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   scarletpimpernel Teacher
   High School - 12th Grade

   eNotes Editor

   The story's use of suspense and irony is what makes it most appealing to readers.  O'Flaherty adeptly builds suspense by using 3rd person limited point of view, detailing the sniper's every move and routine, and including several near-misses in the text. The point of view, especially, allows readers to get inside the soldier's head. Similarly, although most modern American readers do not know what it is like to live in a civil war-torn region, they have certainly studied enough history to recognize the theme of brother against brother.

   I used to teach the story when I taught ninth graders, and now that I teach upperclassmen they still talk about "The Sniper." Boys, of course, remember it well because of the subject, but many of my female students enjoyed it because of its suspense and twist ending.  I also think that the brevity of the story has a lot to do with high school students liking it!

   Sources:

   http://www.enotes.com/sniper/critical-overview

   http://www.enotes.com/sniper/style

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   Posted by scarletpimpernel on Tuesday September 29, 2009 at 12:00 PM