Level 1 Recall
What illness is Baba diagnosed with?
Baba is diagnosed with lung cancer, a disease likely connected to his lifelong smoking and symbolic of his slow physical decline and moral complexity.
How does Rahim Khan act as a father figure to Amir?
Rahim Khan provides emotional support, understanding, and moral guidance that Baba struggled to give, encouraging Amir to acknowledge guilt rather than bury it.
Is Baba a good man despite his flaws?
Baba is both deeply honorable and deeply flawed. He values generosity and justice, yet his greatest sin is betraying Ali this reveals hypocrisy that complicates his moral image.
How does Amir meet Soraya?
Amir meets Soraya at a flea market in San Jose, a place that represents Afghan immigrants trying to preserve their culture in America.
Why does infertility hurt Amir more deeply because of his past with Hassan?
Amir views infertility as symbolic justice, believing that his inability to have children is the price he must pay for betraying someone who loved him unconditionally
Analyze how secrets affect Amir’s identity.
Amir’s secret becomes central to his identity, shaping his low self-worth and fear of honesty, ultimately blocking his emotional growth until it is confronted
Why can’t Amir and Soraya have children?
Doctors are unable to find a clear medical explanation for their infertility, which Amir interprets as a personal punishment for his betrayal of Hassan
Why is Soraya judged more harshly than Amir for her past?
Soraya is judged more harshly because Afghan society enforces stricter expectations of purity and obedience on women, while men are often forgiven or excused for similar behavior.
Is forgiveness more important than justice in these chapters?
Hosseini prioritizes forgiveness as a path to healing, suggesting justice alone cannot repair emotional and moral damage.
Who is Sohrab and how is he related to Hassan?
Sohrab is Hassan’s son, making him Amir’s nephew, and he becomes a living connection to Amir’s past and moral responsibility.
How does Baba’s illness change Amir and Baba’s relationship?
Baba’s illness reverses their roles: Amir becomes the caretaker, and Baba finally expresses pride and tenderness, allowing emotional closeness that was missing in Amir’s childhood.
Does redemption require suffering in the novel?
The novel suggests redemption must involve suffering because pain reflects accountability; Amir must endure physical and emotional hardship to earn forgiveness.
What phrase does Rahim Khan say that changes Amir’s life direction?
Rahim Khan tells Amir, “There is a way to be good again,” which reopens Amir’s unresolved guilt and suggests that redemption is still possible despite past sins.
How does Amir’s decision to return to Afghanistan show growth?
Amir chooses to leave comfort and safety behind in order to face danger, showing that he is finally willing to confront his past instead of fleeing from it.
Evaluate Amir’s motivation for rescuing Sohrab is it selfless or selfish? 3 explains
Response can be mixed as long as properly defended with 3 explains and or reasons
But amir’s motivation is mixed: he genuinely wants to save Sohrab, but he also seeks personal healing, showing redemption is complex rather than purely noble.