What MakesWhat Makesa Kite Flya Kite Fly& Other Mysteries& Other Mysteries

of Flightof Flight

The Kite RunnerThe Kite RunnerStory of two friendsStory of two friends

Amir and HassanAmir and Hassan Young boys in AfghanistanYoung boys in Afghanistan

• Participated in “kite fighting”Participated in “kite fighting”• AmirAmir – well-to-do boy – well-to-do boy

- kite flyerkite flyer

• HassanHassan - poorer of the two - poorer of the two- Designated the “runner”Designated the “runner”

Retrieved kites that “got away”Retrieved kites that “got away”

The Art of “Kite Fighting”The Art of “Kite Fighting”Common hobby of AfghansCommon hobby of Afghans

before Russian invasionbefore Russian invasion sport banned by current sport banned by current

authoritiesauthorities

SportSport that became an art formthat became an art form

Matter of honorMatter of honor to competeto compete

Official “Kite Fighting” RulesOfficial “Kite Fighting” Rules

The UnitThe Unit 2 persons2 persons

• 1 to fly the kite (leader)1 to fly the kite (leader)• 1 to feed wire from spool1 to feed wire from spool

- many X’s blamed for many X’s blamed for losing fightlosing fight

Official “Kite Fighting” RulesOfficial “Kite Fighting” Rules

The KiteThe Kite Gudiparan (flying doll)Gudiparan (flying doll)

• many sizesmany sizes- 12” dia. to human size12” dia. to human size- average fighteraverage fighter

3.5’ wingspan3.5’ wingspan

• materialsmaterials- tissue papertissue paper- bamboobamboo

flexibilityflexibility

Official “Kite Fighting” RulesOfficial “Kite Fighting” RulesThe Wire The Wire (Tar)(Tar)

glass-coated cutting lineglass-coated cutting line• most flyers make their ownmost flyers make their own

- secret recipe: ground glass, glue, secret recipe: ground glass, glue, mushed rice, etc.mushed rice, etc.

- wire coated, dried and wound on wire coated, dried and wound on drumdrum

connects kite to leaderconnects kite to leader determines success of fightdetermines success of fight quality varies greatlyquality varies greatly

• materials and costmaterials and cost

Official “Kite Fighting” RulesOfficial “Kite Fighting” Rules

The Drum The Drum (Charkha)(Charkha)

primarily for wire storageprimarily for wire storage crucial part of kite fightingcrucial part of kite fighting

• rapid release critical rapid release critical • light – for ease of uselight – for ease of use

normally made of woodnormally made of wood cutting line on drumcutting line on drum

• may weigh over 9 lbsmay weigh over 9 lbs at least 1,000 feet of wireat least 1,000 feet of wire

Official “Kite Fighting” RulesOfficial “Kite Fighting” Rules

The HazardsThe Hazards dangerous sport for childrendangerous sport for children

• many children cut to the bonemany children cut to the bone- wrapped leather around index fingerwrapped leather around index finger

• many would climb on roofmany would climb on roof- best view and access to windbest view and access to wind- many would fall many would fall

break bones or loss of lifebreak bones or loss of life

Official “Kite Fighting” RulesOfficial “Kite Fighting” RulesThe Fight The Fight (Jang)(Jang)

2 or more kites / close proximity2 or more kites / close proximity• sometime more than 25sometime more than 25

wires touchwires touch• fight beginsfight begins

fight lengthfight length• split second to ½ hoursplit second to ½ hour

- depending on wind, tar quality and skilldepending on wind, tar quality and skill general conceptgeneral concept

• release wire – as fast as possiblerelease wire – as fast as possible• greater release per secondgreater release per second

- better chance of winningbetter chance of winning generallygenerally

• one with experience and patience will winone with experience and patience will win

Official “Kite Fighting” RulesOfficial “Kite Fighting” Rules

Loser of Kite FightLoser of Kite Fight wire would be cutwire would be cut kite released into airkite released into air

• following direction of windfollowing direction of wind

opportunity for someone opportunity for someone else to catch and own itelse to catch and own it• the position of the position of HassanHassan

- the Kite Runnerthe Kite Runner

Chapter 6 – kite flyingChapter 6 – kite flying‘ In Kabul, fighting kites was a ‘ In Kabul, fighting kites was a

little like going to war’.little like going to war’.Annotate and decorate your kite in pairs Annotate and decorate your kite in pairs

referring to p43 -45.referring to p43 -45.‘‘The Hindi kid would soon learn what the British The Hindi kid would soon learn what the British

learned earlier in the century, and what the learned earlier in the century, and what the Russians would eventually learn by the late Russians would eventually learn by the late 1980s: that Afghans are an independent people. 1980s: that Afghans are an independent people. Afghans cherish customs but abhor rules’.Afghans cherish customs but abhor rules’.

Chapter 7 Chapter 7

• Hassan’s Dream – the monster in the lake – Amir’s cruelty Hassan’s Dream – the monster in the lake – Amir’s cruelty – is Hassan aware? Discuss in pairs referring to p52- 54.– is Hassan aware? Discuss in pairs referring to p52- 54.

• P53 ‘The streets glistened with fresh snow and the sky was a blameless blue/’

• P55 ‘Next to me Hassan held the spool, his hands already bloodied by the string.’ (reversal at end of novel, Amir has bloodied hands for Sohrab)

• P58 ‘You won, Amir agha.’ ‘We won! We won!’

p59 reread in pairs and be prepared to comment in 5 p59 reread in pairs and be prepared to comment in 5 minutesminutes

Qargha LakeQargha Lake

‘‘For you a thousand times overFor you a thousand times over.’ – Amir .’ – Amir says to Sohrab at end of book, echoing says to Sohrab at end of book, echoing Hassan’s words to him. Amir gets his Hassan’s words to him. Amir gets his redemption through patiently waiting on redemption through patiently waiting on Hassan’s son and taking a beating for him.Hassan’s son and taking a beating for him.

P62 THE ALLEY P62 THE ALLEY That winter Amir becomes That winter Amir becomes what he is. What is that? Coward? what he is. What is that? Coward? Deserter? Judas? Or just a little boy who is Deserter? Judas? Or just a little boy who is scared?scared?

p.63/64p.63/64

Assef, Wali and Kamal trap Hassan in the Assef, Wali and Kamal trap Hassan in the alley, he wants the kite for Amir; they want alley, he wants the kite for Amir; they want revenge.revenge. ‘‘Before you sacrifice yourself for him, think about Before you sacrifice yourself for him, think about

this. Would he do the same for you?’this. Would he do the same for you?’ ‘‘I opened my mouth, almost said something. I opened my mouth, almost said something.

Almost.’Almost.’ ‘‘I just watched. Paralyzed.’I just watched. Paralyzed.’ ‘‘I bit on my fist. Shut my eyes.’I bit on my fist. Shut my eyes.’

Amir trades Hassan for the kite.Amir trades Hassan for the kite.

HomeworkHomework

• Prepare to feedback on how Hosseini describes the rape/ how the narrator relates the information.

• P62 THE ALLEY That winter Amir becomes what he is. What is that? Coward? Deserter? Judas? Or just a little boy who is scared? Be prepared to discuss this with quotes to back up your points.

• Prepare Chapter 8