Focus: How can student-led discussion lead us to a better understanding of The Kite Runner, Chapters 9 and 10?
1. Warming up: Nope (no time--PLC day)
2. Recapping Fishbowl expectations:
1. Everyone should have his or her Kite Runner book and annotations out. This applies to both the outer and inner circles.
2. Reference the text frequently, reading passages aloud and giving people time to find the right page numbers.
3. Leaders can and should jump into the discussion as well.
4. All participants in the outer circle should include at least one quotation in their blogs to receive full credit.
5. Outer circle participants must participate on the blog throughout the entire discussion; you should not disappear for large periods of time.
6. If you haven't read, you should not participate in fishbowl. Instead, use this time to read and post on the blog tonight for homework.
3. Participating in Fishbowl #1: Chapters 9 and 10
4. Wrapping up the discussion with a "whip-around" (go around the circles and state what went well and/or what we need to improve upon and/or one take away from today's discussion you have regarding The Kite Runner)
HW:
1. Prepare for Thursday's fishbowl by reading and annotating Chapters 11 and 12. Fishbowl leaders should finish this reading tonight so that they have time to prepare a syllabus.
2. Start studying for Friday's vocabulary quiz over Chapters 7-10; finish your flashcards by tomorrow.
3. Keep bringing your annotations/journals to class so that they can be checked off.
Why did Hassan say that he stole the money and watch when he and Amir both knew that it was out there by Amir?
ReplyDeleteI think Hassan was trying to save Amir the trouble of dealing with his Dad. Hassan dealing with Baba is very painless, but Amir dealing with Baba is very painful for Baba does favor Hassan.
DeleteIt's how Hassan is. His character shows that he is not even close to a coward. This is a huge part of the story which really tells us as the readers that this is the kind of person Hassan is.
DeleteI think he did that because Amir wanted to get rid of him, because he could not keep living with the guilt by looking at Hassan everyday.
DeleteBaba knew Hassan would never tell a lie so if Hassan said "no" Baba would have believed him and questioned Amir.
Delete"If he'd said no, baba would have believed him because we all knew Hassan never lied." pg. 105 chapter 9
DeleteHas Baba lost all respect for Amir?
ReplyDeleteI think Baba has a little respect left for Hassan because he doesn't know that Amir put the money under Hassan's pillow
DeleteHas Hassef lost all his patience with Amir because it seems like all he does is help him and he gets no help back.
ReplyDeleteWhy do you think the author chose to have poor weather on the day that Hassan and Ali left Amir and Baba for good? Do you think he was trying to symbolize something?
ReplyDeleteThe bad weather represents that Amir made a horrible decision here. This will make him miss his best friend and this day is very gloomy for both them.
DeleteI think he chose that weather choice because it seems gloomy and grim, so it holds a larger symbol of sadness on the reader.
DeleteI think he was trying to display the mood of the scene being sad when they left. Baba was extremely sad because Ali was like a brother to them and he didn't know why they were leaving. It also shows what a terrible thing Amir did.
DeleteI believe the author is trying to symbolize something with the bad weather. It is representing a big change in the story plot wise and in a symbolic way. Hassan and Ali leaving Amir and Baba for good changes everything in the story and the weather is one way the author can make that point.
DeleteOn page 113, towards the bottom Amir says "I wondered where Hassan was." How often do you think Amir thinks about Hassan? Do you even think that Amir still cares about that relationship him and Hassan used to share?
ReplyDeleteI think that Amir misses Hassan a lot because he thinks about him. It shows that he still is on his mind even though he isn't a part of Amir's life. I really believe that Amir cares about Hassan and he is still considered a friend by Amir.
DeleteI don't think he cares about Hassan because he didn't help him in the alley and after he wanted him gone because he didn't want him there after what happened.
DeleteI think Amir feels guilty for not helping in the alley and how Hassan knew that Amir saw what happened in the alley, it's like Amir thinks he betrayed Hassan. Also Amir knew how loyal Hassan was to him.
DeleteWhy does Amir want Hassan to be fired? Hassan has been his only friend so what do you think the purpose of getting Hassan fired is?
ReplyDeleteAmir wanted Baba all to himself and was jealous that Baba treats Hassan the same.
DeleteAmir cannot keep living with Hassan, because by looking at him everyday, it brings back the guilt Amir feels.
DeleteWhy do you think Baba would stand up and even die for that women (on the truck with him) he never even knew?
ReplyDeleteI think he wants to show Amir that you can stand up for other people when they are in trouble. Amir saw Hassan in trouble and did not help him. So Baba stood up for this women.
DeleteBaba was trying to stand up for what was right. He wanted to show Amir how he would handle a situation with his rules of life. The author also could have written this because he wanted to show how Amir and Baba are opposite and live by different morals.
DeleteAfter Amir witnessed the rape, I thought this would be a turning point that made him strive to help others more often. Instead, he tries to push Hassan and Ali away. Why does he do this?
ReplyDeleteAmir does this so he can try and build his relationship with his father but by doing this I think he destroys his relationship with his father and Hassan.
DeleteI think he pushes away Hassan and Ali because it would be hard to see someone who got raped everyday and it would be very awkward because Hassan knows Amir saw it and didn't do anything about it, "Strangely, I was glad that someone knew me for who I really was." (106)
DeleteI think he does this because he wants to forget about seeing Hassan get raped. Amir wants the memory to erase so he tries to avoid Hassan as much as possible to help forget the memory.
DeleteOn page 104, Amir puts his outrageous plan into action trying to get Hassan to leave. Why Amir so set on getting rid of Hassan? (Besides he still feels guilt for seeing the rape)
ReplyDeleteI believe that Hassan constantly stood up for him everytime Amir was bullied, and was described as, "And he never fights back. Never." (Page 22). Amir saw Hassan being raped, Hassan knew that he was watching, and Amir did not stop them or at least stood up for Hassan. Hassan's continued presence near him is just another reminder of his cowardice and inability to stand up for a friend.
Delete"And told what I hoped would be the last in a long line of shameful lies." This symbolizes the end or at least the end of this chapter of Hassef and Amirs relationship.
ReplyDeleteI believe that guilt is the true power behind what he did wrong, Amir knows that he cant take back what he did, the worst part is that Hassan knows about Amir knowing him being raped.
ReplyDeleteHow do you think Hassan leaving changed Baba?
ReplyDeleteTo Baba, Hassan was like his adopted son. Almost more of a son than Amir is to him.
DeleteI think Hassan was the son Baba never had and he wants Amir to be by him as much as possible hoping some attributes would "rub off" I think Baba's expectations of Amir have now dropped.
DeleteI think the plan behind what Amir did was to get Baba all to himself. It changes Baba because now he only has Amir and he has to accept that.
DeleteHow did Amir feel after Hassan left even though he felt the need to get rid of Hassan? How would you feel watching your friend just leave from your life?
ReplyDeleteI think that Amir felt both relief and sorrow. His friend since birth is gone, something that he wanted since he witnessed the crime. But you have to imagine how hard that would be, and we see Amir struggling with the sorrow afterwards by wondering about Hassan and where he is after Hassan had left.
DeleteI don't think Hassan leaving made him feel bad but his father crying and realizing what he did to Baba. All he cares about is Baba and doesn't even care about Hassan.
DeleteThat would be really tough because Amir and Hassan have been best friends since they were young and they do everything together.
DeleteI like that they brought up the part about Hassan and his fathers relationship.
ReplyDeleteOn page 105 Baba says, "I forgive you" towards Hassan. Do you think if Amir was in Hassan position he would forgive him?
ReplyDeleteI don't think so, because in a way, I think Baba knows that Amir is not a trustworthy, and good friend. Baba really sees the good in Hassan, and the innocence, but not in Amir.
DeleteI don't think Baba would forgive Amir if he was in Hassan's position. Baba would loose all his respect for Amir and consider him not his son.
DeleteOn page 104, Amir asks Baba if he has seen his watch. Why did the author choose to have a watch as the gift given to Amir instead of something else? Is it symbolic of how Amir just wants this time of his life to end, how he just wants to move on?
ReplyDeleteI think the watch has huge symbolism behind it. At the time when Amir asked Baba if he had seen it, it was to set up the trap for Hassan. But, in a deeper meaning, I think the watch represents time running out, and if Amir wants to fix his mistakes, he needs to do it quick, because he does not have forever.
DeleteWhy did Amir want to frame Hassef?
ReplyDeleteAmir wanted to frame Hassef because of the guilt. Amir could not live with his inability to help Hassef even though Hassef would stand up for Amir, so Hassef's continued presence is just a "monument to his sins." (Halo 3).
DeleteI think Hassan sacrifices for Amir because Hassan knows that Amir is his only friend, but Amir is not a strong figure as you would think as a leader he would be strong but he is not.
ReplyDeleteDo you think Baba is as heavily affected by Hassan and Ali leaving as Amir?
ReplyDeleteYes, because on page 107 Amir quoted,"Then I saw Baba do something I had nevevr seen him do before: He cried.....I'll never forget the way Baba said that, the pain in his plea, the fear."
DeleteHow could Amir been seen as a hero in this book?
ReplyDeleteIt has not happened yet, but I think when Baba and Amir get to their destination, Amir would really be changed for the better. I think he will learn from his mistakes, which later leads to positive actions by Amir.
DeleteI think we have yet to see the best of Amir. It's hard not to hate Amir after reading these chapters, but it seems like this may be end of Amir's terrible actions, and the start of a better life for him.
DeleteDoes Baba know about everything Amir has seen and done? Or is Amir still hiding his actions?
ReplyDeleteI don't think that Baba knows anything about what happened to Hassan and that Amir was there and did nothing about it.
DeleteI feel that Amir is still hiding it. I also think that Baba might have found out.
DeleteBaba doesn't know what happened to Hassan but he has to know that ever since that day, Amir and Hassan haven't been friends. I think Baba knows that something happened and I think that Baba believes that Amir was the reason Hassan and Ali left.
DeleteOn page 117, the women who was going to be abused by the Russian soldier husband kissed Baba's hand, Amir said that he has seen things similar to that before. What do you think Baba has done in his past so that people kiss his hand in a sign of respect?
ReplyDeleteBaba is all about helping others in every way. He's not afraid to stand up for others in times of need. The victim's families respect Baba for his heroic actions.
DeleteI think with what happened with Amir and Hassan is something that will affect their friendship forever.
ReplyDeleteI think thats a symbol of the end of his normal life and then end of him and Hassans relationship.
ReplyDeleteStating back to the end of the story I bet the phone call in San Francisco is their next time they might talk.
DeleteOn page 104 Amir states "The I knocked on Baba's door and told what I hoped would be the last in a long line of shameful lies." With all these lies can Baba trust Amir ever again? Will there be more lies? Or will this story dramatically change?
ReplyDeleteI don't think Baba knows of the lies Amir has been committing. So I don't think it is progressively going to get worse, I think it will get better.
DeleteOn pg 113 when Amir was worried about where Hassan was and said "where is Hassan" I think him saying that does show that as a friend and a figure to be looked up to that he is strong, but after Hassan getting raped that showed his real true power as a leader and friend.
ReplyDeleteWhy is Amir thinking about confronting Assef?
ReplyDeleteOn page 117, Baba saves a woman he does not know from the Russian guard, and later the husband of the woman kisses Baba's hand. Why does helping others and standing up for them come so easily to Baba, but is nonexistent for Amir?
ReplyDeleteBaba was raised right. Amir had no mother to help him grow to be the boy he is. Baba also never really wanted anything to do with Amir. It all starts with your parents and how they teach you to live.
DeleteI feel that's partially why Baba feels so distant from Amir and doesn't recognize him as his son, because they don't share the same passions or hobbies, but they also don't share the same morals.
DeleteSince Baba is older, he has been able to see more of the world than Amir has. Because of that, he knows how hard it can be for people so he knows that they need help. Amir hasn't had that experience and knowledge so he doesn't see that they are in need and chooses to only think of himself.
DeleteBaba has had a lot of experience with the world, and I think from all the experiences in his life, Baba has learned from them, and now knows how to react. Amir has not had the chance to learn enough yet.
DeleteWhat type of theft has occurs when Amir sets up Hassan?
ReplyDeleteWhen Amir sets up Hassan he takes away Hassan's ability to tell the truth. Hassan claims that he did indeed take the watch, but because of Hassan's love for Amir he loses his ability to tell the truth.
DeleteAmir has stolen the right that Hassan and his father have to a job.
DeleteOn a different note, this event may have been some type of theft, but most importantly, it shows Amir that Hassan will always defend him no matter what. It also made Amir realize that Hassan saw him in the alleyway and he knew that he was setting him up then.
DeleteAmir has stolen Hassans right to live free. I think if Baba finds this out, it may turn into something horrible.
DeleteOn page 111, Amir throws up in the bus. Do you think he was really suffering of motion sickness, or was he feeling guilt?
ReplyDeleteI think he was just feeling guilt. Everyone is congratulating him on being the last kite, but all Amir can think about is watching Haszan get taped and not doing anything to stop it.
DeleteUnderstandably, Amir could not handle all the mixed emotions that he was feeling at that point. He was sick from the bus, but also guilty about not doing anything to stop Assef and also trying to get Hassan and Ali fired.
DeleteIf theft is the greatest sin, why does he forgive Hassan?
ReplyDeleteBaba might know that something is up. Maybe he is thinking someone else did this because how well he knows Hassan.
DeleteHe forgives Hassan because he knows that Hassan wouldn't steal from Amir no matter what. I think that Baba knows that Hassan didn't do it so he is forgiving him.
DeleteThe sin was not large enough. Hassan had taken a very insignificant object from Amir; therefore making it easier to forgive him. Baba mainly forgived Hassan because if he hadn't he would have had to let him and his dad go.
DeleteI have the feeling Baba knows what happened. He also he is very good friends with Hassan.
DeleteSince Baba knows Hassan so well he forgives him which is why he pushed so hard to get Ali and Hassan to stay. Does Baba think he stole Hassan and Ali's right to having a job?
DeleteI think Baba forgave Hassan because he knows that Hassan didn't do it and because he wants Ali and Hassan to stay with them and not leave.
DeleteBaba remembers that Amir brought up, "Baba, have you ever thought about getting new servants?" (89.) So, he probably has an idea that Amir has done and knows that Hassan would never do something like that.
DeleteBaba forgave Hassan because him and Ali have grown up together all of their lives and Baba couldn't just let them go. Ali was like Baba's brother and Baba looked at Hassan as Amir's brother.
DeleteBaba probably knows that Hassan did not do it, and even if he doesn't, he loves Hassan and Ali so much that he is willing to forgive Hassan. Hassan taking the blame for Amir yet again also shows how similar Hassan and Baba are. They are both willing to put their own lives before others, while Amir is not.
DeleteI agree with coopers comment on that it is jealousy that Amir has over Hassan, being a strong figure over something bad such as rape can mean that Amir is jealous, Personally I think Amir is jealous over how good of a person Hassan seems to be.
ReplyDeleteSociopath is the best word to describe Amir because he has become a less violent Assef.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ignat like Amirs ego is just too big.
ReplyDeleteDoes Amir have depression ever since the rape, it seems that he wants to hide want has happened to Hassan but afterwards he seems scared as a coward but might have some depression since the fact he didnt do anything with the rape.
ReplyDelete"I forgive you"(105) Baba said I forgive you to Hassan. Which means their relationship is getting better.
ReplyDeleteThe relationship with Baba and Hassan was never really bad it was only Amir and Hassan, this might be because Baba knows that Hassan would never steal from Amir
DeleteBaba was trying to make Hassan and is father stay. They wanted to leave the house and Baba could not change there mind.
DeleteOn page 124, Karim is dead and Kamal's father goes crazy, "But before any of us could say or do a thing, Kamal's father shoved the barrel in his own mouth." Why did Kamal's father do this to himself?
ReplyDeleteHe already lost his wife earlier and thought that he couldn't live without his son anymore.
DeleteHe was witnessing his son die. His whole life was gone if his son was going to die so he figured he would die with his son so he could be with him.
DeleteI think his son was the only thing he had left that mattered to him, and once he died, he felt like there was nothing left worth living for. He was also under a lot of pressure/stress after sneaking out of the country inside of a gas tank, so I assume his mind wasn't in a great state which might have been one of the reasons he killed himself.
DeleteI think Hassan symbolizes bad events in Amirs life and Amir symbolizes bad events in Hassan life.
ReplyDeleteOn pg. 105 Amir was stunned when Baba said "I forgive you" to what Hassan didnt do. Does this seem to be a moment of Karma, it seems that its karma that Amir tried to do something bad to Hassan and lied about it.
ReplyDeleteOn page 107, Amir says, "I'll never forget the way Baba said that, the pain in his plea, the fear" Do you think that Baba's crying has an affect on how he thinks of what he has done?
ReplyDeleteDo you think Amir is more and more becoming a bully? Maybe carrying some similar traits of Assef?
ReplyDeleteAmir is working his way up to a bully. He takes advantage of others for his own good.
DeleteAmir is following the footsteps of Assef he just isn't doing it on such a large scale, such as telling younger kids about hitler and raping kids.
DeleteAmir's actions are making him start to seem like a bully. He only does things for his own good. He also never stands up for anybody else.
DeleteIn a bigger scale, what does the relationship between Hassan and Amir represent?
ReplyDeleteIt's very complicated. At this point it is distant.
DeleteI think the relationship between Hassan and Amir represents the culture and time period in Afghanistan. I think there relationship is like all other relationships in Afghanistan in how nothing is stable and you have no true friends.
DeleteAt this point, their relationship is very distant, but their relationship could possibly represent a hero's journey, heroes constantly can look like their evil, distant, or facing many challenges, because sometimes "you either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villian." For their relationship they are flipped, Amir looks like a hero, but in the future he could possibly die or get something, like an scar, that represents Amir and Hassan's relationship.
DeleteOn page 106 Amir is asking himself "How could he just forgive Hassan? And if Baba could forgive Hassan, then why couldn't he forgive me for not being the son he's always wanted?" Do you think Amir is regretting what he did to Hassan now seeing his fathers reaction to it?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like Baba and Amir's relationship is getting stronger through this trip. Do you think that it will get better or worse once they reach America?
ReplyDeleteIt seems like Baba has gone from a rich, flamboyant Arab to an American who is poor and is not financially stable.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI don't think it will get better. I think the only reason that their relationship gets stronger is because Baba has to care for Amir on their journey and make sure hes okay. When they reach America, Baba won't need to do that anymore so that relationship will start to fade away.
Delete"I was fairly happy when Baba was home." (87) Hassan had a much better relationship with his father when he was younger. With everything that happened it changed over time.
ReplyDeleteOn page 120, Kamal's father explains that when Kamal came back, he was bleeding "down there." Why would the author continuously use rape or references to rape in the story? What effect or feeling does this give you? Do you have any predictions this might happen again?
ReplyDeleteI think Amir is regretting what he did to Hassan because he realizes that by just being the better person Baba would respect him.
ReplyDeleteWhy did Amir and Baba keep changing their servants after Hassan and Ali left?
ReplyDeleteThey were looking for servants and couldn't find any that were like Ali and Hassan.
DeleteI feel they never had anybody they liked as much as Hassan and Ali. So they were changing till they found the right one.
DeleteI think they keep changing the servants because there isn't that normal feel of Hassan and his father. It is uncomfortable without them so they keep changing servants until it is so weird without them.
DeleteDo you think the absence of Hassan will benefit Amir and his relationship with his father?
ReplyDeleteNo, Hassan leaving was a big moment in Baba's life. Not in a positive way. Baba became depressed and was a t a loss for words when he lost Hassan and his dad. The problem is is now Baba has to constantly think about Hassan leaving. Also, Baba can now compare Amir to Hassan even more now that Hassan is no longer present.
DeleteWhen does Hassan come back into this story IF, he comes back into this story and whats his place. Because i remember a quote stating something that suggested Hassan might come back later in the book.
ReplyDeleteHe will come back during a good time in both Amir and Hassan's life. Or one of them will need help and need the other. This will be a huge part in the book when they talk again.
DeleteWhy doesn't the book provide better background knowledge on the events that are happening in the middle east?
ReplyDeleteThe book isn't about the events in the middle east as much as the book is about how and what Amir does to fix his issue with Hassan.
DeleteOn pg. 115 "The soldier wanted half a hour with the lady in the back" How does this correlate with what happened to Hassan, the reason why the author chose rape was because of the way people were treated by the soldiers. This example of the soldier wanting time with the women describes the war and environment, but the difference is Baba stood up for the women why didnt Amir??????
ReplyDeleteIts weird how Amir did nothing when Hassan was raped but when the Russian soldier wanted to rape the lady Baba stands up for her. It shows the difference between the 2 of them.
DeleteI think Amir didn't stand up because I don't think Amir knew what rape was fully and he knew those boys could rape him or even kill him if he did stand up for Hassan.
DeleteBaba shows his fearless nature in chapter 10. What does Amir think of his dad almost killing someone and taking a bullet for another person? Does he think that he could never live up to Baba's standards?
ReplyDeleteDo you think Amir is overwhelmed by all of Baba's standards and that he tries to hard to please Baba?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteGoing off what Christian said I think that Amir would be broke! Also he would have nothing to work for! He would be flat out stunned.
ReplyDeleteI believe that with them moving to America made them safe but in Afghanistan it was better in that they had more money and wealth and in America they have to start all over.
ReplyDeleteI liked how we had lots of questions that we posted and were able to answe.
ReplyDeleteI think the questions were really good and set up good responses.
ReplyDeleteI like responding to questions. It was good today
ReplyDeleteI feel like the outer circle should focus a little bit more on the bigger picture, otherwise everything worked great.
ReplyDeleteWhat Worked: Looking in the blog for questions to answer. I also liked listening to the symbolism in the inner circle.
ReplyDeleteWhat worked for me today was the variety of questions asked on the blog and inner circle.
ReplyDeleteI like the blogging and nothing went too bad.
ReplyDeleteI think that the variety of questions that were asked in the outer circle were very interesting and brought up a lot of good comments.
ReplyDeleteAll of the questions that were asked made it easy to make enough intelligible replies.
ReplyDeleteI like fishbowl blogging because i get everyone's perspectives on the book.
ReplyDeleteI think fishbowl is going pretty well and it seems pretty easy, and it's good to see everyone's opinion in one place.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that worked for me is mixing up asking questions and responding to questions. This helped me understand the discussion a lot better.
ReplyDeleteWhat worked for me was the atmosphere the fishbowl creates and also the ability to communicate with others with the click of a button.
ReplyDeleteWhat worked for me was the correlation with the Russians and Hassan getting raped, I also liked how the inner circle talked about they had to build their lives back up when moving to America.
ReplyDeleteI think the question were very strong and provided a lot to analyse.
ReplyDeleteWhat worked for me was that everyone asked many questions so I got to see the book in lots of other ways and perspectives.
ReplyDeleteI liked how the inner circle flowed with the conversation happening in the blog.
ReplyDeleteI liked that our discussion kept going on and everyone had an opinion on each topic.
ReplyDeleteI think this blogging experience went great! We all had something good to contribute to the discussion, and it flowed very well.
ReplyDeleteThey were a lot of good questions that were asked. They were a lot of good answers that made a good discussion. But there were a lot of questions and not that many answers.
ReplyDeleteI thought that people came up with good questions, and that the outer circle was constantly taking concepts from the inner circle. The bad things I thought was that you have to constantly refresh your screen to see new questions/comments.
ReplyDelete