Kite Runner
Reading and Writing Workshop: Kite Runner follows Amir and his friend who grow up in Kabul. Their friendship is tested by social class differences and traumatic events.
Reading: Students may read independently or in groups while completing a Literary Thinking Guide. If a rapid reading is necessary, the book can be divided among the groups, and each group summarizes their section and then the groups present their sections sequentially.
Workshop Groups
This workshop uses small group reading, rotating roles, and sustained analytical and reflective writing developing relationships and creating a learning community.
Theme: Guilt, Loyalty, Betrayal, and Redemption
Central Question: Can a person ever truly atone for the harm they caused?
SESSION 1 – Childhood, Loyalty, and Social Class
Reading (Kite Runner): Chapters 1–6
Literary Focus: Characterization, foreshadowing, social hierarchy
Public Domain Anchor Texts
1. Afghan Folktale – “The Lion and the Clever Jackal”
https://www.sacred-texts.com/asia/afghan/afg02.htm
(Friendship, betrayal, and survival)
2. Rudyard Kipling – “We and They” (1917)
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46721/we-and-they
(Social divisions and identity)
Group Activity – “Invisible Lines”
Each group creates a social map of Kabul showing:
How does social class decide who gets protected and who gets sacrificed?
SESSION 2 – Betrayal and Moral Choice
Reading: Chapters 7–10
Literary Focus: Turning points, symbolism (the kite), moral conflict
Public Domain Anchor Texts
1. Leo Tolstoy – “What Men Live By”
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/6155
(Moral choice and responsibility)
2. Plato – “The Ring of Gyges” (Republic, Book II)
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1497/1497-h/1497-h.htm
(What people do when no one is watching)
Group Trial Simulation – “The Alley Scene on Trial”
Students stage a trial:
Is Amir guilty because he acted—or because he didn’t?
SESSION 3 – Exile, Immigration, and Identity
Reading: Chapters 11–15
Literary Focus: Setting shift, identity, displacement
Public Domain Anchor Texts
1. Emma Lazarus – “The New Colossus” (1883)
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46550/the-new-colossus
2. Jacob Riis – Excerpts from How the Other Half Lives (1890)
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/45502
Group Activity – “Two Homes, Two Selves”
Groups compare:
Writing Task:
Does America give Amir freedom—or erase part of him?
SESSION 4 – Trauma, Memory, and Silence
Reading: Chapters 16–20
Literary Focus: Flashbacks, unreliable memory, psychological scars
Public Domain Anchor Texts
1. Charlotte Perkins Gilman – “The Yellow Wallpaper”
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1952
2. Wilfred Owen – “Dulce et Decorum Est”
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46560/dulce-et-decorum-est
Group Activity – “The Memory Wall”
Groups create a visual wall:
What happens when trauma is never spoken aloud?
SESSION 5 – Confrontation and Redemption
Reading: Chapters 21–24
Literary Focus: Conflict, redemption arc, symbolism of rescue
Public Domain Anchor Texts
1. Victor Hugo – Les Misérables (excerpts on redemption)
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/135
2. Fyodor Dostoevsky – “The Heavenly Christmas Tree”
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/40745
Group Debate – “Can Evil Be Undone?”
Each group must argue using:
Does saving Sohrab redeem Amir—or only soften his guilt?
SESSION 6 – Storytelling, Memory, and the Future
Reading: Chapters 25–End
Literary Focus: Narrative voice, circular structure, hope
Public Domain Anchor Texts
1. Walt Whitman – “Song of Myself” (sections on self and memory)
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1322
2. Native Afghan folktale – “The Two Brothers”
https://www.sacred-texts.com/asia/afghan/afg06.htm
Final Group Project – “The Kite of Memory”
Each group creates a symbolic kite that includes:
Why This Workshop Works
Reading: Students may read independently or in groups while completing a Literary Thinking Guide. If a rapid reading is necessary, the book can be divided among the groups, and each group summarizes their section and then the groups present their sections sequentially.
Workshop Groups
This workshop uses small group reading, rotating roles, and sustained analytical and reflective writing developing relationships and creating a learning community.
Theme: Guilt, Loyalty, Betrayal, and Redemption
Central Question: Can a person ever truly atone for the harm they caused?
SESSION 1 – Childhood, Loyalty, and Social Class
Reading (Kite Runner): Chapters 1–6
Literary Focus: Characterization, foreshadowing, social hierarchy
Public Domain Anchor Texts
1. Afghan Folktale – “The Lion and the Clever Jackal”
https://www.sacred-texts.com/asia/afghan/afg02.htm
(Friendship, betrayal, and survival)
2. Rudyard Kipling – “We and They” (1917)
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46721/we-and-they
(Social divisions and identity)
Group Activity – “Invisible Lines”
Each group creates a social map of Kabul showing:
- Pashtun vs. Hazara
- Rich vs. poor
- Baba vs. Ali
- Amir vs. Hassan
- Kite Runner
- Afghan folktale
- Kipling’s poem
How does social class decide who gets protected and who gets sacrificed?
SESSION 2 – Betrayal and Moral Choice
Reading: Chapters 7–10
Literary Focus: Turning points, symbolism (the kite), moral conflict
Public Domain Anchor Texts
1. Leo Tolstoy – “What Men Live By”
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/6155
(Moral choice and responsibility)
2. Plato – “The Ring of Gyges” (Republic, Book II)
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1497/1497-h/1497-h.htm
(What people do when no one is watching)
Group Trial Simulation – “The Alley Scene on Trial”
Students stage a trial:
- Defense (Amir)
- Prosecution (Amir)
- Hassan’s advocates
- Ethical philosophers
- Kite Runner
- Tolstoy
- Plato
Is Amir guilty because he acted—or because he didn’t?
SESSION 3 – Exile, Immigration, and Identity
Reading: Chapters 11–15
Literary Focus: Setting shift, identity, displacement
Public Domain Anchor Texts
1. Emma Lazarus – “The New Colossus” (1883)
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46550/the-new-colossus
2. Jacob Riis – Excerpts from How the Other Half Lives (1890)
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/45502
Group Activity – “Two Homes, Two Selves”
Groups compare:
- Amir in Kabul
- Amir in California
Writing Task:
Does America give Amir freedom—or erase part of him?
SESSION 4 – Trauma, Memory, and Silence
Reading: Chapters 16–20
Literary Focus: Flashbacks, unreliable memory, psychological scars
Public Domain Anchor Texts
1. Charlotte Perkins Gilman – “The Yellow Wallpaper”
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1952
2. Wilfred Owen – “Dulce et Decorum Est”
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46560/dulce-et-decorum-est
Group Activity – “The Memory Wall”
Groups create a visual wall:
- Amir’s memories
- Hassan’s memories
- War trauma
- Psychological scars
What happens when trauma is never spoken aloud?
SESSION 5 – Confrontation and Redemption
Reading: Chapters 21–24
Literary Focus: Conflict, redemption arc, symbolism of rescue
Public Domain Anchor Texts
1. Victor Hugo – Les Misérables (excerpts on redemption)
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/135
2. Fyodor Dostoevsky – “The Heavenly Christmas Tree”
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/40745
Group Debate – “Can Evil Be Undone?”
Each group must argue using:
- Amir’s actions
- Hugo
- Dostoevsky
Does saving Sohrab redeem Amir—or only soften his guilt?
SESSION 6 – Storytelling, Memory, and the Future
Reading: Chapters 25–End
Literary Focus: Narrative voice, circular structure, hope
Public Domain Anchor Texts
1. Walt Whitman – “Song of Myself” (sections on self and memory)
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1322
2. Native Afghan folktale – “The Two Brothers”
https://www.sacred-texts.com/asia/afghan/afg06.htm
Final Group Project – “The Kite of Memory”
Each group creates a symbolic kite that includes:
- A key quote from Kite Runner
- A quote from a public domain text
- A theme (guilt, loyalty, identity, forgiveness)
- Literary Analysis
- Creative Rewrite (Hassan’s POV)
- Moral Philosophy Essay
- Historical + Literary Context Essay
Why This Workshop Works
- Portfolio-driven
- AI-compatible
- Cross-disciplinary (literature + history + ethics)
- Built around primary sources and deep reading