The Sniper
Short Story Analysis Worksheet
Title of short story The Sniper
Author’s Name Liam O’ Flaherty
Year of Publication 1923
Physical: Place & Time When: on a summer night of June
(include clues which help →twilight; dimlight of the moon; the dark water
you determine this) Where:near central Dublin
→Dublin;Liffey;O’connell Bridge
Setting
Social Context The battle of Dublin:Republican vs. Free staters
(include clues which help →Dublin;The Republican sniper; Republications and Free
you determine this) staters were waging civill war
Characters & character ·Dynamic:The sniper looked at his enemy falling and he
type shuddered. The lust of battle died in him. He became
(Round/flat bitten by remorse.
·Round
/static/dynamic/
·De-stereotypical
stereotypical/anti-hero/etc.
·sympathetic
Main character
Direct characterizations ·Beside him lay his rifle and over his shoulder was slung
(Which direct a pair of field glasses.
characterizations can you ·His face was the face of a student
locate in the story?) ·His teeth chattered, he began to gibber to himself,
cursing the war, cursing himself, cursing everybody.
Indirect characterizations ·The woman darted toward the side street. The sniper
(Which indirect fired again. The woman whirled round and fell with a
characterizations can you shriek into the gutter.
locate in the story?) ·I’m hit”
Plot (max. 10 sentences) 1. Exposition:The story takes place in Dublin on a summer night
of June.
Indicate the five stages of
2. Initial Incident:How he overcomes the needs to eat and smoke
Freytag’s pyramid in the plot of without being spotted
this story. If stages are missing, 3. Rising Action:A)The sniper kills the informer of the oppositing
list this. Keep in mind Plot (cont.) side; B)The sniper puts his cap and treats the other sniper
that some stages may be in a standing up and shooting it.
4. Climax:He kills the sniper of the other side.
different order, be missing, or be
5. Falling Action:He decides to report.
present more than once. 6. Resolution:He finds that the other sniper is his brother.
7. Denouement:\
, Conflict ·Person vs. Self
(Identify and explain the major The sniper needs to risk himself for his needs. Also, he has a
complex mood when finding the other sniper is his brother.
sources of conflict in the story, ie:
·Person vs. Person(Society vs. Society)
internal: person vs. self). The enemy on the oppoiste side spots him. He must kill the
enemy to protect himself.
Theme 1. Wars reduce human beings into mere objects.
(Tell what you think the theme is In the story, the sniper is a kind of ‘killing machine’ because he
kills the woman and his brother without any judgement.
and explain in several sentences).
2. Wars know no boundaries even the age and family
relationships.
Point of view Third person POV: Limited Omniscient
(Tell what the point of view is and Then he returned the flask to his pocket. He paused for a moment,
considering whether he should risk a smoke.
give examples of how you could
The other sniper, seeing the cap and rifle fall, thought that he
determine this from the story). had killed his man.
Irony ·Situational Irony:The sniper,including the reader,doesn’t
(Identify and explain any major expect that the opposite sniper is his brothers.
sources of irony in the story – Then the sniper turned over the dead body and looked
verbal/ dramatic/ situational/ into his brother's face.
structural).
Symbolism 1. O’Connell Bridge:the border between life and death
(Identify and explain any key He peered around the corner into O'Connell Street. In the
upper part of the street there was heavy firing, but around here
symbols used in the story. Note
all was quiet.
what they are and what they
represent.) 2. The revolver:destruction and loss of self
The sniper looked at his enemy falling and he shuddered. The
lust of battle died in him. He became bitten by remorse.
Quote Then the sniper turned over the dead body and looked
Memorable passage /quote
into his brother’s face.
Explanation: Why is This is the end of the story which surprises me a lot since
this quote memorable? it is beyond expectation.The phrase “look into” indicates
(Write 3-5 sentences). the complex mood of the sniper and causes my
imagination.It also leads me to thinking the topics and
theme of the stroy and showing sympathy to the main
character.
Short Story Analysis Worksheet
Title of short story The Sniper
Author’s Name Liam O’ Flaherty
Year of Publication 1923
Physical: Place & Time When: on a summer night of June
(include clues which help →twilight; dimlight of the moon; the dark water
you determine this) Where:near central Dublin
→Dublin;Liffey;O’connell Bridge
Setting
Social Context The battle of Dublin:Republican vs. Free staters
(include clues which help →Dublin;The Republican sniper; Republications and Free
you determine this) staters were waging civill war
Characters & character ·Dynamic:The sniper looked at his enemy falling and he
type shuddered. The lust of battle died in him. He became
(Round/flat bitten by remorse.
·Round
/static/dynamic/
·De-stereotypical
stereotypical/anti-hero/etc.
·sympathetic
Main character
Direct characterizations ·Beside him lay his rifle and over his shoulder was slung
(Which direct a pair of field glasses.
characterizations can you ·His face was the face of a student
locate in the story?) ·His teeth chattered, he began to gibber to himself,
cursing the war, cursing himself, cursing everybody.
Indirect characterizations ·The woman darted toward the side street. The sniper
(Which indirect fired again. The woman whirled round and fell with a
characterizations can you shriek into the gutter.
locate in the story?) ·I’m hit”
Plot (max. 10 sentences) 1. Exposition:The story takes place in Dublin on a summer night
of June.
Indicate the five stages of
2. Initial Incident:How he overcomes the needs to eat and smoke
Freytag’s pyramid in the plot of without being spotted
this story. If stages are missing, 3. Rising Action:A)The sniper kills the informer of the oppositing
list this. Keep in mind Plot (cont.) side; B)The sniper puts his cap and treats the other sniper
that some stages may be in a standing up and shooting it.
4. Climax:He kills the sniper of the other side.
different order, be missing, or be
5. Falling Action:He decides to report.
present more than once. 6. Resolution:He finds that the other sniper is his brother.
7. Denouement:\
, Conflict ·Person vs. Self
(Identify and explain the major The sniper needs to risk himself for his needs. Also, he has a
complex mood when finding the other sniper is his brother.
sources of conflict in the story, ie:
·Person vs. Person(Society vs. Society)
internal: person vs. self). The enemy on the oppoiste side spots him. He must kill the
enemy to protect himself.
Theme 1. Wars reduce human beings into mere objects.
(Tell what you think the theme is In the story, the sniper is a kind of ‘killing machine’ because he
kills the woman and his brother without any judgement.
and explain in several sentences).
2. Wars know no boundaries even the age and family
relationships.
Point of view Third person POV: Limited Omniscient
(Tell what the point of view is and Then he returned the flask to his pocket. He paused for a moment,
considering whether he should risk a smoke.
give examples of how you could
The other sniper, seeing the cap and rifle fall, thought that he
determine this from the story). had killed his man.
Irony ·Situational Irony:The sniper,including the reader,doesn’t
(Identify and explain any major expect that the opposite sniper is his brothers.
sources of irony in the story – Then the sniper turned over the dead body and looked
verbal/ dramatic/ situational/ into his brother's face.
structural).
Symbolism 1. O’Connell Bridge:the border between life and death
(Identify and explain any key He peered around the corner into O'Connell Street. In the
upper part of the street there was heavy firing, but around here
symbols used in the story. Note
all was quiet.
what they are and what they
represent.) 2. The revolver:destruction and loss of self
The sniper looked at his enemy falling and he shuddered. The
lust of battle died in him. He became bitten by remorse.
Quote Then the sniper turned over the dead body and looked
Memorable passage /quote
into his brother’s face.
Explanation: Why is This is the end of the story which surprises me a lot since
this quote memorable? it is beyond expectation.The phrase “look into” indicates
(Write 3-5 sentences). the complex mood of the sniper and causes my
imagination.It also leads me to thinking the topics and
theme of the stroy and showing sympathy to the main
character.
