Question

Shooting an Elephant - What effect does seeing the dead man's body have on the narrator?

A. He understands the problem with the caste system.
B. He realizes that death is not peaceful.
C. He decides the animal must be killed.
D. He cries for the unnecessary death.

Answer 1

B. He realizes that death is not peaceful.

Answer 2

Answer: B. He realizes that death is not peaceful.

"Shooting an Elephant" is an essay by the English writer George Orwell. The essay tells the story of an English officer who works in Burma. He is called by the locals to shoot an aggressive elephant. Although he does not want to do it, he realizes he has no other choice, and does it. However, the elephant suffers a slow and painful death. This causes great anguish to the narrator, and forces him to realize that death is not peaceful. The story is considered a metaphor of the British Empire.