4H2 -The Sniper, Liam O'Flaherty

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 4

Week 10, Lesson 2 

Learning Targets 

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to identify and analyze the key elements of the short story 'The Sniper'.

Week 10, Lesson 2 

The Sniper - answers

The Sniper

1. A) Dublin, Ireland. On the rooftop of a building on O’Connell Street.

B) June, end of day, beginning of the night. Probably 1922 or 1923 because that is when the Irish Civil War took place.

C) Clear night, small clouds. Machine gun fire throughout the city, otherwise all is quiet.

D) Ominous, menacing atmosphere. War is all around, but where is the enemy?

2. A Republican sniper, waiting on a rooftop, watching his surroundings. (l.13-18: eating a sandwich and smoking.)

3. He is very young, but he has already seen a lot of death.

4. He lights a cigarette; the light was seen by another sniper on another roof.

Week 10, Lesson 2 

The Sniper - answers

5. An armored car.

6. She is an informer; the sniper shoots and kills her.

7. l.71-72 “Morning must… the roof”

8. He places it on his rifle, the enemy will think he has killed the enemy and will expose himself. The Sniper will then be able to kill his enemy.

9. The sniper killing the enemy on the other roof

You were asked to read the rest of the story yourself. How does the story end?

Quote some phrases in the text that tell you more about the atmosphere (tip: beginning of story).

Freytag's Pyramid                         (see the reader)                                               

Copy the outline of the pyramid

Write down how the plot of The Sniper fits the pyramid

The sniper lesson 2

What is the setting of The Sniper?

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

The sniper lesson 3

Explain in your own words (in English) what 'foreshadowing' is.

Examples in films: 

In Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade, when Donavan says that they are a few steps away from the Grail, Indiana Jones says: "That's usually where the ground falls out from underneath your feet." Later, there is an earthquake when they find the Grail. 

Examples in films: Star Wars

In The Empire Strikes Back, Luke Skywalker sees his own face under Vader’s mask when he was on Dagobah. Later, he finds out Vader is his father, and he is asked to join the Dark Side with him.

foreshadowing in Star Wars

Where lies the irony in The Sniper?

Is this dramatic, verbal or situational irony, and why?

suspense

1. spanning
2. waardig
3. vlot
4. opnemen

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

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet. Feedback?

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.