Transcript Kite Runner background PPT

The Kite Runner Context
Author & Book
Geography
History
Culture
Religion
Author Khaled Hosseini
• Born in Kabul,
Afghanistan in 1965
• In 3rd grade he taught
a 31-year-old Hazara
man to read and write
• In 1973 he was in 4th
grade when the
Afghan king was
overthrown
Khaled Hosseini
• His family moved to
San Jose, CA, in
1980
• He is a medical
doctor
• His first novel was
The Kite Runner,
which has sold over 3
million copies
worldwide
Khaled Hosseini
• His second novel is A
Thousand Splendid
Suns
• It was published in
2007
• While The Kite
Runner focuses on
men, Suns focuses
on women
Novel Accolades
• ALA Notable Book
• Alex Award
• Entertainment
Weekly's Best Book
2003
• San Francisco
Chronicle Best Book
of the Year 2003
What is kite running?
• A favorite pastime in
Afghanistan for over
100 years
• Two people are
involved: one holds
the spool; the other
holds the string
• The string is sharp
because it is made
with razor wire
What is kite running?
• Competitors fight
against other kites
from around the city
• The goal is to cut the
other kite’s string
• The kite runner
collects the defeated
kite that flutters to the
ground
What is kite running?
• Kites come in a
variety of shapes,
sizes, and colors
• Under Taliban rule,
kite flying was
outlawed in
Afghanistan
• Kite running has now
resurfaced
Afghanistan Geography
• A little smaller than
Texas
• Rugged, mountainous
terrain
• Population of 32
million (Texas has a
pop. of 23 million)
• Life expectancy is 43,
compared to 78 in the
United States
Afghanistan Geography
• Low literacy rate:
– 51% for males
– 21% for females
• Official languages are
Dari and Pashto
• Form of government:
Islamic Republic
• Predominant religion
is Islam (99%)
Afghanistan History
• Was invaded and conquered for years
• The Kite Runner begins in 1973, when the
army overthrew the monarchy.
• Daoud Khan declared himself president,
but was eventually overthrown by the
same army that led him to power.
• Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979.
Afghanistan History
• A resistance group called the mujahidin
(holy strugglers) fought against the
socialist, Soviet leaders.
• The mujahidin was aided by the United
States, Saudi Arabia, and other countries.
• Soviet army withdrew in 1989—ten years
after they had invaded.
• The mujahidin takeover in 1992 resulted in
civil war.
Afghanistan History
• In the 1990s the Taliban assumed control
and introduced the Islamic law.
• Battles, ethnic genocide, pillage, famine,
and misery followed.
• After 9/11, the U.S. entered Afghanistan.
• By November 2001, the Taliban had lost
control of Kabul.
• Since 2001, a new government in
Afghanistan has tried to establish itself.
Ethnic Groups: Pashtuns
• Pashtuns make up
42% of the population
• Highest ethnicity on
the social ladder
• Dominate government
bodies
• Language is Pashtu
• Mainly Sunni Muslims
Ethnic Groups: Tajiks
• Tajiks make up 27%
of the population
• Second largest ethnic
group in Afghanistan
• Live in towns and
cities as well as the
country
Ethnic Groups: Hazaras
• Hazaras make up 9%
of the population
• Have Mongolian
origins: seen as
outsiders
• Decendents of
Genghis Khan’s
army?
• Mainly Shi’ite
Muslilms
Islam
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Second largest religion in the world
1.3 billion followers in 2006
Fastest-growing religion in the world
Prophet Mohammed received the word of
God (Qur’an) during A. D. 610-632
• Allah is the name for God in Arabic
• People who have completed good deeds
get to go to heaven
Five Pillars of Islam
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Declaration of Faith
Five Daily Prayers
Giving of Charity
Ramadan Fasting
Pilgrimage to Mecca
Islam: Two Sects
*Split happened after Mohammed’s death
• Sunni Muslims
– 80% of population
– Follow the most
knowledgeable leader
• Shi’a Muslims
– 19% of population
– Follow the leaders
who are blood-related
to Mohammed
Taliban’s Rules for All
• No one can listen to music.
• No one can watch movies, television, or
videos.
• All Afghan youth must have short hair or
be subject to forced haircuts.
• All Afghans must attend prayers in
mosques five times a day.
Taliban’s Rules for All
• In any sporting events, onlookers may not
clap.
• Anyone who carries objectionable
literature will be executed.
• Anyone who converts from Islam to any
other religion will be executed.
• Non-Muslim minorities must stitch a yellow
cloth onto their dress to be differentiated
from the majority.
Taliban’s Rules for All
• No one may use the Internet, including
foreigners.
• No one may dance at weddings.
• No one may gamble.
• No burying of anyone who was killed by
the Taliban. Bodies must remain in the
streets as examples to other
“wrongdoers.”
Punishments for Rule-Breakers
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Public whipping
Public stoning
Amputation of limbs
Public hanging
Imprisonment
Public shooting
Public execution
Dangling of bodies from cranes
Public beatings
Taliban’s Rules for Women
• Females may not work outside the home
• Females may not study at schools,
universities, or any other educational
institution
• Females must wear a long veil (burqa)
which covers them from head to toe
• Females whose ankles are visible will be
whipped in public
Taliban’s Rules for Women
• Females may not use cosmetics
• Females may not laugh loudly
• Females may not wear high heel shoes.
Men must never head a woman’s
footsteps.
• Females may not play sports or enter a
sports center or club
Taliban’s Rules for Women
• Females may not ride bicycles or
motorcycles
• Females may not wear brightly colored
clothes
• All home windows must be painted black
so females cannot be seen from outside
their homes
• Females may not be filmed or
photographed
Punishments for Rule-Breakers
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Public whipping
Public stoning
Amputation of limbs
Public hanging
Imprisonment
Public shooting
Public execution
Dangling of bodies from cranes
Public beatings
Kite Runner movie
• Released December
14, 2007
• Directed by Marc
Forster
• Filmed mainly in
China
• Banned in
Afghanistan
• Roger Ebert ranked it
the #5 film of 2007
Other Marc Forster Films