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“Shooting an Elephant”

By George Orwell. “Shooting an Elephant”. Prereading : Vocabulary Practice Match the vocabulary word with its definition. Write a definition in your own words for irony. What is it? When is it used? What does it look like or sound like?. irony. Historical Context.

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“Shooting an Elephant”

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  1. By George Orwell “Shooting an Elephant”

  2. Prereading: Vocabulary PracticeMatch the vocabulary word with its definition

  3. Write a definition in your own words for irony. What is it? When is it used? What does it look like or sound like? irony

  4. Historical Context Read the points on the following page to understand why Orwell felt like an outsider in Burma, as well as why the Burmese people would have felt resentment toward Orwell and others like him: I’m George Orwell

  5. Key factors to consider • Colonialism refers to the rule of one nation over a group of people in a geographically distant land—usually to maintain control of that land’s resources. • Between the 1600s and the 1800s, Great Britain took control of millions of people, their land, and their resources through colonization. • British citizens often went to live in the colonies and to govern over the people there. They were outsiders and in the minority in the colonies. • The colonial subjects were resentful of the British • This essay is set in the British colony of Burma • George Orwell was a British police officer in Burma So…How do you think the Burmese felt about Orwell’s presence in their country? How do you think Orwell might have felt?

  6. Geography • ** Let’s look at a map to see the distance between England and Myanmar (Burma) http://maps.google.com/maps?q=United%20Kingdom&utm_campaign=en&utm_medium=ha&utm_source=en-ha-na-us-sk-gm&utm_term=united%20kingdom%20map •  How do you think they were able to travel between England and Myanmar? And (as a side note) how does that relate to the piracy problems (mostly from Somalia) we see in the Gulf of Aden today?

  7. Purpose • Orwell’s stated purpose for writing this essay is “to reveal his own personal dilemma and to reveal the cultural dilemma presented by colonialism itself.” • After we read, think about and answer this question: How does Orwell feel about the issue of British Colonialism? What quotes from the text help us to understand his perspective?

  8. Interpret the Irony • Generally, who has freedom—tyrants or the people they oppress? • In this essay, who are the tyrants? • As an agent of the British tyrants, does the reader expect Orwell to be free? • Is he truly free?

  9. Interpret the Irony • Generally, who has freedom—tyrants or the people they oppress? (tyrants) • In this essay, who are the tyrants? (the British) • As an agent of the British tyrants, does the reader expect Orwell to be free? (yes) • Is he truly free? (No, he is not free to follow his conscience; the hatred of the Burmese people and his fear of their ridicule control him.)

  10. Theme • So, what is the theme of this essay? How does Orwell feel about the issue of British Colonialism? What quotes from the text help us to understand his perspective?

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