Abstract：Khaled Hosseini was born in America. He is an outstanding writer. As a novelist, his first novel is The Kite Runner, which was published in June 2003. Since publication, the readers and critics have paid a great attention to it. The Kite Runner has always been a popular novel and it has received many rewards. 

This thesis analyzes The Kite Runner, which tells a young man’s growth story, from the perspective of initiation story. By analyzing how the protagonist understands his past sin and finally overcomes his own weaknesses to redeem himself, this thesis further excavates The Kite Runner in such aspects as content and characteristics, which show the universality and innovation of the traditional initiation story.

Keywords:  The Kite Runner  initiation story  Khaled Hosseini

中文摘要：卡勒德·胡赛尼（Khaled Hosseini）,1965年生于喀布尔，后随父亲逃往美国。《追风筝的人》是他的第一本小说，因书中角色刻画生动，故事情节震撼感人，出版后大获好评，获得各项新人奖。

《追风筝的人》讲述了一个年轻人的成长经历。本文从成长小说角度探究了《追风筝的人》中所体现出的成长小说特征。通过分析主人公在成长过程中察觉到自己犯下的罪恶以及顿悟后的成长经历和救赎之路，探讨他是如何理解过去的罪恶，战胜自身的弱点最终得到成长的。通过对小说的详细探析,本文更进一步阐释了《追风筝的人》作为一部成长小说，在故事情节和人物塑造等方面所展现出来的传统成长小说的共通性和创新性。

关键词:《追风筝的人》；成长小说；卡勒德·胡赛尼

Contents

Abstract

中文摘要

Chapter One Introduction-1

1.1 A Brief Introduction to Khaled Hosseini-1

1.2 A Brief Introduction to The Kite Runner-1

1.3 Research Status of The Kite Runner-2

1.4 Structure of the Thesis-3

Chapter Two Initiation Story-4

2.1 Origin of Initiation Story-4

2.2 Definition and Characteristics of Initiation Story-5

2.2.1 Definition of Initiation Story-5

2.2.2 Characteristics of Initiation Story-5

Chapter Three Initiation in The Kite Runner-7

3.1 The Protagonist’s Growth and Salvation Road-7

3.1.1 Self-Lost-7

3.1.2 Discovery of Truth-8

3.1.3 Self-Salvation-9

3.2 Guide of Initiation-10

3.2.1 Positive Initiation Guides-10

3.2.2 Negative Initiation Guides-11

Chapter Four Conclusion-12

References-13