The battle between the Free Staters and the Republicans in the 1922-1923 Irish Civil War provides the backdrop for “The Sniper.” Individuals prepare for a discussion of Liam O’Flaherty’s tragic short story by completing a study guide that asks them to define vocabulary words, identify literary terms, and answer fact-based questions about the tale. Consider providing groups with additional questions that require research into the civil war and critical thinking about issues raised by the story.