Saturday, September 14, 2013

Fishbowl #3: Chapters 14, 15, and 16 of The Kite Runner

Welcome to your third 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 hotseat in the inner circle for a little while and earn some of your daily participation points there.


Enjoy!

101 comments:

  1. What use of irony is present in the book? Why is it present?

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    1. It is ironic that the leather notebook that Rahim Khan gave to Amir was so important to him (page 99) and Rahim Khan didn't even remember giving him the notebook all those years ago. "I had told him I had written short stories in the leather-bound notebook he'd given me, but he didn't remember the notebook." (page 198). It is ironic that something so important to one person can mean nothing to the person who provided it.

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  2. Do you think Amir will ever have a baby?

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    1. Not unless they adopt because him and his wife physically can't. So they would have a baby if they do adopt.

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    2. I think he will because it is such a main focus point in the book, and I think that the author is foreshadowing.

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    3. No because they don't want to adopt and Soraya is infertile. On page 188 "We all had our reasons for not adopting."

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    4. No, because Amir has too much on his mind; his wife, work, and now Rahim Khan.

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    5. Unless its adopted, I dont see it happening. Honestly, Amir is not ready for parenthood. He cant even grasp his own emotions, how is he going to raise a child? Until he comes to peace with his skeleton in the closet, he should avoid a kid.

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  3. What do you think Amir is thinking when Rahim coughs blood into the napkin and says he wont live after the summer? Especially after Baba died.

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    1. I'd assume that Amir was probably shocked and heartbroken. He'd known Rahim his entire life and always had him there. Now with Baba and Rahim gone. Amir may not have anybody that will guide him.

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    2. I think that he is thinking that it sucks, because Rahim was like a second father to him and was there for him all the times that Baba wasn't when he was a kid so he is probably really sad and heart broken.

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  4. Responding to the question, Has Amir let go? I think that Amir hasn't let go because he still has flashbacks and deep inside he knows that he needs to make up for his deeds. An example of when he has another flashback is on page 192.

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    1. I agree but I don't think he truly cares about Hassan anymore. Every time he mentions Hassan its always because he either feels bad about what happened or its because he wants to see him for selfish reasons. An example is on page 203 when Amir says "The biggest, Allah forgive me, was that I was lonely."

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  5. On page 213- What do you think will happen if the Taliban find Hassan and his family in Baba's house?

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    1. Thery woukd probaly kill them

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    2. I think they would get killed on the spot and not even get a chance to do anything because the Taliban hate the Hazaras more than anything

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  6. Why does Hassan remain loyal?

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    1. Hassan remains loyal because that's all he knows. That's all he knows of him and Amir's relationship, so he tries to hold on to what bit of a relationship they have left.

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    2. I think he stays loyal because he was a servant for most of his life and he grew up like that, so he is almost trained to stay loyal his whole life.

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    3. Adding on to Anthony's comment, I think Hassan remains loyal because he'd grown up a servant not only is he loyal after being Amir's servant but he'd be loyal after being anyone's servant. He was born to be loyal.

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    4. Hasaan remains loyal because that is his innner character. That is the person that he is. Another reason he remains loyal is because he is dedicated and loves Baba. We see an example we see is the fact that Hasaan stays to help maintain Baba's house.

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  7. Jack-
    All Hassan really had as a friend was Amir. Amir was mean to him but Amir does still love him as a friend. But I think he has not let go yet because it was hard times for Hassan.

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  8. What is the importance of violence and oppression and how does it affect the book?

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    1. Violence has impacted the whole region of Afghanistan, because they were originally oppressed by the soviets, and then when the Taliban take over on Page 213. I think this just shows the mood of the people of Afghanistan, that they are tired of being pushed around. Making the scene in the book more hostile mostly from religion, and what the Taliban believe in.

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  9. Why does Amir keep losing all the people that are close to him?

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    1. I think that its karma for what has happened and how selfish Amir has been. Even the fact that Hassan has a kid is karma because Amir cannot have a child. For the first time Hassan is getting everything that Amir cant.

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    2. I think its because, their home place is like a battlefield. The Taliban took over and they changed what they can and cannot do.

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    3. Everything always has to go wrong for the protagonist. It's just the writing strategy that the author used. Everything bad happens to the main character and the main character is stuck in this trying to make everything right.

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  10. I dont think he did move on becuase he just sort of feels wierd going back to his old town and house and seeing the people that he grew up with and seeing where they were. Sort of like how Hassan was teaching his kid how to fly a kite. I would like to know why Hassan would teach his kid how to fly a kite even though he had a terrible experience while flying kites

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  11. Responding to Jack I think that Amir hasn't let go because on page 202 Amir says, "Those thorny old barbs of guilt bore into me once more," I think this means that he hasn't let go of the past he just tried to forget it.

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  12. Cory
    I dont think Amir has changed as a person. And I agree with Hobbey because he is the same person its just a different situation.

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  13. I don't think that Hassan has let go of the past. I think that he has forgiven Amir but is still a bit angered by what he allowed to happen. Do you guys agree?

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  14. I don't mean to take up any weird questions about religion and stuff, but could Hassan represent Jesus Christ and how he was considered a low-life while he lived on Earth and was treated very poorly here, but he continues to forgive what some consider inforgivable sins?? I think this very hard thing to grasp, forgiving something so bad like what Amir has done to Hassan shows a symbol of Jesus Christ...what do you guys think?

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  15. What events do you think the reconciliation of Amir and Rahim Khan will bring into the future?

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  16. How has Amir and his wife not being able to have a baby effect their relationship together?

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  17. Do you think that Soraya being infertile is karma for not helping Hassan?

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  18. On page 203, Amir thinks to himself, " There were a lot of reasons why I went to Hazarajat to find Hassan in 1986. The biggest one, Allah forgive me, was that I was lonely." I was curious as to whether or not Hassan will be willing to accept Amir back into his life just like that, no problem. Amir betrayed Hassan a couple times and I don't know how if Hassan is willing to forgive him.

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    1. I feel like Hassan might give him a chance and give him a chance to prove himself a worthy friend. Give him a chance to redeem the great friendship they had for so long.

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  19. In the conversation in the middle Jack asked if he thinks Amir has let go of the past? I do not think that he has because of this quote "Suddenly the air in Rahim Khans little flat was too thick, too hot, too rich with the smell of the street."

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  20. Ryan
    -I think alot of kids in that time were not good. But I think everyone deserves to have a good future and know how to restart as a person. I mean he probably has become a better person and wants to have forgiveness from hassan

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  21. On pg. 194 it says "And dreamed of Hassan running through the snow, the hem of his green chapan dragging behind him, snow crunching under his black rubber boots. he was yelling over his shoulder: for you, a thousand times over!" This was said right before we found out Amir is going to Pakistan. Do you think that while Amir is there he will try and find Hassan?

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  22. I definitely thinking that the overall plot line of this story is obviously thickening the characters are becoming more defined as the novel draws to an end. The rape scene seems to be a motif in this book and even after many chapters, the feelings and thoughts of the characters still reflect back to that horrid event.It definitely sharpened the plot of the chapters that came and sets up a lot of predictions for how this book shall end. It also makes me wonder if these characters will ever really let this event go.

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    1. I agree with what you are saying. I don't think that the characters will let that event go because it was such a significant event. Some characters might do a better job getting over it, but it is still going to be running through their minds.

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  23. An important part of the story is symbolism, in chapter 16, Hasaan goes to live with Rahim Kahn in Baba's old house. On page 208, Hassan carefully rebuilds the "Wall of Ailing Corn." What could the wall of ailing corn represent?

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  24. What would happen to Hassan if he was found by the Taliban?

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    1. He would probably be killed

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    2. He would have been killed like the rest of the Hazaras killed the Taliban murdered.

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  25. Why would Hassan cry after hearing Baba is dead, especially after all that has happened between Hassan and Amir?

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    1. Because I still think that Hassan loved him kinda like Rahim Kahn was like another father to Amir I think Baba was like another father to Hassan.

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    2. I think he cried because he was still really close with Baba, and Baba still liked Hassan alot until Amir won the Tournament. So Hassan still cares for Baba because of their relationship, but may not care for Amir about Baba.

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    3. Hassan has known Baba for so long that they are somewhat connected like family so therefore he would be sad because of his death.

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  26. Hassan has changed a lot i think. On page 205, "This is my wife, Rahim Khan," Hassan said proudly. "Her name is Farzana jan." So i believe that he is more happy as time went on.

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    1. I think that he has learned to accept what happened, and has moved on.

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  27. Do you think that Ali before he died, forgave or still angry at Amir for what he allowed to happen? Or do you think that he knew about it but forgot? Or is that something that you just don't forget?

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    1. Ali never got mad when people made fun of him in the streets (for his limp and religion). So going off his character traits he doesn't seem to hold grudges, so I don't believe he would hold one against Amir.

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    2. I actually think that the author didn't want to the reader to know if he forgave Amir or not, and that's why he wrote it that way, maybe he wanted to leave it up to the reader to deside. Good question though

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  28. Why does Hasaan have a child but Amir is not able to? The author put this in the story for a reason so what purpose does it serve?

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    1. Maybe it is karma catching up with Amir for what happened in that alley and I guess like a reward for Hassan for having to deal with that and still forgiving Amir for that awful night.

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    2. I think that this experience in Afghanistan will change Amir's perception of adoption becuase of some event.

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  29. Ryan
    No I dont think they need each other to be happy. We arent talking about love. Amir has been living happy with out Hassan for years now. I do think that they would be happy with each other but they wouldn't be unhappy without each other.

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  30. I believe that Hassan has let go of the past because in chapter 16 Hassan wants to make the house of Baba better after hearing that Baba was dead. I think that Hassan has finally forgiven Amir for not doing anything about the rape. Although, Hassan has let his past go, Amir has not on the other hand. All through chapters 14 and 15 Amir just sits up at night really hating himself for not apologizing Hassan. Amir just seems uneasy and sad because of Baba dying and that he cannot have a baby. Amir needs hassan in order to be happy like Jack said as a leader.

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  31. Answering the question "Has Amir let go?". I think that Amir's past with Hassan has become less and less relevant to him now that he has a new life with a wife, but it still is affecting him. "perhaps something, someone, somewhere, had decided to deny me fatherhood for the things I had done. Maybe this was my punishment, and perhaps justly so." (page 188). This shows that Amir is still affected by his past and it is still killing him that he has gotten away, now happily, without facing the punishments he knows he deserves for doing that to Hassan.

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    1. Carter I agree with you 100%. It seems in chapters 14 and 15 Amir i just really uneast and can't sleep at night. He has many discomforts in his life with his own father dying and hearing of his servant dying really has affected him. Also Soraya and Amir it seems can not have kids and all of these factors are really getting to Amir.

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  32. Is it just me or is the phone call in the beginning of the book like the same phone call in chapter 14 that Amir gets from Rahim Khan?

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  33. What is the significance that Hassan wife is having a baby? "When is the baby coming?" I said after we all settled around the adobe room."

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    1. I think that it is a little of a karma thing for when Amir didn't save Hassan when he was raped. Now Hassan can have a kid and Amir cant.

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  34. Now that Rahim Khan is passing and the death of Baba, does this show that Amir's past is finally starting to leave him on page 197?

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  35. When Rahim Khan said "When the Taliban rolled in and kicked the Alliance out if Kabul, I actually danced on that street," Do you think that Rahim Khan regrets this decision? Or if he is still grateful that the Taliban came in and brought different problems than what they had before defending the location from the Taliban?

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  36. What will happen to Hassan, with all of the violence and fighting going on in Afghanistan?

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  37. I think that Hassan changed because on page 206 it reveals some bad things have happened to him recently by saying "Hassan dropped his gaze. He told me that Ali had been killed by a land mine two years ago before." This shows how Amir's dad can die from something like lung cancer where you cant control but Hassan's dad dies from a way that is described on page 206 as "a land mine. is there a more afghan way of dying." this sort of shows me how Baba and Amir got out of Afghanistan before it got as bad as it is now, because Baba probably got lung cancer from his smoking all the time so he sort of caused himself to die but Ali didn't choose to walk on a land mine making his death much more significant to show the difference in Amir and Hassan's lives currently.

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  38. Class: How do you think Amir and Hassan feel about the banning of kite fighting?

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    1. Probably pretty bad because it is such a silly thing to ban something like flying kites. They have so many good memories of flying kites so i'm sure they are not happy about it.

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    2. I agree; I mean they have been kite fighting since they were really young.

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  39. I dont think Amir has let go of the past because on page 194 he says " I dreamed of Hassan running in the snow, the hem of his green chpan dragging behind him, snow crunching under his black rubber boots. He was yelling over his shoulder for you a thousand times over!" And this shows that he still gets flashbacks to back when they were kids and i think he wishes he could go back and change what happened.

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  40. Amir hadn't mentioned or been affected as much about his past with Hassan for the majority of the time he was married, but now that he is trying to have a kid and is unsuccessful, he is reminded of his past. Does he blame himself for their inability to have a child? Will this push him to finally open up to someone, maybe Soraya, about what he did?

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  41. What is the significance of forgiveness in the story? Hasaan's actions show that he forgives Amir but Amir is still learning about the nature of forgiveness?

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  42. Do tragedies make people become closer or farther apart?

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    1. I think that they can either bring people closer or push people away like when amirs mother dies this makes Baba push amir away and the rape definitely makes the friendship between the boys unstable. Do you think that the rape will get brought up between the boys in the book again?

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    2. I think the only way it would come up again is because if Amir apologizes to Hassan but i think other than that it will not come up because Hassan has forgiven Amir for no doing anything i think

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    3. I personally feel like that in order for this book to come full circle the two cahracters have to have a little more fall out and tie up this loose end. so i think that it will come up at least once more.

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    4. I don't think so because I believe that Hassan and his family are already dead with the Taliban takeover. This is because when the Taliban took over they tried to erase all the Hazaras.

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  43. “That was a long time ago, but it’s wrong what they say about the past, I’ve learned, about how you can bury it. Because the past claws its way out. Looking back now, I realize I have been peeking into that deserted alley for the last twenty-six years.” So no i dont think that Amir has moved on from it.

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  44. p 173 "Not tonight," he said. "There is no pain tonight." This quote really shows the utter perseverance of the characters in this novel. As a group, they have really suffered and lost very much, but they still move on and still really try to forgive each other. Some of the hardships that they have faced throughout this story have been completely cruel and somewhat evil. They press onward looking for a positive and happy life. I see a beautiful message wrapped inside this text, don't give up, no matter how difficult things may be.

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  45. I believe that with all of the distress in Amir's life will only contribute to overcoming challenges, and setting out and completing his "Hero's Journey". Being an author may also help with that because it can get his feelings and emotions out for the public and possibly the world to see.

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  46. Amir had arrived to Afghanistan and he saw how much it has changed. After he saw all the change, how do you think reacted? Do you think he no longer misses life in Afghanistan?

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    1. To me Amir misses his old life. I think he wants everything back to normal and the way it used to be.

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    2. I think that Amir misses his old life after he sees what he has come back to in Afghanistan.

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  47. Pg. 208 "What will Amir agha think? he said to me. What will he think when he comes back to Kabul after the war and finds that I have assumed his place in the house?" Maybe Hassan did forgive him, and still cares enough to ask what will he think? Or does he think Amir will hate him for attending to his house after what Amir did to him to get them out of the house?

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  48. On page 211, regarding the loss of Hasaan's mother, it says "it always hurts more to have and lose then to not have in the first place." This provides some insight into the passion of Hasaan that we see is present throughout the story.

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    1. That part of the story really touched me because his father Ali is already dead from walking over a land mine so now it means that Hassan is an orphan. He has a placed to live, but he does however have people that over and care for him. I want Amir to return to Hassan and reunite again.

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  49. Do you think that it is Amir's heart or mind that won't let him forget the raping of his bestfriend, Hassan?

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  50. Why would Hassan forgive Amir for his actions, considering the severity of them?

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  51. On page 199 he says 'Do that again and ill cut out your tongue, you old donkey!' Will he really cut his tongue out?

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  52. How does social class and economic status affect different people in the book? Is it ok for people to oppress others.

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  53. If the talaban hates americans and is now in control of Afghanistan, then how did amir get into the country with no trouble what so ever?

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  54. Is the pomegranate tree that Amir and Hasaan an important symbol?

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  55. I think that all of the bad things that have happened in Amir's life will probably all be settled by the end of the book, and end his "Heroes Journey" And I think that these lose ends are starting to gt tied up in chapters 14-16 and that's why these chapters are important.

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  56. In the Middle Jack asked "Will Amir find redemption on his trip back to Afghanistan?" I think that he will find redemption and get forgiveness from Hassan but he will always have that memory of Hassan getting raped. And he will have to accept that and forget it.

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  57. Class: "They used to lie together and talk about having a child, but now their conversations are about work or other things." Why do you think he talks about work and other things?

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