Which story is a favorite of Amir and Hassan, and what is its central theme?

• A. Rostam and Sohrab; a tale about a man who kills his own son by mistake.
• B. Rostam and Sohrab; a tale about two brothers.
• C. Rostam and Sohrab; a tale about a father who kills his nemesis, who turns out to be his son.
• D. Rostam and Sohrab; a tale about a loyal servant.

Answer: (C)

This question hinges on recognizing which tale Amir and Hassan love and what that tale conveys. Their favorite is Rostam and Sohrab from the Shahnameh, and its central message is the tragic irony of a father killing his nemesis who turns out to be his own son. That twist—the killer and the killed being bound by blood—frames themes of fate, guilt, and the high cost of violence. The option that matches both the specific story and this fatal irony is the right choice. The other descriptions don’t fit the tale: it’s not about two brothers, nor about a loyal servant, and the famous moment centers on a father and son doomed by fate rather than a straightforward family or loyalty narrative.