….conditional (would/ might+ have+ past participle)

        I.            If Amir and Hassan hadn’t been so close in age, their relationship might have been different.

      II.            If political leaders on Nepal had been good, the present condition would have been different.