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Shooting An Elephant Thesis

What is the thesis of George Orwell's "Shooting an Elephant"?

EXPERT ANSWERS

KAREN P.L. HARDISON (/PEOPLE/KPLHARDISON)| CERTIFIED EDUCATOR

Essays present theses. Narrative essays--describing a personal experience or a personally witnessed event--contain theses
(https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/685/04/); they have a purpose and make a point. The thesis in Orwell's narrative
essay "Shooting an Elephant" is complex and goes far beyond being a statement of anti-imperialism or a statement of
violently ambiguous personal emotions. Orwell's thesis can be paraphrased as stating that imperialism tears apart and out
the heart and soul of both peoples--the oppressors' heart and soul...

FURTHER READING:
https://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson-plan/shooting-elephant-... (https://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson-plan/shooting-
elephant-george-orwells-essay-his-life-burma)
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/685/04/ (https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/685/04/)
https://www.enotes.com/topics/shooting-elephant/themes (https://www.enotes.com/topics/shooting-
elephant/themes)

DOUG STUVA (/PEOPLE/DSTUVA)| CERTIFIED EDUCATOR

BMADNICK (/PEOPLE/BMADNICK)| CERTIFIED EDUCATOR

CLANE (/PEOPLE/CLANE)| CERTIFIED EDUCATOR

FURTHER READING:
https://www.enotes.com/topics/shooting-elephant (https://www.enotes.com/topics/shooting-elephant)
https://www.enotes.com/topics/shooting-elephant/in-depth (https://www.enotes.com/topics/shooting-
elephant/in-depth)

SAGETRIEB (/PEOPLE/SAGETRIEB)| CERTIFIED EDUCATOR

SUSAN3SMITH (/PEOPLE/SUSAN3SMITH)| CERTIFIED EDUCATOR

POHNPEI397 (/PEOPLE/POHNPEI397)| CERTIFIED EDUCATOR

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