Transcript THE SNIPER

THE SNIPER
By Liam O’Flaherty
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.
IRA TROOPS
http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/parade/abj76/PG/images/national/lyttleton/anti_treaty_ira.jpg
FREE STATE ARMY
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~irlcar2/1923_soldiers.jpg

Once-united Irish fighters were now split into
two factions–disgruntled IRA members and
supporters of the Free State–and fought a civil
war. O’Flaherty, 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.
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
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.
Four Courts Building
http://www.concierge.com/images/destinations/destinationguide/europe/ireland/dublin/dublin/dublin_004p.jpg
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.
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DETERMINING PLOT
Make a PLOT TIMELINE first:
]----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----[
1.
2.
1.
Description of soldier on roof.
Eating a sandwich.
…..? (What’s next)
2.
3.
It should consist of:
-Beginning, Middle, and End.
**Go through the entire story and create a plot timeline**

PLOT
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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.
HAND IN WHEN YOU FINISH
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Continue working on your questions for The
Sniper.
Work on the graphic novel (three images).
Begin the Theme and Ending related questions.
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