Shooting an Elephant Group at eNotes

Do you think that Orwell's sense of irony reflects his privileged...

Wed, 2 Dec 2009 18:04:01 PST

Do you think that Orwell's sense of irony reflects his privileged position in Burma?

I believe the function of the rifle is as a symbol of a major theme that...

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:03:24 PST

I believe the function of the rifle is as a symbol of a major theme that Orwell is trying to emphasize in this essay. One of Orwell's major themes is that colonialism is bad. One problem with it is that it robs both the colonizers and the colonized of their dignity and integrity. To see how the rifle helps symbolize this theme, look in the paragraph just before he shoots the elephant -- it starts "But at that moment..." The rifle is the...

Comment on the function of the rifle in this essay.

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:48:06 PST

Comment on the function of the rifle in this essay.

You are right that Orwell does not seem to have an emphasis on animal...

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:16:35 PST

You are right that Orwell does not seem to have an emphasis on animal right, but this does not surprise me, because people are only products of their society. If the society in which Orwell lived (earlier part of the twentieth century) did not care about animals and their well treatment, then why would his lack of concern be surprise? All societies have blind spots. One can argue that things have not changed much today with alligator shoes,...

I would certainly agree with you that George Orwell does not seem to be...

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:30:02 PST

I would certainly agree with you that George Orwell does not seem to be concerned with animal rights in his essay "Shooting an Elephant." If I understand your question correctly, you are wondering if we should be suprised by this. I do not believe there is any reason to be surprised at this. Orwell's essay first appeared in 1936. This was long before animal rights of the sort (some worry about today) appeared as an issue. There was some...

Animal rights do not seem to be an issue at all in this text. Does...

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:42:56 PST

Animal rights do not seem to be an issue at all in this text. Does this surprise you or not?

Compare and contrast the description of the killing of the elephant in...

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:38:20 PST

Compare and contrast the description of the killing of the elephant in paragraphs 10-13 and the killing of the Indian as related in paragraph 4.

I'm assuming that when you say "commonly shared values" you mean values...

Thu, 5 Nov 2009 18:54:23 PST

I'm assuming that when you say "commonly shared values" you mean values that are shared by all people. If that's the case, here's what I see: The desire not to be embarassed. Much of what motivates Orwell is his personal desire to look good in front of other people and to do what they expect him to do (shoot the elephant). It makes him do a thing he doesn't really want to do. Pity. Orwell feels a great deal of pity for the elephant as...

Identify all commonly shared values in the essay," Shooting an Elephant"...

Thu, 5 Nov 2009 11:43:50 PST

Identify all commonly shared values in the essay," Shooting an Elephant" with examples.

I believe that the question in the link below is essentially the same as...

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 15:41:47 PST

I believe that the question in the link below is essentially the same as this one. Check out the link. If that doesn't answer your question, let me know.

What are the main political concerns of the narrator in Orwell's...

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 14:40:30 PST

What are the main political concerns of the narrator in Orwell's "Shooting an Elephant"?

Compare & Contrast "Shooting an elphant" & "In search of our...

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:18:04 PST

Compare & Contrast "Shooting an elphant" & "In search of our Mothers gardens" and their use of ethos,& complexities of social issues?

The main audience for Orwell in writing "Shooting an Elephant" was the...

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 14:04:15 PST

The main audience for Orwell in writing "Shooting an Elephant" was the English people as a whole. The point of the essay was to argue that colonialism was a bad system -- that it hurt both the colonized and the colonizers. He argues that the colonizers lose their integrity and their moral values when they rule over others. Since he's arguing against colonialism, it makes sense for him to direct his argument at the people who could actually...

In "Shooting an Elephant" by Orwell, who is the audience/for whom did...

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 13:49:18 PST

In "Shooting an Elephant" by Orwell, who is the audience/for whom did Orwell write the essay?

I would argue that it is not freedom that Orwell and England are giving...

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:42:57 PST

I would argue that it is not freedom that Orwell and England are giving up. Instead, I'd say it is their conscience/integrity and their moral authority. One of the arguments in favor of imperialism was the idea that the British were more civilized (which implies a higher morality) than the people they ruled. In the story, Orwell does not want to shoot the elephant -- his conscience tells him he shouldn't. But he is forced to do so anyway...

In "Shooting an Elephant," what is it that Orwell and England end up...

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:19:23 PST

In "Shooting an Elephant," what is it that Orwell and England end up sacrificing when they do not live up to their own principles?

Orwell's "Shooting an Elephant" is concerned mainly with imperialism. ...

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 17:58:25 PST

Orwell's "Shooting an Elephant" is concerned mainly with imperialism. Orwell was writing in the 1930s, at a time when Great Britain still controlled India as well as colonies in Southeast Asia, such as Burma, where this essay is set. In the essay, Orwell argues that imperialism degrades both the rulers and the ruled, making them hate each other. He also reflects on how imperialism drives him, as a member of the ruling race, to do things he...

What is Orwell's message to the audience in "Shooting an Elephant"?

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 17:36:15 PST

What is Orwell's message to the audience in "Shooting an Elephant"?

narrative point

Mon, 5 Oct 2009 15:57:47 PST

locate the sentence(s) in which Orwell states his main idea. If he does not state the thesis explicitly, express your own words.

In Orwell's "Shooting An Elephant," the narrator is a police officer...

Sat, 3 Oct 2009 01:49:52 PST

In Orwell's "Shooting An Elephant," the narrator is a police officer during a period of intense anti-European sentiment. Although his intellectual sympathies lie with the Burmese, his official role makes him a symbol of the oppressive imperial power. He is subjected to constant harassment by the local people. After receiving a call regarding a usually tame elephant's rampage the narrator, armed with a rifle and riding on a pony, goes to the...