What Does The Phrase A Thousand Splendid Suns Mean?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,

(Goodreads.com 1).” This quote refers to

Mariam’s continued existence in Laila’s life even after death

and thus signifying a brilliance in life greater than the sun and only equal to a thousand suns.

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What is the meaning of the Thousand Splendid Suns?

In this poem, he uses the phrase “a thousand splendid suns” to

describe the beauty of Afghanistan and of its cultural achievements

. … In a sense, they are two of the “splendid suns” that the novel refers to, who refuse to yield to despair no matter how difficult and challenging the situations they face become.

Where does the title of A Thousand Splendid Suns come from?

The title of the book comes from

a line in Josephine Davis’ translation of the poem “Kabul”, by the 17th-century Iranian poet Saib Tabrizi

: “Every street of Kabul is enthralling to the eye. Through the bazaars, caravans of Egypt pass. One could not count the moons that shimmer on her roofs.

What is the moral lesson of A Thousand Splendid Suns?

‘A Thousand Splendid Suns’ By Hosseini Has Lessons Of

Resilience And Social Change

. “One couldn’t count the moons that shimmer on her roofs or the thousand splendid suns that hide behind her walls.” The title of the book A Thousand Splendid Suns comes from an adaption of a 17th-century poem written by Saeb-e-Tabrizi.

Why is A Thousand Splendid Suns banned?

A Thousand Splendid Suns had been challenged

because it contains violence and abuse against women

. Although this is true of the book, it contains a look into the culture of Afghanistan and the issues its citizens faced during this time period.

Why is A Thousand Splendid Suns a good book?

A Thousand Splendid Suns is a

riveting story of survival

. The characters are vividly drawn, the relationships between the women are authentic and heartbreakingly believable. The descriptions of the lot of women under the Taliban are believable as well, yet at the same time unfathomable.

Why did Hosseini name it A Thousand Splendid Suns?

That title comes from a 17th century poem that’s an ode to the city of Kabul:

One could not count the moons that shimmer on her roofs, or the thousand splendid suns that hide behind her walls

.” You can read an excerpt of the novel at npr.org.

What is Laila like in A Thousand Splendid Suns?

Laila, the second female protagonist, is the youngest child and only daughter of Hakim and Fariba. … Laila’s idealism and

independence

are challenged when she decides to marry Rasheed in order to give her unborn child by Tariq a father.

Where does Mariam live in A Thousand Splendid Suns?

A Thousand Splendid Suns is set in

Afghanistan

from the early 1960s to the early 2000s. Mariam, a young girl in the 1960s, grows up outside Herat, a small city in Afghanistan.

Is A Thousand Splendid Suns sad?

The book is

a sad story

, with tragedy pouring out right from the beginning. … Those who have read the book remember being blinded by tears while reading the heartbreaking story of friendship, love, sacrifice and hope set in war-torn Afghanistan.

Is A Thousand Splendid Suns a true story?

A Thousand Splendid Suns is a work of fiction, which means

it is not true

.

What are the themes of A Thousand Splendid Suns?

  • History and Memory in Afghanistan. As Laila, Babi, and Tariq drive out on a day trip from Afghanistan, their taxi driver tells of the tumultuous history of the region. …
  • Suffering and Perseverance. …
  • Shame and Reputation. …
  • Love, Loyalty, and Belonging. …
  • Gender Relations. …
  • Female Friendship.

What is the most important message in A Thousand Splendid Suns?

The primary theme in the novel A Thousand Splendid Suns is

the rights of women, especially under the Taliban

. Mariam and Laila grow up during regimes that are not oppressive. Although Mariam’s father’s family pushes her into marriage with Rasheed, it is ultimately her choice to agree to marry him.

How old should you be to read A Thousand Splendid Suns?

ISBN: 9780747585893 Format: Paperback Pagination: 432 pages Suitable for:

13+ readers
Recommendations: eBooks

Is A Thousand Splendid Suns a sequel?

A Thousand Splendid Suns, Khaled Hosseini’s

spiritual sequel to The Kite Runner

, is hosting its European première in Birmingham. The best-selling novel is the powerful story of three generations of women discovering strength in unity and finding hope in the most unlikely of places.

Does A Thousand Splendid Suns have a happy ending?

Eventually, Mariam ends up doing the thing that only a mother would do:

sacrificing her life for Laila and Laila’s family

. Laila is so grateful that she leaves her comfortable life in Pakistan and dedicates herself to the children of Kabul.

Is A Thousand Splendid Suns a difficult read?


There was no exceptionally difficult vocabulary in this novel

, and for me it was an effortless and straightforward read. Through Hosseini’s intricate descriptions of life in Taliban-Afghanistan, my knowledge and appreciation of Afghanistan’s history and culture was immensely enhanced.

How are Laila and Mariam similar?

Mariam was quite, reserved, and took everything that came her way and never stood up for herself. Laila was very intelligent and open. She stood up for herself and was extremely independent. The only similar thing they both had in common was

their marriages to Rasheed and the beatings they received from him

.

Is A Thousand Splendid Suns appropriate for middle school?

A Thousand Splendid Suns is a phenomenal work, and I

highly encourage teenagers and adults

to read it for its important values and factual information. However, since several scenes in the book display graphic images and vulgar terminology, I would not recommend the book for young teens.

Is A Thousand Splendid Suns hard to read?

A Thousand Splendid Suns is so special simply because you become one with the story. To be completely transparent,

it is mentally exhausting to read

. This is because you grow and learn with each and every character, and feel their struggles as if they are your own.

What does Laila sacrifice in A Thousand Splendid Suns?

In A Thousand Splendid Suns, Laila makes sacrifices for

Aziza and Zalmai

, Nana risks things in her life for Mariam, and Mariam sacrifices things for Laila and her children. In A Thousand Splendid Suns, Khaled Hosseini explores the aspect of sacrifice taken by mothers.

How is Mariam a mother figure to Laila?

As a harami, she’s

forbidden

taking part in “the things other people had, things such as love, family, home, acceptance” (1.1. … Mariam finds the family that she never thought she’d have in Laila and Aziza. Mariam becomes a mother figure to Laila—she even frequently identifies herself as Laila’s mother to other people.

What is Laila’s personality?

However, Laila suffers in her own way from the coldness of her mother, who seems to have abandoned her in favor of her two sons, who have gone off to battle and are eventually killed. Laila is

curious and intelligent

: she retains a strong sense of Afghanistan’s culture and is hopeful for its future.

How was Mariam killed in A Thousand Splendid Suns?

She was shot. Mariam was told to get on her knees and look down, before she was

shot in the back of the head

. , Read over 50 Novels! Mariam’s execution in A Thousand Splendid Suns was harrowing and unjustified.

What language does Mariam speak in A Thousand Splendid Suns?

In A Thousand Splendid Suns, Mariam speaks

Farsi but may

have learned to speak Pashto later in the novel after living in Kabul for several years.

What is the conflict in A Thousand Splendid Suns?

A Thousand Splendid Suns depicts the

conflict in Afghanistan

through the lens of the country’s oppressed women. Yet, the novel actually breaks western stereotypes of Afghanistan by highlighting acts of resistance and bravery among its female characters.

How is irony employed in A Thousand Splendid Suns?

Some examples of irony include: 1.) Jalil told Mariam about Queen Gauhar Shad who had raised the famous minarets in Herat in the 15th century. This is ironic

that a queen would be so honored when men have such power over women in Afghanistan

.

Why is The Kite Runner a banned book?

The Kite Runner has been on the American Library Association’s top ten lists for most challenged books in 2008 (for offensive language, sexually explicit material, and being unsuited to age group), in 2012 (for depictions of homosexuality, offensive language, religious viewpoints, sexually explicit), in 2014 (for …

What is Khaled Hosseini doing now?

Hosseini is currently

a Goodwill Envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

. He has been working to provide humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan through the Khaled Hosseini Foundation.

Is A Thousand Splendid Suns a classic?

Propelled by the same superb instinct for storytelling that made The Kite Runner a beloved classic, A Thousand Splendid Suns is at once an

incredible chronicle

of thirty years of Afghan history and a deeply moving story of family, friendship, faith, and the salvation to be found in love.

What does Mariam sacrifice in A Thousand Splendid Suns?

Mariam, a major character in the book, sacrifices

her life in order to save Laila and her children

. This sacrifice allows the reader to view what Mariam truly cares about: the survival of Laila, her happiness, and her children.

Where is Khaled Hosseini from?

Khaled Hosseini was born in

Kabul, Afghanistan

, and moved to the United States in 1980. He is the author of the New York Times bestsellers The Kite Runner, A Thousand Splendid Suns, and And the Mountains Echoed.

What is the mood in A Thousand Splendid Suns?

There are all too

few moments of happiness

, but Laila does experience the love of Tariq before he leaves with his family and, later, when he returns to her. There, too, is the loving bond that exists between the mother and her children, and the mature feelings that grow between Laila and Tariq.

What books to read if you like a professor?

A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Reading Between the Lines. How to Read Literature Like a Professor is a New York Times bestseller by

Thomas C. Foster

that was published in 2003. The author suggests interpretations of themes, concepts, and symbols commonly found in literature.

Is A Thousand Splendid Suns a stand alone?

All of Khaled Hosseini’s

books are standalone novels

. Though The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns have similar settings, they have different…

Amira Khan
Author
Amira Khan
Amira Khan is a philosopher and scholar of religion with a Ph.D. in philosophy and theology. Amira's expertise includes the history of philosophy and religion, ethics, and the philosophy of science. She is passionate about helping readers navigate complex philosophical and religious concepts in a clear and accessible way.