Shooting an Elephant
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Themes
All Themes Colonialism Power Principles Performance
Quotes
Characters
All Characters George Orwell
Symbols
All Symbols The Elephant
Literary Devices
All Literary Devices Genre Hyperbole Imagery Irony Metaphors Mood Setting Similes Situational Irony Style Tone
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Shooting an Elephant
by George Orwell
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Introduction Intro
Plot Summary Plot
Summary & Analysis Summary
Themes
  • All Themes
  • Colonialism Theme Icon
    Colonialism
  • Power Theme Icon
    Power
  • Principles Theme Icon
    Principles
  • Performance Theme Icon
    Performance
Quotes
Characters
  • All Characters
  • George Orwell
Symbols
  • All Symbols
  • The Elephant Symbol Icon
    The Elephant
Lit Devices
  • All Literary Devices
  • Genre
  • Hyperbole
  • Imagery
  • Irony
  • Metaphors
  • Mood
  • Setting
  • Similes
  • Situational Irony
  • Style
  • Tone
Theme Wheel Theme Viz
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George Orwell

Shooting an Elephant Symbols

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The Elephant

The Elephant

The elephant is the central symbol of the story. Orwell uses it to represent the effect of colonialism on both the colonizer and the colonized. The elephant, like a colonized populace, has its liberty restricted… read analysis of The Elephant

The Elephant Symbol Icon
Previous
George Orwell
Previous
George Orwell
Next
The Elephant
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The Elephant
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