The Sniper & Plot

Graves in Holland:Protestant & Catholic Spouses

Discussion: What was the climax of the story?  Was it the most exciting part to read?

The climax of the story occurs when the sniper shoots his enemy with the revolver and kills him.  However, we felt that the most exciting and interesting part of the story occurred at the very end, when he finds he has killed his own brother.  This was shocking!  Plus, it was a very abrupt way to end.

Context: When does 'The Sniper' take place?  Where?

This fictional story takes place in Dublin during Irish civil war (28 June, 1922- 24 May 1923).

Specifically, it most likely takes place sometime in the main battle of Dublin (14 April, 1922, July 5, 1922, and probably closer to the end of the conflict on Dublin). The protagonist is fighting for the Republicans, and opposed the “free-staters” who supported the Anglo-Irish treaty, while the Republicans fought for an independent country.

In the actual war, the republicans ended up the losers. In early 1923, the republican army’s size had seriously diminished and in February the British captured the IRA’s leader, and he called upon the rest of the Army to cease fire. Soon after this, a treaty was signed, though the IRA (Irish Republican Army) still exists today.

Religion was also a big factor in this war, with the British state having laws to force its Protestant Christianity onto the Irish. However, most Irish at that time were strong believers in Catholicism, so the thought of a forced change in religion stirred up even more fighters for the IRA.

Discussion: What point is the author making?  Why did the story end the way it did?

Civil war tears families apart, making it the worst type of war.