Assignment: Kite Runner Socratic

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS 10-A (H)
2021-10-29T20:00:25Z

Due: Nov 3, 2021 by 11:59pm

For our Socratic Seminar, you can earn 10 points for writing down a thoughtful, multi-sentence response to THREE of these questions AND 10 points for saying TWO thoughtful, multi-sentence responses out loud during our discussion.

Since this assignment is worth 10 points, if you do both, you'll get extra credit :)

1. Is it necessary to take dramatic actions to find forgiveness? (both in general and specifically for Amir?)

2. Discuss the idea of redemption. Is Amir ever able to achieve redemption (be set free) for his actions? Why or why not?

3. How did you feel about the violence throughout the book? What was Hosseini's intent in creating such a brutal novel?

4. How is Amir’s story an allegory for the history of Afghanistan in the 20th century? You’ll want to consult your history lecture notes to back this one up.

5. Through the character of Baba, masculinity looms large in Amir's home life. How does masculinity – of what it means to be an Afghan man – affect Amir? How does it relate to the novel's ideas of nationhood and international conflict?

6. Discuss the idea of bravery and courage in the novel. What characters do you consider brave or courageous, and does this concept vary between characters?

7. Think back to Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development. Does anyone do anything in the novel purely for Stage 5-6 reasons? Do you believe anyone does, in real life?

8. Did the ending surprise you? Would you change it if you could? Why do you think Hosseini ended the story this way?

9. Don't like these questions? Develop one of your own that you think will spur good discussion.

For our Socratic Seminar, you can earn 10 points for writing down a thoughtful, multi-sentence response to THREE of these questions AND 10 points for saying TWO thoughtful, multi-sentence responses out loud during our discussion.

Since this assignment is worth 10 points, if you do both, you'll get extra credit :)

1. Is it necessary to take dramatic actions to find forgiveness? (both in general and specifically for Amir?)

2. Discuss the idea of redemption. Is Amir ever able to achieve redemption (be set free) for his actions? Why or why not?

3. How did you feel about the violence throughout the book? What was Hosseini's intent in creating such a brutal novel?

4. How is Amir’s story an allegory for the history of Afghanistan in the 20th century? You’ll want to consult your history lecture notes to back this one up.

5. Through the character of Baba, masculinity looms large in Amir's home life. How does masculinity – of what it means to be an Afghan man – affect Amir? How does it relate to the novel's ideas of nationhood and international conflict?

6. Discuss the idea of bravery and courage in the novel. What characters do you consider brave or courageous, and does this concept vary between characters?

7. Think back to Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development. Does anyone do anything in the novel purely for Stage 5-6 reasons? Do you believe anyone does, in real life?

8. Did the ending surprise you? Would you change it if you could? Why do you think Hosseini ended the story this way?

9. Don't like these questions? Develop one of your own that you think will spur good discussion.