The Sniper Summary and Thematic Paragraph

In your own words, summarize this text.

The Sniper by Liam O’Flaherty is a story which is set at night in a civil war, where two snipers from the Republicans and Free Stater's sides are trying to kill each other. With the un- delightful darkness, no one can be seen; therefore any sign would reveal where the snipers are hidden. Unfortunately, the snipers are spotted with one lighting his cigarette and the other firing his rifle. One sniper is shot in the arm, but the hardships of war force him to treat his own wound. With the sniper at a risk, as his rifle was dropped when he was shot, he devises a plan to kill the enemy sniper. The success of his plan outcomes with the enemy sniper shot and dead on the ground. The enemy had put up a great fight and the need of the sniper to see the dead body advises him to see who it was. Lastly, with a plot twisting ending he finds out that it was his own brother.

What is the author's message? Provide evidence from the text and explain your thinking.

The author’s message in this short story describes how cruel war can be and how it makes you a different person. This is seen in the story after a long exchange between two snipers, which ends up in one sniper killing his own brother.  The cruelty is seen when the sniper shoots his own brother without knowing that it was his own brother. This is cruel because it describes how a civil war, which is in one region can end up being a war between friends, brothers and family members. The cruelty is also seen as the sniper is forced into treating his own wound and face the pain of the shot. War changes everyone’s minds and makes them a new person because war made that sniper kill his own brother and if he wasn't a fighter he wouldn't have shot his own brother.

Sniper News Article

The Obscurity: Dublin Street Shooting

By: Jasdeep Khangura

June 28th, 2011

               

 

               

                On a dark, cold night in Dublin, citizens reported a shooting, between two snipers, in their area at 4 (am), which took the lives of 3; an elderly women, a driver and a suspected sniper from the exchange of shots.

                The shooting began with a single shot being fired from one rooftop to the other, as one sniper may have been located through the darkness of the night. Citizens reported that another shot had then been fired minutes later; however this time it wasn’t from one rooftop to another. The suspected sniper had shot an elderly women, who was found dead in a gutter and seconds later, her driver. With no mercy being revealed in these snipers, many citizens reported that they had fled the scene as far as possible, so they wouldn’t be shot at. “As soon as I heard those two consecutive shots being fired, and a woman screeching as she got shot; I kept my family distant from the shooting scene, as I was afraid that one of us may be shot,” informed a citizen who lived 2 rooftops down from the sniper.

                The second wave of shots occurred around 4:30, when another shot had been fired from the same rooftop to the other. This shot reported by citizens left a reticence in the area, which made many believe that the exchange was over. “After we had heard the second or third shot, it went oddly quiet for a while and many of us were in content, as we thought the exchange was over,” expressed another citizen. The shooting re occurred again when the sniper, from the same rooftop, had fired another shot and citizens had heard the falter of a weapon which then again left the citizens in hope that the exchange was over. However, another shot was fired a little later (from the opposite rooftop) when the hopes of the citizens had been answered.

                “The last shot left our hearts petty, as the shooting was for sure over because there was no more shots for over an hour. I’m just really delighted that my family made it alive from this madness,” said Brake Dublish, a fellow citizen. The citizens of Dublin later settled back into their homes with many being traumatized from the shooting and knowing that there still is a suspect out there, which puts them in danger.

                “Our full efforts are going in to finding the other sniper which was involved in this awful exchange. We have many forensics examining the scenes and in 2 or three days, we will be able to figure out who was involved in the exchange,” reported Commissioner John of the Dublin Police Department. 

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas- Jasdeep's Blog Post

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

Re-tell:

                The Boy in the Striped Pajamas was a movie about Bruno, a German boy who moves to Berlin for his father, who is the commandant of the nearby concentration camp for Jews. Bruno was a character in the movie who was very lonely and unhappy; therefore he would wander out of his home, in search for happiness. As a result, one day he encounters Shmuel a Jewish boy, along the fence of the concentration camp. Bruno and Shmuel become friends through their meetings. At the turning point in the movie, Bruno dresses up in “striped pajamas,” so that that he’ll be with Bruno in the concentration camp. Unluckily, Bruno is immediately sent into a gas chamber, where he’s killed.

Reflect:

                This movie was a really great movie because it informed the viewer of how the holocaust was a terrible historic event, through the eyes of a young boy. For example, the movie displayed how the holocaust was a terrible time through the events of the gas chamber, mistreatment of Jews and the slavery of the Jews in Bruno’s home. In addition, this movie presented a situation, where Bruno’s parents felt like many other Jewish families during the holocaust. For instance, when Bruno is killed in the gas chamber, Bruno’s father is torn apart of what has happened; therefore he must have realized the horrors of the holocaust through his own son being killed. As a result, that feeling was presented to every Jewish family in the holocaust and now Bruno’s parents are feeling the same, although they’re German.

Relate:

                The movie presented many key events from the book, which the movie was based up on. In the movie and book, the horrors of the holocaust were effectively presented because the book and movie described events which gave the reader an understanding of how the holocaust must have been. In comparison, the movie also gave a good understanding of the holocaust. For example, it displayed events, such as the sleeping area for the Jews. It gave an insight of how many Jews came in contact with deadly diseases, through the coughing of the actors. Furthermore, the movie gave an understanding to the reader about the conditions of the holocaust. This was seen in the event where all the Jews were gathered up and killed with deadly gas. Therefore, this emotionalizes the reader to a point that they understand how filthy and cruel the holocaust was. 

Blog Post #2

Social Issue: Crime Blog Post #2

Article Representing Social Issue: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/curtis-houck/2015/03/18/networks-ignore-report-dhs-released-over-30k-criminal-illegal

Why I selected this article?

            I have selected this article because it adequately represents the social issue in my novel. The article does not describe the exact event that occurred in the novel, which represented the social issue, but this article gave a different aspect of the same event. As a result, readers will be able to view the social issue in a different manner than in the book and therefore help in a better understanding of the issue.

How it relates to my Social Issue?

            The article relates to my novel because the article summarizes how 31,000 convicted immigrants were released and are now wandering the streets. As a result, my novel talks about a serial killer, who is convicted and wandering the streets planning on killing a woman. In comparison, one of those 31,000 could end up like this serial killer.

            The social issue in my novel is seen in the article because it shows how the criminal justice system is corrupt. This is seen by the 31,000 criminals who were released under no reasoning. As a result, it effectively represents the social issue of crime, in terms that the criminal system is corrupt. The corruption of the criminal system is seen in my novel when Duncan goes to the police station to report what he found in the leather book. However, the cops ignore Duncan as they didn't take him serious because he was a child. Although the leather book showed evidence that the killer was going to kill a woman, the cops didn't take any action and now a woman’s life is on the line. As a result, the social issue is seen in the article and novel because it represents how crime is on the rise because of the neglect of issues like those found in both pieces of literature.

Poem on Social issue:

The criminal system is corrupt,

Releasing convicted criminals that are about to erupt.

It’s an issue around the world, which needs to stop,

But many don’t act on it, I hope those people rot.

            This poem represents how the criminal justice system is a social issue, which many don’t act up on. For example, Duncan was ignored about evidence on a serial killer and couldn't do anything about it, except for solving the issue himself. 

This picture represents how criminals can be wandering the streets like this man and committing crimes. Therefore, it is a representation to show people that these sort of crimes are being committed and the crimes should be acted up on.

Blog Post #1

Social Issue: Crime Blog Post #1

http://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/crime-court/man_exposed_himself_on_dlr_before_stalking_woman_1_3990929 

Why I chose this article?

                I have chosen this article because in the book, Acceleration, the main issue in the book that arises is the leather book, which Duncan discovers during his work shift at the Toronto Transit.  The development of Duncan’s discoveries of what the book is about has led to Duncan discovering that this book might belong to a serial killer. In the leather book he finds various journals of arsons and crimes that he thinks were committed by the owner of the book. The owner, who is referred to as Roach in the novel, has now moved on to his next target a woman. Roach lists everywhere the woman goes and records her doings throughout the day. Duncan in return wants to assist this woman, but ends up stalking her to her house. This article talks about a man who stalked a woman in a train station and followed her for a while, which very much relates to the issue that occurred in the novel. Therefore, the article was a representation of the development of the foundings in the leather book and is an example of the social issue of crime. Overall, that’s why it was a satisfying article for the novel.

How it relates to the social issue in my novel?

                This article relates to the social issue of crime because the article expresses the need for criminals (such as the one in the article) to be located and pay for their crimes. “BTP is committed to eradicating all forms of unwanted sexual behavior from the rail network, but we need the public’s help.” This quote from the article defines the need for criminals to be eradicated, just like in the novel Duncan is trying to eradicate the “Roach.”

Quote relating to social issue in my novel

“Criminals should be punished, not fed pastries.” 
― Lemony Snicket, The Blank Book

This quote displays the fact that criminals should be punished, which also means committing crimes is an unacceptable activity to participate in. This quote also approaches the point of when the author says, “… not fed pastries,” which means that by letting these criminals wandering around they are going to do whatever they want, which is why the author says they need to be punished.

Poem relating to the social issue in my novel?

Criminals

Anyone can be a criminal around us,

We just got to identify the right ones.

Wandering through the streets can be that criminal that commits crimes,

You can call that criminal as bitter as a lime.

As sour as he gets make him sweet with the punishment.

This poem describes how criminals need to be punished for their crimes, which in return will reduce crimes in the world. This relates to the social issue of crime because it addresses the value of criminals to be not wondering the streets and committing more crimes, which makes the world an unsafe place.

Picture Relating to Social Issue:

This picture shows the significance of criminals, which commit crimes to be punished. In the picture it displays a man who is being arrested, which sets an example for the society that criminals need to be caught, so that they learn to not commit crimes in the future.