Explain how the author uses places and settings to support the telling of the story.
In 'The Kite Runner' Khaled Hosseini uses a range of different places and settings to aid the telling of the story and provoke a certain reaction from the readers.
The first chapter begins with an unknown narrator having a flashback to 1975 when he was twelve. This immediately creates suspense as the reader wants to know why this particular moment in time is significant to the story. The reader is oblivious to what they are talking about and so wants to know why it is relevant. Tension is created by the many questions left unanswered in this chapter such as the event that happened in
1975 and why it is so influencial. Additionally the audience is left to wonder who the narrator and rest of the characters mentioned are, why
Kabul and San Francisco are important and what kite-running is. This is an engaging start to the story as it raises questions yet answers none.
In addition to this the phrases 'for you, a thousand times over' and 'there is a way to be good again' are written in italics and so are brought to the readers attention. This highlights the fact that they are vital to the story and introduces the key themes of religion and loyalty.
Chapter seven begins with Hassan explaining a dream in which Amir is brave and courageous. In the dream a lake is named after Hassan and
Amir to reward them for their achievement. This shows the sort of life Hassan wished he could live in, where he could be seen as equal to others.
His dream represents a situation which he would like yet would never happen due to his lower class in society. When Amir says 'we won', it is as though Hassan's dream is close to reality as he is being valued and included in the victory. However this inclusion is done privately between the two characters, therefore the dream is close yet not real. The chapter begins with a warm and sunny day yet ends in a secluded