1. Reread paragraphs 5 and 6.

What is ironic about Orwell’s first sighting of the elephant?

He expects to find a dangerous animal, but the elephant appears calm and unthreatening.

2. Orwell describes the shooting and slow death of the elephant in excruciating
detail. How does this description support his reflections in the essay?

The details of the description increase the reader’s sympathy for the elephant and emphasize how cruel
and senseless it was for Orwell to kill it.

3. At the end of the essay, Orwell wonders whether other Europeans realized
that he shot the elephant “solely to avoid looking a fool.”
Why was it so important for him to keep up appearances before the Burmans?

He felt that if the Burmans lost respect for him and

his fellow officers, they would lose control of the colony.

4. Do you think Orwell provides a reliable account of how the Burmans viewed
him? Explain why or why not.

Possible answer: The facts that Orwell relates are probably true, but his portrayal of the Burmans is
biased because he didn’t know them as individuals and he only experiences their resentment toward him

5. Orwell says that this experience taught him that “when the white man turns
tyrant it is his own freedom that he destroys.”
In what ways did his role as a colonial policeman end his freedom?

Because he had to play the role of the sahib, he couldn’t think for himself or take actions that contradicted
his assigned role.