Because of its emphasis on the human condition, including the suffering that humans can endure, asking to students to maintain a journal while reading the novel can serve many purposes: it can compel them to reflect on what they have read and allow them to predict what they think will happen next, analyze character traits and themes, or ask questions. You can allow students to write freely, as long as they meet certain length or time requirements, or you can have them answer specific prompts about what they have read. You could also require students to write in their journals for the first 5 to 10 minutes of class each day as a way to refocus their attention to the novel.
The title of the novel actually takes its name from the poem “Kabul” by 17th-century poet Saib-e-Tabrizi that focuses on the beauty of Kabul. Locate a copy of the poem online and make copies for your students. Read the poem aloud as a class, then discuss its imagery. Following class discussions, ask your students to draw a picture of what they imagine Kabul to look like, or have them write their own poem about a place that is beautiful or meaningful to them.
Despite the fact that Afghanistan is omnipresent in the news, students may have very little knowledge about its political system or culture. To help them gain a better understanding of the culture and the characters in the novel, ask them to periodically bring in news stories about the country, and set aside time in class to discuss a few. You can collect the news articles for points, have students write periodic reflections about the news stories in their journals, or create a collage of them on a bulletin board or wall in your classroom.
Essays provide an effective way to determine whether students have grasped the themes present in a novel. For this novel, consider asking your students to write an essay about one of the themes or literary devices used in the novel. For example, you could ask students to analyze the theme of inhumanity, the suppression of women, the power of education, or corruption. You could also ask students to analyze a certain character’s motivations, the point of view of the novel or its imagery. Whichever path you take, be sure to provide students with a clear rubric so they know exactly how they will be graded on the essay.
The novel’s emphasis on political parties, coupled with its themes about gender rights, makes it ripe for students to debate. Divide students into two teams and instruct them to establish a platform for a political party that will be running for election during one of the time periods in which the novel is set. Ask them to identify three social changes they wish to make, and then have them present their platforms to you and the opposing team, allowing time for rebuttal. The team with the most persuasive argument wins the debate.