George Orwell’s essay
Page minimum: 3 pp; MLA formatting
Note: Support your key points with examples and brief quotations. Please avoid “writing for the teacher.” Assume that you are writing for an audience of educated readers who have not read the text you are analyzing. Also, avoid using the first-person. Please note also that in the Content area you can find tabs for guidelines on MLA formatting and on quotation (in a separate tab).
The following questions should give you some sense of direction:
1. Thesis prompt: What, in a nutshell, does Orwell mean by “the real nature of imperialism”?
2. What is the nature of the personal dilemma that Orwell faces as a policeman in lower Burma in the mid 1920’s? (Here discuss his ambivalent feelings about the natives, his view of imperialism, etc.)
3. How might the death of the “coolie” be presented symbolically to reinforce the reader’s understanding of the oppressive nature of imperialism?
4. What factors cause Orwell to hesitate before shooting the elephant?
5. Why does he decide that he has no choice but to shoot the elephant, and what has this to do with the “real nature of imperialism”? (This is where you should nail down your thesis statement; it will be the most important paragraph in the essay, and probably the longest.)
6. Why does Orwell dwell at great length on the slow and agonizing death of the elephant? How might this passage play into his imperialism theme?
7. In your conclusion, consider Orwell’s closing remarks on the shooting incident and reflect upon the relevance of his essay today.