Independent NovelTech Focus Assignment

Follow all directions and be sure to stay on the approved sites for the

photographs and images.

Your presentation must include the following pieces/information:

• A cover slide with the novel title, author, and your name.

• An appropriate and fitting image taken ONLY from taggalaxy.de that captures an idea or message in your novel.

Remember to check the RUBRIC for all the details!

“The Sniper”

by Liam O’ Flaherty

Technology Activity Prepared by Mr. Abbott

How important are the characters and conflicts in a story?

What do we learn about the characters from the conflicts they

face?

How do these conflicts drive the plot and motivate the characters to

change?

Identify the central conflicts in your novel.

EXPLAIN what you learned about the characters based on how they attempt to face the conflicts and

how they changed as a result.

Briefly summarize each conflict and tell which

characters were involved.

Part 1 – Locate a section of text that describes an important scene or part

of the conflict.

Part 3 - Explain what happens during the conflict and what those events reveal

about the characters involved. You may also explain how the character changes

due to the conflict.

Part 2 – Use taggalaxy.de to locate an image that

closely matches the description.

“Rainsford’s second thought was even more terrible. It sent a shudder of cold horror through his whole being. Why had the general smiled? Why had he turned back?

     Rainsford did not want to believe what his reason told him was true, but the truth was as evident as the sun that had by now pushed through the morning mists. The general was playing with him! The general was saving him for another day’s sport! The Cossack was the cat; he was

the mouse. Then it was that Rainsford knew the full meaning of terror (33).”

At this point Rainsford realizes that the General did find him and could have easily killed him, but the General decided it was more fun to let him live and hunt him again. Rainsford is now forced into thinking like the prey instead of the hunter. The conflict of the story has become

more complicated and the level of suspense has increased because the readers know that Rainsford is at a serious disadvantage and the stakes are high.

MODEL

SLIDE

Your presentation must include the following pieces/information:

• FOUR (4) completed conflict/character slidesEach conflict/character slide requires:

• A direct quote from the text with the correct page number

• An appropriate and fitting image taken ONLY from taggalaxy.de

• An explanation (NOT A SUMMARY) of the importance the conflict and what is revealed about the character(s).

Remember to check the RUBRIC for all the details!

How important are the settings in a story?

What important events occur at the different settings?

What do these events reveal about the characters and their traits?

Identify the most important settings from your novel.

EXPLAIN what you learned about the characters based on their actions and words in each

of the events.

Tell what occurred at each of the settings and which characters were

involved.

Part 1 – Locate a section of text that describes an important setting from

the story.

Part 3 - Explain what happens in that setting and what the action reveals

about the characters involved.

Part 2 – Use taggalaxy.de to locate an image that closely

matches the description of the setting.

“The long June twilight faded into night. Dublin lay enveloped in darkness but for the dim light of the moon that shone through

fleecy clouds, casting a pale light as of approaching dawn over the streets and the dark waters of the Liffey (10).”

Liam O’ Flaherty creates the mood of story through the use descriptive words and vivid language. The setting is

established as a dangerous and challenging place to survive.

“Almost immediately, a bullet flattened itself against the parapet of the roof. The sniper took another whiff and put out the cigarette. Then he swore softly and

crawled away to the left (10).”

The sniper reveals an important character trait by knowingly lighting a cigarette even after thinking about the dangers and possible consequences of his actions. His reckless behavior demonstrates the sniper’s willingness to put his life at risk.

“The rifle fell from his grasp, hit the parapet, fell over, bounded off the pole of a barber’s shop

beneath, and then clattered on the pavement (13).”

The protagonist managed to trick the enemy sniper into thinking he had been shot and killed. The protagonist then uses a

revolver to shoot and kill his enemy opening up a fairly safe escape route from the rooftop. This shows the protagonist is calm and cool-headed when faced with difficult challenges.

Your presentation must include the following pieces/information:

• Three (3) completed setting slides

Each slide requires:• A direct quote from the text with the correct page

number• An appropriate and fitting image taken ONLY from

taggalaxy.de• An explanation (NOT A SUMMARY) of the

importance the setting and what is revealed about the character(s).

Remember to check the RUBRIC for all the details!

How important is the narrator in a story?

What information does the narrator add to the plot?

What does this information reveal about the author and his/her

attitude?

Part 1 – Locate a section of text that demonstrates the type of narrator in

your novel as well as reveals the narrator’s attitude.

Part 3 - Explain what the text reveals about the narrator’s attitude toward characters, subject or the audience.

Part 2 – Use taggalaxy.de to locate an image that closely

matches image created by or attitude of the

narrator.

Your presentation must include the following pieces/information:

• Three (3) completed narrator slides

Each slide requires:• A direct quote from the text with the correct page

number• An appropriate and fitting image taken ONLY from

taggalaxy.de• An explanation (NOT A SUMMARY) of the

importance of the narrator and what is revealed about the author’s attitude toward the subject, character(s), or audience.

Remember to check the RUBRIC for all the details!

“An aunt belonging to the children occupied one corner seat, and the further corner seat on the opposite side was occupied by a bachelor who was a stranger to their party, but the small girls and the small boy emphatically occupied the compartment (221).”

The narrator uses language like the word “belonging” and “emphatically occupied” to show that the children are in charge in this relationship. Immediately, the narrator has established the children as irritating and poorly behaved. The bachelor automatically becomes a sympathetic character.

The narrator lets the reader know that the aunt is a terrible storyteller when he says “she began an unenterprising and deplorable uninteresting story.” Also, we know the children hate the story and are not behaving well because they keep interrupting. Neither the aunt nor the children are depicted in a positive light.

“In a low, confidential voice, interrupted at frequent intervals by loud, petulant questions from her listeners, she began an unenterprising and deplorably uninteresting story about a little girl who was good . . . (222).”

“Unhappy woman!” he observed to himself as he walked down the platform of Templecombe station; “for the next six months or so those children will assail her in public with demands for an improper story! (226)”

The narrator lets the reader see into the bachelor’s thoughts so that we know what he is thinking. Since this is also the last line of the story, the reader knows the narrator thinks the bachelor has gotten the last laugh. He has revenged himself on the aunt for not being able to control the children. Beware parents of unruly children or someone might tell your kids an improper story!