Abstract：The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini’s first novel, has received a lot of praise after the publication. Using the kite as a link, it tells a story of an Afghanistan boy who immigrated to America with his father for escaping from war. He atoned for his crime which is committed in his childhood after decades. With kite, pomegranate tree, slingshot and other images, the novel epitomized symbolism thoroughly. As one of the foremost images in the novel, kite runs through the story. In the process of the plot of the novel, the kite image, corresponding to the fates of characters and the nation, is a reflex of the beauty, ugliness, goodness and evilness of humanity.

Firstly, this paper makes an introduction about the novel, the author and the background and purpose of research. Secondly, it explains the origin of symbolism and embodiments in the paper. Thirdly, from the perspective of symbolism, it analyzes the kite image from two aspects: The first part, from longitudinal direction, consists of three different stages of the plot and analyzes the deep meaning of kite; the second part, from horizontal orientation, makes a concrete analysis of the kite from spiritual level of individual, nation, all mankind.

Keywords:  The Kite Runner  kite  image  symbolism  Hosseini

Contents

Abstract

中文摘要

Chapter One Introduction-1

1.1 Introduction to Khaled Hosseini-1

1.2 Introduction to The Kite Runner-1

1.3 Literature Review-2

1.4 Purpose of the Study-3

Chapter Two Symbolism and Symbolic Images-4

2.1 The Principles of Symbolism-4

2.2 Symbolic Images in The Kite Runner-5

Chapter Three Symbolic Meaning of Different Kite Images-6

3.1 The Flying Kite-6

3.2 The Stringless Kite-7

3.3 The Kite Flying in the Sky Again-8

Chapter Four the Symbolism of Kite Image-9

4.1 The Symbolism of Kite Image to the Individual-9

4.2 The Symbolism of Kite Image to the Nation-9

4.3 The Symbolism of Kite Image to All Mankind-10

Chapter Five Conclusion-11

References-12