1. Warming up: Considering life under Taliban rule by reading some statements made by the Taliban
2. Enjoying a fishbowl discussion of The Kite Runner, Chapter 21
3. Wrapping up
HW:
1. Study for tomorrow's vocabulary quiz over words from Chapters 11-14. Also prepare for any make-up grammar quizzes from the last seven weeks.
2. Prepare your book talk if you haven't given yours yet.
3. Be sure to bring in your annotations/journal entries tomorrow, as well as your independent reading book or your copy of The Kite Runner.
What does seeing Baba's old house represent about Afghanistan in the story?
ReplyDeleteOver time with different rule they have both been mistreated and trashed.
DeleteI think that Baba's house is a symbol for the shape that Afghanistan is in at the time. In the beginning, his house was great and now it is in really condition just like Afghanistan is in.
DeleteIt represents good memories from the past getting destroyed, and it seems less happy and safe now.
DeleteI thinks when Amir sees Baba's old house he sees how much has changed which makes him see Afghanistan in a whole new way.
DeleteThe house isn't as great as he thought it was as a kid.
DeleteIn Amirs childhood he thought of it as this great big house and now he doesn't see it that way so it represents how the Taliban changed Afghanistan.
DeleteI believe it represents the how Afghanistan was slowly changed from being a good country to this place that was utterly destroyed by the Taliban.
DeleteWhy do you think they would execute people in front of the public? Is it to put fear in other people?
ReplyDeleteI think they do this to show the people what will happen to them if they retaliate. Also to scare the people into following them.
DeleteYeah, I think it's a display of power more than anything.
DeleteI think they are trying to put fear into people. They do not want them to do that so they kill them to tell them not to do it.
DeleteYes because fear and lack of knowledge controls people, which is what the Taliban is doing. And they are doing it in public as a warning to all.
DeleteThey want to show that their presence is felt there. If no one respects it then they will die.
DeleteThey probably show the executions to show the Taliban's power and to scare others so that they know not to do the wrong things so that they wont get punished.
DeleteYes I think it is to strike fear into people, but I don't think they do it in hopes that people will stop committing crimes, but rather to remind people who is in charge.
DeleteI believe the show the executions for 2 reasons. One, to show their power and tell the people not to mess with them, and two, to strike fear into them so they would not mess with the Taliban.
DeleteWhat does Amir thing about the changes that he sees?
ReplyDeleteI think that Amir is shocked and he is amazed about how much it has changed and he is probably thinking about everything he has run away from.
DeleteHow does the destruction of all the foliage in the area symbolize the changes in amirs life and in Afghanistan?
ReplyDeleteHow does fear work as a motivator?
ReplyDeleteFear is one of the greatest motivators because if your are fearful of your life you will pretty much do anything to stay alive.
DeleteFear is a chain reaction in the brain, it starts with a stressful chemical release in the brain that causes your heart to race, and activates that flight-or-fight action. The Taliban want everyone to fear them so they will motivate themselves no to have this fear, so they can work or do whatever the Taliban want.
DeleteWhat do you think will happen when Amir and Farid will talk to the Taliban leader about Sohrab.
ReplyDeleteI think that Amir will have to pay a huge price for Sohrab and it might not be money.
DeleteI think that they will find out about Amir and declare him as fake, and that might put is life at risk.
DeleteWhen Amir looked at Baba's old house was that a step forward to facing his fears?
ReplyDeleteI think so. Because they are moving forward. He has to face his fears to go over them.
DeleteI think it was a big step to go back and face his past where everything all changed.
DeleteSo what happened at the soccer stadium and what does it symbolize.
ReplyDeleteThe man and the woman were punished for their acts and I think it symbolizes that the Taliban have much control over everything.
DeleteThe Taliban comes in at halftime and executes people that have broken there laws. It symbolizes the power they have among the people.
DeleteMultiple executions had happened at the soccer stadium and shows the fear that the Taliban strike and there display of power.
DeleteWhen Amir says it looks smaller does that symbolize how its a smaller part of his life?
ReplyDeleteOn page 231 back in Ch.19 the taxi driver says, "You have always been a tourist...you think of this as your country?" Do you think Amir is now seeing the true Afghanistan with the executions and the Taliban etc...
ReplyDeleteOn page 267, Farid tells Amir that it is hard for him to believe that Amir really came for the boy. Why do you think this is?
ReplyDeleteI think it is hard for him to believe that because why would someone come all the way from the U.S. just to pick up this kid that is only his half-nephew when the Taliban are killing everyone, and he didn't even know if he was still alive.
Deleteon pg. 265 "There was no hot running water and the cracked toilet didn't flush." What does this show about the change in life from America and Afghanistan, how is Amir going to change and adapt to something so much lower than what he had in America.
ReplyDeleteIf Baba was still alive would he face the Taliban when they were hurting people?
ReplyDeleteI do not think so. Because he had a new life in america. It would make him mad but I do not think he would do much about it.
DeleteI think he probably would do something, I am not sure if he would go to the soccer fiend and break it up but I do think that he would do something.
DeleteHow do you think Amir is feeling being back in Afghanistan?
ReplyDeleteI think he feels like an outcast and that he is in uncharted territory. And this happens to most heroes, they don't know what they are getting into.
DeleteI wonder what it is likefor amir to come back home to a broken society
ReplyDeleteI think he had mixed emotions about coming back to Kabul. Kabul is where he grew up and he has lots of memories there but also he wants to forget about Kabul and certain things that have happened.
DeleteOn page 263, Farid says, "'Just forget it all. Makes it easier.' 'To what?' 'To go on,'" Do you think that leaving your past and letting things go help you move on in life or is it easier if you get a final look at things?
ReplyDeletei think that baba would have gotten himself executed if he had been in Afghanistan when the Taliban came. At least if Amir wasn't there to stop him.
ReplyDeleteI agree! Baba is a very outgoing man and wants to have his thoughts heard.
DeleteI feel like the Baba would have stood up for people in Afghanistan and would have definitely risked his life to help people.
DeleteI agree with Zach, Baba would be the man of the people, but this is the Taliban we are talking about, not some fairy tale where the villains were idiots. The Taliban would have taken Baba to the soccer fields and stone him to death to make an example out of him.
DeleteWhat will this official think of Amir?
ReplyDeleteI think this offical will make it very hard for Amir to get Sohrab back and cause Amir lots of trouble.
DeleteHow did Baba's influence end up changing amir for the better.
ReplyDeleteHe got to spend time with them. He learned what is right and wrong. He helped him for the better.
DeleteI think Baba made Amir a much stronger person than he would have been if he wasn't there and he taught Amir though influence how to be strong and tough.
DeleteI don't think his influence helped, but what did is how others viewed Baba and what they believed about him. I think Amir is fighting his own bear now, Being Baba like and being the hero.
Deleteon pg. 263 when Amir said "I don't want to forget anymore." what does this mean for Amir? It seems that he wants to change his ways and not look into his past and move forward to make things right for Hassan and the rest of his family.
ReplyDeleteIs it hard for Amir to see his home town so different?
ReplyDeleteIt would be hard for anyone to go back to their home town after 20 years and see that it has been destroyed. All of his memories in that town have been left behind.
DeleteIf Baba was still alive, how would he be reacting to what's happening in Kabul?
ReplyDeleteI don't think there is much Baba can do because of the amount of power the Taliban have over the people.
DeleteOn page 267, Farid tells Amir that it is hard for him to believe that Amir really came for the boy. Will Amir use everyone's doubt in him to motivate himself to find Sohrab?
ReplyDeleteDo you think Assef will make a return later in the novel? Maybe with the Taliban?
ReplyDeleteI think that Assef is going to return and I think he is going to be the Taliban official that Amir is supposed to meet.
DeleteI think he can both return or not return. By this I mean the official could physically be Assef. But Assef could not physically be there, but his actions of a sociopath could be shown through this official, which could possibly be the same official who takes and probably sexually abuses the children.
DeleteIf Baba was alive right now he would be so disappointed in Kabul, but he almost knew that the Taliban taking over was going to happen, but when he knew they were taking over the Russians he seemed to be happy but he never knew that there was going to this much pain and killing from the Taliban.
ReplyDeleteOn page 272 why do the people like this man who is the "leader?"
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think will happen to Amir and Farid when they go and meet with the man in the glasses?
ReplyDeleteI think the man in the sunglasses will have known Amir as a kid. Amir will have to do something soon that will finish the heroes journey.
DeleteWith the analogy of how the man hailing stones being compared to a baseball pitcher, would that lead us to believe that murder is just a daily, accepted, and to a somewhat of a degree enjoyed?
ReplyDeleteI think the "opening pitch" of the rock could showing they are sociopaths and have no sympathy for others.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I think that the comparison to baseball really shows how they were just playing a game with the man and the stones.
DeleteOn page 271 it says, "his arms spread across like those of Jesus on the cross" could this symbolize how they see themselves or the amount of power they have?
ReplyDeletePeople who hold fear, usually hold power with that.
DeleteIf you think about power and how to really show power the Taliban don't really show it, anyone can abuse and hurt and kill people. Its just like being a bully, the Taliban think that if they show this power then they are strong but mentally they are very weak. The wise and powerful are the people who stand up for their rights and freedoms such as Hassan.
ReplyDeleteHow is fear shown throughout the book?
ReplyDeleteIt is shown by threating. They are not nice to the people and they make them fear them. They are no good people.
DeleteWhat do you think that the relationship between Farid and Amir is like?
ReplyDeleteAll farid had to do was ask to see the man in the glasses, how does this show how afghans always have a trust with one another?
ReplyDeleteI love that Reid stated how he thought that Farid could be part of the Taliban or a spy for the Taliban since he was able to get a meeting with one leader of a part of the Taliban. I also don't see how he would be able to get a meeting with the guy with the Taliban.
ReplyDeleteI like where Justin is going with the glasses showing they have a deeper meaning, the Jon Lennon piece was good maybe showing how the Taliban progressed? From, peace to darkness.
ReplyDeleteBlack sunglasses, It has been shown that when people cant see your face, you are able to do much worse to them. also when someone else can take responsibility for your actions then you can do whatever you want without consequences.
ReplyDeleteFarid can't be a spy because when they were staying at the brothers house they say that only Taliban could afford meat, and I didn't see much of anything so Farid must not be Taliban.
ReplyDeleteCould the leader be someone we already know?
ReplyDeleteYeah I'm predicting that it will be Assef, just because what has happened in other stories. The childhood enemy comes back.
DeleteI dont know i was never really that mad at amir but i do think that he has gotten a lot cooler than he was.
ReplyDeleteI have forgiven Amir because he is proving his worth and he is willing to go through many dangers and he is trying very hard to make things right.
ReplyDeleteIve forgiven Amir a little bit but in order for me to forgive him totally hed have to save Sohrab.
ReplyDeleteAmir hasn't even gotten Sohrab back and he hasn't stood up to Assef.
ReplyDeleteI have for given Amir because he is trying to make good in a bad situation. He is moving on in the world. He is trying to do something good for them.
ReplyDeleteI think that once he finally achieves his goal, that is when he will be relieved and he might start to forgive himself.
ReplyDeleteI feel like I will have forgiven Amir by the end of the book when he finishes his heroes journey and saves Sohrab.
ReplyDeleteI have forgiven Amir I think he is making an effort and has taken brave steps and is really gaining on being a better man, he definitely stepped up his game.
ReplyDeleteI have started to forgive Amir a little bit but he his on his way to achieving the trust of being a noble person and doing what he needs to do, he still has a lot of regrets for himself still so it will take a lot for Amir to have his needs fixed.
ReplyDeleteI forgive Amir because I can empathize with him now, he has received multiple problems that he has had to face. He has grown up and now he is trying to fix his past mistakes even though he must face the Taliban.
ReplyDeleteAmir is not a hero yet he still has not done anything but is working for it. I think being there and doing this for Hassan to get Sorhab and leaving his family home in America is risking a lot.
ReplyDeleteI have forgiven Amir, he is a changed man and his actions prove it in the book, like him going back to Afghanistan.
ReplyDelete