Role of social stereotypes in Khaled Hosseini’s novel “Kite Runner”

The article deals with the role of social stereotypes in Khaled Hosseini’s novel “Kite Runner” and their specific aspects. The author’s aim is to determine the types of social stereotypes in the novel and identify dominant ones. The author attempts to enlighten the specific aspects of social stereotypes in Khaled Hosseini’s masterpiece. The attention and interest paid by scholars to the study of stereotypes in a literary text act as the relevance of the research. The researcher presents the fact, that it is the first analysis of stereotypes and identification of linguistic features in Khaled Hosseini’s “Kite Runner”.
Methods used in the article are the followings: the method of linguistic description for identifying the definition, criteria, and functions of stereotypes, and the method of component analysis for the appropriate classification of stereotypes by various criteria.
As a result of analyzing Khaled Hosseini’s novel “Kite Runner” in line with N. Sorokina’s typology, gender stereotypes, ethnic national stereotypes, and the type that authors proposed to introduce – personal/characteristic stereotypes were recognized as dominant in the text and this is facilitated by the stylistic orientation of the text. The followings tools for forming stereotypes were identified: 1) selective attention; 2) the substitution of concepts; 3) shifting the focus of attention; 4) the impact of emotions and memory; 5) the use of language elements.
As a conclusion, in view of the psychological intensity that can be traced throughout the novel, it is noted that the stereotypes presented in the text are somehow subordinated to the main goal and idea of the novel and thus not only reflect, but also directly set a certain mood throughout the text.