The Sniper

First and Last Name

In paragraph 2, "..the heavy guns roared" is an example of

• a metaphor
• a simile
• an idiom
• personification

The word "beleaguered" in paragraph 2 means

• to be annoyed
• to be surrounded by
• to be in league with
• to have a personal vexation of sorts

In paragraph 3, "broke the silence" as a single phrase is identified as

• an idiom
• a mere expression
• a figure of speech
• a metaphor

Using context clues, the word "spasmodically" in paragraph 3 is defined as

• doing something without restraint
• high intense execution
• going buck wild on enemies
• periodic times of occurrences

Based on the story's narrative, the author chooses to tell this story in

• First Person Narrative-the story is told from the perspective of the author or character using "I, we, and us" pronouns
• Third Person Objective-the narrator only talks about what is seen and heard, no feelings described
• Third Person Limited-the narrative takes the reader inside the mind of one character from their perspective
• Second Person-the reader is being directly addressed

The "gray monster" as mentioned in paragraph 13 is referring to

• a sheet of steel a few words before it
• the airstrike that occurred earlier in the story
• the enemy car in the previous paragraph
• the silver bullets the sniper would have wasted if he shot

Based on the actions of the sniper in the story, the reader can infer that the characteristics of a realistic sniper generally is

• cold and calculating disregarding emotions to achieve hitting their target
• cold and calculating, yet experiencing remorse for the lives they took
• emotionless, but hesitant to kill until they overcome their emotions
• amateurish in sniping ability, but masters at controlling their emotions

Analyzing the story's ending, the reader can make an inference that war historically

• raises the competitive spirt of men in the midst of an "every man for himself" battle
• brings unlike groups together to put aside their differences, collaborate, and achieve the impossible
• destroys nations from within more than the obvious two opposing sides fighting eachother
• can blur the lines of a family or sever family ties as a consequence of surviving and winning in violent, socio-political conflicts

The primary theme in Liam O'Flaherty's "The Sniper" is

• "During war, there are no foxes in rabbit holes. Every man for himself"
• "War brings out the worse in people, but in the end, people can have a second chance."
• "There are no winners in the war as human beings are reduced to mere objects for survival."
• "In war, it's killed or be killed. Your brother is not your brother and your friend is an enemy. Take no prisoners."