Kite Runner

By amarangu
  • Period: to

    Kite Runner

  • Baba teaches Amir about the only sin

    Baba told Amir that "no matter what the mullah teaches, there is only one sin, only one. And that is theft. Every other sin is a variation of theft" (Hosseini 17). This quote means a lot because it is an important lesson that Baba taught to Amir. It also comes back later in the book when Amir finds out that Baba had being lying to him by not telling him that Hassan is his brother. Baba also cheated on his wife by making Hassan with Ali's wife.

  • Amir won the kite flying tournament

    Hassan said "You won, Amir Agha! You won!" (Hosseini 66). This quote is very important because it talks about when Amir won the kite flying tournament. It is significant because his winning brought him closer to Baba and he felt some love from Baba. Kite flying is something that comes up later in the book and is significant because it brings people together.

  • Assef rapes Hassan

    Assef "Kept one hand on Hassan's back and undid his own belt buckle with his free hand" (Hosseini 75). Amir watched Assef rape Hassan because he was too cowardly to intervene and stop Assef. This separated Amir from Hassan because Hassan found out that Amir watched him get raped, yet he still didn't do anything. This separates the two of them and eventually leads to Hassan and Ali moving away.

  • Ali and Hassan decide to leave Baba and Amir

    Ali told Baba and Amir that "We are leaving" (Hosseini 106). Hassan knew that Amir had watched him get raped and he knew that Amir couldn't live with him there too. Ali and Hassan had already decided that it would be best for them to leave Amit and Baba so they went.

  • Invaded by Soviet army

    In 1979, the "Soviet army invades" (BBC).

  • Barbak Karmal becomes new leader

    In 1980, Afghanistan gets a new ruler, "Barbak Karmal" (BBC).

  • Baba stands up against a Russian soldier who wants to rape a lady who is in the car with Amir and Baba

    Baba said he'd "take a thousand bullets before [he] would let this indecency take place" (Hosseini 116). Baba did the exact opposite of what Amir did when he watched Hassan get raped- he stood up to the soldier instead of running away. Baba was strong and confident, and in the end, he won. He kept his morals and did not allow the rape to happen.

  • Baba and Amir move to California

    Baba and Amir moved and started "living in California" (Hosseini 125). They moved to the USA because it would be a lot safer for them and life would be better. This was significant because it is a new place that they are living and it gives them opportunities that they did not have before such as the ability to be a writer. It also lets them have more freedom and stay away from the war

  • Amir talks to Soraya for the first time

    Amir sais "Salaam... I didn't mean to disturb you" (Hosseini 145). Amir was happy to be talking with Soraya, but at the same time very nervous because it is not allowed in the culture without the consent of the father of the girl. Amir almost made a fool of himself by having the general see him talking to his daughter without his consent, but but luckily the general did not come over.

  • Baba is diagnosed with lung cancer

    The doctor said "As you can see, the cancer's metastasized" (Hosseini 159). Baba had lung cancer, and it was causing him seizures and making him cough blood. The cause could have been all of the smoking, but the effect was a shortened lifetime.

  • Amir asks Baba to ask General if he can marry Soraya

    Amir wanted Baba to "ask General Taheri for his daughter's hand" (Hosseini 161). This is very significant because it leads to Amir and Soraya marrying. It is a very important part of people's lives and Amir ends up living with Soraya for the rest of his life.

  • Amir and Soraya get married

    Amir and Soraya were getting married, so as part of tradition, "Baba spent $35,000... on the wedding ceremony" (Hosseini 169). Baba spent 35k on this special day for Amir. He wanted to make it special because getting married is a big deal and he was so happy for Amir. Baba knew that he dide not have much lifetime left because of his cancer, so he really wanted to make it special for Amir.

  • Baba passed on

    Amir and Soraya tucked Baba in bed, but "Baba never woke up" (Hosseini 173). This is significant because Baba was a huge part in the book and very meaningful to the entire afghan community. Baba meant a lot to Amir and losing him made him feel terrible. Baba had been hiding some things that Amir would later find out from Rahim Khan.

  • US helps Anti Souviests by supplying them with missles

    In 1986, the "US begins supplying mujahideen with Stinger missiles, enabling them to shoot down Soviet helicopter gunships" (BBC).

  • Peace accords are signed

    In 1988, "Afghanistan, USSR (Russia), the US and Pakistan sign peace accords" (BBC).

  • US targets suspected base of Osama bin Laden

    In 1998, the "US launches missile strikes at suspected base of militant Osama bin Laden" (BBC).

  • UN forces Afghanistan to hand over Osama bin Laden for trial

    In 1999, the "UN imposes an air embargo and finantial sanctions to force Afghanistan to hand over Osama bin Laden for trial" (BBC).

  • Rahim Khan asks Amir to go to Kabul to get Hassan's child

    Rahim Khan said "I want you to go to Kabul" (Hosseini 220). Rahim Khan really wanted Amir to go to Kabul so that he could atone for his and his father's sins by getting Hassan's only child, Sorab. Amir really doesn't want to go because it is very dangerous and scary, but Rahim Khan is relentless in his pleading. Rahim khan also tells Amir that he and Hassan are half brothers because they share a father, Baba.

  • Amir flies to Pakistan to visit Rahim Khan

    Amir was in pakistan and knocked on the door of the address he had been tols and "Rahim Khan opened the door" (Hosseini 197). Rahim Khan reached out to Amir and told him to come to Pakistan. He is very sick and needs Amir to do some things for him. This is significant because it leads up to some important things later in the book.

  • Ahmad Shah Masood was assassinated.

    In 2001, "Ahmad Shah Masood, leader of the main opposition to the Taliban - the Northern Alliance - is assassinated" (BBC)

  • US leads bombing on Afghanistan

    Following the 9/11 attacks, "US-led bombing of Afghanistan begins" (BBC).

  • Sorab finally smiled for the first time in a long time

    Amir saw that "one corner of his mouth had curled up just so" (Hosseini 370). Amir had been waiting for Sorab to smile ever since he had said that he would have to break his promise and put Sorab in an orphanage. Even though he did not put Sorab in an orphanage, Sorab had already attempted suicide and gotten mad at Amir so he hadn't smiled since. Amir was so happy to see Sorab smile and that king of made a happy ending.

  • Hamid Karzai is elected president

    In November, "Hamid Karzai is declared winner" of the presidential elections (BBC).

  • Indian Embassy in Kabul is attacked

    In July, a "Suicide bomb attack on [the] Indian embassy in Kabul kills more than 50" people (BBC).

  • Sohrab shoots Assef and he and Amir get away

    Amir and Assef were fighting, when Sorab asked Assef to stop. Assef didn't stop but then begin to lunge at him so "Sorab released the cup" (Hosseini 291). Sorab got a brass ball stuck in Assef's eye so he and Amir got away. They eventually fled to America after many other events happened, but Sorab was mad at Amir so he became very reserved.