Lit Analysis The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

First off, all of Doctor Preston's previous students have read this.  I have not.  I didn't have Preston the first time around so I believe I am allowed to do this particular book for a Lit Analysis.

P.S. Also note that I returned the book already so I am unable to put down page numbers for any of the examples.  I can refer to the general areas of the story but that is about as specific as I can get.  sorry about that.

GENERAL 
1. Briefly summarize the plot of the novel you read, and explain how the narrative fulfills the author's purpose (based on your well-informed interpretation of same).
The story begins with a small boy named Amir.  He lived in a poor household with his father (Baba) and their 2 servants by the names of Ali and Hassan.  Ali and Hassan were father and son respectively   Both moms were gone, Amir's mom died in childbirth; Hassan's mom had run away.  Amir began to notice that Baba began to show more affection towards Hassan which, of course, made Amir jealous.  The two boys decided to join a kite fighting tournament (Amir saw this as the perfect opportunity to get his father back).  Amir wins it and tells Hassan to retrieve the defeated kite.  Hassan does but gets raped in the process.  Amir sees it happening but freezes up and doesn't know what to do.  Baba remains affectionate towards Hassan and Amir becomes very jealous.  Amir devises a plan to get them sent away and it works.  Pretty soon, a war starts up.  Baba and Amir travel to California but lose their wealth in the process.  Baba contracts cancer and arranges a marriage with a girl Amir had fallen in love with.  Baba dies and Amir is called back to Afghanistan by a guy named Rahim Khan.  Amir is informed that the Taliban had murdered Hassan and his wife and that their son was somewhere in Kabul (Also that Hassan was Amir's half brother).  Amir finds the kid and they begin talking about how much they have in common while watching kites fly in the air.  The author defiantly fulfils his purpose in this one.  He gets his point across in a relatively short novel.
2. Succinctly describe the theme of the novel. Avoid cliches.
The theme of the novel is warfare.  The whole book is based around a war in Afghanistan, that is just the icing on the cake.  The conflict between Amir and Hassan, between Amir and Baba, and even between Amir and himself.  The whole book has conflict. 
3. Describe the author's tone. Include a minimum of three excerpts that illustrate your point(s).
Tender:  Baba spending his life savings on Amir's wedding right before he dies.  Amir saving Sohrab to fix his sins against Hassan.

Ironic:  Baba betrayed his friend even though he talked about honor and principles.  Amir gets a scar on his lip just like Hassan.
4. Describe a minimum of ten literary elements/techniques you observed that strengthened your understanding of the author's purpose, the text's theme and/or your sense of the tone. For each, please include textual support to help illustrate the point for your readers. (Please include edition and page numbers for easy reference.)
1. Personification: "At parties, when all six-foot-five of him thundered into the room, attention shifted to him like sunflowers turning to the sun."
2. Metaphor: "Kites were the one paper-thin slice of intersection between those spheres"
3. Flashback: "Hassan and I used to climb the poplar trees in the driveway of my father's house and annoy our neighbors by reflecting sunlight into their homes with a shard of a mirror."
4. Simile: "Our apartment is built like a train, narrow in the front with rooms extending out to the back."
5. Foreshadowing: "Mama turns into a stork.  Keep them safe, she says, There's going to be a storm."
6.  Symbolism: The building of the kite shows the bond of friendship between Hassan and Amir.
7.  Atmosphere: A chronic tense atmosphere with very very few happy times
8. Suspense: Hassan feels sick when he believes he will never talk to Amir again.
9. Digressive Time: The changing of the subject often like the guilt of Amir towards Hassan
10: Progressive Time: The chronological order of the book.
CHARACTERIZATION 
1. Describe two examples of direct characterization and two examples of indirect characterization.  Why does the author use both approaches, and to what end (i.e., what is your lasting impression of the character as a result)?
Direct Characterization:
-The introduction of Hassan, Ali, Baba, and Amir are all direct characterization.

Indirect Characterization: 
- Rahim informing Amir about Hassan being his half brother.
- Could not find another example :(

The author uses direct characterization much more than indirect characterization.  I feel this a very good approach and left me with a lasting impression of them.

2. Does the author's syntax and/or diction change when s/he focuses on character?  How?  Example(s)?
The author's syntax/diction doesn't change because the focus doesn't change.  
3. Is the protagonist static or dynamic?  Flat or round?  Explain.
The protagonist is dynamic.  He goes from liking Hassan to hating Hassan to hating him once again.  Amir is also a flat character.  Not much to him in the sense that he is a kid from a poor family, can't really add to that.
4. After reading the book did you come away feeling like you'd met a person or read a character?  Analyze one textual example that illustrates your reaction.
As always, I feel like I will never walk away from a book like a met the person.  The book just doesn't do that to me.