1.4 Shooting an Elephant (by George Orwell)
⟰ First मा यो chapter चाहिं खास के को बारेमा हो?
➪ The event happens in Burma. Burma was ruled by the British at that time. The writer of this narrative essay was working as a British police officer in Burma. The Burmese people did not like the British. One day, one elephant became crazy. It caused damage. The writer had to stop it. Many Burmese people also came there. They were excited to see the writer shoot the elephant. The elephant soon became quiet. Because of this, the writer did not want to shoot the elephant. But the crowd stayed to watch. They wanted him to kill the elephant.The officer felt pressured. He did not want to shoot the calm elephant. But he was afraid that he would look like a fool or a joker before the Burmese people if he did not shoot the elephant. So, to “avoid looking a fool” and to show his power over the Burmese. he killed the innocent elephant. This event shows that the colonizers want to appear smart and powerful before the colonized. This also shows that the colonizers (i.e. the rulers) are not actually free to make their own choice, rather they are afraid of what the natives will think of them. Though they appear powerful, deep inside they are powerless.
⟰ त्यसो भए यसको actual summary चाहिं के हो त?
Summary of the Chapter:
➪ The narrator in this essay was once a police officer in Burma, which was colonized (ruled) by Britain. One day an elephant went crazy and walked through town. Many people followed the narrator because they wanted to see the elephant get shot. The narrator did not really want to shoot the elephant, but he felt pressure to do it.
The narrator found the elephant and saw that it was peaceful again. But the crowd still wanted the narrator to shoot the elephant. He knew it was wrong to shoot the peaceful elephant. However, he felt like he had to do it or else the crowd would laugh at him for being weak.
So the narrator shot and killed the elephant even though he did not want to. He realized after that he had done the wrong thing just to look powerful in front of the crowd. The essay highlights how people are forced to do things they know are wrong because of pressure from other people. Here, the narrator goes against his own beliefs because he does not want to look weak and stupid. On a deeper level, this essay shows that the colonizers want to appear smart and powerful before the colonized. This also shows that the colonizers (i.e. the rulers) are not actually free to make their own choice, rather they are afraid of what the natives will think of them. Though they appear powerful, deep inside they are powerless.
⟰ अनि अब यो chapter बाट exam मा आउन सक्ने question हरु के के हुन् त?
Exam Questions:
Type 1 (5-Mark Question)
Q1: Why did the narrator shoot the elephant even though he did not want to?
A1: The narrator did not really want to shoot the elephant but he shot it anyway because of the crowd of people watching him. The elephant was now very calm and peaceful. It was not doing any harm. But the crowd kept saying “shoot it, shoot it”. They wanted to see some action and violence. The narrator felt a lot of pressure from the crowd. He knew it would be wrong to shoot the quiet elephant. But he was worried that if he did not shoot it, the crowd would laugh at him and think he was weak and powerless. The narrator was a police officer and he needed the people to respect him and see him as strong. So even though he believed it was wrong in his own mind, he went ahead and shot the elephant. He ignored what he really thought was right. He did this bad thing just to look powerful in front of the crowd instead of looking weak.
Summary मा भन्दा: The narrator shot the elephant even though he did not want to because he felt pressure from the crowd. He knew shooting the peaceful elephant was wrong. But he was worried the crowd would laugh at him and see him as weak if he did not shoot it. So he went against his own wishes to look powerful in front of the crowd.
Q2: What is the main message of the essay “Shooting an Elephant”?
or
Q 2: How does the essay “Shooting an Elephant” show the conflict between personal beliefs and the expectations of authority?
A2: The main message of the essay “Shooting an Elephant” by George Orwell is about how people sometimes act against their own personal beliefs and morals because they feel pressure from other people and want to avoid appearing weak. The narrator shoots the elephant even though deep down he believes it is wrong to shoot the now-peaceful animal. But he feels forced to do it by the expectations of the crowd who want to see some violence and action. The narrator knows the crowd will laugh at him and think he looks powerless if he does not shoot the elephant. So he ignores his own values and does something bad — shooting the quiet elephant — just to keep up an appearance of being a strong leader in front of the crowd. He wants to avoid looking weak. The essay teaches us that people will sometimes go against their own moral code if they feel pressure to fit in or are scared of appearing unpopular or powerless in front of others.
Summary मा भन्दा: The main message is about how people can act against their own beliefs and morals because of pressure from others and a desire to avoid looking weak. The narrator does something wrong that he does not want to do just to appear strong and avoid ridicule (बिल्ला हुन बाट बच्न 🙂 ).
Q3: Why did the crowd want the narrator to shoot the elephant?
A3: The crowd wanted the narrator to shoot the elephant simply for their own entertainment. They had gathered to see some dramatic and exciting action. They followed the police officer because they expected him to shoot and kill the wild elephant that had been causing damage in the town. They wanted to witness the violent spectacle of the elephant being shot down. But later, after the narrator found the elephant, he saw that it had become very calm and peaceful again. The elephant was not rampaging anymore. But even though the danger was gone, the crowd still kept demanding that the narrator shoot the elephant. This was because the crowd wanted him to provide a thrilling show for them. They kept telling him to shoot it just so they could see the elephant get killed for their own amusement, even though it was now quiet and not hurting anyone. The crowd had a mob mentality and just wanted the violence for the thrill of it.
Summary मा भन्दा: The crowd wanted the narrator to shoot the elephant for entertainment. They followed him expecting a violent spectacle. Even when the elephant was peaceful again, the crowd still wanted the narrator to shoot it to provide a dramatic scene.
Q 4: What does “Shooting an Elephant” tell us about the impact of colonialism on both the colonized and the colonizer?
A4: The story shows that colonialism can have a negative impact on both the people being colonized and the people doing the colonizing. The people being colonized are shown to be resentful and angry towards the main character, who represents the colonizers. The main character himself feels conflicted and guilty about his role in enforcing colonial rule. The story shows that colonialism can lead to tension and conflict between different groups of people, and that it can have negative effects on everyone involved.
Type 2 (10-Mark Question):
Q1: In “Shooting an Elephant”, Orwell shows how other people’s expectations can force someone to go against their own values. Discuss with examples from the story.
A1: Throughout “Shooting an Elephant,” Orwell shows how the narrator does something he believes is wrong because of expectations from the crowd. Even though the narrator feels shooting the peaceful elephant is unjustified, the crowd’s expectation of violence puts pressure on him. He knows the crowd will mock him as weak if he does not shoot. For example, when the elephant is quietly eating, the narrator thinks there is no reason to kill it. However, the crowd eagerly awaits his action. They want a dramatic spectacle (दृश्य). He feels obliged to meet their expectations, even if it means compromising his own moral values. Additionally, as a symbol of British authority, he feels compelled to appear powerful. He feels he must look strong and in control to the local people. The crowd expects him to show his power over the elephant. So the narrator shoots the elephant, even though he believes it is unjustified. Orwell shows through this conflict how social pressure from a group often makes people disregard their personal values and do unethical things.
Q2: In the essay, the narrator acts against his own wishes. Do you think there are any situations where it is justified to go against our beliefs due to social pressure? Why or why not?
A2: I do not have a concrete or any definitive opinion on this complex issue. There are reasonable arguments on both sides. Often, giving in to social pressure leads people to regret later and compromise morals. But sometimes, going against personal beliefs serves a greater good or prevents real harm. Most situations are complex, with no easy answers. Social expectations can sometimes push people to do bad things. But resisting them can also have high costs. Each circumstance likely requires deep thinking to determine if fulfilling social expectations is more important than personal ethics. There are rarely easy answers when core beliefs clash with peer pressure. An individual must weigh specific factors in each scenario. Though giving in to others’ demands often feels wrong, it could be justified if it serves a much greater purpose or prevents visible harm. But in the absence of a strong reason, staying true to one’s principles or moral values seems the wiser choice.
Type 3 (15-Mark Question)
Q1: In “Shooting an Elephant,” Orwell deals with a tough choice between his own beliefs and what society expects. Have you ever been in a similar situation where you had to choose between what you thought was right and what others wanted you to do? How did you handle it, and what happened as a result? What does this tell us about how society can influence the choices we make, for better or worse?
A1: I remember a time in college when I faced a similar dilemma. I was elected president of a student group, and we were planning a big event. Someone suggested bringing in a comedian who made fun of minority groups. Many members liked the idea, but I didn’t think it was right. As president, I felt pressure to go along with what most people wanted. I didn’t want to seem weak or ignore their wishes, but I also didn’t want to go against our group’s values of fairness and respect.
After thinking about it, I decided that having that comedian perform would go against what I believed in and what our group stood for. It was hard because some members were upset with my decision. But I knew it was the right thing to do. In the end, we found an entertainer who shared our values, and many thanked me for sticking to our principles.
This experience showed me how powerful peer pressure can be. Like Orwell, I could have just gone along with everyone else to avoid criticism. But I would have regretted it later, just like he regretted shooting the elephant. Saying no, even when it’s tough, helped me stay true to myself.
It also taught me that social expectations can heavily influence our choices. We want to fit in and be liked, even if it means going against what we believe is right. But standing up for what you believe in, even when it’s hard, shows strength and integrity. This kind of situation happens a lot in life. While it’s not always easy, sticking to your values leads to a more meaningful and honest life.
OR
Q 1: How does George Orwell’s experience of shooting an elephant in “Shooting an Elephant” reflect on the broader issues of colonialism and the impact it has on both the colonizer and the colonized?
George Orwell’s experience of shooting an elephant in “Shooting an Elephant” is a symbolic representation of the broader issues of colonialism. The elephant represents the colonized people, while Orwell represents the colonizer. The conflict between Orwell and the elephant mirrors the conflict between the colonizer and the colonized.
The act of shooting the elephant against Orwell’s personal beliefs illustrates the moral dilemma faced by many colonizers who had to enforce oppressive policies that they did not personally agree with. The pressure Orwell feels from the Burmese crowd to shoot the elephant represents the pressure that colonizers felt to maintain control and authority, even when it meant doing things they knew were wrong.
The suffering of the elephant as it slowly dies reflects the suffering of the colonized people under the oppressive rule of the colonizers. The guilt and regret Orwell feels after shooting the elephant mirrors the guilt and regret that some colonizers felt for their role in the exploitation and oppression of the colonized people.
Overall, the story in the essay shows that colonialism had a negative impact on both the colonizer and the colonized. It forced the colonizer to act against their personal beliefs and values, and it caused suffering and oppression for the colonized people. It highlights the need for a more just and equitable system that values the individuality and humanity of all people.