1. Post-Colonialism
“Shooting and Elephant”
by George Orwell

2. Prior Knowledge
 What do you know about colonialism or imperialism from
previous history classes?
 Share a few ideas with your neighbor and be prepared to
discuss them with the class.

3. Background Information
 “Shooting an Elephant” takes place in Burma (aka
Myanmar)
 Britain started controlling the area in the mid 1800s and
didn’t give up total control until the 1940s
 British rule over the area was oppressive and subjugated
the native Indian peoples- the natives started to have a
very anti-British/European perspective because of the ay
they were being treated

4. The Essay
 Orwell worked in the British forces in Burma and realized
that he very much disagreed with the way the British were
running things
 He believed that imperialism and colonialism were not
only hurtful to the peoples of colonized areas but ALSO to
the colonizers themselves
 He said, "I had already made up my mind that imperialism
was an evil thing... I was all for the Burmese and all against
their oppressors, the British."