Shooting An Elephant

... define what is really right when someone's decision isn't pleasing to others. The dilemma that George Orwell faced in "Shooting an Elephant" is similar to one many face in his or her life because people are facing different challenges all the time during their lives. ... In "Shooting an Elephant," the author, George Orwell contends with imperialism. Orwell was 20, and worked as a British police officer in Burma who was ... got out of it the better" (141), he participated in spreading it. When he faced with the issue of shooting an elephant or not, Orwell was forced to shoot the innocent...

• Word Count: 780
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... if he is battling with himself, in his mind to determine what the right choice would be. But Orwell felt trapped and back into a corner and this may have had an impact on his decision. "The crowd grew very still, and a deep, low, happy sigh, as if people who see the curtain go up at last, breathed from innumerable throats. They ... " characters. It is these beliefs in which the character had for himself in which got him into a situation where he could not possibly control himself. Unlike the character in, "Shooting the Elephant" and his situation, it does not appear that this character h...

• Word Count: 845
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... Shooting an Elephant", why does the police officer shoot the elephant? The elephant could have been shot because the police officer felt the animal was uncontrollable and would cause more harm; or he could have killed the elephant because he caved to peer pressure. The actual killing of the elephant takes place near the end of George Orwell's short story, "Shooting an Elephant," when the police officer shoots at the elephant ... . The officer kills the elephant because of peer pressure. As one member of the class stated, "By ... looking at the story, it can be seen that the officer's dec...

• Word Count: 290
• Approx Pages: 1
• Grade Level: High School

Shooting an Elephant: Orwell's Insecurities Prompted the Murder of a Defenseless Animal The short story "Shooting an Elephant", by George Orwell, is a narration that subtly discusses Orwell's motives for killing an escaped elephant. As a sub-division officer for imperialist Britain in 1936, Orwell attempts to keep the favor of the native townspeople where he is stationed and to avoid ... humiliation. The townspeople of Burma neither favored nor respected Orwell until an event occurred that would ... to Orwell's decision. The encumbrance of the crowd establishes a relationship between Orwell's...

• Word Count: 1277
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... ; by George Orwell, is set in time during the 1800's when the country of Burma had been conquer and put under British imperialistic rule. "Shooting an Elephant," is illustrated through the eyes of Orwell himself while working as a British Imperial Officer during this time of British rule. During his time in Burma he undergoes a life-changing ... such works as "1984" and "Animal Farm." In these works, audiences are given great insight into Orwell's views on social and political regime. Likewise, in "Shooting an Elephant," Orwell demonstrates these views by describing his own experience w...

• Word Count: 951
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... policeman and the elephant in George Orwell's Shooting an Elephant is a clear representation of the impact of imperial rule on a country. The helplessness of the people of Burma against the imperialists is portrayed through the elephant's inevitable death as well as the moral dilemma the policeman faces. The event of the elephant's death is ... feels so poorly about doing the job that he is entitled to do and him self. As the policeman stands before the elephant he proclaims, "As soon as I saw the elephant I knew with perfect certainty that I ought not to shoot him. " He is faced with th...

• Word Count: 852
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The short story of "Shooting an Elephant," by George Orwell, begins with the author describing his position as a police officer in Lower Burma. The young officer was "an obvious target and baited whenever possible" (Orwell 1). The local Burmese hated the European rule ... of opinion with his co-workers. The officer did wonder if anyone realized he had killed the elephant "solely to avoid looking like a fool" (Orwell 4). After reading George Orwell's "Shooting an Elephant," it has become apparent that this short story has more meaning that the title states. ... The young officer hates his job...

• Word Count: 794
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Name ______________________________ Date ________ Period ______ "Shooting an Elephant" Quiz (40 points; 2 points each) Directions: Circle the best answer for each question. 1. Orwell takes great length in describing the elephant's demise. What does his description foreshadow? a. the rise of the empire b. the fall of the empire c. the prosperity of the empire d. the birth of the empire e. the dream of a new empire 2. The speaker's attitude toward shooting the elephant as revealed ... of: a. simile b. a quotation c. allusion d. derogatory diction e. ironic contrast 20. "Strohschein"" means: a. ...

• Word Count: 887
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... then once in there life time. Just don't let social pressure keep you from making the right decisions. Orwell didn't deal well with social pressure in "Shooting an Elephant". Orwell was already not a very popular person in his town of Moulmein. When the townspeople where for him and took his side for once he took ... should handle the situation but he is persuaded by the townspeople to do what he feels is wrong. Orwell says how he had no intentions of shooting the elephant and that doing so would be just like murder. He knew with "perfect certainty" that he ought not to shoot him, but Or...

• Word Count: 412
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

Shooting an elephant as an attack on imperialism. The glorious days of the imperialism giant have passed, marking a death of an era of the imperialism. In George Orwell's shooting an elephant, deals with the evils of imperialism. In the nature of imperialism, the dominant regime rules the victims and willingness by arm forces. In the unjust shooting of an elephant, the author uses two main characters, a British officer acts as an imperialism country ... , while the elephant symbolizes as a victim. By not wanting ... ...

• Word Count: 301
• Approx Pages: 1
• Grade Level: Undergraduate