Transcript A Thousand Splendid Suns

A Thousand Splendid Suns
By Khaled Hosseini
Plot Structure Analysis
1. What kind of point of view are the stories
told from?
2. What kind of narrator is telling the stories?
Plot Structure Analysis
1. What kind of point of view are the stories
told from?
2. What kind of narrator is telling the stories?
– Third person
– Omniscient
Themes
What themes can you identify?
Themes
The inner strength of women…
• The most prevalent theme in the novel
• Mariam and Laila ensure heartache because
they are women, yet they persevere
• For example?
Themes
The human capacity for evil…
• An important theme
• Characters are victims of who?
Themes
The human capacity for evil…
• An important theme
• Characters are victims of who?
– Soviets
– Mujahideen
– Taliban
Themes
Loyalty and devotion…
• Another theme
• Between who?
Themes
Loyalty and devotion…
• Another theme
• Between who?
– Laila and her father
– Laila and Tariq
– Mariam and Laila
Themes
Misogyny…
• What is that?
Themes
Misogyny…
• What is that?
• Hatred of women, mistreatment of women
– Afghan society
– By husbands
– By father
Mood
What’s the mood throughout the novel?
Mood
What’s the mood throughout the novel?
• Tragic?
• Despair?
• Sad?
• Uplifting?
• Hopeful?
Mood
What’s the mood throughout the novel?
• What about the commentary on the strength
of the woman?
Discussion
1. What makes Mariam go to her father’s
house?
Discussion
2. Why is Nana so bitter? How does it affect her
relationship with her daughter?
Discussion
3. Why does Jalil marry Mariam to Rasheed?
Discussion
4. Why did Jalil come to Kabul to Mariam’s
house? How does Mariam react? How does he
finally say he is sorry?
Discussion
5. What was the marriage of Rasheed and
Mariam like before Laila comes into their
lives?
Discussion
6. What about Laila’s childhood? Is she closer to
her mother of father? How? Why?
Discussion
7. Why does Laila accept Rasheed’s marriage
proposal?
Discussion
8. Why does Mariam decide to take the blame
for Laila?
Discussion
9. Why does Laila decide to return to Kabul?
What does she do to honor the memories of
her parents and Mariam?
Discussion
10. How are the of Kabul and Mariam alike?
Parenting
There are a lot of parent/child relationships in
the novel.
What kind of relationships were they?
Present a position describing the relationships
and defend your position with specific
evidence from the novel.
Parenting
Nana and Mariam
Mariam and Jalil
Laila and Hakim
Laila and Fariba
Rasheed and Aziza
Laila and Aziza
Rasheed and Zalmai
Laila and Zalmai
Mariam, Aziza &
Zalmai