Questions: Chapters 15-20

1. In Chapter 15, Amir meets with dying Rahim Kahn in Peshawar.

2. Amir thinks that cliches are always correct, and Amir uses the cliche "an elephant in the room" to describe his meeting with Rahim Khan because he knows he isn't telling him everything and he's hiding something.

3. Afghanistan has been seized by the Taliban in Chapter 15.

4. Hassan was living in a small village, where he had married and had a kid whom died. He has another kid, but Hassan died, then his son becomes an orphan.

5. Farzana is Hassan's wife and Sohrab is his son.

6. In 1996, the Taliban massacred the Hazara's.

7. In the letter Hassan wrote to Amir, Hassan is friendly and nice, and it's obvious he misses Amir. Amir is shocked and notices he died a few days after he had written it. He was very sad.

8. Amir is overwhelmed and confused with his assigned task. He doesn't agree with it at first. I do not think that Rahim Khan's dying wish is unfair because Amir owes it to Hassan to make up for his mistake years ago.

9. The cliche, "like father, like son," relates to Baba and Amir because they have experienced similar things. In particular, they have both hurt or betrayed the people who would bend over backward just to save them.

10. The clues that hint at the secret revealed in chapters 17-18 are like how Hassan and Amir interacted with each other and their relationship.

11. Farid means that he never noticed that he had been there, with all of his money he was distracted by these details. Farid's impression of emigrant Afghans who return to visit Afghanistan is that they usually come back happy and with lots of money.

12. The realizations that come to Amir are that he is a new, uncomfortable person in his own home country, and he was sheltered.

13. When Amir sees Kabul for the first time since he left he focuses on the beggars.

14. Zaman defends his actions by saying they are getting money from it, and that he only takes a few of them.

Quotations: Chapters 15-20

"A boy who won't stand up for himself becomes a man who can't stand up for anything." p. 221

• Rahim Khan referred back to what Baba had said prior to Rahim and Amir's conversation. 
• This made Amir debate back in forth in his head about what the right thing to do was, listen to Rahim Khan or listen to his dying father. This is what Amir is slowly becoming, a boy who couldn't stand up for himself, is now a man who can't stand up for anything as an adult.

Vocabulary Chapters 15-20

Nonchalantly: cooly unconcerned

• "My driver, a chain-smoking, sweaty little man who introduced himself as Gholam, drove nonchalantly and recklessly, averting collisions by the thinnest of margins, all without so much as a pause..." p. 195
• The boys nonchalantly looked at the crowd of girls running toward them.
• Synonyms: casually, indifferently
• Antonyms: -

Incessant: continuing without interruption

"My driver, a chain-smoking, sweaty little man who introduced himself as Gholam, drove nonchalantly and recklessly, averting collisions by the thinnest of margins, all without so much as a pause in the incessant stream of words spewing from his mouth:..." p. 195

The gymnast took several incessant runs to prepare for her competition this weekend.

Synonyms: nonstop, continuing, constant

Antonyms: occasional, interrupted, stopping

Garrulous: excessively talkative

• "A little past the redbrick buildings of Peshawar University, we entered an area my garrulous driver referred to as 'Afghan Town.'"
• When I am nervous, I become very garrulous.
• Synonyms: mouthy, effusive
• Antonyms: mum, still, silent, reserved

Collateral: security pledged for the payment of a loan 

• "'Collateral damage,' Rahim Khan said." p. 200
• A lot of businesses go through collateral damage.
• Synonyms: accessory, incident,
• Antonyms: different, dissimilar

Melancholic: gloomy

• "We're melancholic people, we Afghans, aren't we?" p. 201
• When someone goes through a divorce they usually become very melancholic.
• Synonyms: gloomy, wistful
• Antonyms: cheerful, happy

Wallow: to roll about or lie in water

• "Often, we wallow too much in ghamkhori and self-pity." p. 201
• When something bad happens in your life, you can either wallow or move on quickly.
• Synonyms: lurch, totter
• Antonyms: steady, 

Pragmatic: of or pertaining to a practical point of view

• "But I am not surrendering to fate here, I am being pragmatic." p. 201
• The pragmatic solution isn't always the easiest one. 
• Synonyms: logical, realistic
• Antonyms: irrational, inefficient

Presumptuous: full of it

• "It was presumptuous of me to just show up and ask you to drop everything." p. 207
• The presumptuous athlete walked down the halls of the high school with his head up high.
• Synonyms: arrogant, overconfident
• Antonyms: modest, humble

Proverbial: characteristics of a proverb; traditional

• "Kabul in those days, Amir jan, was as close as you could get to proverbial hell on earth." p. 212
• Most cultures have proverbial way of doing things, others don't.
• Synonyms: customary, legendary, accepted
• Antonyms: abnormal, different

Oblivion: the state of being completely forgotten or unknown

• "I wished he had let me live on in my oblivion." p. 226
• The new girl in school was sitting in oblivion, wishing she could go back home.
• Synonyms: disregard, neglect
• Antonyms: respect, awareness, understanding

Empathy: vicarious experiencing of the feelings, thoughts, and attitudes of another

• "There was no empathy in his eyes." p. 228
• The teacher gave no empathy to the student who wasn't ready to present.
• Synonyms: pity, sympathy
• Antonyms: hatred, apathy

Animosity: a feeling of strong dislike

• "Farid gave me another dismissive look, this one with a hint of barely suppressed animosity, and went back to smoking his cigarette." p. 228
• Some people, especially Democrats, have animosity toward Gay Rights.
• Synonyms: resentment, displeasure
• Antonyms: like, support

Surly: bad tempered; unfriendly, hostile

• "His tone bordered on the surly." p. 229
• By the end of the winter in Maine, most people are very surly. 
• Synonyms: irritable, rude
• Antonyms: cheerful, happy, nice

Rueful: causing sorrow or pity

• (COULDNT FIND)
• The death of her grandmother made her very rueful.
• Synonyms: mournful, sad
• Antonyms: happy

Deliberate: carefully considered

• "I was afraid I'd deliberate, ruminate, agonize, rationalize, and talk myself into not going." p. 231
• In high school, I deliberate each decision I make, because they are so vital to my future.
• Synonyms: careful, cautious
• Antonyms: careless, unmindful

Ruminate: to think about seriously

•  "I was afraid I'd deliberate, ruminate, agonize, rationalize, and talk myself into not going." p. 231
• By next year, I need to sit down and ruminate with my parents about college.
• Synonyms: brainstorm, ponder
• Antonyms: ignore, neglect

Contemptuous: arrogant, iscolent

• "Farid said, speaking to Wahid but fixing me with a contemptuous gaze." p. 236
• I wasn't paying attention in class when the teacher called on me, she gave me a contemptuous glare.
• Synonyms: snobbish, sneerful
• Antonyms: flattering, praising

Furtive: sneaky, secretive

• "...stealing furtive glances at my digital wristwatch." p. 238
• There was one cookie left, and I used furtive skills to snatch it from the kitchen
• Synonyms: creepy, crafty
• Antonyms: open, honest, truthful

Morosely: unhappily

• "'Welcome back,' he said morosely." p. 244
• The girl sat at home with her family morosely, while her friends had fun at the mall.
• Synonyms: gloomily, joylessly
• Antonyms: happily

Benevolence: charity

• "'A word of thanks for your benevolence, Agha sahib.'" p. 248
• It feels so good to contribute to benevolence.
• Synonyms: kindness, compassion
• Antonyms: cruelty, harshness

Profoundly: deeply

• "...'Because I'm so profoundly happy, Dr. Rasul..." p. 250
• I have a profound love for sports.
• Synonyms: greatly, extremely
• Antonyms: incompletely, partially

Chapters 21-25 VOCAB

Gingerly: with great caution or care

• "Gingerly, I walked up the drive way where the tufts of weed now grew between the sun-faded bricks." p. 261
• I walked up and down the path gingerly, looking for the earring I lost.
• Synonyms: cautious, hesitant
• Antonyms: rash, careless

Succulent: rich in desirable qualities

• "The kabob was as succulent and delicious as I remembered." p. 265
• The cake looked much more succulent than the brussel sprouts.
• Synonyms: luscious, tasty, yummy
• Antonyms: unappetizing, dry

Morbidly: affected by, caused by, or characteristic of disease

• "I found it morbidly fascinating that he hadn't changed clothes after the executions earlier that day." p. 275
• The little girl was morbidly affected by her mother's addiction of smoking cigarettes.
• Synonyms: gruesomely, insanely
• Antonyms: -

Surreal: characteristics of a dream

• "The moment felt  surreal- no, not surreal, absurd- it had knocked the breath out of me, brought the world around me to a standstill." p. 281
• The first time a mother sees her child is so surreal, a moment to remember forever. 
• Synonyms: hypnagogic
• Antonyms: real

Epiphany: moment of insight

• "But one day I had an epiphany." p. 281
•  After a long day of trying to figure things out in my life, I had an epiphany.
• Synonyms: realization, inspiration
• Antonyms: confusion, secret

Impunity: exemption from punishment

• "....-Amir, the socially legitimate half, the half that represented the riches that he had inherited and the sin-with-inpunity privileges that came with them." p. 301
• The very well behaved student was in impunity while the teacher wrote others up for detention.
• Synonyms: exemption, exception
• Antonyms: veto, denial

Remorse: deep and painful regret for wrongdoing

• "And this is what I want you to understand, that good, real good, was born out of your father's remorse." 
• I felt remorse after talking bad about one of my friends.
• Synonyms: pity, shame, 
• Antonyms: happiness, joy

Shrewd: sharp in practical manners

• "'My boys are young, but they are very shrewd.'" p. 304
• Jules is a very shrewd in manners when it comes to eating dinner with her boyfriend's family.
• Synonyms: wise, slick, 
• Antonyms: slow, stupid, dull

Pondered: to consider something deeply

• "I stole looks at him while he pondered his cards." p. 306
• I held my phone in my hand as I pondered the reply I would send to my mother.
• Synonyms: debate, consider, weigh
• Antonyms: ignore, disregard
  
  

Paunchy: having a large potbelly

• "The manager, a paunchy man with sweat patches under his arms, kept flashing smiles and telling me that no one in the bank had touched his money." p. 308
• I remember my grandfather as the paunchy man he was; he always had his arms rested on his stomach.
• Synonyms: plump, potbellied
• Antonyms: thin, little, lean
  
  

Reproachful: insulting

• "...them under Fayyaz's reproachful glare." p. 316
• The players gave the coach a reproachful glare after hearing they had to keep running.
• Synonyms: rude, offensive
• Antonyms: respectful, complimentary
  
  

Obligatory: required as a matter of obligation

• "I heard the officer, his voice tired and uninterested, asking his obligatory questions."
• Teachers give obligatory tests given to them by the state, for example the PSATs.
• Synonyms: mandatory, unavoidable
• Antonyms: optional, unnecessary
  
  

Irrevocably: not to be revoked or recalled

• "What had happened in that room with Assef had irrevocably bound us." p. 320
• The aftershock of the accident will remain irrevocably in my memory forever.
• Synonyms: definitely, permanently
• Antonyms: doubtfully, questionably
  
  

Squalid: foul and repulsive

• "I had found the boy in squalid conditions, wasting away in an orphanage."
• The squalid weather conditions made me want to stay inside and watch netflix.
• Synonyms: filthy, muddy, poor
• Antonyms: clean, clear, good
  
  

Fabricated: to make by art

• "'Let's assume the story you gave me is true, though I'd bet my pension a good deal of it is either fabricated or omitted." p. 330
• The couple had their home fabricated to make it easier for the builders.
• Synonyms: brainstorm, put together
• Antonyms: demolish, destroy
  
  

Reputable: held in good repute

• "'I'm saying that if you want to help, send money to a reputable relief organization.'" p. 331
• I want to stay fairly reputable throughout my years in high school.
• Synonyms: prominent, trustworthy, well-known
• Antonyms: common, notorious, unknown
  
  

Turmoil: a state of great commotion

• "...and I brought Hassan's son from Afghanistan to America, lifting him from the certainty of turmoil and dropping him in a turmoil of uncertainty." p. 356
• The man was in a state of turmoil, he finalized his divorce and his father passed away, all in a weeks time.
• Synonyms: disorder, distress
• Antonyms: calm, peaceful
  
  

Profusely: given freely and in large amount

• "...and if you do, you will be scorned and made to apologize profusely for having committed the sin of Spoiling the End." p. 357
• The heavy man sweat profusely as he ran a lap around the track.
• Synonyms: lavishly, abundantly
• Antonyms:-

Questions-Chapters 10-14

1. The "weakness" that Amir has is car sickness, and Baba has to apologize to people for it.

2. Karim is the person who helps Baba and Amir make their way across Pakistan.

3. Amir and Baba are fleeing Afghanistan because of the violence going on.

4. Baba challenges the Russian officer because it wasn't okay for him to have sex with a woman who doesn't want to.

5. Ironic or Foreshadowing?

• The only way Amir can survive the long ride in the fume-filled tank is by remembering flying kites with Hassan.- Ironic. Usually Hassan brings Amir thoughts of regret.
• Baba gathers up the dirt of his homeland and places it next to his heart.- Foreshadowing. He will miss home.
• Kamal's father commits suicide after Kamal dies from breathing the fumes of the tank. - Ironic. They died shortly after one another.
• Kamal, one of Hassan's rapists, has been raped himself and hasn't spoken since.- Ironic. He raped someone but has been raped himself.

6. Freemont, California is the new setting in chapter eleven.

7. The quote is said by Amir, and it reveals that now that Amir is in America, there is no going back and his sins are in the past.

8. Baba gives Amir a Gran Torino for his graduation present. Amir is so happy and touched, Baba is happy but he also mentions missing Hassan.

9. Soraya is General Taheri's daughter, and Amir is interested in her.

10. Baba and Amir go to yard sales and buy things, then sell them later for a profit on the weekends.

11. General Taheri is a man who brought his family to America, and also is a friend of Baba's.

12. Amir wants to major in English, Baba's reaction to this is that it is a job that doesn't involve success and that he will just be waiting to be discovered.

13. Baba is speaking about Soraya, about a bad relationship, it's significant because Baba can relate.

14. Amir observes that because him and Soraya were talking, people will talk about them talking.

15. The pulmonologist is from Michigan, but his family is Russian.

16. Baba is diagnosed with Oat Cell Carcinoma, he decides to treat it by letting whatever happens happen.

17. Baba asks Amir to meet with General Taheri because he wants to marry Soraya.

18. The bears that Baba has wrestled for example are: losing his wife and raising his son without his wife.

19. In Chapter 13, Amir hears the good news that he is going to be an author.

20. Amir and Soraya go through the disappointment of not having any kids. I think in order to have a healthy marriage there needs to be no secrets. Amir should have told Soraya. This makes their relationship not as true.

21. Rahim asks Amir to come home to see him, Rahim is getting old.

References- Chapters 10-14

Jimmy Carter: "He loathed Jimmy Carter, whom he called a 'big-toothed cretin'. In 1980, when we were still in Kabul, the U.S. announced it would be boycotting the Olympic Games in Moscow." p. 126

• Jimmy Carter is an American politician, and was the 39th president of the United States. He also received the Noble Peace Prize in 2002. 
• Baba obviously is not a fan of Jimmy Carter, mostly because it was his decision to have the U.S. boycott the Olympic Games.

Russian History: "

Quotations Chapters 10-14

"Not a word passes between us, not because we have nothing to say, but because we don't have to say anything- that's how it is between people who are each other's first memories..." p. 122

• Baba tells Amir to think of something happy, so Amir daydreams about his childhood with Hassan.
• This quote shows how close Amir and Hassan are (or were). They went through brotherhood together, they have known each other since birth. Hassan and Amir were just enjoying that moment together, they didn't need to say anything.

"Baba loved the idea of America. It was living in America that gave him an ulcer." p. 125

• Amir explains that Baba only loved the idea of America, not the reality.
• Amir explains this by using a paradox. He explains that Baba only liked the initial idea of America. When thinking of things first off, you only think about the positives and almost never the negatives. Once reality sets in, you realize what you got yourself into. Like Baba, when he got in America and worked at the gas station to support his family, he realizes it's not as good as he once thought it was going to be. He didn't think of all of the stress and obstacles that came along with it all.

"For me America was a place to bury memories. For Baba, a place to mourn his." p. 129

• Amir speaks about him and Baba's feelings toward moving to America.
• For Amir, America was a place to bury his memories, in particular, Amir wanted to get away from his home attempting to forget about Hassan and the memory that involved him. Baba is mournful because he is homesick. Baba was rich, and very happy back at home, but he knew he couldn't go back.

"People need stories to divert them at difficult times." p. 139

• General Taheri spoke to Baba and Amir about his writing.
• The significance of this quote is that sometimes, people could use stories to divert their focus during bad times. It's good to have a little bit of a distraction.

"Life is a train. Get on board." p. 185

• Amir read the sign on Dr. Rosen's desk.
• This quote means that life has so many opportunities and exciting events, so don't miss any of them.

Vocabulary Chapters 10-14

Lucrative:  profitable, moneymaking

• "-it was a pretty lucrative business then, driving people out of Shorawi- occupied Kabul to the relative safety of Pakistan." p. 111
• The little girl's lemonade stand was actually pretty lucrative, the thirsty construction workers couldn't resist.
• Synonyms: profitable, gainful, paying
• Antonyms: poorly paid, unprofitable

Inevitable: unable to be avoided

• "Then the inevitable." p. 113
• The inevitable happened, nobody was prepared for this situation so we dealt with it the best we can. 
• Synonyms: imminent, impending, inescapable
• Antonyms: distant, escapable, avoidable

Acrid: sharp or biting to the taste or smell

• "The place was dim, and the acrid smell of beer I'd always disliked permeated the walls." p. 132
• To me, the smell of cigarette smoke is acrid, I've always hated it.
• Synonyms: pungent, stinging, burning, harsh
• Antonyms: delicious, sweet, savory

Pungent: sharply affecting the organs of taste or smell

• "I smelled tobacco on him, and alcohol, sweet and pungent." p. 132
• I walked into the town's famous candy store, the pungent smells filled my nose.
• Synonyms: bitter, strong, tart, rich
• Antonyms: bland, dull, pleasant

Sauntered: to walk with a leisurely gait; stroll

• "I ran the stand sometimes as Baba sauntered down the aisle, hands respectfully pressed to the chest, greeting people he knew from Kabul:..." p. 138
• When I go shopping, I saunter up and down the aisles looking for the items I want.
• Synonyms: amble, loiter, mosey, dally
• Antonyms: go direct, stay, rush

Legacy: anything handed down from the past 

• "'Boys and girls must know the legacy of their fathers.'" p. 140
• His dying wish was for his grandson to live on his legacy. 
• Synonyms: tradition, estate, heirloom
• Antonyms: -

Arrogant: making claims or pretensions to superior importance or rights 

• "'Then congratulations, you are already halfway to being a man,' he said with no trace of humor, no irony, the compliment of the casually arrogant." p, 140
• The way he talked about himself playing sports was very arrogant.
• Synonyms: cocky, vain
• Antonyms: humble, modest

Perpetually: continuing or enduring forever; everlasting

• "I would wave at the general, perpetually dressed in his shiny over-pressed gray suit, and he would wave back." p. 144
• This winter in many people's opinion has been very perpetual. 
• Synonyms: endlessly, continuously, 
• Antonyms: never

Fickle: likely to change

• "Afghan men, especially those from reputable families, were fickle  creatures." p. 148
• This fickle weather made it hard for me to pick out an outfit to wear.
• Synonyms: changeable, temperamental, unpredictable
• Antonyms: stable, steady, reliable

Sallow: sickly, yellowish color

• " The sallow, puffy-eyed doctor who saw us introduced himself as a second-year resident." p. 153
• His face became sallow as the nervous thoughts became flooding through his brain.
• Synonyms: pasty, colorless
• Antonyms: bright, flushed, healthy

Ominous: portending evil or harm

• "...'mass,' an even more ominous word than 'suspicious.'" p. 155
• An ominous  clump of clouds came over head while we were waiting for the funeral to begin.
• Synonyms: dark, gloomy
• Antonyms: hopeful, happy

Palliative: serving to palliate

• "'There is chemotherapy, of course,' he said. 'But it would only be palliative.'" p. 156
•  Using a palliative, as you know, will not cure your disease.
• Synonyms: booze, drink, liquor
• Antonyms: -

Reticence: state of being reserved

• "But there was a new reticence to Khanum Taheri's demeanor." p. 157
• The man's reticence disappeared once his wife brought up a sensative topic.
• Synonyms: reserve, restraint
• Antonyms: -

Demeanor: conduct, behavior

• "But there was a new reticence to Khanum Taheri's demeanor." p. 157 
• The girl's demeanor changed once she became involved with the wrong group of people.
• Synonyms: attitude, presence, poise
• Antonyms: -

Furtive: taken, done, used

• "A reticence broken only by her secret, droopy smiles and the furtive, apologetic looks she cast my way when the general's attention was engaged elsewhere." p. 157
• She shot me a furtive look, which let me know I wasn't supposed to see what I just saw.
• Synonyms: underhanded, scheming, hush-hush
• Antonyms: truthful, honest

Daunting: to overcome with fear

• "I found it frightening, invigorating, daunting, and exhilarating all at the same time." p. 184
• After contemplating, I finally completed the daunting, yet exciting move I had been working on for weeks.
• Synonyms: scare, terrify
• Antonyms: calm

Meticulous: showing extreme care for minute details

• "IVF proved lengthy, meticulous, frustrating, and ultimately unsuccessful." p. 186
• Most teachers are very meticulous when it comes to grading projects.
• Synonyms: cautious, exact
• Antonyms: careless, false

Ambivalent: having mixed feelings

• "Soraya was ambivalent at best." p. 186-187
• I myself am very ambivalent, I can never make up my mind.
• Synonyms: hesitant, uncertain
• Antonyms: clear, decided

Oblivious:  unmindful, unaware

• "...she thought Soraya needed all the love and support she could get-oblivious to the fact that her well-intended but overbearing sympathy was precisely what was driving Soraya to move." p. 188-189
• She made a joke toward the girl, oblivious to the fact that it would offend her.
• Synonyms: inattentive, unaware
• Antonyms: attentive, aware