Understanding 'Shooting an Elephant' Themes

In 'Shooting an Elephant,' George Orwell recounts his experience as a police officer in Burma, where he was called to deal with a rampaging elephant. Despite his internal conflict and reluctance, Orwell felt compelled to shoot the elephant due to the expectations of the local crowd. The incident highlights the complexities and moral dilemmas of imperialism, as Orwell reflects on the pressures and contradictions of colonial rule.

What role did the narrator hold in the town of Moulmein?

• Buddhist priest

• School teacher

• Subdivisional police officer

• Local merchant

How did the local Burmese people generally feel about Europeans?

• They were supportive

• They harbored bitter feelings

• They were indifferent

• They admired them

What was the narrator's view on imperialism?

• He was indifferent to it

• He thought it was an evil thing

• He supported it wholeheartedly

• He believed it was beneficial

What event prompted the narrator to take action?

• A visit from a British official

• A protest by the locals

• An elephant ravaging the bazaar

• A riot in the town

Why was the elephant causing chaos in the town?

• It was injured

• It was provoked by locals

• It had gone 'must'

• It was a wild elephant

What was the narrator's initial intention regarding the elephant?

• To capture it alive

• To observe it and decide later

• To shoot it immediately

• To ignore the situation

What realization did the narrator have about his role as a white man in the East?

• He was a respected leader

• He was a puppet of the locals' expectations

• He had complete freedom

• He was feared by everyone

What was the crowd's reaction to the shooting of the elephant?

• They were angry

• They were excited and happy

• They were indifferent

• They were disappointed

How did the narrator feel after shooting the elephant?

• Indifferent to the outcome

• Regretful and reflective

• Eager to leave the town

• Proud of his actions

What was the legal justification for shooting the elephant?

• It was a personal decision

• It was a request from the locals

• It was a threat to public safety

• It was a wild animal