THE SNIPER

1
THE SNIPER

• By Liam OFlaherty

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Historical Background

• In 1919, the newly formed Irish Republican Army
  launched guerrilla 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. Consequently, not all
  Irishmen accepted the agreement.

3
IRA TROOPShttp//dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/parad
e/abj76/PG/images/national/lyttleton/anti_treaty_i
ra.jpg
4
FREE STATE ARMYhttp//www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/
irlcar2/1923_soldiers.jpg
5

• Once-united Irish fighters were now split into
  two factionsdisgruntled IRA members and
  supporters of the Free Stateand fought a civil
  war. OFlaherty, himself a member of the IRA,
  centers his short story on a scene of fighting in
  Dublin in which an IRA sniper shoots at Free
  Staters from a rooftop.

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SETTING

• "The Sniper" takes place in Ireland's largest
  city, Dublin, located on the country's east coast
  on Dublin Bay, an inlet of the Irish Sea. The
  time is nightfall in June after the establishment
  of the Irish Free State in 1922.
• http//www.world-guides.com/images/united_kingdom/
  united_kingdom_cornwall_map.jpg

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SETTING cont

• The sniper posts himself on a rooftop in central
  Dublin near the Four Courts building, which
  houses the high courts of Ireland, and O'Connell
  Bridge, which spans the River Liffey. The Liffey
  divides the city into two sections as it runs
  eastward to Dublin Bay.

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Four Courts Buildinghttp//www.concierge.com/imag
es/destinations/destinationguide/europe/ireland/du
blin/dublin/dublin_004p.jpg
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CHARACTERS

• IRA Sniper Man posted on a roof in Dublin.
• Opposing Sniper Enemy gunman posted on a roof
  across from the IRA sniper.
• Turret Gunner Man shot by the IRA sniper.
• Old Woman Informer who betrays the position of
  the IRA sniper to the turret gunner.
• http//www.cummingsstudyguides.net/Guides4/Sniper.
  html

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DETERMINING PLOT

• Make a PLOT TIMELINE first
• ----------------------------------------
  ----
• 1. 2.
• Description of soldier on roof.
• Eating a sandwich.
• ..? (Whats next)
• It should consist of
• -Beginning, Middle, and End.
• Go through the entire story and create a plot
  timeline

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PLOT

• Once you have completed your Plot Timeline, you
  can now begin to specify the essential parts of
  plot from your ELEMENTS OF THE SHORT STORY
  handout.
• Introduction, Rising Action, Climax, Falling
  Action, Denouement.
• REMEMBER the parts of plot are not limited to
  this order.

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HAND IN WHEN YOU FINISH

• Continue working on your questions for The
  Sniper.
• Work on the graphic novel (three images).
• Begin the Theme and Ending related questions.
• http//www.cummingsstudyguides.net/Guides4/Sniper.
  html