Pomegranate tree
The Qu’ran mentions the pomegranate tree as one of the fruits in the garden of paradise. In Islam the pomegranate tree is one of the trees present in the garden of Paradise. In The Kite Runner there is a pomegranate tree in the cemetary where Amir and Hassan play. The fruit is also the colour of blood.

Slingshot
A simple but powerful weapon, they are used both as a domestic weapon and by military personnel. In Iraq’s recent past, slingshots became associated with insurgent groups/guerrilla warfare. . Hassan’s slingshot represents his devotion to Amir, and Sohrab uses his to finally defeat Assef.

Kites
Kites have been used throughout history for various purposes including sending a message in war time, sending prayers to heaven and as a form of entertainment.. During kite flying competitions two or more ‘sides’ are joined in confrontation. The kite flying itself needs two people to make it work properly – one to control the spool and one to control the line.

Harelip
A harelip is a congenital disorder. The lip fails to form properly within the womb, leaving a gap. With modern surgery this “deformity” is easily fixed.

Eid sacrifice
“Festival of Sacrifice” is an important Islamic holiday in which Muslims commemorate the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son, Ishmael, as an act of obedience to God, before God intervened to provide him with a sheep to sacrifice instead.

Rostam and Sohrab
The Shanemeh, (Book of Kings) tells of Rostam, a Persian hero, who kills his son, Sohrab, a champion swordsman, in a battle between Iran and Turan. Accounts vary as to whether Rostam knew Sohrab was his son. All accounts make clear Sohrab never knew his father. This story is Hassan’s favourite from the whole book.