The Sniper, Liam O'Flaherty

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 3

Irish Free State

• In 1921 the Irish Free State was declared.
• Irish Republicans were not satisfied

=> Northern Ireland was still part of the UK while

     they wanted the whole of Ireland to be independent.

• Civil war within Ireland in 1922/1923 between the Free Staters and the Republicans.

Put the story in the correct order of events

• The sniper gets shot in the arm.

• An old woman comes out from a side street.

• An armoured car comes across the bridge

• The sniper lights his cigarette.

• The sniper learns the identity of the man he has killed.

• The dying man crumples and falls off the roof.

Find descriptions about the setting (and what is happening) in the short story which create atmosphere (often at the start of the story)

Let's consider the plot...

Exposition

Rising action

Climax

Falling action

Resolution

The narrator explains that country is at war. 

Sniper on the roof watching the enemy.

Sniper lights cigarette

Sniper sees enemies on ground and shoots them

Sniper is shot in the arm

Sniper puts cap on rifle and drops this to ground after it is shot

Sniper shoots opponent

Sniper feels bad about killing his opponent and about the war.

Sniper wonders who his opponent is/was and discovers he has shot his own brother.

What is the setting of The Sniper?

Identify the characters: who is the protagonist? Who is the antagonist? Also, state if they are round or flat.

Identify the point of view/narration

1. first person
2. third person
3. limited omniscient
4. omniscient

Which part of the plot
creates tension and suspense?

1. Rising Action
2. Climax
3. Falling Action
4. Resolution

How is suspense created in The Sniper?

• In the exposition, by means of the atmosphere created (night, war, guns fired in the distance)

• In the rising action:
• light the cigarette (dangerous)
• bullet over his head
• arrival of armoured car
• woman snitching
• bullet in his arm
• bullet in his cap
• lifting the revolver, aiming at other sniper

Who are the characters in The Sniper?

What does the sniper look like?

Why does our sniper get shot? What gives him away

Who does the sniper's enemy turn out to be?

8. What is the message / main theme?

Themes

Themes in 'The Sniper' include the  worthlessness ( uselessness, futility of war, the dehumanizing effects of conflict, and the personal cost of violence.