"The Sniper" By Liam O'Flaherty (SomayaJH) by Somaya Jimenez-Haham https://padlet.com/sjimenezhaham/4pp53l88pta2 en-us 2017-01-27 19:40:49 UTC 2025-12-06 12:39:41 UTC hello@padlet.com Theme sjimenezhaham https://padlet.com/sjimenezhaham/4pp53l88pta2/wish/149987560 War turns the people on the opposite side into just “the enemy”. A faceless, soulless, enemy. You do what you have to do in order to survive, and in many cases war will force you to make important decisions that can be the difference between life and death.

“She was pointing to the roof where the sniper lay. An informer...The sniper fired again. The woman whirled round and fell with a shriek into the gutter.”

This sniper was willing to kill an elderly lady to make sure she would not further aid the enemy.

 “He took a steady aim. His hand trembled with eagerness. Pressing his lips together, he took a deep breath through his nostrils and fired. …  Then when the smoke cleared, he peered across and uttered a cry of joy. His enemy had been hit. He was reeling over the parapet in his death agony. He struggled to keep his feet, but he was slowly falling forward as if in a dream. The rifle fell from his grasp, hit the parapet, fell over, bounded off the pole of a barber's shop beneath and then clattered on the pavement.”
]]> 2017-01-27 19:46:25 UTC https://padlet.com/sjimenezhaham/4pp53l88pta2/wish/149987560 POV sjimenezhaham https://padlet.com/sjimenezhaham/4pp53l88pta2/wish/149987708 The point of view is in third person limited, because it is talking in he-she form. The author  also tells us the thoughts of the IRA sniper but not the thoughts of the Free-stater sniper, or any other character. ]]> 2017-01-27 19:47:00 UTC https://padlet.com/sjimenezhaham/4pp53l88pta2/wish/149987708 Conflict sjimenezhaham https://padlet.com/sjimenezhaham/4pp53l88pta2/wish/149989663  Both internal and external conflicts are present in the story. There is the obvious conflict between the IRA and the Free-staters, who are at war. Then there is the internal battle that the IRA sniper is fighting.He is fighting stay human, and not be a cold-blooded killer. The sniper is happy to have been able to kill the sniper of the opposite side, but at the same time feels remorse for having killed a fellow Irish.]]> 2017-01-27 19:54:06 UTC https://padlet.com/sjimenezhaham/4pp53l88pta2/wish/149989663 Vocabulary sjimenezhaham https://padlet.com/sjimenezhaham/4pp53l88pta2/wish/149989757
  • Beleaguer- to annoy persistently
  • Paroxysm- a sudden uncontrollable attack
  • Ascetic- someone who practices self denial as a spiritual discipline

    • The cat would not cease beleaguering the girl until she fed him.

    The student had to see a therapist to attempt to control his paroxysms of rage.

    It was quite common in the convent to lead an ascetic lifestyle.

    ]]>     2017-01-27 19:54:26 UTC https://padlet.com/sjimenezhaham/4pp53l88pta2/wish/149989757     Language sjimenezhaham https://padlet.com/sjimenezhaham/4pp53l88pta2/wish/149990186 Imagery: The long June twilight faded into night. Dublin lay enveloped in darkness but for the dim light of the moon that shone through fleecy clouds, casting a pale light as of approaching dawn over the streets and the dark waters of the Liffey.

    Simile: He struggled to keep his feet, but he was slowly falling forward as if in a dream.
    ]]>     2017-01-27 19:55:47 UTC https://padlet.com/sjimenezhaham/4pp53l88pta2/wish/149990186     Character Traits sjimenezhaham https://padlet.com/sjimenezhaham/4pp53l88pta2/wish/149990347 The sniper is calm and patient. When he gets shot in the arm, he steadily dresses his wound and continues to patiently await for the right time to act.]]> 2017-01-27 19:56:20 UTC https://padlet.com/sjimenezhaham/4pp53l88pta2/wish/149990347 Summary sjimenezhaham https://padlet.com/sjimenezhaham/4pp53l88pta2/wish/149990614 The story is set in Dublin, Ireland during the civil war between the Irish Republic Army and Free-Staters. There is a Republican sniper and a Free State sniper, both trying to survive the next day and shoot the other one. The IRA sniper is on a rooftop, and is debating whether or not to take a smoke. He decides to so, and ends up showing his position to the enemy. Just then, a car rolls to a stop nearby, and an elderly woman, an informant, walks up to it and points in the sniper’s direction. As the man opens the door for the woman, the sniper aims and shoots the man and the informant. Suddenly, a bullet hits his arm, and the sniper hurries to dress it, although the pain is excruciating. A plan starts to form in his head, and the sniper decides to risk it, in order to kill the enemy before morning. He sets his cap on the muzzle of his rifle, and lifts it up right above the parapet. Immediately, the opposite side shoots the hat, and the sniper feigns having died, letting his arm hang lifelessly. As the Free-Stater celebrates his victory, the IRA sniper peers over and shoots the Free-State. Curious about the man whose life he had just taken, the Republican hurries over to the other side and looks down at the face of his dead brother.]]> 2017-01-27 19:57:21 UTC https://padlet.com/sjimenezhaham/4pp53l88pta2/wish/149990614 Plot sjimenezhaham https://padlet.com/sjimenezhaham/4pp53l88pta2/wish/149991189 Exposition-  This story is set in Dublin, Ireland. There are two snipers trying to kill the other before morning. There is a Republican Sniper, The Free-State Sniper, an informant, and  a Free-stater in the car.

    Rising action-The IRA sniper lights a smoke and in turn, ends up away his location. There is an informer and a Free-Stater on the street, the Republican shoots them, and in return gets shot in the arm.

    Climax-The Republican sniper puts his hat over his rifle’s muzzle, and feigns having died once the cap is shot. Once the Free-Stater  jumps up in victory, the Republican shoots him. 

    Falling Action-The IRA sniper feels a mixture of relief and remorse for the man he just shot.

    Resolution-    The Republican, curious as to whom he shot, goes over to the dead man’s post and looks down at the face of his brother.

    ]]>     2017-01-27 19:59:24 UTC https://padlet.com/sjimenezhaham/4pp53l88pta2/wish/149991189