As students read, a storyboard can serve as a helpful character reference log. This log (also called a character map) allows students to recall relevant information about important characters. When reading a novel, small attributes and details frequently become important as the plot progresses. With character mapping, students will record this information, helping them follow along and catch the subtleties which make reading more enjoyable!
Use a character map to help track the different characters that are discussed in The Kite Runner.
“I could step into that alley, stand up for Hassan – the way he’d stood up for me all those times in the past – and accept whatever would happen to me. Or I could run. In the end, I ran.”
Other characters included in this map are: Hassan, Baba, Ali, Assef, Soraya, Rahim Khan and Sohrab.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a character map for the major characters.
Encourage your students to discuss each character’s motivations and growth throughout the novel. Open-ended questions help them dig deeper and form connections between the characters’ actions and the story’s themes.
Give every student (or pair) one character to explore in depth. Have them present physical traits, character traits, and key moments using their own words and findings. This builds ownership and confidence in their understanding.
Ask students to draw a web connecting major characters, showing their relationships and conflicts. Use arrows, colors, and labels to make connections clear. This visual aid helps students see the bigger picture and character dynamics.
Divide the class into small groups and assign each a key scene. Let them act out the scene, focusing on how the characters interact and express emotions. Performing helps students internalize character traits and motivations.
A character map is a graphic organizer that helps students track important traits, relationships, and quotes for each character in a novel. When reading The Kite Runner, a character map makes it easier to understand the story’s complex characters and follow key plot developments.
To create a character map for The Kite Runner, list the major characters, choose images or icons to represent them, and fill in sections for physical traits, character traits, and significant quotes. This helps students visualize and remember details as they read.
Character mapping helps high school students track character development and relationships in The Kite Runner, making it easier to identify themes, analyze motivations, and understand the impact of key events on each character.
A complete Kite Runner character map should include Amir, Hassan, Baba, Ali, Assef, Soraya, Rahim Khan, and Sohrab, as these characters play major roles in the story and its themes.
The best way is to have students create or update their character maps as they read, either individually or in pairs. This encourages engagement, close reading, and helps students notice subtle character changes throughout The Kite Runner.