Symbolism is a strong element of many realism books because it is our tendency to associate meaning and sentimentality with objects. In literature, objects in a text that takes on more meaning or represent something greater than themselves are called symbols. Hosseini uses this language feature expertly throughout The Kite Runner.
The symbols below all appear in the text at least once and many are more frequently referred to. For each symbol, you need to address the following points:
-Describe how and when it appears in the text
– Explain the significant meaning added to the text by the symbol. Likely, the symbol will add meaning or develop a theme or character for the readers.
– Write down 2-3 quotes for the symbol and explain how they could be used to explore the meaning of the symbol. You need to connect these quotes to your answer for the point above.
– Discuss what the symbol is and means outside of the text. Comment on how the symbol’s presentation inside of the text is strengthened by your understanding of the ‘real world’ value of the object.
The key symbols in The Kite Runner are:
Kites (and kite fighting)
Kite fighting has a long history in the Middle East. The kite serves as a symbol of Amir’s happiness as well as his guilt. Flying kites is what he enjoys most as a child, not least because it is the only way that he connects fully with Baba, who was once a champion kite fighter.
The Kite. Kite – In The Kite Runner, the kites symbolizes Amir’s childhood happiness and his betrayal of Hassan. After Hassan’s rape, the kites become as a frequent reminder of Amir’s betrayal and guilt. When Amir was stuck inside the fuel truck, he thought of his carefree days flying kites with Hassan.
-Describe how and when it appears in the text
The kites appear in the first chapter when Amir saw the two kites up in the sky. And then in chapter seven when the kite fighting tournament takes place and then later in the alleyway where Hassan gets raped. At then at the end when Amir and Sohrab see the kit fighting and Amir runs the kite for Sohrab.
– Explain the significant meaning added to the text by the symbol. Likely, the symbol will add meaning or develop a theme or character for the readers.
The kites symbolise Amir’s past (flying up in the sky and floating over you always) and guilt of what happened, it symbolises how destructive nature in him and hassan’s relationship, because they were destroyed as friends for the kite (Baba’s approval/love). Througout the text everything is revolving around Hassan’s rape and the thing that was at fault was the kite and Amirs lust fir his fathers love.
– Write down 2-3 quotes for the symbol and explain how they could be used to explore the meaning of the symbol. You need to connect these quotes to your answer for the point above.
“Then I glanced up and saw a pair of kites, red with long blue tails, soaring in the sky.”
“But there were two things amid the garbage that I couldn’t stop looking at: One was the blue kite resting against the wall, close to the cast-iron stove; the other was Hassan’s brown corduroy pants thrown on a heap of eroded bricks.”
“‘Do you want me to run that kite for you?’ His Adam’s apple rose and fell as he swallowed. The wind lifted his hair. I thought I saw him nod. ‘For you a thousand times over,’ I heard myself say.”
These can pinpoint Amir’s guilt, but also his happiness in his childhood before kites because the symbol of his guilt, when they meant the tournament and Hassan’s friendship. This is a symbol of past guilt following you through years and the symbol of what Amir didn’t do.
– Discuss what the symbol is and means outside of the text. Comment on how the symbol’s presentation inside of the text is strengthened by your understanding of the ‘real world’ value of the object.
The symbol in the real world could be thought of as carefree, and happy, which can also be used in the context of the book as Amir and Hassan were carefree and happy before Assef raped Hassan. That they grew up as friends and happy, but then after the kite fighting tournament, the kites turn into a symbol of guilt and reminders of what Amir didn’t do for his childhood friend.
The Pomegranate Tree
The Koran mentions a pomegranate three times (6:99, 6:141 and 55:68), representing, for example, the good things created by God, whether earthly fruit or that of Paradise, hence it is also sometimes referred to as the ‘apple of paradise’.
The pomegranate tree serves more than one purpose in the novel. It can be viewed as a symbol of Amir and Hassan’s friendship and as a symbol of Afghanistan as a whole (it is not coincidental that when Amir returns to war torn Afghanistan the tree is shriveled and nearly dead).
-Describe how and when it appears in the text
The pomegranate tree appears whenever Hassan and Amir go out to read under it or talk about anything, they also write their names on it. “Amir and Hassan, Sultans of Kabul.”
It also appears when Amir goes back to Kabul and sees the tree dead with the rest of the environment, hinting that their friendship was dead as well.
– Explain the significant meaning added to the text by the symbol. Likely, the symbol will add meaning or develop a theme or character for the readers.
This represents the past, the happy times before they split apart because of Amir’s guilt. The tree could also represent their friendship, as when Amir returns to the tree it is dead and withered, this is proven because of the “Amir and Hassan, Sultans of Kabul” written on it.
– Write down 2-3 quotes for the symbol and explain how they could be used to explore the meaning of the symbol. You need to connect these quotes to your answer for the point above.
“Do you want to go climb our tree?”
“I stood under it, remembered all the times we’d climbed it, straddled it’s branches, our legs swinging, dappled sunlight flickering through the leaves and casting on our faces a mosaic of light and shadow. The tangy taste of pomegranate crept into my mouth.”
“”Then Hassan did pick up a pomegranate. He walked toward me. He opened it and crushed it against his own forehead. ‘There,’ he croaked, re d dripping down his face like blood. ‘Are you satisfied? Do you feel better?’ he turned around and started down the hill.”
These all represent the happy times that were ruined by the decision that Amir made to not defend his friend.
– Discuss what the symbol is and means outside of the text. Comment on how the symbol’s presentation inside of the text is strengthened by your understanding of the ‘real world’ value of the object.
Outside of the text pomegranates symbolise happiness and the good things created by God, whether earthly fruit or that of Paradise, hence it is also sometimes referred to as the ‘apple of paradise’ in the Koran. While this could connect to Amir and HAssan’s friendship as it was good and both of them enjoyed it, but then the tree dies when Amir goes back to Afghanistan.
Scars
Both Hassan and Amir end up with a small scar on their upper lip. Scars have long since been a ‘prize’ of warriors, demonstrating strength and bravery.
In order for Amir to atone for his sins, he has to physically suffer and sacrifice his own life to save Sohrab. The scar symbolically represents Amir’s sacrifice and serves as a reminder of all the times Hassan protects him during their childhoods.
-Describe how and when it appears in the text
Hassan was born with a hair lip and Dr. Kumar is hired by Baba to fix his hair lip and a thin pale scar is left in place. And then when Amir gets beaten up by Assef and he gets a split lip and that heals just like Hassan’s lip did.
– Explain the significant meaning added to the text by the symbol. Likely, the symbol will add meaning or develop a theme or character for the readers.
The symbolism for Amir is that scars have been a prize to warriors all through the ages and for Amir to redeem himself was to almost get redemption for bravery through taking on Hassan’s scar. He had to physically suffer and sacrifice his own life to save Sohrab, then gaining many scars, and scars also mean bravery and strength.
– Write down 2-3 quotes for the symbol and explain how they could be used to explore the meaning of the symbol. You need to connect these quotes to your answer for the point above.
“Soon, it was just a pink jagged line running up from his lip. By the following winter, it was only a faint scar.”
“I kept thinking of something else Armand/Dr. Faruqi had said: The impact had cut your upper lip in two, he had said, clean down the middle. Clean down the middle. Like a harelip.”
– Discuss what the symbol is and means outside of the text. Comment on how the symbol’s presentation inside of the text is strengthened by your understanding of the ‘real world’ value of the object.
Outside the text scars symbolise bravery, that you have suffered pain for a greater cause and they signify as a ‘prize’ amongst warriors. From inside the text it still represents bravery as Amir showed bravery and sacrifice to save Sohrab.
The Slingshot
Slingshots are often associated with children’s toys but in the right hands, they can become powerful weapons.
-Describe how and when it appears in the text
When Hassan was defending Amir from Assef in the early chapters, and then when Sohrab was defending Amir from Assef when he was about to kill him.
– Explain the significant meaning added to the text by the symbol. Likely, the symbol will add meaning or develop a theme or character for the readers.
The theme of the slingshot is that it seems harmless but in the right hands it can cause a lot of damage, Hassan and Sohran both use the slingshot for good, so it is considered a pure weapon in the text. Throughout the book both Hassan and Sohrab seem to have passed on the tradition of now protecting Amir with their slingshot.
– Write down 2-3 quotes for the symbol and explain how they could be used to explore the meaning of the symbol. You need to connect these quotes to your answer for the point above.
“The slingshot made a thwiiiiit sound when Sohrab released the cup. Then Assef was screaming. He put his hand where his left eye had been just a moment ago. Blood oozed between his fingers. Blood and something else, something white and gel-like. That’s called vitreous fluid, I thought with clarity. I’ve read that somewhere. Vitreous fluid.”
“Hassan held the slingshot pointed directly at Assef’s face. His hand trembled with the strain of the pulled elastic band and beads of sweat had erupted on his brow.”
Both of them have faced Assef and Hassan had held back and not hurt him, but Sohrab had let the ammo go and wounded Assef just like his father would have if Assef had attacked, both of the boys were defending Amir in both situations.
– Discuss what the symbol is and means outside of the text. Comment on how the symbol’s presentation inside of the text is strengthened by your understanding of the ‘real world’ value of the object.
Outside the text a slingshot looks like a toy but in the right hands it can become a powerful weapon and is generally used for good intent. But outside the text it represents two generations, the slingshot symbolizes both childhood as well as the need to stand up for what is right. Both Hassan and Sohrab use a slingshot to stop Assef, although Hassan only has to threaten to use his, and Sohrab actually inflicts pain.
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