Week 4 Post A

Definitions

Mundane(p.89)- common; ordinary; banal; unimaginative
Indomitable(p.98)- that cannot be subdued or overcome, as persons, will, or courage; unconquerable

Figurative language

"his glasses perched on the tip of his nose."(p.89-99) This is an example of alliteration. His glasses, which are an inanimate object, are given human characteristics (or in this case bird characteristics). This gives the reader a sense of what the glasses looked like, how big they were, and what his face looked like all in one short sentence.

"Giti said she ran like a sewing machine."(p.102) I don't really know how someone runs like a sewing machine especially since sewing machines don't move. This is an example of a simile because it uses the word "like" to compare two completely different things. This quote adds uniqueness to the main character and gives the reader something to remember her by.

"Where he labored amid the heat and the humming machinery stoking the massive ovens and mill grains all day."(p.103) Once again, the machinery is given the human characteristic of "humming." This alliteration gives the reader a better sense of the father's background as well as keeping the reader entertained.

Quote

"Through the mouthful of grit and pebbles, Mariam mumbled a plea. Tears were leaking out of the corners of her eyes.
'CHEW!' he bellowed...
Mariam chewed. Something in the back of her mouth cracked.
'Good, now you know what your rice tastes like.'
Then he was gone, leaving Mariam to spit out pebbles, blood, and the fragments of two broken molars."(p.94)

Here is one example of the spouse abuse that Mariam, the main character, has to put up with. She tries desperately to fix the problem but she has no family of friends she can turn to, to help her with her problem.

Theme

Spouse abuse seems to be an important theme. Khaled Hosseini uses the subject of abuse as the main conflict. Mariam is constantly put down by her husband and is beaten too. Hosseini also uses spouse abuse to create a side-theme about the strength and equality of women.