Previous
Literary Devices
Definition of Allusion
In literature, an allusion is an unexplained reference to someone or something outside of the text. Writers commonly allude to other literary works, famous individuals, historical events, or philosophical ideas... read full definition
In literature, an allusion is an unexplained reference to someone or something outside of the text. Writers commonly allude to other literary works, famous individuals... read full definition
In literature, an allusion is an unexplained reference to someone or something outside of the text. Writers commonly allude to... read full definition
Chapter 3
Explanation and Analysis—Battle of the Poems:
When Amir describes the schoolroom games he played as a child, Hosseini uses allusions to classical Persian poets to show Amir’s early connection to his region’s deep artistic tradition in The Kite Runner:
IN SCHOOL, we used to play a game called Sherjangi, or “Battle of the Poems.” [...] it went something like this: You recited a verse from a poem and your opponent had sixty seconds to reply with a verse that began with the same letter that ended yours. Everyone in my class wanted me on their team, because by the time I was eleven, I could recite dozens of verses from Khayyám, Hãfez, or Rumi’s famous Masnawi. One time, I took on the whole class and won. I told Baba about it later that night, but he just nodded, muttered, “Good.”
The allusions Hosseini makes to the classical poets Khayyám, Hãfez, and Rumi connect Amir’s childhood to the broader literary history of the Persian-speaking world. Referencing these poets as being part of a normal schoolroom activity points to the long tradition of poetry and philosophy that surrounded Amir as he grew up. Rumi’s Masnawi holds a special place in this tradition for Amir. It contains parables and reflections on love and morality, and explores the idea of humanity’s connection with God. By mentioning it in this particular way, Hosseini shows how strong Amir’s memories of learning poems in order to win the Sherjangi game are.
Related Themes:
Chapter 4
Explanation and Analysis—John Wayne:
When Amir recalls seeing his first Western movie with Baba and Hassan in Kabul, the narrative makes an allusion to the film Rio Bravo and the actor John Wayne to introduce early ideas of masculinity and heroism:
We saw our first Western together, Rio Bravo with John Wayne, at the Cinema Park, across the street from my favorite bookstore. I remember begging Baba to take us to Iran so we could meet John Wayne.
The reference Amir makes to John Wayne here presents the actor as a symbol of clear-cut, masculine heroism. In the world of Western films, Wayne often played characters with simple, black-and-white moral codes and a stubborn sense of honor. To Amir as a child, John Wayne represents the ultimate kind of man. The characters he plays are all brave and self-assured, always eventually making the most morally correct choice. Amir can’t tell the difference between the actor John Wayne and the imaginary people he plays in his movies, which is why he begs Baba for the chance to meet him.
Further to this, Western films like Rio Bravo offer children like Amir and Hassan an easy framework of good versus evil. The worlds John Wayne’s characters inhabit are simple places where right and wrong are obvious. For a young Amir, this simple system feels attractive because it makes moral choices seem straightforward. This easy distinction is also aligned with Baba’s strict moral code, which splits the world into good and bad. However, the moral landscape of Amir’s own life becomes much harder to navigate as he grows up. Doing the right thing turns out to be far harder and more complicated than the black-and-white world of the Westerns he once loved made it seem.
Related Themes:
Chapter 5
Explanation and Analysis—Assef Khan:
As Amir describes his schoolmate Assef, he uses a simile and an allusion comparing the other boy to a Khan to highlight his dominance and sense of self-importance:
Born to a German mother and Afghan father, the blond, blue-eyed Assef towered over the other kids. His well-earned reputation for savagery preceded him on the streets. Flanked by his obeying friends, he walked the neighborhood like a Khan strolling through his land with his eager-to-please entourage.
An Afghan Khan was a tribal or military leader who held absolute power and authority in the area they ruled. Khans, who ruled from ancient times in Afghanistan to the beginnings of the 20th century, were the final arbiters of the law. They acted as both judges and rulers within their territories. By comparing Assef to a Khan surrounded by “obeying friends,” Amir shows the way Assef dominates his peers. The boys who Assef spends time with are more like an “eager-to-please” entourage than a group of friends. The allusion to Afghanistan’s history of rule by Khans shows Assef’s unchecked power over Amir, Hassan, and his other classmates. Amir presents this boy, with his “well-earned reputation for savagery,” not as an ordinary bully but as a tyrant within their small world. This comparison makes Assef's childish dominance feel larger and more dangerous than it truly is. It also foreshadows Assef’s extreme cruelty as an adult, which Amir encounters again when he returns to Afghanistan to rescue Sohrab from him.
Related Themes:
