Themes, symbols, and motifs come alive when you use a storyboard. In this activity, students will identify themes and symbols from the story, and support their choices with details from the text.
The story highlights the evils of imperialism, including the dirty work of neglected prisoners and bamboo beatings. The narrator is plagued with guilt over the part he plays in perpetuating the treatment of the Burmans. The story also highlights the cycle of resentment that comes with a people who are being oppressed by a despotic government: the more they rebel and mistreat the occupying forces, the more the occupying forces’ disdain increases and the punishments become more severe. This leads to more resentment by the people, and more resentment by the occupiers. The Burmans are unarmed, totally reliant on the British government, impoverished, and subjugated. The narrator is a part of this imperial machine, but he hates it because he sees its downsides and its victims.
The narrator struggles with his conscience over killing the elephant. After he shoots the elephant, he finds that he didn’t do it correctly, and the suffering of the animal causes him to eventually have to walk away. He finds out later that the elephant took a half an hour to die; he is plagued by this guilt for many years afterwards because he knows that he made the wrong decision for all of the wrong reasons.
The narrator struggles with his conscience because he doesn’t want to look like a fool by walking away from the elephant in front of the Burman crowd. Even worse, he doesn’t want to accidentally be killed by the elephant, which the crowd would observe with laughter. He muses that his predicament is a reflection of the “futility of the white man’s dominion in the East.” He sees himself as a puppet whose strings are being pulled by the crowd, and that even though his position is supposed to put him in control, he very much is not in control of anything at all.
The elephant can be seen as a symbol of the people oppressed by British Imperialism. The elephant is chained up but breaks free, and follows its natural behavior. When it has expended its energies and revenge, it is peaceful. However, despite its calm and peaceful demeanor, it is punished not because of its sins, but because of the arbitrary ideals of the man holding the rifle, who is desperately trying to hold on to his semblance of power—much like the despotic government itself.
The Burmans are not merely spectators to the scene; they act as a catalyst for the narrator’s decision to take action against the elephant. The narrator knows that if he stands in front of the elephant and it doesn’t charge him, then the elephant is over his rage; however, to simply walk away from the crowd without doing anything would make him look stupid. The crowd’s expectations challenge the narrator’s ego and authority, and causes him to violate his conscience.
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Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that identifies recurring themes in “Shooting An Elephant”. Illustrate instances of each theme and write a short description below each cell.
Engage students in critical thinking by arranging a debate about the narrator’s choices and the ethics of imperialism. This activity deepens understanding of the story’s themes by allowing students to explore multiple viewpoints.
Encourage role-play to help students empathize with different perspectives. Assigning roles gives each student a stake in the discussion and helps them use textual evidence to build arguments.
Direct students to find and cite specific passages that support their stance. This builds critical reading skills and ensures the debate is grounded in the story.
Establish guidelines for respectful exchanges and equal participation. Clear structure keeps the debate focused and productive, allowing all voices to be heard.
Lead a wrap-up discussion where students share insights or new questions that arose. This step helps solidify learning and connects the debate back to the main themes and symbols of the story.
The major themes in 'Shooting an Elephant' include the evils of imperialism, crisis of conscience, and struggle with pride. The story explores the moral dilemmas faced by the narrator, the oppressive nature of colonial rule, and the complexities of authority and peer pressure.
The elephant in the story symbolizes the people oppressed by British imperialism. Just as the elephant is chained, breaks free, and is ultimately punished for arbitrary reasons, so too are the colonized people controlled and punished by the imperial power, reflecting the cruelty and futility of imperial rule.
The narrator feels guilty because he realizes he shot the elephant for the wrong reasons—mainly to avoid looking foolish in front of the crowd, rather than because it was necessary. He is haunted by the animal's suffering and his role in enforcing oppressive colonial authority.
The crowd acts as a catalyst, pressuring the narrator to shoot the elephant. Their expectations challenge his authority and pride, forcing him to act against his conscience. The story shows how peer pressure and the desire to maintain control can override personal morals.
Students can identify themes and symbols by looking for recurring ideas (like imperialism or guilt) and objects (such as the elephant or the crowd) that represent deeper meanings. Using a storyboard helps students visually connect text evidence to specific themes and symbols.