Section 2: A Thousand Splendid Suns
Today's lesson
- Group analysis and review
- Activity one-pager
- Class discussion
- Exit tickets
Group analysis and review activity
In groups of 4, you will be expected to:
- Create a timeline of 6 important events and explain how those influenced Laila.
- Analyze 3 characters in Section 2, their relationship to Laila and how they influence and affect her.
- Analyze Laila’s developing identity and how she grows as a person in Section 2.
- Analyze the developing Afghan political situation and how it shapes Laila’s story, as well as how it affects the characters in Section 2.
- Assign each student in your group to one of these tasks.
Student 1
Main task: Create a timeline of 6 important events in Part Two and explain how each event influenced Laila.
Guiding questions:
Identifying events
- What are six important events that happen to Laila throughout Part Two?
- Which events change Laila's life or the lives of those around her?
- Which events have an immediate impact on Laila?
- Which events have consequences that continue throughout the story?
Understanding their impact
- How does Laila feel before and after each event?
- Does the event change her relationship with another character?
- Does the event change how she sees herself, her family, or Afghanistan?
- Does the event give Laila new responsibilities, fears, or hopes?
Analysing
- Which of your six events has the greatest impact on Laila? Why?
- How does Laila change between the beginning and the end of Part Two?
Student 2
Main task: Analyse three characters in Part Two, their relationship with Laila, and how they influence and affect her. Students can choose three characters or be assigned them.
Suggested characters: Tariq, Mammy, Babi, Khadim, Ahmad, Noor or Mariam.
Guiding questions:
Understanding the character
- Who is this character, and what is their relationship with Laila?
- What are their most important characteristics?
- What are their motivations, beliefs, or priorities?
- What important events involving this character occur in Part Two?
Understanding their influence
- How does this character treat Laila?
- How does Laila respond to this character?
- Does this character make Laila feel safe, loved, afraid, responsible, or restricted?
- What does Laila learn from this character?
- Does this character influence Laila's decisions or understanding of the world?
Analysing
- How would Laila's life be different without this character?
- Does this character have a positive, negative, or mixed influence on Laila?
- What does the relationship reveal about Laila's personality or values?
- How does this relationship contribute to Laila's development?
Student 3
Main task: Analyse how Laila's identity develops and how she grows as a person throughout Part Two.
Guiding questions:
Understanding Laila at the beginning
- How would you describe Laila at the beginning of Part Two?
- What is important to her?
- How does she view her family, education, and future?
- What role does Tariq play in her life?
- How does she see herself as a young Afghan girl?
Identifying changes
- What challenges does Laila experience throughout these chapters?
- How does the death of her brothers affect her understanding of family and loss?
- How does caring for Mammy change Laila's responsibilities?
- How does her relationship with Tariq influence her understanding of love and loyalty?
- How does Babi influence her ambitions and beliefs about education?
- How does growing up during political conflict affect her?
Analysing her development
- What qualities does Laila demonstrate by the end of Part Two that are less apparent at the beginning?
- Does Laila become more independent, responsible, mature, or aware of the world around her?
- Which experiences contribute most to her development?
- How does Laila's identity differ from Mariam's?
- What hopes does Laila have for her future, and what might threaten them?
Student 4
Main task: Analyse how the political situation in Afghanistan develops throughout Part Two, how it shapes Laila's story, and how it affects the characters.
Guiding questions:
Historical understanding
- What happened during the April Revolution of 1978?
- What kind of government came to power in Afghanistan?
- What changes did the communist government introduce, particularly regarding education and women's rights?
- Why did some Afghans oppose the government?
- Why did the Soviet Union send troops into Afghanistan in 1979?
- Who were the mujahideen?
- What was the Soviet Union trying to achieve by supporting the Afghan government?
- What happened during the Soviet-Afghan War?
Connecting history to the novel
- How does the communist government's ideology influence Laila's education?
- Why are Ahmad and Noor involved in the resistance?
- How does the conflict affect Mammy's behaviour and mental state?
- How does the death of Laila's brothers demonstrate the personal consequences of war?
- Why does Babi want to leave Afghanistan?
- Why does Mammy refuse to leave?
- What does the Soviet withdrawal agreement mean for the characters?
Analysing
- How does the political situation influence Laila's childhood and opportunities?
- How does the war affect different characters in different ways?
- How does Hosseini connect political events with personal experiences?
- How does the conflict create a contrast between hope for the future and fear of what is to come?
Final part of the activity
- Discuss your findings with your group.
- Put all your parts together in a one-pager poster.
Class discussion
Class discussion on your one-pager and findings.
Exit tickets
Based on what you have learned about Laila, her relationships, and the political situation in Afghanistan, what do you predict will happen in the next section of the novel?
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