Raymundo Guerra

1. Raymundo Guerra “Shooting an Elephant” ENGL 0310 11:00AM-12:30TR Prof.Jeannine Horn

2. What is the author’s thesis? • Deals with the culture clash between the British and the Burmese and the prejudice and lack of tolerance that results from this culture clash. • The Burmese hate the British for trying to impose their rule on them. The British look down on the Burmese, feeling they are inferior. • The clash of cultures can result in prejudice and intolerance in a society.

3. Why it is important to me Because is shows how a person feels oppressed by others and how he feels forced to do things that he does not want to do.

4. How did the author prove his thesis • He proved his thesis by saying "I had already made up my mind that imperialism was an evil thing ... I was all for the Burmese and all against their oppressors, the British.“ • Orwell stated in the story that he had strong feelings against British imperialism.

5. Important Points • The narrator does not want to kill the elephant because it is calm and poses no threat. He does not want to kill the animal because it would represent the savage nature of the British imperialists, who are the ruling authority in Burma.  • He has to kill the elephant because it is his job as a police officer to keep order, and the crowd demanded that he kill it.

6. What I like Orwell did not want to kill the elephant because he posed no threat. What I disliked What motivates Orwell is his personal desire to look good in front of other people and to do what they expect him to do (shoot the elephant).  Opinion