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Britain & the wider world: 1745 -1901
1l the quest for political stability: germany, 1871-1991
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2d religious conflict and the church in england, c1529-c1570
2o democracy and nazism: germany, 1918-1945
1f industrialisation and the people: britain, c1783-1885
1c the tudors: england, 1485-1603
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2s the making of modern britain, 1951-2007
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222
•
7 Dec 2025
•
Kenadie
@xdxkxdx
Khaled Hosseini's A Thousand Splendid Sunsfollows Mariam's heartbreaking journey... Show more
Mariam's story begins with her as an illegitimate child living with her bitter mother Nana in a kolba (small hut). Her father Jalil visits weekly, and despite Nana's warnings that "a man's heart is a wretched thing," Mariam adores him.
Everything changes on Mariam's 15th birthday when she decides to visit Jalil's cinema in town. When he doesn't show up and refuses to see her at his house, she waits outside all night. The devastating consequence? She returns home to find that Nana has hanged herself.
After Nana's funeral, Mariam moves in with Jalil, but she never feels like she belongs. The guilt over her mother's death weighs heavily on her - a burden that will shape her entire life.
Key Theme: Women's suffering in Afghan society begins early, with even mother-daughter relationships strained by the harsh realities they face.
The timeline jumps to 1978 when the Soviet invasion begins, though neither Mariam nor Rasheed truly understand the political implications. More importantly for Mariam, she becomes pregnant and experiences genuine happiness for the first time in years.
Tragically, Mariam miscarries at the bathhouse. Her grief is overwhelming, but Rasheed becomes cold and distant. When she asks for a funeral for their unborn child, he dismissively tells her she can do what she wants but clearly doesn't care.
This loss marks a turning point in their marriage. Rasheed begins physically abusing Mariam, even forcing her to chew rocks to "taste" what her cooking is like to him. The violence escalates as his disappointment grows.
Mariam blames herself for everything - her mother's death, her miscarriage, her failed marriage. She's been so conditioned by this patriarchal society that she genuinely believes she deserves the suffering she endures.
Historical Context: The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1978 sets the stage for decades of war and instability that will shape the rest of the novel.
Jalil's wives quickly decide Mariam's fate - marriage to 45-year-old Rasheed, a shoe-maker from Kabul. Despite Mariam's clear reluctance, Jalil says nothing to protect her, highlighting how even "loving" fathers abandon their daughters when convenient.
At the wedding, Mariam meets Rasheed for the first time. She's so hesitant that she must be coaxed four times before saying "yes." His yellowed nails are described as looking "like the inside of a rotting apple" - hardly the fairy-tale wedding every girl dreams of.
Rasheed takes her to Kabul and shows her around their home, but Mariam can't help comparing everything to her old kolba. Within a week, he's demanding she "act like a wife," giving her a burqa and establishing the rules of their marriage.
Reality Check: This isn't just historical fiction - forced marriages of young girls to much older men were (and sadly still are) common in many parts of Afghanistan.
Rasheed wastes no time showing his true nature. He rapes Mariam on their wedding night and begins controlling every aspect of her life, including what she wears and where she goes.
Interestingly, Mariam initially finds some comfort in the burqa, describing it as "a one-way window" that buffers her from strangers' eyes. This complex relationship with the burqa shows how oppressive systems can sometimes feel protective to those trapped within them.
During Ramadan and Eid, Mariam discovers the depth of Rasheed's hypocrisy. While she's hidden away and expected to serve the men, she finds his pornographic magazines. The contradiction is stark: he insists she cover herself while he freely looks at other women's private areas.
Mariam also learns about Rasheed's previous wife and son, realising she's meant to replace what he's lost rather than be valued for who she is.
Think About It: The burqa paradox shows how complicated oppression can be - sometimes what restricts us can also feel like protection from a hostile world.
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
Kenadie
@xdxkxdx
Khaled Hosseini's A Thousand Splendid Sunsfollows Mariam's heartbreaking journey from childhood to forced marriage in war-torn Afghanistan. This opening section exposes the brutal reality of women's lives under patriarchal oppression, showing how they're systematically denied choices, dignity, and basic... Show more
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Mariam's story begins with her as an illegitimate child living with her bitter mother Nana in a kolba (small hut). Her father Jalil visits weekly, and despite Nana's warnings that "a man's heart is a wretched thing," Mariam adores him.
Everything changes on Mariam's 15th birthday when she decides to visit Jalil's cinema in town. When he doesn't show up and refuses to see her at his house, she waits outside all night. The devastating consequence? She returns home to find that Nana has hanged herself.
After Nana's funeral, Mariam moves in with Jalil, but she never feels like she belongs. The guilt over her mother's death weighs heavily on her - a burden that will shape her entire life.
Key Theme: Women's suffering in Afghan society begins early, with even mother-daughter relationships strained by the harsh realities they face.
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
The timeline jumps to 1978 when the Soviet invasion begins, though neither Mariam nor Rasheed truly understand the political implications. More importantly for Mariam, she becomes pregnant and experiences genuine happiness for the first time in years.
Tragically, Mariam miscarries at the bathhouse. Her grief is overwhelming, but Rasheed becomes cold and distant. When she asks for a funeral for their unborn child, he dismissively tells her she can do what she wants but clearly doesn't care.
This loss marks a turning point in their marriage. Rasheed begins physically abusing Mariam, even forcing her to chew rocks to "taste" what her cooking is like to him. The violence escalates as his disappointment grows.
Mariam blames herself for everything - her mother's death, her miscarriage, her failed marriage. She's been so conditioned by this patriarchal society that she genuinely believes she deserves the suffering she endures.
Historical Context: The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1978 sets the stage for decades of war and instability that will shape the rest of the novel.
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Jalil's wives quickly decide Mariam's fate - marriage to 45-year-old Rasheed, a shoe-maker from Kabul. Despite Mariam's clear reluctance, Jalil says nothing to protect her, highlighting how even "loving" fathers abandon their daughters when convenient.
At the wedding, Mariam meets Rasheed for the first time. She's so hesitant that she must be coaxed four times before saying "yes." His yellowed nails are described as looking "like the inside of a rotting apple" - hardly the fairy-tale wedding every girl dreams of.
Rasheed takes her to Kabul and shows her around their home, but Mariam can't help comparing everything to her old kolba. Within a week, he's demanding she "act like a wife," giving her a burqa and establishing the rules of their marriage.
Reality Check: This isn't just historical fiction - forced marriages of young girls to much older men were (and sadly still are) common in many parts of Afghanistan.
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Rasheed wastes no time showing his true nature. He rapes Mariam on their wedding night and begins controlling every aspect of her life, including what she wears and where she goes.
Interestingly, Mariam initially finds some comfort in the burqa, describing it as "a one-way window" that buffers her from strangers' eyes. This complex relationship with the burqa shows how oppressive systems can sometimes feel protective to those trapped within them.
During Ramadan and Eid, Mariam discovers the depth of Rasheed's hypocrisy. While she's hidden away and expected to serve the men, she finds his pornographic magazines. The contradiction is stark: he insists she cover herself while he freely looks at other women's private areas.
Mariam also learns about Rasheed's previous wife and son, realising she's meant to replace what he's lost rather than be valued for who she is.
Think About It: The burqa paradox shows how complicated oppression can be - sometimes what restricts us can also feel like protection from a hostile world.
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
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Explore a critical analysis of 'The Lammas Hireling' by Ian Duhig, focusing on themes of guilt, relationships, and the interplay of light and dark imagery. This summary delves into the narrator's complex emotions, foreshadowing of violence, and the magical qualities of the hireling, providing a comprehensive understanding of the poem's deeper meanings. Ideal for students studying literature and poetry analysis.
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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
Sociology