13. Chapter 12: Soraya

About this Lecture

Lecture

In this module, we read through the twelfth chapter of the novel, focusing in particular on: (i) the character of Soraya, in particular her love of stories; (ii) the deterioration of Baba; (iii) the fact that both Soraya and Amir have secrets; (iv) the idea of Soraya as “a better person” than Amir; (v) the beginnings of Amir’s redemption; and (vi) the contrast between closeness (and closedness) and openness.

Course

In this course, Professor John McRae (University of Nottingham) explores Khalid Hosseini’s The Kite Runner. We begin with a broad introduction to the historical, political and literary context of the novel, before going through the whole novel chapter-by-chapter, providing close reading and detailed analysis, with commentary on character, plot, themes, motifs, language, symbolism and more.

Lecturer

John McRae is Special Professor of Language in Literature Studies and Teaching Associate in the School of English at Nottingham University, and holds Visiting Professorships in China, Malaysia, Spain and the USA. He is co-author of The Routledge History of Literature in English with Ron Carter, and also wrote The Language of Poetry, Literature with a Small 'l' and the first critical edition of Teleny by Oscar Wilde and others.