The Kite Runner

Analyze the opening of “The Kite Runner”. Discuss how effective it is in terms of how it engages the reader and arouses certain expectations.
“The Kite Runner” is a very captivating novel from the start. In the opening paragraphs, the reader’s attention is immediately grasped and we are kept wanting more. Instantaneously, we get a clear idea of what the novel will be about, and the characters, themes and ideas that it will explore. It is written is 1st person and Amir is the protagonist of the story. Hosseini successfully engages and evokes emotions in the reader, using literary techniques such as his powerful diction.
In the first chapter the reader establishes many things about the novel. We learn that the novel will be told in flashback
They are Rahim Khan, Hassan, Ali and Baba. These characters play a huge role in the reason why the narrator has turned out the way he is. We learn that the narrator and Hassan were very close friends. This is because they are represented by the kites in the air. This is when they were happy and equal together. He cannot escape the feelings that he has had about Hassan. The kites are described as “soaring, dancing, floating”, which represents that the narrator and Hassan were as free as kids. Happiness and joy is emphasized with the sibilance of the ‘s’ in “sparkled, sailed, crisp and sky. This adds to the soft and gentle feel of the kites in the air. We also understand that even though Amir is telling the story; it will really be about Hassan. This adds a sense of irony because, Hassan use to kite run for Amir, but now Amir is Kite running for Hassan’s son. As well as how Amir Use to tell Hassan stories, but now he is telling a story about Hassan. Now that Amir is an adult, while talking about Hassan, negative diction is used. An example is the “crumbling mud wall” that is presented in the opening paragraph suggests that Amir and Hassan’s friendship also crumbled. This then represent why Amir’s life also crumbed. Another example is the “deserted alley”. This is symbolic because Amir deserted his friend Hassan. But he too is deserted and
Rahim Khan is who made Amir think about the past when he gave him a phone call. He is representing Amir’s “unatoned sins.” This is like Amir’s sins are taunting him because he has not yet suffered the consequences for his actions, neither has he admitted to them. The writer uses objective correlative of these memories that are haunting him when he says, “frozen creek”. This mimics the way that Amir feels; cold and stuck or lonely. Many thought are rushing into Amir’s mind as he realizes that he has t confess to his actions. This shows the effect of one phone call. He now has a stream of consciousness when he names the most important people to him.
Two signature quotes that are repeated throughout the entire novel, is presented in the opening chapter. The first one is, “for you a thousand times over”. These are the very words that has haunted Amir because they were the last words that Hassan said to him. This showed how Hassan would do anything for Amir, which makes Amir’s past haunt him, because he didn’t do the same for Hassan. This feeling is represented by the willow tree which represents, sorrow, remorse and