1. The Sniper
The Sniper
Liam O’Flaherty

2. “The Sniper” pg. 212 Reading Notes
Directions: Label a piece of lined paper with the story’s title at the top.
Use this piece of paper to take notes and respond to questions before, during, and after the story.
Label each section of your notes with the slide headings in order to receive full credit.

3. “The Sniper” KWL Chart
Make the Connection: War. Using the KWL chart below, list what you know about war. How is war portrayed in movies and the media?
What I Know about war:
What I Want to Know:
What I learned: 1) 2)

4. “The Sniper” Background (textbook p.211)
This story is set in Dublin, Ireland, in the 1920s, during a time of bitter civil war. On one side were the Irish Republicans (IRA); they wanted all of Ireland to become a republic, totally free from British rule.
On the other side were the Free Staters; they had compromised with Britain and had agreed to allow the English to continue to rule six counties in the northern province of Ulster.

5. The Two Irelands Orange (Northern)=
Protestant
Part of United Kingdom (Britain)
Green (Southern)= Republic of Ireland
Catholic
Independent from Britain

6. “The Sniper” Meet the Author: Liam O’Flaherty
Liam O’Flaherty ( ) was born to a large, poor family on Inishmore, one of Ireland’s rocky Aran Islands.
As a young man in his 20s, he witnessed and participated in the Irish Civil War.
O’Flaherty took inspiration from his experiences, writing frequently about the political conflicts in Ireland.

7. Setting of “The Sniper” Dublin, 1920s

8. Setting Where? -Dublin, Ireland Descriptive Details:
__________________________________
-Dublin, Ireland
-a rooftop
When?
-1920’s
-in June
-at night
Descriptive Details:
______________________________________________________
-darkness
-fleecy clouds
-bright moon
-sounds of machine guns and rifles
Historical Context:
_____________________________________________
-Civil War in Ireland
-Republicans vs.
Free-Staters

9. Background
Like all civil wars, the Troubles in Ireland tore families apart. It pitted children against parents, sister against sister, brother against brother. As the story opens, the writer immediately puts you into the war—high on a Dublin rooftop.

10. Suspense and Conflict
Suspense-the feeling of anxiety or dread you feel about what will happen next in a story, especially when you are concerned for a character.
Conflict: Struggle between opposing forces. Helps create tension or suspense in a story.
External Conflict :is a struggle between a character and some other outside force. Another character, society, or a force of nature.
Internal Conflict :is a struggle within the character's mind. This may occur when a character needs to make a difficult decision or has conflicting feelings.
Examples:
A feeling of anxiety a boy feels because he is late, getting home past his curfew...Internal
An argument with your best friend...External

11. Suspense and Conflict Practice: Suspense, Conflict, or Neither?
1) It was dangerous. The flash might be seen in the
darkness, and there were enemies watching. He
decided to take the risk.
2) He must kill that enemy and he could not use his rifle.
3) Almost immediately, a bullet flattened itself against
the parapet of the roof.
4)The long June twilight faded into night.
(Answer Key: 1. Suspense, 2. Conflict, 3. Both, 4. Neither)

12. “The Sniper” Making Predictions
As you read “The Sniper,” keep these questions in mind to help you make predictions:
Will the main character escape the enemy?
Will each new action help the main character or create new problems?
How will it all end?
Look for any clues the writer has given about the outcome of the story.
Enjoy the story!

13. While We Read:
On the back of your notes, respond to the questions listed below in complete sentences (points docked if not complete).
What mood is created by the first two paragraphs of the story?
What are the names of the two sides at war?
What side is the protagonist fighting on?
We are told that the sniper’s “eyes had the cold gleam of a fanatic.” What can we infer about him based on this description?
Why do you think the sniper had not eaten since this morning?
What conflict does the old woman cause for the sniper?
Describe the sniper’s strategy to kill the other sniper.
How does the sniper feel about the war after he kills his enemy? What does this suggest about the theme of the story?
Who is the dead enemy sniper?

14. Reflecting: “The Sniper”
1) Were you surprised by the ending of the
story? Explain why or why not.
I was/ was not surprised by the end of the story. For example, __________. Also, ___________This means______________.
2) What message do you think the author
was trying to convey by ending the story
this way?
The author was trying to convey the message____________. For example,____________. Also, _______________. This means _____________.

15. “The Sniper” Recap:
Directions: With an elbow partner, place the following events in the order in which they occurred in the story. List responses from 1st - 6th (Example: 1= happens first; 2= happens second, etc.) writing the order in the space provided.
1.________An old woman comes out from a side street. 2.________An armored car comes across the bridge. 3.________The sniper lights his cigarette. 4.________The sniper learns the identity of the man he had killed. 5.________The dying man on the roof crumpled up and fell forward. 6.________The sniper gets shot in the arm.

16. Post-reading: “The Sniper”
Store these notes in your English folder. DO NOT lose them!
You will get your points for these during the binder check.