Read “The Sniper,” by Liam O’Flaherty.
Respond to the Story
- Reread the first paragraph. What details in the author’s description of the setting establish the tone or atmosphere of the story?
- What message about this civil war is Liam O’Flaherty trying to convey? How does his message compare to the theme in “War,” by Timothy Findley?
- List words and phrases the author uses to describe the sniper and what he is doing. Write your own descriptions of him, using some or all of these words.
- The sniper is the only character the author describes in great detail. Why do you think the author chose to do that?
- Were you surprised by the ending? Why or why not? Did you find it a powerful ending?
- Do you think such a story could occur in Canada? Give reasons for your opinion.
Write a Factual Report
Imagine you are the main character in “The Sniper.” You’ve just returned to your company and have been asked to write a report about what happened. List the events in the story in the order they occurred. Use a complete sentence for each event. Because this is an official report, leave out how you feel or what you thought–just include the facts as you saw them.
- After researching the life of Liam O’Flaherty, write an informative essay explaining the extent to which he based “The Sniper” on his own experiences.
- Does urban warfare, like that in “The Sniper,” affect the outlook and mental stability of combatants differently than battlefield fighting?
- Is modern Ireland still influenced by the outcome of the violence in the early 1920s?
- In an informative essay, write a short psychological profile the IRA sniper.
- Can the tactics of urban guerrillas–sniping, sabotage, terrorist bombings–be morally justified?
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Original post by Mr. D. Sader