A Thousand Splendid Suns

A Thousand Splendid SunsKhaled Hosseini

Khaled HosseiniKhaled Hosseini was born on March 4, 1965 in Kabul, AfghanistanAt age 11, his family moved to France; 4 years later, they applied for asylum in the U.S.Did not return to Afghanistan until 2001, where he felt like a tourist in his own countryAll 3 of his novels became bestsellers: -The Kite Runner -A Thousand Splendid Suns -And the Mountains EchoedIs currently a Goodwill Envoy for the UNHCR

SettingTakes place in Afghanistan from the early 1960s to the early 2000sThe novel begins in HeratMoves to the capital, KabulTravels to Pakistan Returns back to Kabul

LanguageTold in 3rd person through chapters that alternate the focus of either Mariam or Laila The speaker includes words spoken in Pashto - But he was a coward, my father. He didnt have the dil, the heart for it.Very descriptive sentences - Mullah Faizullah recited prayers at the graveside and the men lowered Nanas shrouded body into the ground.

MariamEthnic Tajik from HeratIllegitimate child of Jalil Khan and his housekeeper, NanaGrows up in a simple mud hut with Nana, but longs to be accepted into her fathers familyAt age 15, her mother commits suicide, so her father sends her off to marry RasheedHer spirit is beaten down after 7 miscarriages and many beatings of her husbandMariam finally finds love and and the family she has always wanted in Laila and her daughter

LailaEthnic Tajik from KabulExtremely beautifulFalls in love with her friend, Tariq at a very young agePlans to attend a university in the future, but the dream is shattered when her parents are killed in a rocket attackRescued by Rasheed and nursed back to health by MariamBecomes Rasheeds second wife when she comes to believe that Tariq is deadHas two children: Aziza and Zalmai

RasheedMariams husband: an ethnic Pashtun Shoemaker living in KabulAbusive Seeks a wife who will bear him a sonWhen Mariam fails to have children, he treats her cruelly and seeks to find a second, much younger wifeRequires his wives to wear full burqa and to not leave the house without himEventually is killed by Mariam

TariqLailas childhood friend and sweetheartOnly has one leg as a result of being injured by a Soviet land mineFlees to Pakistan during warSeparated from Laila; she is led to believe that he is deadEventually returns and the two run away to Pakistan togetherReal father of AzizaRespects women as equals unlike Rasheed

Jalil KhanMariams fatherWealthy merchant and cinema ownerHas 3 wives and 10 childrenVisits Mariam each week with gifts, but never lets her come to his homeYears later, Jalil regrets his mistreatment of Mariam and seeks forgivenessLeaves her an apology letter and inheritance money, which is found by Laila when she visits Mariams childhood home

ThemesWomen and Femininity - Gender Inequality - Slavery to the Household War - Afghani war against the Soviets - Taliban Takeover - 9/11 terrorist attacksMarriage vs. True Love - Cruelty - Mutual Respect

Literary DevicesSymbolism - Burqa -Hospital Metaphor -Nana tells Mariam that she is nothing but a mugwort that is ripped out and tossed aside Irony -When Jalil visited Mariam, he would raise her high in the air and swing her around, but Nana told her that one day he would surely drop her Simile -Its like someone is ramming a screwdriver into my ear. -Rasheed

QuotesLike a compass needle that points north, a mans accusing finger always finds a woman. Always.You see, some things I can teach you. Some you learn from books. But there are things that, well, you have to see and feel. The past held only this wisdom: that love was a damaging mistake, and its accomplice, hope, a treacherous illusion.But the game involves only male names. Because, if it's a girl, Laila has already named her.

Personal Reaction

Connection to Mediahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ir0FaK757Vw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTxlh65Pe14

Which Character Are You?Based off of answering these questions, you can find out which character you are from the novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns.Keep track of how many points you have, because at the end of the quiz, you will add them all up to match them with the character you most resemble.All As1 pointAll Bs2 pointsAll Cs3 pointsAll Ds4 points

Lets Get Started1. If the Soviets had invaded your hometown, what would you do?A. Care for your family and hope that they leave soonB. Leave with your family to another countryC. Try to continue on with your everyday lifestyleD. Hope for a radical group to come and kick them out 2. How would you react if you were in an abusive relationship?A. Leave your abuser and run away with your childhood loveB. Youre the one who would save someone from the abuserC. Kill the abusive partner with a shovelD. Youre the abusive one

This is Fun Right?3. What is/ will be your status on children?A. Care for all of your children no matter whatB. You will love them even if you know them for only a short timeC. You never have kidsD. You only want a son so he can carry on the family name 4. If someone in your family diedA. You are willingly sent away to live with a stranger B. You walk all over the country looking for the love of your lifeC. You are sent away to live with a stranger after putting up a fight D. You find a person to create a new family with you based on your circumstances

I Know This Makes You Want to Read the Book!5. What best describes your personality?A. Bitter, frequently tense, spiteful from horrible memories of your pastB. Full of love and passion, caring, occasionally funnyC. Quiet, obedient to those of authority, very easy-goingD. Arrogant, rude, ungrateful, obnoxiously loud 6. If you were to have one of these, what would your biggest flaw be?A. You give in too easily and never stand up for yourselfB. You have a very noticeable body disfiguration C. You are incredibly lonely and hard to loveD. You have a horrible personality

Youre Almost Done!7. If you had one wish, it would be toA. Pursue a proper education at a prestigious schoolB. Live a strong, individual life without the assistance of anotherC. Live a happy life with a family who loves and cares about youD. To have a son to replace all of your sorrow and regret 8. What best describes your daily life?A. Constantly caring for or helping your familyB. Your activities change from day to dayC. Spending all day doing housework or choresD. Working all da at your job and then coming home to a hot meal

So Close!9. Who is your favorite person?A. Your close friendB. Your loving partnerC. Your motherD. Your kid 10. How would you fight back against someone?A. Insult them with harsh wordsB. Take off your fake leg and beat them with itC. Hit them over the head with a shovelD. Choke them

RESULTS10-17 points------LailaYou are kind and innocent, and you have a very mellow personality, which is why so many people like you18-25 points------TariqYou are passionate and loyal. You can always be counted on, and everyone always wants to be around you26-32 points------MariamYou are stubborn, but strong-minded. You may have had a hard life so far, but things will turn around for you eventually33-40 points------RasheedYou are hard-headed because you know what you want. You dont care to listen to anyone else because you think that youre right all of the time