ipl-logo

Perspective In George Orwell's Shooting An Elephant

748 Words3 Pages

The idea of perspective is a massively overlooked tool of rhetoric that can shape how a reader mentally identifies with a novel. If a reader's point of view in a controversial story is altered, the reader will have an entirely different opinion on the morality of the situation. Telling a story from single perspective can cause the reader to not have information present that is vital to the understanding of other characters in the story. Stereotyping is another deceitful tactic that can alter a viewer's opinion on a character through a negative influence that is cast upon the reader due to pre-misguided knowledge gained from society. A good example of how drastically perspective can affect a reader's notion on the subject matter of the plot …show more content…

In the short story Orwell faces a choice, a lesser of two evils scenario where he must either decide to shoot an Elephant that killed a man because it was provoked or follow his better judgement and not kill a defenceless animal. A Lot of people would argue against his decision of killing the animal because he states the main reason he killed it was because he didn’t want to appear weak or foolish in front of the citizens that already despise him. If the perspective was changed to the eyes of one of the Burmese bystanders then you would have an entirely different conflict to think about. This person is in great fear of the elephant because it might destroy their home or even kill someone who is dear to them next and they are putting their life’s safety in the hands of a person they criticize on a daily basis. They want to see the elephant executed to prevent further havoc and no one would argue with the reasoning behind their mindset. Compare this to Orwell’s mindset and how killing the elephant can be viewed under different circumstances in that

Show More
Related

  • Pathos In Shooting An Elephant

    96 Words  | 1 Pages

    First of two start of, the most rhetorically influential element of this story is the authors background. While George Orwell is a well-known for being an English author and journalist, he is very famous for being a political satirist. In this story, the audiences can see Orwell’s personal opinions on social and political views. In “Shooting an Elephant,” readers detected Orwell’s opinions on imperialism through the narrator’s display of pathos. Throughout the story, the narrator shows feelings of hatred, doubt, fear, anxiety, and distress at the fact that he is in a position of mocked authority.

    Read More

  • How Would You Compare And Contrast George Orwell's Freedom?

    1093 Words  | 5 Pages

    Whenever you want during this dangerous occasion Orwell could have created the decision to do as opposed to what the mob of Burmans desired. When he was experienced with the choice of whether or not to capture the elephant he could of created the decision to not to capture it. In reality, that is exactly what he desired to do: “I did not want to kill the elephant.” Actually, his choice to pay attention to the mob and not to his own moral sense was, in itself, an act of freedom. Totally freedom is unbreakable and existing in all choices.

    Read More

  • Shooting An Elephant Ethos Pathos Logos

    1021 Words  | 5 Pages

    Zachary Conners SUNY – Eng. 12 Mrs. O’Malley December 15, 2014 “Shooting an Elephant” is a persuasive rhetorical piece written by George Orwell used to describe Orwell’s feelings about imperialism. Orwell uses pathos, logos, and ethos to convey his feelings towards imperialism and how destructive it can be. Born 1903, George Orwell, novelist, essayist, and critic, was best known for his novels Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty- Four. Son of a British servant, Orwell spent most of his days in India, where his father had been stationed.

    Read More

  • Ethos In Shooting An Elephant

    629 Words  | 3 Pages

    Even though Orwell did commit the crime of shooting an elephant, throughout the story he used ethos, pathos, and figurative language to convince the audience if given the opportunity he would never shoot an elephant again because the elephant represents the innocence of people.     First and foremost, Orwell establishes his ethos. As stated in Everything’s an Argument, ethos is described as the author's credibility. He establishes his ethos right from the beginning of the story when he states he works for the British but he despises them.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Shooting An Elephant

    990 Words  | 4 Pages

    Rhetorical Analysis: “Shooting an Elephant” Contrary to popular belief, the oppressors of imperialism lack freedom. Imperialists are usually powerful and maintain control over the native people of the land they are taking over. It is expected for someone with great power to have choices and freedoms, however, that is not necessarily the case. Sometimes power can limit or restrict the choices one makes.

    Read More

  • The Bone Sparrow Narrative Analysis

    713 Words  | 3 Pages

    Narrative point of view can express a different perspective to the reader by presenting experience, voice, and setting. Perspective is a particular way or attitude of considering events, by whatever character’s point of view the narrator takes. A character’s background and experiences in their life is a key to help the reader relate to the character. Culture may provide more insight about the circumstances, and can change a reader’s perspective, as well as the voice of the narrator - sophisticated or naive.

    Read More

  • How To Tell A True War Story And Shooting An Elephant By George Orwell

    947 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the passages How to Tell a True War Story by Tim O’Brien and Shooting an Elephant by George Orwell, there are many similarities and differences between the two passages, but the differences exceed the similarities. While both sections talk about a shooter, human death, and animal death; they differentiate in the shooters motives, pacing, and narration structure. Just as How to Tell a True War Story has the death of Curt Lemon, Shooting an Elephant also has the death of the coolie. In Tim O’Brien’s story, Curt Lemon is killed by a boobytrapped bomb in which O’Brien leads himself to believe is the sunlight. The passage goes on to describe the events leading up to Lemon’s death and how O’Brien believes that Curt Lemon would have thought the sunlight killed him and not the 105-round, “It was not the sunlight.

    Read More

  • Imagery And Figurative Language In George Orwell's Shooting An Elephant

    849 Words  | 4 Pages

    Well known author and journalist, George Orwell, in his essay, Shooting an Elephant, describes his experiences as a Policeman in Moulmein, Burma during European Imperialism. Orwell’s purpose is to convey the ideal that what is right and what is accepted don’t always align. He adopts a remorseful tone in order to convey to the reader the weight of his actions. By looking at George Orwell’s use of imagery and figurative language, one can see his strongly conflicting opinions on Imperialism. Orwell begins his essay, Shooting an Elephant, by explaining the actions of the Burmese people and by expressing his contempt for imperialism.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Shooting And Elephant

    328 Words  | 2 Pages

    The purpose of “Shooting an Elephant” was to show that sometimes people do things they know aren’t the right decision just to impress everyone else. The officer felt that,“It seemed to me that it would be murder to shoot him” (Orwell 4). As he shot the elephant he

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Devices In Shooting An Elephant

    716 Words  | 3 Pages

    A Critical Analysis of the Rhetorical Strategies Used in Orwell’s “Shooting an Elephant”. In George Orwell’s “Shooting an Elephant”, the author begins with a definite statement about his views toward British Imperialism. Orwell uses pathos to appeal to the readers emotions about his situation and also uses logos when trying to decide on shooting the elephant. His powerful technique of illustrating the message, “Imperialism was an evil thing” and that it affects both the oppressor and the oppressed is effective with the use of description, classical appeals, extended metaphors, and rhetorical devices.

    Read More

  • Peer Pressure In George Orwell's Shooting An Elephant

    537 Words  | 3 Pages

    At a young age, parents tend to teach their child right from wrong. They teach you this to become responsible, so when your an adult you do not have to rely on them while making decisions. In George Orwell's Shooting an Elephant, we notice he wanted to do the right thing by not shooting the elephant but gave into peer pressure to fit in. The narrator felt the need he had to shoot the elephant because the people of Burma were frightened and he wanted to be their hero. Peer pressure can lead people to do bad things for what they think are good reasons but are actually not.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Shooting An Elephant

    836 Words  | 4 Pages

    Hannah Edmiston Boudreau AP Language Friday 25 September, 2015 Shooting an Elephant Analyzing Rhetorical Devices Shooting an Elephant, written by George Orwell in 1936, describes his experience working as a British officer located in Moulmein, Burma. He writes his essay to reveal the cruelty and disastrous outcome of imperialism he witnesses. Orwell uses strong resource of language such as symbolism, metaphors and imagery to express his disdain for British imperialism. Orwell uses symbolism to connect the character of the elephant to the effects of imperialism.

    Read More

  • Internal And External Conflict In George Orwell's Shooting An Elephant

    1926 Words  | 8 Pages

    Throughout “Shooting An Elephant” , Orwell’s narrative style brings out internal and external conflicts that are relatable in society today. The narrator faces multiple internal and external conflicts. One external conflict being the Burmese and how they mock him because he is a representative of the British Empire, but he will do what it takes to show them he is not a fool. "I often wondered whether any of the others grasped that I had done it solely to avoid looking a fool.

    Read More

  • The Power Of Peer Pressure In George Orwell's Shooting An Elephant

    1480 Words  | 6 Pages

    In George Orwell 's short story titled “Shooting an Elephant” presented an event that changed a countries civilization. George’s life in Burma, and the prejudice placed by the people he oppressed inspired his writing through the uses of setting, style, and theme. In George Orwell’s “Shooting an Elephant” Orwell no specific event influenced this piece rather it was an accumulation of many small events of prejudice and hate by an opposing group of

    Read More

  • Internal Conflict In George Orwell's Shooting An Elephant

    1260 Words  | 6 Pages

    George Orwell held a unique perspective on Britain’s involvement in Burma. Through his own experiences in Burma, he developed an inner struggle between following orders and opposing imperialism, that he expressed in the story Shooting an Elephant. Orwell was born under the name Eric Blair in colonial India. As an adult, he joined the Imperial Police stationed in Burma, where he soon discovered a conflict brewing within himself. He was naturally a reflective person, analyzing what he saw to be obvious disparities in the two sides of an Imperialistic relationship.

    Read More

More about Perspective In George Orwell's Shooting An Elephant

Open Document