Elements of Literature

The Sniper

Elements of LiteratureThe elements of literature that we have studied are plot,

characterization, setting, point of view, voice, and theme. In this presentation I will be explaining how all of these different elements fit into the story “The Sniper”.

Plot Diagram

• Exposition• Provides important background information• Without it nothing makes sense

• Inciting Incident• The event which sparks the fuse of your plot• The part where the action begins

• Rising action• Series of events that lead of to the point of greatest interest• Should build in excitement

• Climax • Most exciting or intense point of the story

• Falling action• Shows some effects of the climax• Excitement decreases

• Resolution• The point where the main conflict is worked out

• Denoument• Ties up all loose ends• Answers any questions

Expo

sitio

n: n

arra

tor e

xpla

ins

that

the

coun

try is

on

verg

e of

civ

il wa

r, an

d th

at a

repu

blica

n sn

iper

lay

on a

roof

top

watc

hing

the

enem

y.

Inciting incident: The sniper lights a cigarette, and a sniper across the street fires at him.

Rising

actio

n: Th

e snip

er

sees s

ome e

nemies

on

the gr

ound

and s

hoots

them. T

hen h

e is s

hot in

the ar

m.

Climax: The sniper puts his cap on his rifle and drops it to the ground after it is shot. Then the sniper shoots the other sniper with his revolver.

Falling action: The

sniper suddenly feels

bad about killing the

other sniper. He

suddenely hates himself

and the war.

Resolution: The sniper suddenly wonders if he knows the man he shot. He goes to look at the body.

Deno

umen

t: he

rolls

ove

r th

e de

ad b

ody

and

it is

his b

roth

er.

DenoumentThe denoument occurs at the end of the story. It usually

ties up loose ends, and answers any questions the reader may have. But, in “The Sniper” it gives a surprise ending. It also does explain the identity of the dead sniper which is a question that most readers will ask.

Characterization The republican sniper is a major character in the story,

meaning that the story revolves mainly around him. From the story we can tell that the sniper is kind of stupid, and a risk taker. He is a dynamic character, because in the beginning of the story, he has no problem killing people. But after he kills the other sniper, he suddenly feels remorse and hate toward the war, and himself. You could also say that he is the protagonist, because even though he is killing people, he is the character that most of the readers are rooting for.

SettingThe story tells us that it is taking place in Dublin Ireland.

It tells us that it is night time, which is important in the story, because later it mentions that the sniper needs to get off the roof before the sun comes up. Through out the story, you can put together a mental image of what the roof top looks like. There is a parapet around the outside of the roof, which stands roughly three feet high. Behind the sniper there is a chimney stack. I think that the most important part of the setting, is that it is night time. If it were light outside, the sniper’s cover would have immediately been blown. The fact that it is dark makes the story much more suspenseful, and adds to many important details in the story.

Point of View, Narrator, and Voice

The point of view for this story was third-person limited. This means that the story was told from an unrelated narrator, and it shared what one character (the sniper) was thinking. Since it was third-person, the narrator does not show any bias toward any of the characters. The narrator’s voice makes the story seem depressing, and negative to help readers understand the theme of the story.

ThemeI concluded that the theme of the story is that civil war is a

tragic thing to happen to any country because you may have to fight against family and friends. I determined this, because the sniper did kill his own brother. The writer also uses negative and depressing words, that give the effect that it is a negative story.

Elements of LiteratureAfter this presentation, I hope you all have a better

understanding of the elements of literature, and how they relate to this story. I hope that this will help you to read more actively in the future. Remember when you are reading, to look for the plot, characterization, setting, point of view, voice, and theme.