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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. In the opening of the story, machine guns fire "spasmodically." How are they firing?

2. What is the only description given of the old woman?

3. The sniper's face is described as "ascetic" (96). What does this imply about the sniper?

4. When the enemy sniper is "silhouetted" (98), what is true?

5. The description of the car "panting" (96) suggests what about the situation?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are the two contrasting descriptions of the sniper given when he is first introduced?

2. What striking contrast is there in the description that opens the story with the description that closes the first paragraph?

3. Who does the sniper kill while he is still waiting to kill the enemy sniper, and why does he kill them?

4. What causes the sniper to suddenly lose his enthusiasm for the battle?

5. What happens as a result of the Republican sniper's ruse?

6. What is the setting of "The Sniper"?

7. What problem is created by the sniper's wound?

8. What motivates the sniper to get himself back under control?

9. Who are the Republicans at war with, and what does this opposition believe?

10. When the reader first encounters the sniper, what is he doing, and why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The words "dead" and "deadened" occur repeatedly in the paragraphs about the sniper getting hit with a bullet. Explain the thematic purpose of this repetition.

Essay Topic 2

Explain the symbolic significance of the sniper's bullet injury and his treatment of it. Be sure to use textual evidence to support your claim.

Essay Topic 3

What causes the sniper's abrupt change of emotion once he has killed the other sniper? Why does this occur only after he has killed the enemy sniper, and not when he kills the first person, the machine gunner?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 772 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample