“The Sniper”

1. A short story by Liam O’Flaherty “The Sniper”

2. Historical Background • In 1919, the newly formed Irish Republican Army launched guerilla warfare during the Irish War of Independence to liberate Ireland from the British. • Unable to contain the rebels, London agreed in the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty to create an Irish Free State. • In 1921, Britain and Ireland forged a treaty creating an Irish Free State. But because the document made the new Irish state part of the British Commonwealth of Nations rather than a fully independent entity, the IRA broke with fellow Irishmen who supported the treaty. • Once-united Irish fighters were now split into two factions—disgruntled IRA members and supporters of the Free State—and fought a civil war. • Taken from Cummings Study Guides: http://www.cummingsstudyguides.net/Guides4/Sniper.html

3. Vocabulary and Questions • Vocabulary: When dealing with unfamiliar vocabulary, try to guess the meaning through context – how it fits in with the rest of the sentence. Dictionaries can also be used. • Questions should be answered in proper sentences and/or paragraphs. You must include part of the question in the answer, specific examples (quotations are also good), and explain your reasoning.

4. Sample Answer • Question: Reread the first paragraph. What details in the author’s description of the setting establish the tone or atmosphere of the story? • Answer: The first paragraph establishes the tone and atmosphere in a few ways. First, the descriptions of darkness, clouds, and pale light before dawn make everything seem eerie and creepy – enough to make people feel a bit nervous. Second, the description of machine gun and rifle fire breaking the silence in bursts of noise creates a feeling of tension and fear because you don’t know what will happen next. Finally, the statement “Republicans and Free Staters were waging civil war” (Crossroads 10, 86) states directly that there is a civil war which adds to the feeling of tension and foreboding because civil wars bring extra levels of conflict since friends and family members end up fighting and killing each other.

5. Vocabulary • spasmodically • ascetic • paroxysm • beleaguered • parapet • turret • ruse

6. Questions • a) Why does the sniper kill the old woman in the tattered shawl? b) Is his motivation for killing her clear before he commits the act? • What problems does the sniper face in escaping from the rooftop? How does he solve these problems? • What are his feelings after he has killed the enemy sniper? • Look back over the story for elements of suspense. How has the author tried to prepare the reader for the last line of the story? • The main idea of a story is called a theme. What do you think is the central meaning or theme of “The Sniper”? • Comment on the significance of the last line of the story. • Civil war is a complex and horrific situation. What is ironic about a civil war? • Do you believe in the concept of just war? Why or why not?

7. Video Production • Here is a video production of the short story “The Sniper” • It was produced by blackfeatherfilms and posted on Youtube.