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AP English Lit Name: Natalie and Maria4140200-50799Major Works Data Sheet: Do not cut/paste from a website, which is a form of plagiarism.Title: A Thousand Splendid SunsBiographical information about the author:Author: Khaled HosseiniKhaled Hosseini-born in Kabul, Afghanistan 1965, mother taught Farsi and father was diplomat in Afghan foreign ministry; family survived the communist invasion, moved to San Jose, California-went to college for a medical degree, while studying medicine started writing novels (on bestseller’s list)Date of Publication: 2007Genre: Literary Fiction/Multicultural FictionHistorical information about the period of publication or setting of the novel:-Set in Kabul, Afghanistan from 1960s through early 2000s; the Afghani war against Soviets rages; multiple bombings in Kabul tears families apart-Taliban rises to power; imposes harsh rules on citizens of Kabul; treat women as inferiors; stonings in the streets-Pakistan is the characters’ escape; US eventually invades Kabul and living conditions become better (hospitals fixed, drought ends, streets are safer, etc.)-Story based off what Hosseini himself experienced in KabulCharacteristics of the genre:Multicultural fiction-often focuses on families-is the American experience from a minority point of view-can be literary fiction, romance, mysteries, etc.Plot Summary: Do not cut/paste from a website, which is a form of plagiarism.The novel begins with Mariam, a young girl born in Herat, Afghanistan. She lives with her mother and only sees her father once a week due to the fact that she is an illegitimate child. She is eventually sold off to a man named Rasheed, a shoemaker who lives in Kabul. He only wants her to provide a son for him to replace the one he lost with his wife prior. He treats her with complete disrespect. The novel also focuses on another girl named Laila who lives down the street from Mariam. She loses her family to the war and is told that her lover Tariq was killed as well. Mariam and Rasheed take her into their family by making her Rasheed’s second wife. Laila gives birth to two children: Aziza (Tariq’s daughter) and Zalmai (Rasheed’s son). Laila finds out that she was lied to about Tariq’s death, which was Rasheed’s doing, and they are reunited. Rasheed finds out that Tariq is back and begins to hurt Laila, but Mariam intervenes and hits Rasheed in the head with a shovel, finally killing him and ending their pain. She turns herself in so that Laila and Tariq can start a life together in Pakistan. Mariam is executed and Laila goes back to a much-improved Kabul, vowing to name her next daughter Mariam in the woman’s honor. Major Works Data SheetMemorable Quotes at least 3 – more is betterQuotationSignificance“A man's heart is a wretched, wretched thing. It isn't like a mother's womb. It won't bleed. It won't stretch to make room for you.”“I'm sorry," Laila says, marveling at how every Afghan story is marked by death and loss and unimaginable grief. And yet, she sees, people find a way to survive, to go on.” “One could not count the moons that shimmer on her roofs,Or the thousand splendid suns that hide behind her walls.” This quote demonstrates that although the women of this novel have been labeled as inferior and are seen as objects in men’s eyes, they are aware that men will never have the capacity for love and nurturing that they themselves harbor within the structure of their own bodies. They endure much more difficult pain and put up with the unfair treatment they face because of their gender.Laila’s voice here helps characterize the Afghan of this time period. Looking back at the history of Afghanistan, the country has had a volatile political history and the living conditions have gone up and down in quality. Laila believes that the Afghan is someone who is strong because of what they have endured and they have often faced losses due to their dangerous environment. This quote gives the book its title, A Thousand Splendid Suns. With vivid imagery, Hosseini speaks again to the diversity of Kabul, Afghanistan. He believes that there are innumerable stories that lay within the walls of the city, and that Mariam and Laila’s shared experiences weave together to help create its rich history. Major Works Data SheetCharactersNameRole in the storySignificanceAdjectivesMullah FaizullahJalilAzizaMariamNanaZalmaiRasheedTariqLailaMariam’s teacher and mentorMariam's fatherChild of Tariq and LailaProtagonist, First character introduced,suffers tragedyMariam's motherChild of Laila and RasheedMariam and Laila's husband. Laila’s long lost loverMariam's sister wifeHe is the hope for Mariam, since she has no real guidance. Jalil represents how Mariam has never been accepted and has been an outlier since birth.Aziza is the joy of Laila’s life. Aziza is also the child of Tariq, who Laila believes is dead, so it is essential to her relationship with him as well.Mariam suffers loss and pain her whole life, yet she is the one who demonstrates great sacrifice for others.Nana is the mentally unstable mother who fueled Mariam’s mistrust of others. This made her very independent.Laila loves her child Zalmai, but she worries he will turn into his father for the worst. Rasheed signifies the deep mistrust and abuse of men. Tariq is the only trustworthy man in the novel, and he is the hope for Laila.Laila is the younger, more hopeful fighter who would sacrifice anything for those she loved to be better passionate, loving, considerateGreedy, selfish, unsureBright, optimistic, innocentCaring, Independent, determinedInconsiderate, unstable, selfishHappy, naive, loudViolent, Rude, AbusiveKind, loving, defensiveCourageous, compassionateMajor Works Data SheetSettingSignificance of the opening sceneKabul- Afghanistan Kabul is a war torn city that eventually is overrun by the Taliban. The setting greatly impacts the storyline, as the characters are in constant danger. For example, Tariq has his leg blown off, which affects his ability to defend himself. It also leads Laila to believe he is dead. Kabul also demonstrates the cultural differences that separates Western ideologies.In the opening scene, Mariam is describing the first time she heard the word “harami” used. This word indicates that Mariam is a bastard child and inherently an outlier. It is significant in that it immediately puts Mariam on the fringe of society, where she cannot properly fit in because of how she was born. She lives with her mother, who has a much lower social status than her father, Jalil. Throughout the novel, Mariam fails to find comfort or any place of safety from birth to her death.Symbols or Motifs (at least three)Significance of the ending / closing sceneThe Titanic- Laila claims that everyone in Afghanistan in similar to the victims in the movie Titanic. Everyone is hoping to be saved, but Laila asserts that no rescue will ever come. Laila’s Dreams- After Mariam’s Death, Laila continues to have disturbing dreams. She dreams that a women is humming and when she walks to the sound, nothing is there. This represents the deep loss Laila feels and that Mariam is never coming back to comfort her again.Jalil’s Box- After Jalil’s death, Laila is given a box of her father’s. It contains small memoirs of their time. This symbolizes his regret of not accepting his daughter and his final act of love for Laila.Although Mariam is dead, she sacrificed herself to allow Laila to live and start a family. This ending represents a new, profound hope for Laila and Tariq. Although it took Mariam, the city and families within Afghanistan have a better chance to rebuild their lives. The story started with suffering and ended with hope.Possible Themes – Topics of Discussion (elaborate) minimum of 3Love is worth the greatest sacrifice- Mariam gives up her life so that Laila can start over. Laila has a new family and for the first time at the time of her death, Mariam finds peace.Life is about the struggle- Mariam and Laila are subjected to torture through violent marriages and live in a war torn area. Still, their love for each other and their relationships grows stronger because of the struggle, which creates a profound hope.Nothing is guaranteed- At the beginning of the novel and throughout, Mariam must understand that she was born with no guarantee of safety or kindness in her life. Instead, she must make the most of what she has. ................
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