The Sniper By: Liam O'Flaherty Hannah Schumacher
The Sniper- summary The Sniper is a short story written about a civil war going on in Dublin between the Free states, and the Republicans. The main character is introduced as a sniper for the Republicans, stationed on a rooftop near the O Connel Bridge. The time is nightfall in June, some time after establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. The sniper is hiding, keeping a watchful eye out for anything that may seem suspicious, as well as enemies that may be concealed by the darkness. The story goes on to tell about what happens on this particular night in which the sniper is on duty. Many events happen throughout the night. Such as; the sniper realizes an enemy sniper is on a rooftop close to him, people are killed, the Republican sniper himself gets shot, and many other dramatic events occur. As well as a very chilling and unexpected ending.
Imagery and Setting Imagery and Setting are two very important elements of this short story. It is through these devices O Flaherty enhances the reader s understanding and imagination towards his piece. Imagery and setting go hand and hand helping one another. Setting is a very important element in The Sniper, one that helps better understand the world in which the sniper is living. Discussing elements such as time period, and time of day. As well as answering questions such as, where the sniper is located, and what the sniper can see. Such things as, 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. --- Stating what Dublin looked like through words such as dim light, and dark waters. And lastly, The blood was oozing through the sleeve of his coat. --- by choosing to use the word oozing, readers get a different feel for how the wound looked. These quotes are examples of how O Flaherty uses sight to enhance the overall setting and mood of the short story. He adds to the intensity of the situation, as well as truly painting a picture of what certain incidents look like.
Auditory Imagery Something else I noticed when I read over The Sniper a couple times, is how O Flaherty employs the notion of using sounds as imagery to add a more in depth sense to the setting as well as the story. Throughout this short story there are many instances where the sounds of guns being fired, such as, There was a flash and a bullet whizzed over his head. Using the word whizzed to help readers hear exactly how the bullet sounded. As well as other instances such as, The rifle clattered on the roof. Using clattered to vividly describe the sound he wanted readers to hear when telling them the rifle fell onto the roof. It is through these examples as well as the other places in the story in which auditory imagery is used, that I got a better understanding of the overall setting. It added a new dimension to the story, and really engaged me. O Flaherty uses imagery to excite readers senses. This is a very useful way of making the reader feel as though they are a true part of the story, engaging them so much, that the sights, and sounds as well as other senses, truly explain the purpose of the story.
From The Sniper 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. Around the beleaguered Four Courts the heavy guns roared. Here and there through the city, machine guns and rifles broke the silence of the night, spasmodically, like dogs barking on lone farms. Republicans and Free Staters were waging civil war. On a rooftop near O'Connell Bridge, a Republican sniper lay watching. Beside him lay his rifle and over his shoulders was slung a pair of field glasses. His face was the face of a student, thin and ascetic, but his eyes had the cold gleam of the fanatic. They were deep and thoughtful, the eyes of a man who is used to looking at death. He was eating a sandwich hungrily. He had eaten nothing since morning. He had been too excited to eat. He finished the sandwich, and, taking a flask of whiskey from his pocket, he took a short drought. Then he returned the flask to his pocket. He paused for a moment, considering whether he should risk a smoke. It was dangerous. The flash might be seen in the darkness, and there were enemies watching. He decided to take the risk.
My Imitation The bright April sunrise broke through the darkness. Georgia rest wrapped in coldness but for the faint heat of the sun that shined through the tall trees, radiating a stream of warmth as if inviting day towards the flowers and the cool ground of the meadows. Throughout the distraught small towns the cries of women wailed. From time to time, in each town, men would comfort their wives, like sun breaking through the darkness. The Union and Confederates were waging civil war. On a porch close to the town square, a wife of a Confederate soldier sat waiting. To her right was her Bible and around her neck was a cross pendent. Her features were that of a lover, rosy and aged, but her eyes had the soft feel of child. They were saddened and mindful, the eyes of a woman preparing to lose love. She was reciting The Lord s Prayer hurriedly. She had repeated it off and on since breakfast. She had been too worried to say anything else. She finished the last verse, and taking her pendant in her hand, she brought it to her lips, kissing the cross. She stopped for a second, debating if she should say anything. It wasn t expected of her. The words could be seen as impolite, and there were other women watching. She closed her eyes, and chose to take the leap of faith.
I chose to imitate the beginning three paragraphs of the story, because I believe this is when readers are strongly introduced to the setting through the imagery. I tried to closely follow the format of the original piece. Something I decided was very important was the idea of a civil war, and how the character is affected by that war. Because O Flaherty wrote a civil war that his homeland was experiencing, I thought it would be fitting to write my imitation about the American Civil war. I chose my character to be the wife of a soldier, instead of the soldier himself to give a new outlook on how the piece can be written. I chose to describe the woman s eyes, like O Flaherty described the snipers eyes because I feel that was one of the strongest parts to the story. I really appreciated how O Flaherty uses the eyes as a sort of portal into the inner workings of the sniper, and I wanted to use that affect on my character as well. I want readers to understand that just how the gun, and field glasses kept the sniper feeling safe and gave him courage. The Bible and pendant, as well as The Lord s Prayer, did the same for the woman in my imitation.