Understanding Orwell's "Shooting an Elephant"

A college prof examines "Shooting an Elephant"
MLA citation: Balcarcel, Rebecca. "Understanding Orwell's 'Shooting an Elephant'." Online video clip. Sixminutescholar. KZbin, 18 Aug. 2013. Web. DayMonthYearYouWatchedTheVideo.

[@juliaosicki8095]

I have to write an essay about that metaphor and you did really well keeping it short and clear, and also it was pleasant to listen to (: thank you!!

[@SixMinuteScholar]

Oh good! You're welcome. Good luck with your essay!

[@jaouadamouri6990]

Julia Pope:Hi there! hope U are doing well,if u still have the essay that you did about this can u plz help me by sending it to me ? if u are so plz lete know to give u my email to send it,thanks

[@elabassaboulmaali4025]

Hi Juila i hope that you are doing well i actually it has been 3 years ago now lol but i need your help if you wnnna too could you send me an essay that you have been written before it will be appreciate

[@dezzidy904]

I always read it like we are all in our own social constructs and at some point we are all shooting an elephant in order to 'fit in'

[@SixMinuteScholar]

Yes, that's true too!

[@halowpandaahah]

Thank you so much for making these videos,it helps me a lot. Especially when English is my second languagesI wish you are my professor :) I really appreciated your work and effort. Thank you again. :D

[@SixMinuteScholar]

You are welcome! I enjoy sharing and teaching. Thank you for giving me a wonderful feeling this morning as I read your comment!

[@nelsonnathma2359]

P

[@nzobriens]

I get the impression that many of the commentors are not actually reading the story, Killing an Elephant, which is a great story of a moral dilemma by arguably the best writer of the 20th Century. Anyone who studies English Literature should read this story. It is an absolute gem.

[@ahmedoussougou9973]

Hi can you help me inbox me my account facebook or Vk : ahmed oussougou thanks

[@haleyt05]

Bless your soul. This helped me so much on a literary analysis that I have to write! Great insights :)

[@VNECK401]

Haley Terango you still got that literary analysis? I could use some help

[@bawoman]

Didnt he also mention several times that the crowd of Burmese wanting/needing the meat from the elephant. I think that's very relevant as well...those people were likely starved or hungry...which was in itself a likely cause of the british imperialism, which the narrator was clearly against....if he chose to kill the elephant to fulfill a role and not be laughed at, he would be prioritizing his need for respect...if he chose it because he was fearfull of what would happen to him if he didnt, he prioritized self preservation, and if he did so because crowds were hungry, he prioritized other people (and perhaps a balm to his guilt for being a part of the imperialists) ..in the 3 scenarios he would be prioritizing something over what his own conscience dictated even if in the third scenario he would be acting benevolently.

[@user-wt6hw5mi5q]

Your perspective is helpful to me. Thanks.

[@raulacosta4236]

Thank you very much for being a really good teacher and support people all around the world, I know this video may seem old (7 years ago) but It was really inspiring to observe how you still creating content and uploading it to the channel :D

[@SixMinuteScholar]

Yes! I'm an Associate Professor at a community college. I love to teach!

[@tannie375]

I was absent when the teacher read and explained this passage to the class and tomorrow is my timed essay so this is very helpful

[@Tony-tn2dj]

Thank you, Rebecca, for this helpful commentary. I am an animal lover, so this story immediately put me in conflict. I also felt for Orwell. It is obviously easy to see that he was between a "rock and a hard place." We may not like his thought processing, but having lived in the subcontinent and understanding the mentality of these poor village people and understand how this is a powerful influence and factor in his decision-making, helps me understand his dilemma. So I feel that unless one has lived somehow in similar circumstances, they will not see the picture in the right perspective. Thank you again. I appreciated your commentary.

[@kashicaleslie6297]

I wasn't going to watch this video, but so glad I did! I am having to write on this for my ENG Comp class and was very nervous but I feel better now. Thank You!!

[@SixMinuteScholar]

Oh, good! Hope your assignment turned out great!

[@cedarsapling]

The inclusion of your citation is greatly appreciated! This has helped me greatly in writing my paper.

[@SixMinuteScholar]

Oh good!

[@arabian8873]

Thankyou soo much. this helped me alot because i have an exam about it tomorrow. on a side note: u have a very calm and approaching aura about u that makes people wanna listen to u which is a quality that all proffesors must have so kudos to u :P

[@PowerPointInsider]

Describe the whole story as you see Through the eyes of the elephant? Can you answer this?

[@graceforbes4278]

This is very helpful! I am in an enriched language arts class, and my teacher assigned us a college essay that needed "textual support." You brought ideas into my mind that were very helpful, and I thank you! Truly Amazing!

[@SixMinuteScholar]

Sounds like a great class! You'll use the textual support method a lot in college, so that's a smart assignment. Glad I could help you!

[@Rualovekorean]

SixMinuteScholar i have 2 question about (shooting an elephant ) 1- the way the elephant reacts after the second shot. 2- the description of the elephant after the third shot. do you know the asnwer that could help me

[@matthewmcewan4189]

Thank you so much, I'm gonna ace this English final now!

[@mahmudulhasan7446]

The narrator shoot that elephant first for three times. What does that relates? I think that relates about 3 war of Burma against English. After defending 2 times, they lost in the 3rd war. In the story, the elephant fall down on mud after 3rd shot. Waiting for ur reply :)

[@SixMinuteScholar]

Mahmudul Hasan Yes, this makes sense. The deeper symbolism and parallels to the British Empire are definitely in there. Thanks for mentioning this!

[@Abdullahsarchive]

Yes! I got another deep meaning, symbol what I could write 😍

[@user-nd6mt2mt9l]

But wait , the elephant didn’t fall after the 3rd shot “after 3 shots, the elephant still does not die” ...it took him several shots with two riffles to knock the elephant down

[@hamzachallal2371]

Thank you. Very informative video and your voice makes it much comfortable to watch. In 4 days I will write my final exams and this is one of the topics.

[@Lady0105]

Thank you for this video. You have a calming voice and your coments are detailed.

[@ebitda8611]

If you look more into the story, the background, the natives failed 2 rebellions after the first war. The incident is kind of a objective correlative to the rebellion. he mentioned about the appearance of the dead body, he said the body looks "peaceful" compares to the other bodies(the guerrilla resistance fighters). the british would torture and eventually execute the people. he talked about how painful of the elephant death and how it was struggling and making the dreadful noise, etc.

[@katiemartinez011]

Thank you so much. Im in 9th grade, but in IB and I have to do essays on different subjects for his short story and just you explaining it helped so so much.

[@NnGylaGhising]

Ahh you've no idea how much I'm thankful to you for this incredible explanation. Thank you!

[@mariellewesteneng9946]

Thank you so much! Tomorrow I have a test for English about 17 short stories, including this one! This helped me a lot

[@soufianeangoud7654]

i was feeling down because i had a mid-term in the story and i coul not analyse it the correct way. so your video was really helpful thank you from Morocco

[@Josephus_vanDenElzen]

I found that essay, most of all, very honest of Orwell.

[@jacksimpson-rogers1069]

Superb exposition! Orwell was REAL liberal and socialist. I particularly liked his note that the British were not necessarily succeeded by better rulers. I myself know a beautiful, clever Maasai Meru woman who was saved from the tribal custom of FGM which I heard about from Presbyterian minister who'd been in Kenya, because her mother was both Meru and Christian. Her brother was brilliant enough that he was a friend of my daughter at MIT, and MIT had offered him both a scholarship and money to live on in Cambridge, Mass.

[@jamaleddine8293]

I wonder if the "empire" here can take the symbol of society's value and its choices ?

[@SixMinuteScholar]

Ooh, good thought! I like it!

[@balkeesabubakar1387]

Too good points to analyse the story

[@soniazhuang8]

It is so useful！! Thank your a lot!!!! My school is reading this and writing an essay. I felt really dizzy with the read, but after I watched this I think I am really clear about it!!! Thank you so much!!!

[@fahmidarahmanmunia937]

It really helped me to understand the metaphors as well as how it’s related to our life. Thanks a lot

[@lakhumlimz2563]

i appreciate ur time n work tq it help me a lot ...

[@ashishjawanjal]

please Guide about Essay 'Inside The Whale' (1940) of George Orwell..

[@SixMinuteScholar]

Ashish Jawanjal Uh-oh! I would need to read it and study it. This essay is new to me. Thank you for bringing it to my attention! I will try to read it this spring. Thanks very much for the suggestion!

[@captainlimodrawingschool6318]

Thanks a lot madam. It was so far the best explanation I have ever come across.

[@SixMinuteScholar]

I am so glad!

[@hideshiseyes2804]

A good, interesting commentary. In Burmese Days, a novel strongly influenced by Orwell's time in Burma, the protagonist feels like he's the only one of the British officials who isn't an oppressive, racist bully. And yet he goes along with them simply because he feels pressured to. The idea of face changing to fit the mask applies here as well. Who knows, maybe most of the other British officials felt the same as Orwell on the inside and they were all just acting out of fear? The whole idea obviously foreshadows 1984 as well, where it's nightmarishly stretched into full-on mass brainwashing.

[@arrenpeterrodricks2563]

Very depth to understand and good analysis

[@nobody__9767]

This was amazing! Thank you so much. You helped me with my discussion assignment! Could I trouble you for a similar analysis on Oliver Stone's "Memo to John Grisham--What's Next? 'A Movie Made me Do It?'"

[@Omoiyari23]

When i started to realize the meaning of the writing at least in my perspective. I felt it is very much a resemblance of our law enforcement here in the Untied States.

[@nareshsharma4621]

Thanks for the comprehensive lecture could you also please through some light upon Burmese Days

[@priscillagarcia3166]

This will help me a lot with my conflict assignment, Thank you.

[@MissKarahElyse]

This was so helpful...I got the same thing out of it as you, but hearing it from another perspective was of great help! I'm writing a rhetorical strategy paper...thanks :)

[@SixMinuteScholar]

Good luck with the paper! Orwell does some cool stuff here that would make for an interesting rhetorical analysis. Hope it's great!

[@sharpnelshots]

Thank you for the summary! Really appreciated it! ❤️

[@ninaf9363]

Great explanation. Very clear!

[@g2beautyandfashion]

Thankyou so much for this! You broke it down so well, and I honestly understand the poem so much now...great video :)

[@zacharymanuel1649]

I think you just helped me write a 5 page argument essay... thank you 🙏🙏👀👀

[@JSkaraoke28]

I hope that someday I could be a good teacher just like you. You explain it well, Thank you!

[@Sachin549-e5g]

Thanks maam, love from India.🇮🇳🇮🇳

[@miguelpereira7934]

Tks...still every one can choose evens sometimes the price is to high...

[@a.f3673]

he !y plz i have to question if anyone can help me ! Discuss the relation between the police officer and the Burmans ! Discuss the endig of'' Shooting an elephant ''

[@josephborum9394]

He most likely shot it so he could take its tasks or he just wanted to use for fair game or hang it up

[@Rualovekorean]

Hello , i have 2 question about (shooting an elephant ) 1- the way the elephant reacts after the second shot. 2- the description of the elephant after the third shot. Can you answer me plz

[@SixMinuteScholar]

Oh, good! Thanks for letting me know. :-)

[@Akshayadeep_Singh]

Beautifully explained. Thank you ma'am ❤️

[@mistiqueshrestha3489]

Thank you so much ma'am. It's really helpful as I couldn't attend college. please keep helping us. 😘🎓😘😍😊

[@luknyasora6141]

Thank you for your explanation,it's so clear and easy to understand, thank you so much,, and I really like your explanation.

[@mayurdudhat9383]

can you tell me? what is Orwell's attitude toward his position in Burma, imperialism and the native ( Burmese Indians)?

[@SicloseGamings]

Thank you so much I just finish my homework...

[@SixMinuteScholar]

mindjCh!a 21 You're welcome! Glad to help. :-)

[@alejoflorez3892]

4:21 He shoots the elphant because he wants to protect that image of order and avoid looking fool

[@autumnmorin7726]

Very helpful for my finals week, thank you!

[@SixMinuteScholar]

You're welcome!

[@77asare]

Forrest M what an ironic, I'm also watching this for my final but in 2015 (a year from yours)

[@chalthamalh6273]

Same Here! 2016 xD

[@elliexo2553]

...and here I am in 2017!

[@A5mis]

and here I am in 2018 :)!

[@gm8542]

Very great short story.

[@shravanrandy7044]

In the essay Orwell says "One day something happened which in a roundabout way was enlightening" ( P3, line1). This sentence refers to the shooting of the elephant. Why does he consider this event "enlightening", while in reality it is simply unfortunate.

[@TheChaldo98]

I have a test on this literature piece on Wednesday! I feel pretty good about it; however, my teacher feels there is more to this literature piece then the explanation of why Orwell killed the elephant. The elephant is symbolic and some way and I was wondering if you can help me with that. If you could help me uncover the true symbolism this author is trying to infer.

[@hjkim201590]

Wish you are my professorr God bless u💜

[@nalvarado65]

Ha. I read this when I was fifteen (about 40 years ago) and dreamt of actually being in this exposition last night. Orwell at one point muses his options and decides to shoot the elephant .His biggest fear was becoming a grinning corpse like the one left in the village and some locals would most likely laugh, " No, that would not do ." Or something like that. Would be a treat to read again. It was bundled with other wonderful expositions like King's Letter from Birmingham Jail in a lost college text given to me by my aunt. Will have to order it I guess

[@SixMinuteScholar]

Yes, you're right. He didn't want to be laughed at no matter what! I love MLK's Letter as well. You might find a college text that includes these at a used book store; both are available online sometimes, too. Interesting that you dreamt of this piece!

[@manny15x]

thank you so much with this video this helps me a lot by writing two essay about this article.

[@SixMinuteScholar]

You're welcome! Good luck with your essays!

[@saddam9512ify]

Thank you very much for the explanation. It helps me a lot.

[@thepoptropicashow]

Reminds me of the Stanford Prison Experiment.

[@collarchosenfamily]

what is image of rifle represent??

[@mollytongly]

Thank you so much

[@SixMinuteScholar]

I'm so glad! :-)

[@Daipeter]

People actually read this and think the narrator is a coward? Dear God.

[@bharatpdpaudel7920]

A good explanation! Thank you very much!

[@MrKOKILANDIA]

A very accurate analysis

[@shapneel2141]

Thank you so much, it is very helpful.

[@Angela_dawn]

thank you

[@emmacruz4697]

great video! thanks a bunch!

[@dhanmendradeep3590]

Nice

[@FatiChak]

thank youu so muchh that will help ma a lot in my exam tomorrow thank youuu

[@MonkeyDRan]

omg, what an analyze, thank you so much.

[@omarelhusseini3276]

You are the best you explained it in simple detail i am sure I will do well on my social studies Essay Tomorrow :)

[@IAmKeriii]

I have a question 🙋🏾‍♀️

[@victor818lacounty7]

Thank you so much beautiful.

[@bijetabishwakarma8360]

Thanks mam It's very helpful for us...

[@nanahub3535]

Rebecca I love your video. I'd really appreciate your help.

[@riyatherockerrocks]

Dear Ma'am could you explain the concept of neurosis as seen in "shooting an elephant." ?

[@SixMinuteScholar]

Mmm. The neurosis of the British ruling folks?

[@undermygarage]

Excellent video! Thank you:)

[@Cholostallion]

Then on top of it he had to watch the elephant die slow and painfully from his misplaced shots.

[@WileECoyoteYM]

Great video! Help a lot :D

[@SixMinuteScholar]

I'm glad!

[@andi07445]

very good to understand even for nonnative english speakers, thx!

[@SixMinuteScholar]

I'm glad. Good luck with all your adventures in English!

[@evas.6481]

that helped soooo much, thank you a lot :)

[@Jazlynify]

Thank you!! You explained it so well.

[@SixMinuteScholar]

You're welcome!

[@joeymitchell1953]

Very helpful video!

[@cgsd5260]

Thanks a lot.

[@iqraaslam5997]

thanks for this ,and this is very help full:)

[@nedabtt7615]

Thank you so much! ❤️

[@dhhriitiimannsaarmma5602]

it helped me a lot... thank you...

[@double_o1746]

But it's not fortnite

[@AVDHESHKUMAR-bf3ot]

I can't understand

[@mistiqueshrestha3489]

Thank you so much I found it helpful..

[@moulikareddy2132]

thank u professor

[@mohamedomri3896]

very helpful thanks a lot

[@selahattinozturk6440]

How can we understand that the movement of the story is IMPERIALISM ? Can you help me ?

[@SixMinuteScholar]

SELAHATTİN ÖZTÜRK Yes! Do a Google search to find out what Britain was doing in Burma. You'll discover that they grabbed the land's resources, for examples. Imperialism=empire building=Britain taking Burma for itself. Now go back to the essay and read what Orwell says about the British Empire. Hope this helps!

[@selahattinozturk6440]

SixMinuteScholar Thanks you for your comment :) I am an english literature student.I have a lot of questions for the exam of Essay's analysis.May I ask them to you ?

[@JosseyGamez]

Thank you so muchhh! this helped me a lot :)

[@SixMinuteScholar]

I'm so glad!