Shooting an Elephant

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. Create a list of impacts British Imperialism had on their colonies’ economies, cultures, and politics.

Teaching Suggestion: If your students are unfamiliar with British Imperialism, consider dividing students into small groups of 3. Each member of the group will complete a quick search about their specific topic—British Imperialism’s impact on economies, cultures, or politics. After their quick search, students can share what they have learned about their topic with their small group. Students might benefit from sharing their insights in a whole class discussion, as this will offer them a sense of how widespread British Imperialism was and how great its impact was on its colonies. Student input may create the opportunity to introduce the connected themes of Imperialism and Power.

• “Imperialism: Crash Course World History #35” provides a quick summation of European Imperialism in the 19th century.
• “Myanmar: The Impact of Colonialism” from Britannica Encyclopedia details the initial impact of British colonization on religious, political, and economic structures in Myanmar.

2. Traditionally, the personal essay serves to point to a lesson learned through the author’s recounting of a life experience.