The juxtaposition of the policeman and the elephant in George Orwell's Shooting an Elephant is a clear representation of the impact of imperial rule on a country. ... 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 the moral dilemma of whether to please the people of Burma and kill the elephant or to spare the elephant's life. ... The policeman knows these people are harmless when they are not being forced to act in such a way, just like he says about the elephant ...

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

In "Shooting an Elephant," the author, George Orwell contends with imperialism. ... When he faced with the issue of shooting an elephant or not, Orwell was forced to shoot the innocent elephant to satisfy the Burmese who isolated Orwell mentally. ... Everyone faces difficult decisions, even Orwell hesitated before shooting the elephant. ... The elephant which killed the coolie gives Orwell an excuse for shooting the elephant. ... "Shooting an Elephant" recorded an incident when Orwell faced an ethical dilemma and shot the elephant in order to escape from native Burmese's laughin...

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

In George Orwell's short story Shooting an Elephant, he writes about racial prejudice and injustice. ... Orwell is not forced to acknowledge these atrocities until he is put into the position to shoot an elephant. ... While contemplating on whether to shoot the elephant or not, his motives become personal. ... "(1542) No matter how much the author refuses in his mind to shoot the elephant. ... Orwell hears comments like, "it was a damn shame to shoot an elephant for killing a coolie...

• Word Count: 772
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

Battle Of The Ants And Shooting An Elephant Imperialistic View In both "The Battle of the Ants" by Thoreau and "Shooting an Elephant" by Orwell, imperialism plays a role. ... In "shooting an elephant" the elephant in symbolic of imperialism representing power as an untamed animal that has control over the village. ... In "Shooting an Elephant" Orwell represents the elephant as a force greater than the narrator has the ability to kill. ... Orwell is faced with a very important decision of whether or not he should shoot the elephant. ... In "Shooting an Elephant" the narrator feels forced ...

• Word Count: 877
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

George Orwell has two very conflicting feelings towards the Burmese people throughout his essay. He writes "I thought that the greatest joy in the world would be to drive a bayonet into a Buddhist priest's guts-(Pg.680), and then he turns around and says "Theoretically "and secretly, of course "-I ...

• Word Count: 348
• Approx Pages: 1
• Grade Level: High School