A Thousand Splendid Suns

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English II – Pre AP Summer Reading A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini A Thousand Splendid Suns tells the intertwined stories of the lives of two Afghan women, Mariam and Laila, both married to the same abusive man, during the years of the Soviet occupation, then the civil war and the Taliban dictatorship I. Theme Analysis As you read A Thousand Splendid Suns log one quote to illustrate each of the following themes in the novel. You will need to interpret the quote and explain its impact on the plot. Theme/ Quote | Interpretation | Impact on Plot | Man’s inhumanity to man (quote) | What does the quote mean and how is it connected to the theme? | What is happening at this point in the story? Why is it important? | Abusive relationships between men and women (quote) | | | Education for women (or lack thereof) (quote) | | | Resistance to victimization (quote) | | | Political corruption (quote) | | | Part I: Chapters 1 - 15 1. Based on Nana and Mariam’s experiences, what can you infer about the lives of women in Afghanistan in the 60s? Why does Nana forbid Mariam to go to school? What does Nana want for she and Mariam? Are her goals realistic? Why or Why not? 2. Jalil, Mariam’s father is a complex character. Does he love her? How is it shown that he does not fully recognize her as his daughter? 3. Is Mariam right to feel guilt about her mother’s suicide? (Support your response with textual evidence) 4. The beginning of Mariam’s marriage to Rasheed seems to promise happiness. What are the signs this may be a short-lived relationship? 5. Why does Rasheed want a boy? How might life have been different for the family is Mariam could have had a baby? Part II: Chapters 16 – 26 1. In this section we are introduced to 9-year old Laila and her
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