23. Chapter 22: Sohrab is Rescued

About this Lecture

Lecture

In this module, we read through the twenty-second chapter of the novel, focusing in particular on: (i) Amir’s confrontation with with Taliban and their leader, Assef; (ii) the symbolism and gender politics of Assef’s rape of Hassan, and of his treatment of Hassan’s son, Sohrab; (iii) the character of Assef; (iv) the story of David and Goliath and the symbolism of the slingshot; and (v) the completeness and moral certainty of Sohrab’s revenge.

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.