The story of Afghanistan is in so many ways a very tragic one. Afghanistan is one of the most impoverished nations of the world. It is one of the most war-torn, most ravaged, and most beleaguered of nations. It is a nation that has been beset by invasion, external pressure and internal upheaval since before the time of Alexander the Great. Its people are a people who have endured more than most of us can ever imagine. In fact, for many Afghans, all that has changed in the last one thousand years are the weapons which have been used against so many of them.
Essay Prompts
The Kite Runner has raised questions about morals and ethics by considering the worst of humanity; however, despite Amir (and many other characters, countries included) diving deep into moral depravity, we are capable as humans of putting ourselves in his shoes. In doing so, we consider how his story, struggles, failures and redemption might change our own ideas of morals and ethics. Khaled Hosseini wrote, "there is a way to be good again”. Construct an essay in which you analyze morals and ethics through the lens of the novel and Afghanistan.
The characters in The Kite Runner experience not only physical deformities but also emotional scars. To name a few: Ali's limp, Hassan's harelip, Amir's lip scar, Assef's crushed eye, and Soraya's birthmark. Afghanistan as a country also encompasses many deformities and scars. Discuss how Afghanistan’s deformities and scars compare to those of the characters in the novel. How do these deformities and scars develop? How, if even possible, are they healed? How can such deformities and scars be prevented?
Project Description At the conclusion of your essay, you will need to translate your analysis into a symbolic portrayal of your learning. This visual must include the following:
constructed on an object that is symbolic of Afghanistan (map, flag, kite, bridal vail, Qu'ran, etc.)
representation of the physical and geographical boundaries of Afghanistan
the cultural elements of Afghanistan
representation of Soviet invasion and Taliban takeover
representation of Islamic religion, Afghani weddings (and any other belief systems portrayed in the novel)