Essay Topics
edited
The Namesake due Monday, May 24th at 3:00pm
1. The Ganguli family lifestyle is central to the st…
The Namesake due Monday, May 24th at 3:00pm
1. The Ganguli family lifestyle is central to the story. Compare and contrast the Ganguli family's lifestyle to the lifestyle of the Ratliffs. Cite examples from the novel that show differences and explain how those differences are important to the story.
2. The title The Namesake reflects the struggles Gogol Ganguli goes through to identify with his unusual names. How does Gogol lose first his public name, his bhalonam, and then his private pet name, his daknam? How does he try to remake his identity, after choosing to rename himself, and what is the result? How do our names precede us in society, and how do they define us?
Essay Topics
edited
The Namesake
1. The Ganguli family lifestyle is central to the story. Compare and contrast the Ga…
The Namesake
1. The Ganguli family lifestyle is central to the story. Compare and contrast the Ganguli family's lifestyle to the lifestyle of the Ratliffs. Cite examples from the novel that show differences and explain how those differences are important to the story.
2. The title The Namesake reflects the struggles Gogol Ganguli goes through to identify with his unusual names. How does Gogol lose first his public name, his bhalonam, and then his private pet name, his daknam? How does he try to remake his identity, after choosing to rename himself, and what is the result? How do our names precede us in society, and how do they define us?
3. At the conclusion of the book, has Gogol successfully reconciled both of the worlds he inhabits with one another?
If so, how do you think he achieved this? If not, why do you think he was unable to do so?
4. How does the novel, The Namesake, portray the American Dream? Write a critical review of the novel arguing whether or not and/or how the novel depicts the American Dream.
Kite Runner
Examine the concept of circularity in the novel. What important cycles exist in the characters' lives and histories? How is circularity connected to redemption?
Essay Topics
edited
Kite Runner
Examine the concept of circularity in the novel. What important cycles exist in the c…
Kite Runner
Examine the concept of circularity in the novel. What important cycles exist in the characters' lives and histories? How is circularity connected to redemption?
Explore the way in which courage is portrayed in the novel. What constitutes true bravery? What are the key moments when characters are brave and who is the bravest character, if any? Use specific examples from the text to support your argument.
Each character in the novel is shaped not only by his particular circumstances, but by the historical and political events that occur during his life. Consider Sohrab, the only character of his generation; how is he different from the other characters and how are these differences a function of what he has experienced?
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Consider the idea of a homeland or "watan." How do you think the novel defines a homeland? Make sure to consider the opinions of Farid and Assef. Also, consider this question in terms of Amir and Sohrab, two characters who leave Afghanistan when they are still growing up.
Even though countless events occur in the novel, the title refers to kite fighting and kite running. What do these activities represent in the novel and why are they so important? To whom or what does the title, "The Kite Runner," refer?
Examine what it means to be American in the novel. How do different characters see America and is there one perspective that comes across most definitively? Some characters you may want to consider: Amir, Baba, General Taheri, Omar Faisal, Farid.
Think about acts of violence in the novel individually and as a whole. Why is violence so essential to the story? Could the story occur without so much violence? Using your answer from the previous question, explain what you think Hosseini is using violence to say. You may want to consider: Hassan's rape, Sohrab's rape, the stonings at Ghazi Stadium, Assef and Amir's fight, Sohrab's suicide attempt, the story of Kamal and his father, Hassan and Farzana's murders, Sanaubar's appearance at the house, and the activity of kite fighting.
No No Boys
1. Explain the possible reasons why Japanese were discriminated against more than Italians, Negroes, or Chinese after the end of World War II.
Kite Runner
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Kite Runner In Kabul, nothing is as Amir remembers it. He feels extremely nostalgic seeing all the distorted pl…
Kite Runner In Kabul, nothing is as Amir remembers it. He feels extremely nostalgic seeing all the distorted places that used to be beautiful. Now he knows that he will not be able to go back to his fond and careless childhood lifestyle.
Amir learns that neither his father or him is a bad person. Both of them have "stolen the truth" from each other, but for complicated reasons. There were many times when Baba wanted to tell the truth; that he was Hassan's real father. However, by keeping it a secret, everybody was happy, and it would have been painful to everyone involved to let them know. When Amir reads Rahim Khan's letter, he is told not so hard on himself because he was just a by when he watched Hassan get raped. The most important lesson Amir learns is to forgive himself and others. At the hospital, Amir dreams that a man, who appears to be his dad, is wrestling a bear, but the man turns out to be himself. Amir's dream is a sign that his curse has ended because he is depicted as a strong person. Another sign of Amir's redeption is that he receives a scare on his lip, similarly to that of Hassan. Sohrab, Amir's nephew, reminds Amir of Hassan all the time. The way he looks, talks, and behaves. For the first time in his life Amir is willing to fight; fight for the custody of Sohrab. For example, when Amir meets with Omar, an immigration lawyer says to Amir, "I meant to tell you in there, about what you're trying to do, I think it's pretty great" (339). When other people despite Rahim Khan tells Amir he is a good person, he believes it. Also, when Amir goes to look for Sohrab, the owner of the hotel tells him, "I will drive you because I am a father like you" (315). This shows that Amir is finally willing to help Hassan, as should have all those years ago, through caring for his son.
Kite Runner
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Kite Runner When Amir returns to Kabul, he sees that it has changed drastically since the last time he was ther…
Kite Runner When Amir returns to Kabul, he sees that it has changed drastically since the last time he was there. Kabul is now an extremely dirty city and there are many more beggars on the street then there used to be. Amir describes the city as having rubble and beggars everywhere. The Beggars are mostly children now some of whom are no older than five or six years old. Hardly any of the children sit with an adult male because the fathers have died in the war. A haze of dust now hovers over the city, and, smoke rises to the ski across the river. Most of the tress that used to be in the city were cut down for firewood in the winter. Te Taliban has taken over the city and have killed many Hazaras including Hassan and his wife, Farzana. From this experience, Amir learns how fortunate he is that he lives in America and has a nice home, a wife, and a good job (writer). He realizes that he is lucky that his father was well off when he and his father lived in Kabul because he was able to get what he wanted when he wanted. He also realizes that he is lucky to have had a good education because most people in Kabul now probably can not get a good education.
Amir also learns how much Hassan really cared about him. He realizes that Hassan did so much for him and he so little for Hassan. One day back when Amir and Hassan were little, Hassan threatened to shoot Assef in the eye with a rock using his slingshot if Assef did not stop bothering Amire. Amir realizes that he must now do something for Hasan because Hassan did so much for him and because of what he did to Hassan (Amir watched Hassan get raped and did nothing to stop it) So when Assef tells Amir that they must fight in order for Amir to be able to have Sohrab, Amir agrees. If Amir gets Sohrab, he can take Sohrab to a nice orphanage in America where no one will sexually abuse him like Assef does, and in doing so he will be doing something nice for Hassan.
While in the hospital recovering from the injuries he sustained from the fight, Sohrab tells Amir that to Hassan, he (Amir) was “the best friend he ever had” (306). Amir responds, “I wasn’t such a good friend, I’m afraid” (306). Amir continues saying to Sohab “But I’d like to be your friend. I think I could be a good friend to you. Would that be all right? Would you like that?” (306) Amir realizes that he is being a good friend to Hassan (even though Hassan is dead) by taking care of his (Hassan’s) son and being a friend to him. Amir ends up trying to adopt Sohrab so Sohrab can live with him and Soroya. This shows that Amir really cares about Hassan, and wants to
One day Farid comes to visit Amir in the hospital and asks him (Amir) “What happened in that house? What happened between you and the Talib?” (298) Amir response “ Let’s just say we both got what we deserved” (298) Amir’s response leads us to believe that he has ended his curse. Amir believes that the injuries he sustained as a result of his fight with Assef is his payment for watching Hassan get raped and not doing anything to stop it from happening. Thus Amir has now ended the curse.
