The Kite Runner:9

"For you, a thousand times over." (page 371) The literary device used here is a motif. The motif begins with Hassan, and by the end of the book Amir is using it. It is repeated constantly in the book to stress the importance of the theme of friendship. The phrase is definitely strong. It is not a light phrase used loosely among anyone. Rather, it is a way of showing the complete dedication and loyalty to a dear friend. Hassan always shared this to Amir, and it constantly reminded him of the great friendship that he had. Although they grew distant, each was always there for each other in the end. In the ending, Amir wants to share with Sohrab that, like Hassan was for him, he would do anything for him. He was a true friend, and this time Amir is going to get it right. The ending may be ambiguous regarding how Sohrab will change or how their life will be affected, but this phrase is pretty much forshadowing that something is happening. Amir finally has shown he cares to a friend. He never really told Hassan, so I think that this is almost like his final redemption of the way he had treated his friend. He is going to show that he cares and not let anything in the past reoccur.

Characterization Blog #3

"Hunters in the Snow" #7

This scene is important into revealing one of the messages of the story. I mentioned this in my previous blog, but this is the scene that best shows the type of friendship these three have. The three have a shallow friendship and do not truly care about the friendship. They are friends who make fun of each other and just say their problems. They don't help each other and this proves that. They go into eat while Kenny is laying in the freezing cold on the back of the truck. He was shot! He needed to go to the hospital but the other two were too selfish to take him straight there. They figure it won't make any difference, but at the end when the narrator says "but he was wrong" when Kenny says he is going to the hospital it shows that they never make it and Kenny is most likely going to die. This is terrible! Also, they do not help each other because Tub reveals that he has no gland problem. Instead of giving advice, Frank makes him eat a ton of pancakes. Why would a friend want to encourage a problem like that? A real friend would try to help them get over something like this.