Description
This is a ready-to-teach unit for “The Sniper” by Liam O’Flaherty.
Set during the Irish Civil War, “The Sniper” follows an Irish soldier whose split-second decisions in combat lead to a shocking and devastating realization about the true cost of war. The story’s intense pacing, moral complexity, and powerful twist make it a strong choice for teaching theme, conflict, point of view, and the human consequences of violence.
This lesson is designed to move students through the entire reading process, from building background knowledge to close reading and thoughtful analysis. Students begin with a pre-reading activity and historical background information to establish context for the conflict. As they read, they complete vocabulary work and reading comprehension questions to support understanding of both language and plot. After reading, students engage in literary analysis and an after-reading activity that encourages deeper thinking about theme, choices, and the emotional impact of the story.
This resource includes a suggested lesson procedure, all answer keys, a copy of the short story, and an editable copy of the student activities, making it easy to adapt for your classroom needs.
Perfect for short story units, war literature, or lessons focused on theme, irony, and moral decision-making, this unit challenges students to think critically about how conflict shapes individuals and outcomes.