Storyboarding is an excellent way to focus on types of literary conflicts.
Having students create storyboards that show the cause and effect of different types of conflicts strengthens analytical thinking about literary concepts. Have your students choose an example of each literary conflict and depict them using the storyboard creator. In the storyboard, an example of each conflict should be visually represented, along with an explanation of the scene, and how it fits the particular category of conflict.
The narrator is in conflict with his pride and his conscience over whether or not to shoot the elephant. The elephant’s “must” has passed and he is now peaceful; it would be relatively easy to keep an eye on him until the mahout returns. However, the crowd behind the narrator waiting for him to show his muscle as a police officer makes him scared that they will laugh at him if he simply walks away or allows himself to get killed by the elephant.
An elephant in “must” (spelled musth), is in a state of heightened aggression in young male elephants. Elephants in musth have been known to violently attack other elephants, other animals, and people who get in their way. The elephant in the story has already knocked down a hut, killed a cow, knocked over a garbage van, and eaten the stock from fruit stalls. When he kills the Dravidian coolie, his aggression has reached its peak.
The narrator is a police officer for the occupying British leadership, but he finds himself empathizing and siding with the plight of the oppressed Burmans. He hates his job and he hates the terrible side of the dirty work of the Empire. He has to keep his beliefs to himself, though, even though he also hates the way that the Burmans treat him because of the position he holds.
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Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that shows at least three forms of literary conflict in “Shooting An Elephant”.
Bring conflict concepts to life by weaving them into your daily lessons and activities. Encourage students to share examples from their own experiences or other texts, and connect these discussions to the conflicts in “Shooting an Elephant.” This fosters deeper understanding and real-world relevance.
After covering “Shooting an Elephant,” challenge students to spot similar conflicts in other readings or media. Ask guiding questions to help them recognize patterns and connect literary concepts across different contexts.
Divide the class into groups and assign each a conflict from the story. Have students debate the character’s choices and motivations, supporting their opinions with evidence from the text. This builds critical thinking and collaborative discussion skills.
Invite students to create posters, comics, or digital slideshows depicting conflicts from “Shooting an Elephant” or their own lives. Allowing creative expression helps students internalize literary concepts and makes learning more engaging.
Ask students to write a short reflection about a time they faced a conflict similar to those in the story. Connecting literature to their own experiences deepens empathy and comprehension.
The main types of conflict in “Shooting an Elephant” are man vs. self (internal struggle within the narrator), man vs. nature (the dangerous elephant in musth), and man vs. society (the narrator’s role as a British officer among the Burmans). Each type highlights different pressures the narrator faces.
Use storyboarding to help students visually represent and analyze the types of conflict in “Shooting an Elephant.” Have students identify examples of conflict, categorize them, and create storyboard panels with descriptions, encouraging deeper understanding and discussion.
An example of man vs. self conflict is the narrator’s internal struggle over whether to shoot the elephant. He battles his conscience, pride, and fear of public opinion, unsure of the right course of action.
Storyboarding helps students break down complex literary conflicts visually, making abstract concepts concrete. It encourages critical thinking and allows for individual or group exploration of character motivations and outcomes.
Have students create a storyboard with at least three panels, each showing a different conflict from “Shooting an Elephant.” They should illustrate the scene, categorize the conflict, and write a brief explanation for each.