Shooting an Elephant | Short Essay Assignments

Short Essay Questions

The 60 short essay questions listed in this section require a one to two sentence answer. They ask students to demonstrate a deeper understanding of the text. Students must describe what they've read, rather than just recall it.

Short Essay Question - Chapter 1

1. What is Orwell's occupation, in the first chapter?

2. What relationship exists between Orwell and the Burmese natives?

3. Why did Orwell kill the elephant against his will?

4. How does the elephant die?

Short Essay Question - Chapter 2

5. Who is the prisoner in Chapter 2?

6. What happens as the prisoner is being led to his fate?

7. How does Orwell describe the prisoner?

8. What happens after the prisoner's death?