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kite runner chapter 10-15 4 discussion questions, 10-15 quiz other 22 additional small questions
How do Writers Develop Characters?
For many readers, one of the greatest pleasures in reading comes from discovering compelling characters who we care about and want to know more about. Perhaps one of the reasons character-driven narratives are so compelling is because we can find reflections of ourselves in these fictional, but rich and complex characters. In following the journeys of these characters we discover truths about ourselves that are often not so obvious.
Character Types
Dynamic
Character changes over the course of the story e.g, Harry Potter goes from bullied orphan to powerful wizard.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)
Character Traits
Character traits are the words we use to describe a character’s non-physical attributes. Look at this chart for a list of character traits:
Characterization
An author can develop characters in ways that are direct or indirect. Direct characterization occurs when an author tells the reader about specific traits a character has. E.g., Dan was bold and decisive. This is often not as effective as indirect characterization, where we learn about a character through his or her actions, what the character says, and what other characters say about him or her. E.g., Dan stood up and put both hands down on the long boardroom table. All eyes turned to him. “Here’s what will happen,” he began. Another way to think of indirect characterization is “showing” rather than “telling.” This allows the reader to form his or her own conclusions about the character.
Read Chapters 10-14 and:
- A) Answer the questions
Chapter Questions 10 – 14
- What “weakness” of Amir’s does Baba have to apologize for in Chapter 10?
- Who is Karim?
- Why are Amir and his father fleeing Afghanistan?
- Why does Baba challenge the Russian officer who is obviously high on drugs?
- In Chapter 10, several things happen that are ironic or foreshadowing. Label each one of these and explain: • The only way Amir can survive the long ride in the fume-filled tank is by remembering flying kites with Hassan. • Baba gathers up the dirt of his homeland and places it next to his heart. • Kamal’s father commits suicide after Kamal dies from breathing the fumes of the tank. • Kamal, one of Hassan’s rapists, has been raped himself and hasn’t spoken since.
- Chapter 11 has a new setting. What is it?
- “America was different. America was a river roaring along, unmindful of the past. I could wade into this river, let my sins drown to the bottom, let the waters carry me someplace far.” This quote from Chapter 11 is said by whom? What does it reveal? What does this metaphor mean?
- What does Baba give Amir as a graduation present? What is Amir feeling at this moment? What is Baba feeling?
- In Chapter 11, who is Soraya?
- What are Baba and Amir doing in San Jose on the weekends?
- Who is General Taheri?
- What does Amir tell his father he wants to study in college? What is Baba’s reaction?
- Baba observes that “It may be unfair, but what happens in a single day can change the course of a whole lifetime.” Whom is he speaking about? Why? What else might be significant about that quote?
- What does Amir observe about a double standard in Chapter 12?
- Why did the visit with the pulmonologist become unsuccessful when Baba asked where he was from?
- What is Baba diagnosed with? How does he decide to treat it?
- Why does Amir asks Baba to meet with General Taheri?
- In Chapter 13, Amir thinks about the “bears” his father has wrestled during his lifetime. What “bears” has Baba wrestled?
- What good news does Amir learn in Chapter 13?
- What disappointment do Soraya and Amir face? Do you think Amir should have told Soraya about his betrayal of Hassan before they were married? Why or why not? What does this do to a relationship?
- In 1989, what is going on in Afghanistan? Who are the Mujahedin? Who is in charge?
- Chapter 14 brings us back to the opening of the book: the telephone call from Rahim Khan. What is Rahim asking Amir to do?
- B) Complete the reading quiz
- C) Complete the discussion with your group
Discussion Questions
Review your notes and generate your four discussion questions for your meeting with your classmates who are reading the same book. Your goal with these questions is to create a foundation for a rich discussion that helps you extend your understanding of what you read, as well as your classmates’ understanding of what they read.
- Prepare four discussion questions: one matter question, one personal reality question, one external reality question, and one question that is a combination question. Be sure to review Activity 1 so you know how to develop your questions.
- Share each question you have created separately. Be sure to come prepared to share by the deadline in order to retain as much of the feeling of a “discussion” as possible.
- Respond to at least four questions from your classmates by the deadline provided by your teacher. In your responses, be sure to support your ideas with specific evidence from the text and include page numbers.
The following criteria will be used to assess your discussion questions and answers.
| Yes/No | Criteria |
| Discussion questions contain specific references to the text (e.g., by quoting sentences or phrases from the text, including page numbers). | |
| Discussion questions are open-ended enough to allow for more than one response. | |
| Discussion questions deal with aspects of the text that are important for developing a deep understanding of the text. | |
| Discussion questions make use of proper literary terminology where appropriate (e.g., narrator, plot, theme, imagery). | |
| Answers demonstrate careful consideration of the original question. | |
| Answers use specific evidence from the text (along with page numbers) to support ideas. |
LIST OF CHARACTER TRAITS active adventurous affectionate alert ambitious bold bright brave calm cheerful clever confident cool cooperative courageous courteous curious daring dependable determined eager easygoing energetic excited expert faithful fair friendly fun funny gentle generous good graceful grateful groovy happy helpful honest honorable hopeful humorous intelligent interesting jolly joyful joyous kind lively loving loyal mature mysterious nice noble nurturing obedient original outgoing peaceful pleasant polite popular powerful quick quiet quirky rational reliable responsible sensational sensible serious skillful smart thankful thoughtful trustwo
Different Questions
1) Matter-Text: represents the subject and/or text(s) under discussion or questioning
2) Personal reality: represents the individual’s experiences, values and ideas
3) External reality: represents the “world”: the experience, history, and concepts of larger society and of other peoples and cultures
QUESTIONING CIRCLES EXAMPLES:
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn White Questions Matter-Text: What does Huck say when he decides not to turn Jim into the authorities?
Personal reality: When would you support a friend when everyone else thought s/he was wrong?
External reality: What was the responsibility of people who found runaway slaves?
Matter-Text/ Personal reality: Would you, like Huck, break the law for a friend?
Personal reality/External reality: Given the social and political circumstances, to what extent would you have done what Huck did?
Matter-Text /External reality: What were the issues during that time which caused both Huck’s and Jim’s action to be viewed as wrong?
Matter-Text/Personal reality/External reality: When is it right to go against the social and/or political structures of the time as Huck did when he refused to turn Jim in to the authorities?
From: gregteach.net
