The theme of sacrifice in "Shooting an Elephant" is also present in Orwell's essay "A Hanging." Read "A Hanging" and compare it to "Shooting an Elephant." What similarities do the two works share? What basic human characteristics do they examine?

The narrator of "Shooting an Elephant" serves as an agent of the British Empire and is therefore involved in the "dirty business" of British imperialism. He is also a person with a conscience. Discuss the narrator's sense of guilt. To what extent should he be criticized for taking part in the shooting of the elephant? To what extent should he be understood for recognizing the complexities of the situation?

Although he is an agent of the British Empire, the narrator of "Shooting an Elephant" expresses disdain for his role in imperial colonization. Contrast this attitude with that of Kurtz in Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness. Can we infer the authors' perspectives on colonization based on their literary works?

"Shooting an Elephant" deals with the behavior of mobs. Consider other examples of mob behavior, whether from real-life events or fictional stories. Are the actions of the mob in these instances similar to those described in Orwell's narrative? Discuss the human inclination to resent the differences in others. How does this resentment lead to conflict and violence?