Shooting an Elephant to America by George Orwell

Literature Lesson Plans - Sykalo Eugen 2024

Shooting an Elephant to America by George Orwell

Grade Level: This lesson plan is intended for High School English, ideally 11th or 12th grade.

Subject: Literature

Time Allotment: Two class periods (approximately 1.5 hours)

Learning Objectives:

  • Students will be able to analyze the historical and colonial context of the story.
  • Students will be able to identify the main conflict and the narrator's internal struggle.
  • Students will be able to discuss the themes of imperialism, power, and conscience.
  • Students will be able to interpret the symbolism and literary devices used by Orwell.

Materials:

  • Copies of "Shooting an Elephant" by George Orwell
  • Whiteboard or projector
  • Markers or pens
  • Character analysis worksheet (optional)
  • Theme analysis graphic organizer (optional)
  • Historical background information on British colonialism in Burma (optional)

Lesson Procedure:

Day 1: Introduction and Context

  1. Introduction (10 minutes):
  • Briefly introduce George Orwell and his literary background.
  • Mention his connection to colonialism, potentially referencing his novel Nineteen Eighty-Four.
  1. Historical Context (15 minutes):
  • Provide students with a brief overview of British colonialism in Burma (optional: distribute a handout with key information).
  • Discuss the power dynamics between the colonizers and the colonized people.
  1. Character Analysis (20 minutes):
  • Have students read "Shooting an Elephant."
  • Individually or in small groups, students complete a character analysis worksheet focusing on the narrator:

✵ Identify his profession, role in Burmese society, and his initial attitude towards the Burmese people.

✵ Analyze how the encounter with the elephant reveals his internal conflict.

✵ Consider his motivations for ultimately shooting the elephant.

  1. Class Discussion (15 minutes):
  • Facilitate a class discussion based on the character analysis worksheets.
  • How does Orwell portray the narrator's struggle between duty and conscience?
  • How do his feelings about the Burmese people and the colonial system influence his actions?

Day 2: Themes and Symbolism

  1. Review (5 minutes):
  • Briefly review the previous day's discussion on the narrator and historical context.
  1. Theme Analysis (30 minutes):
  • Lead a class discussion on the central themes of the story:

✵ Imperialism: How does the story critique the power dynamics and cruelty of colonialism?

✵ Power and Duty: How does the narrator feel trapped by his position of authority?

✵ Conscience and Morality: What are the ethical implications of the narrator's decision?

  • Utilize a graphic organizer (optional) to help students identify specific quotes that exemplify each theme.
  1. Symbolism and Literary Devices (20 minutes):
  • Discuss the symbolic significance of the elephant in the story.
  • How does it represent the colonized people and the narrator's own predicament?
  • Identify other literary devices used by Orwell, such as:

✵ Irony (the crowd's reaction to the elephant's death)

✵ Foreshadowing (descriptions of the elephant's erratic behavior)

  1. Wrap-Up and Open Discussion (15 minutes):
  • Discuss the ending of the story and its implications.
  • How does the story leave the reader feeling?
  • Open the discussion to broader questions about the legacy of colonialism and the use of violence.

Differentiation:

  • Provide scaffolding for reading comprehension by offering a glossary of unfamiliar terms or summarizing key plot points.
  • Offer different options for character analysis worksheets (e.g., mind map, Venn diagram)
  • Allow students to choose a specific theme to focus on for their graphic organizer analysis.

Extension Activities:

  • Students can research the history of British colonialism in other parts of the world.
  • Have students write a diary entry from the perspective of a villager witnessing the elephant incident.
  • Compare and contrast "Shooting an Elephant" with another short story that explores themes of power and oppression.

Assessment:

  • Participation in class discussions and group activities
  • Character analysis worksheet or graphic organizer (if used)
  • Short essay analyzing a central theme of the story and its symbolic elements