Liam O Flaherty's The Sniper

Having an afternoon smoke becomes a lousy choice for an Irish Republican soldier in the short story “The Sniper” by Liam O’Flaherty because it almost costs him his life. A Republican sniper lights his cigarette when moments later, a bullet whizzes past his body. After some shooting in the street, the Free State sniper from across the street shoots again, this time the Republican sniper is wounded in the arm. The Republican sniper nurses his wound and tricks the enemy sniper into thinking he is dead. Armed with a revolver, the Republican sniper then kills the other sniper once the Free State sniper moves out from his hideaway. The remaining sniper begins to wonder who this other man is. The Sniper demonstrates resourcefulness, battle weariness,

The author writes, “A paroxysm of pain swept through him. He placed the cotton wadding over the wound and wrapped the dressing over it. He tied the ends with his teeth” (12). The Republican sniper is not only able dress a wound, but one of his own with only one arm using his excellent skills as a soldier. The Sniper is able to push through the pain and keep on going all by himself. The author writes that “He must kill that enemy and he could not use his rifle. He had only a revolver to do it. Then he thought of a plan” (12). The Sniper knows that his rifle is useless due to his injured arm so his options are limited. Only one man will walk away alive and the Sniper know that he is at a disadvantage. He must outsmart the other man. In dealing with an injured arm and outsmart the enemy, the Sniper and his resourcefulness live to see another

The author writes, “It was dangerous. The flash might be seen in the darkness, and there were enemies watching. He decided to take the risk” (10). The Sniper realises that what he is doing is risky, but he disregards the warning from his brain and continues on. The Sniper knows what the enemy looks for as he lights his cigarette anyway. The author says that “The sniper darted across the street. A machine gun tore up the ground around him with a hail of bullets, but he escaped” (14). There are people out there ready to shoot him but the Sniper decides to go out and see who the other soldier was. As bullets rain down on the Sniper, he courageously rushes on, even though his life is at risk. The Sniper’s bravery is exposed in his ability to stay calm and keep his composure until the job is