Shooting an Elephant

Consider the ending of the essay: the narrator shoots the elephant and watches it slowly die. However, throughout the essay, he laments the task and says he does not want to shoot the elephant. If he stuck with his original intentions, how would that change the overall meaning of the essay; what would be the reaction of the natives; what could happen to him as a British officer?

The essay was written two years after Orwell’s first novel Burmese Days (1934), which also discusses British imperialism and the ills surrounding despotism. What else has been written that similarly captures Orwell’s message? Use another text (article, novel, or short story) to compare and contrast how the historical period is illustrated.

The idea of worth and value is touched upon throughout the essay from the worth of the narrator as a British officer, to that of the native crushed by the elephant, to that of the elephant and whether it (or the native for that matter) is worth more alive or dead. Write an essay focusing on the meaning of worth and value in “Shooting an Elephant.”

Graphic imagery is prevalent throughout the essay from the details surrounding the crushed native to that of the slow, agonizing death of the elephant. Write an essay that analyzes how graphic imagery is used and how it connects to the larger ideas or themes of the essay.

The essay is written in the first person. The reader witnesses the narrator’s conflict with his position as a British officer who supports the native people against the ruling power. Where else in literature have you encountered a character who demonstrates a similar conflict between their station in life and what they believe morally?

The narrator often falls prey to the persuasion of the growing crowd of natives. Despite his literal and figurative position of power over them, he ultimately submits to them, going against his original intention not to shoot the elephant. Describe the psychology of his decision to follow the wishes of the crowd. Does the same thing happen today in, for example, social media?

Much is made about guns and the power they wield over moral decision-making. The narrator requests a different rifle each time he approaches the elephant. Analyze the symbolism of the rifle in “Shooting an Elephant” and how it connects to a greater message about the power weapons hold.

In various sections of “Shooting an Elephant,” the narrator compares his mission to that of a performer or actor. He writes, “They were watching me as they would watch a conjurer about to perform a trick” (152). Just as battles in the coliseum in Rome were entertainment for the masses, the narrator’s battle against the elephant who has gone mad is a “must-see” event. Use examples such as these to write an essay about violence as entertainment.