Shooting an elephant Critical Analysis

Explain what makes the sentence ironic: "I perceived this moment that when the white man turns tyrant it is his own freedom that he destroys."

A tyrant is the absolute ruler who is unrestrained by law, or one who has usurped a legitimate ruler's sovereignty. A tyrant is also a cruel and oppressive ruler who will defend their position by resorting to repressive means.

Orwell is thinking about going home when he discovers the dead man. What happens as a result?

As the situation escalates that the elephant kills a man, he has to go back to deal with the elephant.

Why does the author begin to think that the elephant story is untrue?

Because he is getting different versions from different people.

How are both Orwell and the elephant examples of a seeming control, when in reality each has little control? Support your answer with details from the essay.

Both Orwell and the elephant appear to posses a degree of power and control. Orwell, for instance is a sub-divisional police, in charge of bringing the elephant under control and restoring calm to the town of Moulmein. Similarly, the elephant is in the midst of its "must" and is rampaging across town. Orwell is the victim of British imperialism, forced to shoot the elephant because the situation dictates that he takes decisive action. The shooting of the elephant suggest that the elephant doesn't really passes any power or control.

What does Orwell say is the struggle of his entire life as well as the struggle of every white man in the East?

He experiences that whatever struggles he faced should not be laughed upon. But, it is a struggle he generalizes to even every other white men in the East. The fear of looking foolish is not his struggle, but is the primary burden of each white men in the east.

How is Orwell's desire when he sees the elephant different from the crowd's desire?

Orwell did not want to shoot the elephant, he had no intention to. He brought the rifle to defend himself.

What is Orwell's job in Lower Burma?

Orwell's job is an Indian Imperial Police Officer.

What does Orwell say is true of stories in the East?

People don't speak clearly.

What damage does the elephant cause in the town? Include two details from the essay.

The elephant damages the town by ravaging a bazaar, destroying a hut, raiding fruit stands, and killing a cow.

What opposing views do people have on the death of the elephant? Identify the opposing views and one person who supports each view. Support your answer with one detail from the essay.

The older men said Orwell was right, the younger men said it was a shame to shoot an elephant for killing a coolie, because an elephant was worth more than any coolie.

How do the Burmese show their dislike of British colonial rule? Use one detail from the essay to support your response.

They would laugh at the policemen for making them do something foolish.

What does the sub inspector ask Orwell to do?

Wants Orwell to do something about the ravaging elephant.

What conflicting emotions does Orwell say are the "normal by-products of imperialism"?

With one part of my mind I thought of the British Raj as an unbreakable tyranny, as something clamped down, in saecula saeculorum upon the will of prostrate peoples; with another part I thought that the greatest joy in the world would be to drive a bayonet into a Buddhist priest's guts. Feelings like these are the normal by-products of imperialism".