1. Bellringer
Write a brief paragraph describing what you think of when you think of “civil war.”
Consider the definitions of the individual words.
Civil—relating to ordinary citizens and their concerns
War—a state of armed conflict between different nations or states or different groups within a nation or state

2. “The Sniper”
By Liam O’Flaherty

3. I Can…
Identify an author’s point of view and determine why the author chose that perspective.
9-10.RL.CS.6 Analyze how point of view and/or author purpose shapes the content and style of diverse texts.
Analyze how an author characterizes his protagonist.
9-10.RL.KID.3 Analyze how complex characters, events, and ideas develop and interact over the course of a text to impact meaning.
Explain how the structure of a text contributes to its mood.
9-10.RL.CS.5 Analyze how an author’s choices concerning text structure, plot structure, and/or time manipulation create effects such as mystery, tension, or surprise.
Determine the meanings of words based on context.
9-10.RI.CS.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone.

4. As we read… Your job each time we read a text is to …?
ANNOTATE!
Remember that annotating is more than just…?
Underlining & Highlighting
Put YOUR words on the page—FILL THOSE MARGINS!
Annotate for the following:
Unfamiliar words
Characterization
Point of view
Content relating to THEME

5. Let’s Read Paragraph 1 Together
The long June twilight faded into night. Dublin lay enveloped in darkness but for the dim light of the moon that shone through fleecy clouds, casting a pale light as of approaching dawn over the streets and the dark waters of the Liffey. Around the beleaguered Four Courts the heavy guns roared. Here and there through the city, machine guns and rifles broke the silence of the night, spasmodically, like dogs barking on lone farms. Republicans and Free Staters were waging civil war.

6. Whole Class Discussion
What is O'Flaherty's purpose in this opening paragraph?
How does he achieve that purpose?
How does this opening description of “civil war” compare to your description from today’s bell work?

7. Paragraph 2
On a rooftop near O'Connell Bridge, a Republican sniper lay watching. Beside him lay his rifle and over his shoulders was slung a pair of field glasses. His face was the face of a student, thin and ascetic, but his eyes had the cold gleam of the fanatic. They were deep and thoughtful, the eyes of a man who is used to looking at death.

8. Turn & Talk
What do you learn in this section of the text, and HOW do you learn it?
We learn that the sniper is young, but we infer that he is experienced in warfare.
Is this direct or indirect characterization?
Emphasize characterization in this section of the text.

9. Partner Work—Vocabulary
Ascetic & Fanatic
Look at these words and consider how they are used in context.
Consider PARTS of the words that might be familiar to you.
Write a definition of each vocabulary word in your notes.

10. Let’s continue reading!
Read from “He was eating a sandwich…” to “His enemy was under cover.”

11. Even/Odd
What does this section reveal about the sniper’s demeanor? How do we know?
What do we learn about the sniper’s opposition? How do we know?
How would you define “parapet”?
Consider the setting and how the sniper uses the parapet.
What is O’Flaherty’s purpose in this section of the text?

12. Let’s continue reading!
Read from “Just then an armored car…” to “’I’m hit,’ he muttered.”

13. Write—Pair—Share
What do we learn about the sniper in this section of the text? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.
What point of view is O’Flaherty using in the text? Look at the pronouns for clues!
What do you predict will happen next?

14. Let’s continue reading!
Read from “Dropping flat onto the roof…” to “…he made an effort of will to overcome the pain.”

15. Whole Class Discussion
How do you react to this section of the text? Why? How does O’Flaherty get that reaction from his audience?
Look back at the text and tell me what you notice about its structure.
How does that contribute to the MOOD of the text?
What would you do in the sniper’s situation at this point in the narrative? (Don’t be a cheater and look ahead!)
What do you think he will do?

16. Let’s continue reading!
Read from “In the street beneath…” to “then it lay still.”

17. Whole Class Discussion
What was the sniper’s plan to overcome his enemy?
Feel free to act it out!!!
Critical Thinking—(5 points on your next CCC for the first person who can answer accurately!)
Where do you see a brief moment when O’Flaherty breaks from the point of view that he has maintained throughout the text?
What would have been the writer’s purpose in that brief shift?
Hint: Consider that the topic O’Flaherty is addressing is “civil war.”
The author has maintained a 3rd person limited POV until he says, “The other sniper, seeing the cap and rifle fall, thought hat he had killed his man.” This is a very brief shift to 3rd person omniscient where we get a bit of perspective from the “enemy” sniper. Perhaps O’ Flaherty is helping to build sympathy for the “enemy.” This will tie easily into commentary about civil war after finishing the text.

18. Finish reading the text independently and answer the questions below.
What shifts do we see in the sniper compared to his demeanor prior to this point in the text? Support your response using evidence from the text.
Consider what his conflict has been versus what it becomes here.
What event in the text seems to jolt the sniper back to his previous demeanor?
Situational irony occurs when the audience expects one thing to happen, but something very different takes place. Is the story’s ending an example of situation irony? Explain.

19. Homework—Write a CCC responding to the prompt below.
Reflect on the following quote from Tennyson’s “The Charge of the Light Brigade” in relation to “The Sniper.”
“Theirs not to make reply.
Theirs not to reason why.
Theirs but to do and die.”
Identify a common universal theme in “The Charge of the Light Brigade” and “The Sniper.” How does each author communicate the theme, and which do you feel communicates said theme most effectively?