Monday, September 30, 2013

Fish Bowl #5, Chapters 19 and 20 of The Kite Runner

Welcome to your fifth fishbowl!

A few reminders if you're looking for an A for the day:

(A) Bring at least one quotation and/or page reference into at least one of your responses.
(B) Explain your thinking thoughtfully and thoroughly (try to avoid the one-sentence response).

(C) Keep it professional, including the usage of proper grammar and spelling.

(D) Comment frequently from the beginning of the conversation to the end.


Remember also that you're welcome to get into a hot seat in the inner circle for a little while and earn some of your daily participation points there.


Enjoy!

87 comments:

  1. Does Amir feel like a tourist because he's been in America for two years?

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    1. Also, does he feel this way because he has been gone for so long and because things have changed enough to make him not recognize things as easily as a native would?

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    2. Yes, his country completely changed after he left

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  2. Has Amir been an American the whole time, because of the lifestyle he lived while he was in Afghanistan?

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    1. I think he was in America for the whole time to escape the Taliban and also because he had to and his dad wanted him too.

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  3. Do you think Amir is glad to know that he can have a child even if it belongs to Hassan? Do you think that finding and taking care of Hassans son is an act of redemption or selfishness?

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    1. I think that Hassan and Amir were so close to being brothers that it is like taking care of his Nephew and raising him as a son.

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    2. I think that that is part of it, but he also feels like its his duty to take care of Hassan's son especially now that he knows he is his half-nephew. He has come to realize that he needs to and will at all cost go and find Sohrab and make sure he has a better life. P. 255 "I realized something: I would not leave Afghanistan without finding Sohrab."

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  4. I believe that Amir feels like a tourist because he hasn't been to Afghanistan in such a long time that everything is changed and he doesn't think of it like the same.

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  5. On page 231 Why does Amir feel like a tourist in his own country?

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  6. Is amir feeling a little bit expelled from his country because he's living in america? Will he ever go back to revisit pakistan?

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  7. If Amir still feels like Afghanistan is his country, why does he go through so much trouble to disguise himself to look like an Afghan?

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  8. Amir feels like a Tourist because the Taliban has come and destroyed Kabul, and Amir does not recognize his country.

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  9. I think that he feels like a tourist because he has lived in the Afghanistan for so long then going to the us and then back he felt different. Things were different when he came back so he was unfamiliar with his hometown.

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  10. Answering Why does Amir feel like a tourist?: He came in there expecting something completely different than what he ended up seeing. Everything had changed enough to make every thing seem foreign to him, even if that's where he had been as a child. It had been destroyed enough to make everything seem abnormal. P. 244 "When Kabul finally did unroll before us, I was certain, absolutely certain, that he had take a wrong turn somewhere."

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  11. Class: Why does Amir feel like a tourist when he returns to Afghanistan?

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  12. On page 232, farid says that "you've always been a tourist, you just didn't know it." What can this quote tell us about how the Afghans feel about Amir living a wealthy life and moving to America.

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    1. This quote shows that the Afghans don't believe Amir is a true Afghan, because he didn't have to live through the struggles of the Taliban takeover. Also when he was living in Afghanistan he never lived like one, because his family had a lot of money.

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    2. He didn't suffer like they suffered, and took the easy way out by going and living a more peaceful and fulfilling life in America rather than stay with his people and support them through the wars they have been through. Although its not his fault they still blame him for deserting his country.

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  13. Do you think that Amir will find Hassan's kid and take him back to America with him.

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    1. Yes because Amir loved Hassan like a brother and because of this I think fate looks smiles upon Amir.

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    2. On page 255 Amir realizes that he would do anything to find Hassan because he now realizes that to rid himself of the guilt of his past he needs to carry out the one last wish of both Rahim Khan and also to do what Hassan would want and would accept as more than enough to redeem himself.

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  14. He feels like a tourist because when he goes back to Kabul the place looks strange, everything looks different.

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  15. I think the car sickness actually does act as a motif in these chapters because it shows the tension and fear that is constantly struck in the heart of these characters.

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    1. Amir's car sickness could also symbolize the guilt that is constantly with Amir.

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  16. I agree with Dannys statement with the car sickness relating to his uneasyness about his country

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  17. Why does Farid not consider Amir Afghanistan because he lived a better life than the average Afghanistan?

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  18. He wasnt a true afghan because he had always had American stuff and lived in lugury and a real afghan was really poor and homeless

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  19. I don't understand why Baba could hide this secret, mnot even a secret. He should be happy that he has a great son like Hassan, is it a disgrace to have another kid with another woman in Afghanistan??? What was his motive to keep this terrible secret from Hassan, Amir, and himself?

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  20. Amir is gaining car sickness because he usually gets it when he feels guilt of his past.

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  21. I think Amir being car sick is just showing that he isn't used to be moving around a lot. I also think its more than just a car sickness. I think he's nervous about finding Hassans son. It's like when you have a big test the next morning and your really nervous its like the car ride to school you feel really sick to your stomach.

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  22. I think that Amir is car sick because it really shows his uneasy demeanor when the Soviets first took over Afghanistan and he felt uneasy because it is nit right to have to leave your own country. When he returns and the Taliban has taken over, he feels like a tourist in his own country. He barely recognizes it and he does nit have the money and power that he once did.

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    1. well wouldn't he had been a tourist in his own country even before they moved because of how he grew up wasnt the way that most of Afghanistan and was part of the upper class so he didnt know the pain of the lower class.

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  23. Talen:
    Yes i agree with you because it was wrong to sell the children to the Taliban to get money for the orphanage.

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    1. At the same time he was feeding the other children who need the food more. He was probably selling the older ones and treating the young kids.

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  24. on pg. 230 he is saying how much he feels kinda exempt from his own country, and that he isn't used to the ameican life. I wonder how different he see's it in his eyes, and whether or not he likes it better.

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    1. I think that he is only seeing it different because he was born and raised in Afghanistan and its different if you were born and raised in America with the different views between Afghanistan and America

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  25. i think that amir gets car sick becuase it shows he sort of doesnt like to move around alot.
    Amir was always a tourist in his own country because grew up with the rich part of Afghanistan making him never truly know the struggle of the hazara's and how much crap they got. Amir also grew up with servants so he never had to get stuff himself like food or anything like that

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    1. I agree i dont think Amir had any idea on how hard life was being a normal citizen in Afghanistan and how hard it was. Because as you said he was always handed things and he didnt have to do anything to get them

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  26. I think that it is wrong that the Taliban is taking children from the Orphanage because they are probably turning those children into soldiers and slaves and what not.

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    1. I agree I think evil keeps showing its face in this novel, be it rape slavery and especially death.

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  27. Do you think Amir is sad he didn't stay in Afghanistan? Does he regret running to America?

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    1. No, I don't think so because the Taliban destroyed what he used to know of Afghanistan. Also, what poor leaders they are.

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  28. I think that Amir's personality is changing in a positive way because when he stuffed the money under the mattress so that they could potentially buy food, he was doing a random act of kindness to help him change.

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  29. The author describes how the country is different so that the reader can see it like Amir does. When the author describes Kabul with sensory images it allows us to see the setting better.

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    1. I think that you bring up an interesting point, because it is described as such a different place, yet Amir still views it as his country.

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  30. On page 250, Amir is talking to a homeless man who used to know his mother. The man tells Amir that his mother said, "They only let you be this happy if they are preparing to take something away from you." I think this single quote can relate to most of the story because whenever someone feels happiness, something is taken away from him. For example, Amir and Baba grow close but then Baba passes away.

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    1. I agree that this is a common theme in the book. There are multiple examples of this such as; Amir winning the kite running competition then Hassan being raped. Amir getting married and not being able to have a child. Amir returning to Afghanistan and then finding out Hassan is not only his brother, but he is also dead.

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  31. Class: What crime did the people killed at the soccer game commit?

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  32. On the last paragraph of the chapter on page 258. What does this show for the journey Amir has in front of him to get Sohrab?

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  33. One thing that Farid said that was kind of interesting was, "you have always been a tourist here, you just didn't know it."(pg. 232) I think what Farid means by this is that Amir has never experienced poverty or gone through rough situations (even though we know he has). Farid thinks that Amir hasn't experienced Afghanistan the way that everyone else has.

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  34. "By the time we drove past the bullet-riddled sign that read THE KHYMBER PASS WELCOMES YOU, my mouth had begun to water." This quote shows that Amir is worried to be back in Afghanistan because he has gotten so used to America he is uncomfortable being there.

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  35. On pg. 229 Amir says, "Better to be miserable than rude" when he is offered help for his car sickness, why do you think he refuses help? What do you think the quote means?

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  36. Describing all the destruction was to make to point in how the talaban had destroyed everything Amir had known and loved about when he lived there.

    The begger is used as an example on what Afghanistan is like now and what the country has turned to. And all the poverty that has descended on the country

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    1. Another part of this passage is to explain the closeness of the Afghanistan people.

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  37. The begger was significant because he knew his mom when she was younger and he told Amir details about her.

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  38. ,The Taliban has killed many people in Kabul, and brought more destruction, then the Russians did.

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  39. On page 242, Amir says "Earlier that morning, when I was certain no one was looking, I did something I had done 26 year earlier: I planted a fist full of crumpled money under a mattress." I have a couple questions about this piece. Why was Amir so secretive to give Farid his money? Why did Amir choose that way to pay Farid? Would that cause him pain and remind him of his past conflict with Hassan?

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  40. Do you think that Hassan being Amir's brother has much to do with his decision to go and save Hassan's son?

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    1. I think that this is a question that is hard to answer, I think that it does have a large part to do with it, but also the fact that he wants a son might play a part in it too.

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    2. Yes, I think he is trying to redeem himself, and because he can not bare children I think this is an opportunity to raise a son. That way he can be with Hassan in a more spiritual way.

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  41. DK I believe Amir will find Hassans kid but it's going to be a challenge, I predict that Assef will have Hassan's son under his power and won't hand him over.

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  42. On page 246, Amir is talking to farid, and Farid tells him that "You won't find kites or kite shops here." This quote can explain the kite as a motif because in the beginning of the story kites are prevalent and once Amir goes to find sohrab there are not any kites. I predict that the ending of the story will have something to do about kites.

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  43. "I wished Rahim Khan hadn't called me. I wish he had let me live on in my oblivion. Bet he had called me. And what Rahim Khan revealed to me changed things." -Amir page 226. Why does Amir wish Rahim Khan never called him? Is it because of the the truth of everything or is it because he's nervous about finding Hassans son?

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  44. Has the story become more about the Taliban, or still Amir?

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  45. Will the Taliban ever leave Afghanistan? also do you think Amir will run into any trouble with them on the way?

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    1. Amir will run into trouble with the Taliban because at the end of chapter 20 we find out that a taliban official took Sohrab.

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  46. Do you think that when Amir sees Sohrab to get rid of him and Baba's sins that it will fix his life? Or do you think that he will still live with guilt even though he has been religiously cured?

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  47. Do you think Amir will find the Hassans kid?

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  48. Connecting to the question that was said in the middle circle "Why does Amir feel like a tourist in his own country" I think that he feels like a tourist because he has not been there for so long and a lot of things have changed since he moved "After 20 years of living in america" this quote can support what I have said.

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  49. I agree, I think Amir just wants a son and is being selfish again

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  50. Do you think that Amir would still try to rescue Hassan's son if he did not know that he was his brother, or if he were to never get raped?

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  51. Amirs past is going to motivate him to adopt Hassans son.

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  52. I believe that before Hassan died he had forgave Amir, do you believe that Hassan forgave Amir over the years?

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  53. I think that he wants to redeem himself so he can be loyal to his friend and take care of his son. But i also think its a little selfish because he waited all this time to redeem himself and he also wants a child so bad.

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  54. On page 257, the Director said "Go to Ghazi Stadium tomorrow. You will see him at halftime." What action will Amir take toward this man? Both Farid and Amir are very unhappy with the fact that this man buys kids from the orphanage, what will they do when they find him? will they use violence? will they try to follow him and hopes it leads them to Hassan's child?

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  55. Throughout these chapters the idea appears that the Taliban is in control of Afghanistan in a fascist way, such as Hitler (page 256). What does this show about the world we live in that things on a smaller scale similar to the Holocaust can happen again after what the world witnessed in World War 2?

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  56. I agree with Tom, the guest speaker hot seat, with how Amir will adopt Hassan's son due to Amir and Soraya's inability to have babies of their own.

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  57. On page 231 it says" I was afraid I'd deliberate...." Do you think the only thing that makes Amir want to save Hassan's son is the rape scene?

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  58. "It occurred to me that, in a different world, those boys wouldn't have been too hungry to chase after the car." This quote shows that he is not used to the new Afghanistan and that he has gotten used to how good America is.

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  59. on page 236 "Better to be miserable than rude" Amir states when lying to Farid about the lemon helping his car sickness. What exactly does this quote mean. and do you think it significant

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  60. I fell like this chapter is the start of the falling action because everything is falling apart

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  61. do you think that Hassan ever forgave amir for what he did, when he was dying?

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  62. feel like this book is talking more about the talibans and there not focusing on other things. do you think the talibands are the an important part of the book?

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  63. Do you think that amir is feeling excluded from Pakistan since he hasent beem there for awile? and also do you think he is ever going to go back

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  64. Do you think amir will find hassans child?

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  65. "You were right. I feel better," I lied. As an Afghan, I knew it was better to be miserable than rude. I forced a weak smile." on page 229 what exactly is this quote saying?

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