“The Sniper”
Literary Analysis Questions
Directions:
Answer each of the following questions on a separate sheet of paper.
Be sure to use complete sentences!
Be sure to cite page numbers!
- What are the conflicts in this story? Briefly explain each conflict as it occurs within the story.
- How does the setting enable the story’s actionandconflict?
- How does the sniper’s specific location shape his decisions?
- Cite three examples (direct quotes) where O’Flaherty uses words and images to reinforce the pervasiveness of death in the story.
- Cite three examples where O’Flaherty uses words that are onomatopoeic. Remember that words that are onomatopoeic are words that vocally imitate the sounds they denote (ex: bang).
- O’Flaherty uses specific language and words to describe both shooting scenes. Explain how his word choice integrates/reinforces the emotions of the sniper. Be sure to use textual examples to support your answer.
- Do you think that O’Flaherty wants us to think of the sniper’s “brother” only as his familial, or blood brother? Explain.
“The Sniper”
Comprehension Questions
Directions:
In the space provided, answer each of the following questions as you read the story.
Be sure to cite page numbers!
- Where does the action take place?
- What time of day is it?
- What happens to the old woman who informs on the sniper?
- How is the sniper injured?
- How does this injury affect him?
- Why is it impossible for the sniper to leave the roof?
- How does the sniper trick the enemy sniper?
- Who does the sniper kill?
“The Sniper”
Write a paragraph of 7-9 sentences where you describe what happens next after the sniper “turned over the dead body and looked into his brother’s face.” Obviously, you need to be creative here, but you need to keep your “ending” in tune with the rest of the story in tone, mood, diction, and structure.
______
Why do you think the sniper risks his life to look at the dead body?
What is the mood of the story? Make a list of words, images, and details that allow you to infer the mood and explain how each helps to create the mood.
What other kinds of brothers exist? Could any of those relationships be more powerful than family? Do you believe that the man that was killed in the end was, in fact, the sniper’s brother?
O’Flaherty uses specific sentence structure and length in his writing. Describe three traits of his writing style and describe how it adds to the mood of this story.
What major idea has O’Flaherty been trying to get across to you in this story? How has he used the ending to bring into his way of thinking?