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baba was born
In the novel, The Kite Runner, lots of important events happen, such as "In 1933, the year baba was born" (24). Baba being born is an important event because without Baba being born to a rich family than the story line would not exist. Therefore, Baba being born is an important event in the novel. -
amir is born
In the novel, The Kite Runner, lots of important events happen, such as when "[Amir's] mother died giving birth to [him]" (Hosseini 6). This is an important event in the novel because it's the start of when Baba started to hate Amir, because he resented him for taking away his precious princess. Amir even mentions later that he needs to atone for killing his mom. -
hassan is born
In the novel, The Kite Runner, Hassan and Amir are very different. This is shown by the fact that in a "little shack, Hassan was born in the winter of 1964" (hoisseini 6). Compared to Amir, from birth Hassan was going to be so much less fortunate than Amir. Because he was born in a small shack and he lived there until he was 13 years old, but Amir lived in a real house. -
Kite running competition
Amir is constantly seeking Baba's approval, on page 66 after Amir won the competition he saw that Baba was finally proud of him, and he says "that right there was the single greatest moment of my twelve years of life, seeing Baba on that roof, proud of me at last." (Hoisseini) The fact that this was Amir's proudest moment shows how Amir will always seek more moments like that. He will always want to have great moments like that, where Baba is proud of him, for once. -
Hassan and Ali leave
"I watched Baba's car pull away from the curb, taking with it the person who's first spoken word had been my name." (Hosseini 109). When Ali and Hassan leave Amir's regret only worsens. Amir had wished before this that he had gone after Hassan and Ali to fix things. -
Soviet Union invades Afghanistan
"Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, has known little peace since 1979, when the Soviet Union invaded" (New York Times). -
Soviet Troops Parachute Into Kabul
"The first Soviet troops parachuted into Kabul on Dec. 27, 1979"(New York Times) -
Baba and Amir begin the move to America
"We'd left Kabul just after two in the morning" (Hosseini 110). This is an important event in the novel because it's the start of a new journey to America. It may only last for two chapters of the book, however the impact of leaving Kabul lasts until the end, because so much happens because of this event. -
Amir and Baba move to San Francisco
"I remember the two of us walking through Lake Elizabeth Park in Freemont" (125 Hosseini). This is important because it's the end of the long journey there and the start of a new one, where he eventually goes back to Afghanistan. It is also an important event because this is when Amir and Baba really create a closer relationship. -
Amir graduates
When Amir graduates high school "at the age of twenty, by far the oldest senior" (Hoisseini 131), we learn that moving to America changed everything for him, Baba was proud of him, and that was a huge difference compared to in Afghanistan when it was rare for Baba to be proud of him, and he tried often to change who he was. It also shows that when Amir moved to the US he was still different than everyone else, in Afghanistan he was not manly enough, and in the US he is behind in his studies. -
Amir meets Soraya
"My heart stuttered at the thought of her. Soraya Taheri. My Swap Meet Princess." (Hosseini 142). Meeting Soraya for Amir was a big step in Amir's future. It was the beginning of a whole new future in Amir's life. -
Amir and Soraya marry
"I remember our nika...Soraya and I dressed in green... the color of spring and new beginnings."(Hosseini 170). The color green and this wedding represent Amir finally growing up. He is now becoming a man and opening a new chapter in his life. -
Baba dies from cancer
"' Not tonight,' he said. 'There is no pain tonight.' ... Baba never woke up."(Hosseini 173). When Baba dies it is a major point in the book because Amir is on his own from then on. Amir truly has to make all his life decisions on his own. -
US nuetralizes soviet airforce
". After 1986, the Soviet Air Force was also rendered largely useless by advanced Stinger antiaircraft missiles supplied by the United States to the rebels." (New York Times) -
Amir publishes his first novel
"I was going to be a published novelist." (Hosseini 183) This quote shows how Amir is more happy and successful after he leaves Afghanistan and comes to live in America. It also shows how even though his father did not appreciate his skills as a child, it payed off in the end to persevere. -
Soviet troops leave
"the last Soviet troops left Afghanistan in February, 1989," (New York TImes). -
Sohrab is born
"It was Sanaubar who delivered Hassan's son that winter of 1990...They names him Sohrab after Hassan's favorite hero" This is important because it shows that Hassan still thinks fondly of when they were kids before the incident, because he named him after a story he loved from childhood. It's also important because it foreshadows a long lost family relationship, because there was a long lost family relationship in the story he was named after. -
the taliban begins to grow
"As early as 1994, Pakistani intelligence officers began funneling arms, money and supplies to Mullah Omar's men, as well as military advisers to help guide them in battle." (New York Times) -
The taliban takes control
"the extremist Islamic group that had seized control in 1996 after years of civil war." (New York Times) -
Bin Laden and Al Qaeda come to Afhganistan
"The Taliban also provided a haven for Mr. bin Laden, who arrived by chartered jet at Jalalabad Airport in May 1996, and for Al Qaeda. "(New York Times) -
Amir goes back to get Sohrab
"'I have to go to Pakistan'"(Hosseini 190) This event is important because it's the beginning of the process of atoning for Amir. After this he gets beat up severely by Assef, but he also brings Sohrab home with him, and helps him start a new, happier life. -
Ultimatum
"President George W. Bush gave the Taliban an ultimatum to hand over Mr. bin Laden."(New York Times) -
9/11
"The United States has been militarily involved in Afghanistan since 2001, when it led an invasion after the Sept. 11 attacks by Al Qaeda"(New York Times) -
Sorab smiles-ish for the first time
"I looked down at Sohrab. One corner of his mouth had curled up just so.
A smile." (Hosseini 370).
This event was important to the novel because it's when Amir truly atoned, because he was able to give a welcoming environment to a kid who suffered from similar torture to Hassan, instead of treating him like he did Hassan. It is also an important event because it's a sign that Sohrab will be okay in the end. -
Mr. Karazi was elected
"Mr. Karzai was elected to a five-year term as president in 2004."(new York Times) -
General Petraeus took command of the United States Command
"General Petraeus, the Iraq commander who received much of the credit for the success of the surge there, had taken charge of United States Central Command in October 2008, " (New York Times) -
President Obama announces plan to deploy troops
"In a speech delivered Dec. 1, 2009, at West Point, Mr. Obama announced his plan to deploy 30,000 additional troops." -
Gen. McChrystal was removed off the staff
" In June 2010, President Obama removed Gen. McChrystal after contemptuous quotes from the general and his staff about senior administration officials appeared in an article in Rolling Stone magazine"