‘Shooting an Elephant’ by George Orwelln for B.A./B.Com/B.Sc 1st Semester

Topic- ‘Shooting an Elephant’ by George Orwell

Lesson questions & additionals.

1.      “And suddenly I realized that I should have to shoot the elephant after all”,
Part-1:  What made the author suddenly realize that he would have to shoot the elephant?
Part-2: Why does he use the expression “after all”?
Part-3: Explain how Orwell came to realize what course of action he should take?
Ans:-
1st Part:-
 The author had no interest to shoot the elephant. He took an elephant rifle only for his safety. Then he went to the place where the elephant was. When, he arrived at the place, he saw that more than two thousand of people gathered there. Also, people were growing (numbers) more and more every minute. He looked over the men and saw a yellow faces above the garish (bright & showy) clothes. People were happy and excited. They were interested to see the shooting of the elephant and his death. Besides, most of the people wanted its meat. Even, the author knew that the people did not like him. All were watching at the author as a conjurer that was going to perform a trick to kill the elephant. At that sudden moment, the author suddenly realised that he would have to shoot the elephant anyway.

2nd part:-
The author used the expression ‘after all’ when he stayed/stand the moment that he had to shoot the elephant after all. He said like that because the people wanted to do by him. He saw that two thousand people were pressing him forward to kill the elephant.  At that situation, the author felt like a Sahib. According to him, a Sahib must be perform as a Sahib and should be act as a powerful person. Also, a Sahib should be solved any problem what comes on his way. The people felt him as a Sahib and so he should be do as they wished. The author knew that if he would away or fled away that situation, then people laugh at him and criticise/discuss as a coward. So, he took the decision to shoot the elephant ‘after all’.

3rd Part:-
It was clearly known what course of action he should take. He readied his riffle to shoot the elephant. The riffle was as beautiful as other German beautiful thing with cross-hair sights. But, he did not know clearly one matter that one should shoot to cut an imaginary bar running between ear-holes. So, the author aimed few inches in front of it and was thinking that the brain would be forward. He shot three times at first and at last by the small rifle’s all bullets. Finally, the elephant had died after half an hour.



2. Part-I
How did Orwell shoot the elephant to death?
Or: Describe the shooting of the elephant till it died.
Part-II  
What trouble did face in shooting the animal?
Additional/Or: Why did Orwell not want to shoot the elephant?
Or:  On what ground is the shooting of a working elephant a serious matter? Why did the author kill it then?
Or:-  Describe the feelings of the author in died of the elephant.
Ans:-
Part-I:
It was clearly known what course of action he should take. He readied his riffle to shoot the elephant. The riffle was as beautiful as other German beautiful thing with cross-hair sights. But, he did not know clearly one matter that one should shoot to cut an imaginary bar running between ear-holes. So, the author aimed few inches in front of it and was thinking that the brain would be forward.
When the author pulled the trigger then he had not heard the riffle sound, instead he only heard the glee of the crowd. At the hit of the bullet, the elephant could not stand and he was paralysed.  After five seconds, the elephant sagged to his knees and was slobbering (lelaoti) his mouth.  The author again fired his second shot. Then the elephant did not collapse but stood weakly and drooping its head. After that, he fired the third which diminished/damaged the elephant strength of his legs. Then only, the elephant trumpeted (crying) for the first time and he fell down the ground towards the author.
The Burmans rushed to the elephant. But, it was not dead till then. His mouth was wide open and heavy breathing. The author had been waiting for a long time but he did not seem to be dying. So, the author fired the remaining shots in his heart. But, there were no any change. The author sent for his small rifle and he shot one after another into his heart and throat (gala). The author went away from there and he heard that it took thirty minutes to die. The people had carried all meats from the elephant’s body by the afternoon.

Part-II:-       
            The author had never felt any good on regarding to shoot the elephant. He was very sad and hurt in his heart. He had never planned to kill the elephant but the situation had changed him as a hunter. That situation provided him as some pressures and obliged to kill the elephant. Among the two thousand people, he reacted as a Sahib but his heart was totally damaged in sad. Some reason why the author did not want kill the elephant are:-
(1)   The author did not like to kill the elephant.
(2)   If he would kill the elephant then there would be much loss of worth for the owner.
(3)   He was not so smart in shooting
(4)   He was totally not interested to kill a big animal which should be conserved
(5)   He was very sad and his heart was severely hurt to do that work
(6)   He also did not want to kill like the elephant who were going to be old and old
But, some reasons why the author killed the elephant are:-
1.       The elephant was a tame elephant and had broken chain and escaped
2.      The mahout could not control him.
3.      The elephant had devoured/destructed a lot of things.
4.      The elephant also overturned a municipal rubbish van.
5.      The author saw an almost naked body of an Indian Dravidian coolie who was sprawling in the mud and lying on his belly with crucified arms. His head was twisted and also the strips of the elephant’s foot were in the skin of his back.

Seeing those sights, he was ready to kill the elephant. Also, some reasons are:-
6.      The situation where more than two thousand of people wanted to kill the elephant.
7.      He was notified as a Sahib, so if he would not do then they laugh at him.
8.      If the elephant would be not died he would be done lots of destructions
9.      Everybody was depended on the author to solve the problem
10.  As an officer, he should be done the problem.
                  He had faced the all problems what to do and what not to do, but at last he had killed the animal for everyone keeps safe from the mad elephant.

Additional:-
Q. What does the writer say about his days in Moulmein?
Or: What are Orwell’s views on imperialism and his job.
Or: Why the author wanted to left his job.
Note—Below points are written like this only for reminding, don’t write like this, you should write all the lines without point wise in your exam. But, if you can manage, you can use it anyway or as your wishes.
Answer:-
1.     The author lived in the Moulmein.
2.     The writer was hated by lots of people in Moulmein, Lower Burma.
3.     The author was a sub-divisional police officer of the town.
4.     He was not loved by anyone.
5.     But, they did not dare to against the author and any work.
6.     The Europeans were treated there and looked down upon badly/bitterly.
7.     The author was also assaulted in the football field and the crowd.
8.     There were thousands of priests there who were worst people.
9.     They always stood on the street corners and were making fun of the Europeans.
10.  All these things made the author very upset.
So, he had very worst about the matters. Also,
1.     He thought that the imperialism is an evil thing.
2.     According to him, it would be better if he would leave the job.
3.     He hated his job and he saw as a dirty work of the Empire closely.
4.     He was felt guilty himself to see the prisoners in cages and the people who had been flogged/beaten with bamboos.
5.     At that situation, he was young and ill educated, so he had to solve all the problems.
6.     On one side he thought as a British empire and the other hand the troubles which he faced in live there.

                  So, he thought to leave the job and the place and these are the experience of living in the place Moulmein which was situated in Lower Burma


Notice: Dear students, I hope it will be helping you a little for this lesson. All the Best, by P.B.