1a. What does the Republican sniper look like? Where is he and what is he doing at the beginning of the story?
2a. What does the sniper do when he sees the armored car and the woman?
3a. Where is the sniper wounded? How does his wound affect his abilities?
4a. What trick does the sniper play on his enemy? Is the trick successful?
1b. What does the sniper think about his situation? Why is the physical description of the sniper important to the story?
2b. Why is this so easy for the sniper to do?
3b. What does the sniper do after he is shot? Why is his ability to react this way necessary?
4b. Why do you think the sniper's "lust of battle died in him"?
5a. Examine how the sniper reacts to each event or change in the situation he faces on the roof. How would you characterize his reactions and his thoughts that lead to those reactions?
5b. What conclusions about war can you draw from the events that take place in this story? What can you conclude from the sniper's thoughts and actions?
6a. What do you think the author is trying to say about war? about humans' relationships to one another? How effective is this story in conveying this message?
6b. Compare and contrast the author's message in "The Sniper" with the ideas presented in the Related Readings about the Peace People. How do you think Betty Williams would react to "The Sniper"? What might she say to the main character of the story if she met him?
Irony of Situation. What in this story demonstrates irony of situation? Whose expectations are contradicted in this situation?
Suspense. Where in this story do you find suspense? How does the author create suspense? What techniques does he use to do so?
1. An epitaph is a short statement in memory of a dead person written on his or her gravestone. Write an epitaph for someone who was killed in this story.
2. Write a formal business letter to the Community of the Peace People, requesting any brochures, pamphlets, or other written information that the organization provides to the public.
3. Write a children's story (aimed at preschool children) that promotes peace and nonviolence.
Internet Research: Research Log. Use this log to keep track of the information you find about the Community of the Peace People.
Books and other print sources.
Internet sources.
Notes.
Transitive and Intransitive Verbs. In each of the following exercises, use the given subject and verb to form sentences, adding a direct object if the verb is transitive. Indicate each direct object.
Example S—the dog V—devoured The dog devoured the puppy treats. d.o.: the puppy treats
1. S—Jana V—likes
2. S—Tyrone V—made
3. S—the telephone V—rang
4. S—the twins V—laughed
5. S—Bill's cousin V—will spend
6. S—the soldier V—went
7. S—the kitten V—clawed
8. S—the waiter V—dropped
9. S—Maria's grandmother V—gave
10. S—the moon V—shone
Using New Words. Fill in each of the blanks below with one of the Words for Everyday Use from this selection.
ascetic beleaguer concussion fanatic gibber paroxysm remorse ruse spasmodically
1. As soon as the gag was taken off his mouth, the hostage began to _________________ incoherently.
2. The monks lived a(n) ______________ life, practicing self-denial and strict discipline.
3. The joke struck him as being so funny that he went into an uncontrollable __________ of laughter.
4. Financial woes continue to ______________ the struggling little company.
5. Nat Turner became a(n) ______________ for the cause of freedom and led an uprising of slaves.
6. The wily con man deceived the elderly widow with an elaborate ________________.
7. All day the emphysema patient wheezed and coughed _________________.
8. The explosion of the depth charge produced a(n) ________________that traveled through the water for miles.
9. The ________________ he felt for his part in the crime continued to gnaw at him until he confessed.
