Transcript “Shooting An Elephant” George Orwell

“In Moulmein, in lower Burma, I was hated by large numbers of people” (Orwell).
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(1903 - 1950)
Orwell was a British journalist and author, who wrote two of
the most famous novels of the 20th century 'Animal Farm'
and 1984‘
Orwell was born Eric Arthur Blair on 25 June 1903 in eastern
India, the son of a British colonial civil servant. He was
educated in England and, after he left Eton, joined the Indian
Imperial Police in Burma, then a British colony. He resigned in
1927 and decided to become a writer. In 1928 he moved to
Paris where lack of success as a writer forced him into a
series of menial jobs. He described his experiences in his first
book, 'Down and Out in Paris and London', published in 1933
- he took the name George Orwell, shortly before its
publication.
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Orwell wrote:
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Simply put: When a country colonizes a land
that it does not own, and exercises political
and financial dominance over that country.
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"The United Kingdom began conquering Burma in 1824 and by
1886 had incorporated it into the British Raj. Burma was
administered as a province of British India until 1937 when it
became a separate, self-governing colony.
To stimulate trade and facilitate changes, the British brought in
Indians and Chinese, who quickly displaced the Burmese in urban
areas. To this day Yangon and Mandalay have large ethnic Indian
populations.
Railroads and schools were built, as well as a large number of
prisons, including the infamous Insein Prison, then as now used for
political prisoners. Burmese resentment was strong and was vented
in violent riots that paralyzed Yangon on occasion all the way until
the 1930s.
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Much of the discontent was caused by a perceived
disrespect for Burmese culture and traditions, for
example, what the British termed the Shoe Question: the
colonizers' refusal to remove their shoes upon entering
Buddhist temples or other holy places.
In October 1919, Eindawya Pagoda in Mandalay was the
scene of violence when tempers flared after scandalized
Buddhist monks attempted to physically expel a group of
shoe-wearing British visitors. The leader of the monks
was later sentenced to life imprisonment for attempted
murder.
Such incidents inspired the Burmese resistance to use
Buddhism as a rallying point for their cause. Buddhist
monks became the vanguards of the independence
movement, and many died while protesting.
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Orwell’s essay reveals the ambivalence
(confusion) a person may feel in a position
of power.
On one hand young Orwell sympathizes with
the Burmese people, on the other hand
Orwell, the police officer, is committed to
continuing and even defending that
oppression.
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Prostrate: defenseless/in a prone or lying position
Imperialism: policy and practice of forming and maintaining
an empire in order to control raw materials and world markets
by the conquests of other countries and the establishment of
colonies
Despotic: tyrannical
Squalid: miserably poor; wretched
Dominion: rule or power to rule; a governed territory
Senility: mental or physical decay due to old age
bazaar: marketplace on a street with walk-in shops and
outdoor stalls.
coolie: unskilled laborer.
Dravidian: lower-caste Indian elephant trainer and handler.
sahib: master, sir. Indians and Burmans used the word when
addressing an Englishman.
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http://www.thesea
nachai.com/2009/
01/30/shootingan-elephant/
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Setting:
◦ Time:
◦ Place:
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Characters:
◦ Main:
◦ Other:
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Events:
1. An elephant kills a laborer.
2.
3.
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Climax:
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Resolution: