House of Sand and Fog pp.46-93

pp.46-93

Name 9/9/09

The House of Sand and Fog . Character Analysis


Please use lined paper for your response.


1. For what reason does Esmail bring his father tea ? What does this say about the relationship Behrani has with his son? P.46
2. How does the colonel feel about having to work in a convenience store? What are his impressions of the people he must serve? P. 48
3. Kathy is devastated when she learns her house has already been sold. Give some reasons why this has affected her so deeply.p. 50
4 Why is Kathy searching in the storage locker ? Why is this so important to her
case against Behrani? P.50
5. How is Kathy feeling when Lester pulls away into the night? How does the fog
reinforce this feeling? P.54
6 Why does Behrani rush to build a widow’s walk on his house? How does this action later affect Kathy? P.56


7. What brought about the beating that Behrani gave his wife in Paris? In what way might her accusations be true? P. 57

8. Why does Behrani feel such disgust and disdain for Pourat’s nephew? In what ways does he show this? P. 59

9. Re-read the passage on page 62 that begins “The general poured us more vodka…”
What is revelaled about life in Iran under the Shah?
10 Why does Behrani feel guilty about this despite the fact that his job was with the Air Force? P. 62

11. What has changed in the colonel’s relationship with his wife? How does Nadii show her affection for what he has done? P . 69

12. Explain why Kathy is so enraged when she sees the workers on the roof. P. 73

13. How does Kathy stepping on the nails begin her relationship with Nadi? . p. 73
Is this unusual given the circumstances?

14. Name some personality traits that Behrani and Lester might have in common.

15. Why do you suppose Lester is attracted to Kathy? How much of this do you think
is purely physical? What makes Kathy vulnerable at this time of her life?
16. As easy as it might be to dismiss the scene in the hotel on page 93 as purely erotic, the author has included it for a reason. What part does this scene play in
the development of the characters of Kathy and Lester?