The Kite Runner Context

Question 1

The Kite Runner book

Answer 1

• 1st Afghan author to go to America/have book translated
• Book can be interpreted as somewhat autobiographical.

Question 2

Afghanistan

Answer 2

• Geographically centred. Afghanistan lies in the middle of prominent countries/continents such as: Russia, Europe, Asia and Africa.
• Due it’s location, Afghanistan-for majority of it’s history - was a crossroad for many civilisations and empires.
• Afghanistan was declared a nation in 1747

Question 3

Women

Answer 3

• Prior to the Soviet invasion, Afghanistan women were far more liberated. Expectations of women still conformed to typical gender roles of Afghanistan in the 1970s. Women were expected to be submissive to their husbands and nurture their children as mothers and wives.
• After the Soviet invasion and Taliban’s rise to power, Women were required to wear burkas mandatory and cover up. The rights of women became extemely limiting.

Question 4

The Taliban

Answer 4

• The Taliban came to power in Afghanistan in the Autumn of 1994 after reinforcements from the west - America- to defeat the Soviets.
• The Taliban wanted to restore peace and security through forceful Islamic laws like Women being obliged to wear all covering burkas and men having beards.

Question 5

Religion

Answer 5

• Afghanistan is mostly a mosaic of languages and ethnicities - uniting factor is that ninety- nine percent of the population is Muslim.
• Within the overarching Muslim religion, there are two main Muslim sects: Sunni Muslim (80%) and Shi’a Muslim (20%)
  -The membership of each sect is linked to ethnicity.

Question 6

9/11 Twin Tower attacks

Answer 6

• On the 11th of September 2001 Terrorists from Islamic extremist group ‘al Qaeda’—founded by Osama bin Laden- hijacked and crashed two planes into the World Trade Centre, killing 3000 in total.
• Due to the attack, America joined the ongoing war in Afghanistan with a US-led operation called “Enduring freedom,”
• On the 7th of December 2001, The US forces managed to end the Taliban rule in Afghanistan.
• Many individuals faced extreme racical and religious discrimination after 9/11. Some were even killed due to the presumtion the were Muslims - claiming they were all terrorists.

Question 7

Hazaras

Question 8

Political background

Question 9

Cultural context

Question 10

Ethnicity in Afghanistan

Question 11

Pashtuns

Answer 11

• Largest and traditionally the ruling ethnic group in Afghanistan. Most Pashtuns are Sunni Muslims.
• Pushtun culture rests on a legal and moral code that determines social order and responsibility. (Pushtunwali)
  -Pushtunwali contains sets of values pertaining to honor, solidarity, hospitality, mutual support, shame and revenge which determines social order and individual responsibilty.