The Sniper: Story Exploration

Read the short story.

Click here to read, "The Sniper" by Liam O'Flaherty or read the paper copy provided by your teacher.

Step One: 

Activity One : Open a word document and define the following words.  Make sure you have a good understanding of these words.   

Ascetic
Draught
Parapet
Paroxysm
Wadding

Click here for an Online Dictionary.

Step Two: Setting
Setting is important because it establishes the tone and atmosphere of a story.

Activity Two:

• Re-read the first paragraph.  In your word document, create a list of FIVE phrases (quote them) that establish the tone and atmosphere of this story.
• HINT: these phrases will describe the setting.
• For each phrase, find a picture that represents the phrase.

For example:

"The long June twilight faded into night"

Step Three: Conflict

There are two types of conflict:

1) External - A struggle with a force outside one's self.

2) Internal - A struggle within one's self; a person must make some decision, overcome pain, quiet their temper, resist an urge, etc.

There are four kinds of conflict:
1) Man vs. Man (physical) - The leading character struggles with his physical strength against other men, forces of nature, or animals.

2) Man vs. Circumstances (classical) - The leading character struggles against fate, or the circumstances of life facing him/her.

3) Man vs. Society (social) - The leading character struggles against ideas, practices, or customs of other people.

4) Man vs. Himself/Herself (psychological) - The leading character struggles with himself/herself; with his/her own soul, ideas of right or wrong, physical limitations, choices, etc.

Activity Three:

• IDENTIFY and EXPLAIN TWO CONFLICTS presented in the story. 
• You must identify the type and kind of conflict as well explain your choices.

For example:
The main character experiences external conflict.  His conflict is physical (man vs. man).  This conflict is demonstrated when...

Step Four: Characterization

We learn about characters through two different ways:

1. Direct Characterization:  The author describes the character and tells the reader information about the character.

2. Indirect Characterization:  The author reveals details about the character through what they say and do.  The author 'shows' the reader what the character is like. 

Activity Four: Create a table and give three examples for each column of the different characteristics of the sniper. 

For Example:

Step Five: Theme Statement

• A successful theme statement must be general enough to capture the overall meaning of the work, but specific enough so that it conveys your unique interpretation.

• Every literary work makes a statement or has a point. When you create a theme statement, you're substituting your single sentence for the entire short story.

Activity Five: Write a theme statement for "The Sniper."

• Write the title and a very brief statement about the plot of the story.
• Write what the topic of the story is, without reference to the characters or plot.
• Write a theme statement sentence for the story.
• Give a two sentence explanation using evidence from the story to support your statement.

For example:


Star Wars: Luke defeats Darth Vader (original Star Wars) 


Topic: Good defeats evil


Theme statement: We cannot defeat external evil until we acknowledge our own dark side.


Evidence:  When Luke discovers he is Darth Vader's son, he has a moment of questioning where he has to come to terms with the fact that his father is evil.  He is forced to make a choice between the evil and good that exists inside of him.


Step Six:  Print your work and hand it in to your teacher. 

Check list: Make sure you have included the following activities.

• Activity 1: Definitions
• Activity 2: Setting
• Activity 3: Conflict
• Activity 4: Characterization
• Activity 5: Theme statement.