A common use for Storyboard That is to help students create a plot diagram of the events from a story. Not only is this a great way to teach the parts of the plot, but it reinforces major events and helps students develop greater understanding of literary structures.
Students can create a storyboard capturing the narrative arc in a work with a six-cell storyboard containing the major parts of the plot diagram. For each cell, have students create a scene that follows “Shooting An Elephant” in sequence using: Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution.
As a young British Imperial police officer in Moulmein, Burma, the narrator is routinely subjected to hateful stares, jeers, and insults. The Burmese people have an intense disdain for their British oppressors, but while the narrator internally agrees and sympathizes with them, he also knows that he has a job and a position to uphold for the time being.
The narrator is called about an elephant that has gone “must”, or mad, and has been showing aggressive behavior in the local bazaar. The mahout, the trainer and caretaker of the elephant, had gone out searching for the elephant after it escaped, but he went in the wrong direction. The narrator takes a rifle and goes out in search of the elephant, but isn’t sure what he will do when he finds it.
The narrator comes across the elephant who has just killed a native Dravidian coolie. The narrator sends someone for an elephant rifle and a crowd gathers. While the narrator initially sent for the rifle for defense, the gathering crowd follows him as he finds the elephant peacefully eating grass in the field. While the narrator knows the elephant is no longer a danger, the 2,000 people behind him want a show. If he simply walks away, he will look like a fool.
The narrator does not want to shoot the elephant. The elephant is an important and expensive possession, and the narrator sees no sense in killing him. But, his pride and his position as a white police officer makes him decide to shoot anyways. The narrator doesn’t know how to shoot to kill an elephant, and the elephant falls to the ground in agony, but does not die.
The narrator continues to shoot the elephant in places where he thinks the death will come quickly, but he’s not totally sure of the elephant’s anatomy. Several shots to his chest and head don’t work. The elephant continues to suffer until finally the narrator has to walk away. The Burmans strip the dead elephant to the bones.
The narrator recounts the aftermath of the shooting. The owner was furious, but the owner was an Indian, so his opinion did not count for much. Because the elephant had killed the coolie man, the narrator was legally in the right for killing the elephant. One European man mused that it was a shame to kill the elephant for killing a coolie, because the elephant is worth more financially. The narrator knows he did it because he didn’t want to look like a fool.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a visual plot diagram of “Shooting An Elephant”.
Invite students to retell a key scene from “Shooting an Elephant” from the perspective of a different character, such as the elephant or a Burmese villager. This fresh viewpoint encourages empathy and helps students deepen their understanding of character motivations and the story’s themes.
Designate students as the narrator, townspeople, or the elephant, and act out pivotal scenes. This brings the story to life, fosters collaboration, and helps students internalize events and motivations in a memorable way.
Have students investigate British imperialism in Burma to understand the setting and social dynamics in the story. This background knowledge enriches classroom discussion and helps students make meaningful connections to the text.
Organize a classroom debate on whether the narrator made the right decision. Encourage students to use evidence from the text and their research. This activity develops critical thinking and argumentation skills.
A plot diagram for "Shooting an Elephant" outlines the story's main events using six parts: exposition, conflict, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. It helps students visually organize and understand the narrative structure of George Orwell's essay.
To teach students to summarize "Shooting an Elephant," have them create a six-cell storyboard that captures each plot element—exposition, conflict, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution—by drawing scenes and writing brief descriptions for each.
The key events include: the narrator's role as a British officer in Burma, discovering the rampaging elephant, the crowd gathering, the narrator's moral struggle, shooting the elephant under pressure, and reflecting on his motives and consequences.
Using a visual plot diagram engages students by letting them break down and organize story elements, reinforcing comprehension of narrative arcs and helping them remember major events and literary terms.
Use interactive tools like storyboards, encourage group discussion, provide clear instructions for each plot part, and let students illustrate scenes. Relating themes to students' experiences can also boost engagement and understanding.