A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

11T: Creative Writing

• read the chapter

• answer open ended questions about language choices made by the author.

• break down the language choices to see how each word is significant.

Success Criteria

Deconstruct and analyse the first chapter of a text.

Learning Intention

We are learning this because...

Reading effective creative writing provides inspiration for your own work as you learn about the decisions that writers make to engage their readers.

Breaking down the language that writers use also assists with understanding how to write a statement of aims as you analyse your own language choices. ​

Some text here about the topic of discussion

11T: Creative Writing

​But first let's write!

Text Summary ​

A Thousand Splendid Suns is a novel written by the author Khaled Hosseini.

He is probably most famous for writing the novel The Kite Runner which as also been turned into a film.

The book is about the intertwining lives of two young women living in Afghanistan​.

English | Tertiary

11T: Creative Writing

Reading the text

Today, we are just going to be reading the first chapter of the text. This has been annotated and uploaded as a PDF to your Google Classroom.​

The reason we are focusing on the first chapter is because for your assessment, you are allowed to write the first chapter of a larger story...whatever you choose though, Hosseini's writing is a great model for you!​

English | Tertiary

11T: Creative Writing

Let's read!

Locate the chapter on Google Classroom.

You will see that parts of the chapter have been annotated; sometimes this is with key information and metalanguage and sometimes this is with questions to provoke your thought.

Please read from the first page to he end of page 4 and then stop. ​

​

English | Tertiary

11T: Creative Writing

Let's read!

We are now going to read from the end of page 4 to the top of page 6.

Once you have completed reading, stop so we can do some more questions. ​

​

Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Let's read!

We are now going to complete reading the chapter.

Once you have completed reading, stop so we can do some more questions. ​

​

Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Breaking down the language

Your LA next week is going to be all about breaking down the language choices made by Hosseini in this first chapter.

To prepare you for this, we are going to model this process for you.

You are then going to look at a quotation as a group and break it down. ​

Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Overall analysis

This quote is significant as it has many symbolic elements to it. Not only does it allow the reader to imagine Nana's prized tea set, but it also offers a juxtaposition of how Nana feels about the tea set compared to Mariam as well as foreshadowing potential dangers ahead. By personifying the tea set within the imagery, Hosseini is making a comment about Nana's understanding of love and how her circumstances have made her quote bitter towards life.

English | Tertiary

11T: Creative Writing

Group Task: Quote Breakdown

In your groups, complete the following:

• select a quote from the first chapter of A Thousand Splendid Suns

• each group is to use a table in the shared Google Slides presentation to analyse and "break down" their chosen quote.

• If we have time, each group is to share their ​

English | Tertiary

11T: Creative Writing