The Kite Runner

What the resources cover

This unit is mostly mind maps, and they cover the novel from several angles. Some follow the plot: the chapter maps for Chapter 1, Chapter 2 and Chapter 22, plus The Kite Runner: Chapter Summaries, Part 1 and The Kite Runner: Chapter Summaries, Part 2. Others focus on ideas, such as forgiveness, redemption and identity in The Kite Runner Themes, or Hosseini's background in The Kite Runner Context.

Characters and voice

There are many maps on Amir and Baba, and single-character maps for Assef, Hassan and Sanaubar. Several look at Amir's narrative voice and how he characterises himself and Hassan. The Kite Runner Character Map is a flowchart that helps you see how the people connect.

Where to start

1. Read The Kite Runner Context to understand the Kabul setting.
2. Work through the chapter summaries alongside your reading.
3. Move on to The Kite Runner Themes and the maps on Amir, Baba and Hassan.
4. Use the flashcards, including Kite Runner - Themes, Motifs and Symbols, to fix key ideas and quotations.

Using quizzes and maps together

Open a map first, then take Kite Runner Quiz. It asks plot questions, such as where Amir and Hassan grow up and how Ali and Sanaubar are related. Go back to the map for any answer you missed. The maps also use assessment objective labels such as AO1 and AO2, which is useful for GCSE and A-level essay planning.

Where it fits

This unit sits in the strand Twentieth-Century and Contemporary Novels, within Literature. Teachers can use the slides and notes as a starting point for lessons. When you're ready, choose one resource and spend ten minutes testing yourself on it.