Activity Overview
Often in literature, characters have to make important choices, even when the outcomes are equally unpleasant. This is called a dilemma, and many students will be able to identify with being stuck “between a rock and a hard place”, much like characters are in their various conflicts in a story. Have students analyze the dilemma the narrator encounters in “Shooting An Elephant” as they read and speculate on the potential outcomes of the narrator’s choices. Have them incorporate their findings into a storyboard like the example below.
Introduction
The narrator sees the elephant has calmed down, and no longer poses a threat, but the crowd behind him is anxious for him to do something.
Problem 1
If the narrator tries to gauge the elephant’s aggression, he could get stuck in the mud, panic, and be killed by the elephant in front of the spectators who will probably just laugh. If he walks away, he will also be seen as a fool and a coward.
Problem 2
If the narrator shoots the elephant, he will be harming the owner financially because the elephant is an important labor animal. In addition, the narrator doesn’t want to kill the animal—he feels guilty for shooting an animal for being an animal, and especially because he no longer poses a threat.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that analyzes a dilemma that a character is facing in "Shooting an Elephant".
- Identify the problem and depict it in the "Introduction" cell.
- Show and discuss the character's possible choices under "Problem 1" and "Problem 2".
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
Exemplary 25 Points | Proficient 21 Points | Commendable 17 Points | Try Again 13 Points | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Choice of Scenes | Accurately depicts the scenes that show the character's main dilemma. | Mostly depicts the scenes that show the character's main dilemma. | Vaguely depicts the scenes that show the character's main dilemma. | Barley or does not depict the scenes that show the character's main dilemma. |
Captions | Captions are accurately related to the dilemma and story. The connections are very easy to understand. | Captions are mostly related to the dilemma and story. The connections are easy to understand. | Captions are vaguely related to the dilemma and story. The connections are not easy to understand. | Captions do not relate well to the scenes, or are not related to the dilemma and story. The connections are very hard to understand. |
Characters | The main characters are accurately and clearly identified. Their actions are well matched to their actions in the story. | The main characters are mostly clear and identified. Their actions are mostly matched to their actions in the story. | The main characters are vaguely defined or identified. Their actions are somewhat matched to their actions in the story | The main characters are lacking clarity or are not identified. Their actions are poorly matched to the story. |
Spelling, Punctuation, and Grammar | There are no spelling, punctuation, or grammar errors. | There are some spelling, punctuation, or grammar errors. | There are many spelling, punctuation, or grammar errors. | There are too many spelling, punctuation, or grammar errors. |
Activity Overview
Often in literature, characters have to make important choices, even when the outcomes are equally unpleasant. This is called a dilemma, and many students will be able to identify with being stuck “between a rock and a hard place”, much like characters are in their various conflicts in a story. Have students analyze the dilemma the narrator encounters in “Shooting An Elephant” as they read and speculate on the potential outcomes of the narrator’s choices. Have them incorporate their findings into a storyboard like the example below.
Introduction
The narrator sees the elephant has calmed down, and no longer poses a threat, but the crowd behind him is anxious for him to do something.
Problem 1
If the narrator tries to gauge the elephant’s aggression, he could get stuck in the mud, panic, and be killed by the elephant in front of the spectators who will probably just laugh. If he walks away, he will also be seen as a fool and a coward.
Problem 2
If the narrator shoots the elephant, he will be harming the owner financially because the elephant is an important labor animal. In addition, the narrator doesn’t want to kill the animal—he feels guilty for shooting an animal for being an animal, and especially because he no longer poses a threat.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that analyzes a dilemma that a character is facing in "Shooting an Elephant".
- Identify the problem and depict it in the "Introduction" cell.
- Show and discuss the character's possible choices under "Problem 1" and "Problem 2".
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
Exemplary 25 Points | Proficient 21 Points | Commendable 17 Points | Try Again 13 Points | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Choice of Scenes | Accurately depicts the scenes that show the character's main dilemma. | Mostly depicts the scenes that show the character's main dilemma. | Vaguely depicts the scenes that show the character's main dilemma. | Barley or does not depict the scenes that show the character's main dilemma. |
Captions | Captions are accurately related to the dilemma and story. The connections are very easy to understand. | Captions are mostly related to the dilemma and story. The connections are easy to understand. | Captions are vaguely related to the dilemma and story. The connections are not easy to understand. | Captions do not relate well to the scenes, or are not related to the dilemma and story. The connections are very hard to understand. |
Characters | The main characters are accurately and clearly identified. Their actions are well matched to their actions in the story. | The main characters are mostly clear and identified. Their actions are mostly matched to their actions in the story. | The main characters are vaguely defined or identified. Their actions are somewhat matched to their actions in the story | The main characters are lacking clarity or are not identified. Their actions are poorly matched to the story. |
Spelling, Punctuation, and Grammar | There are no spelling, punctuation, or grammar errors. | There are some spelling, punctuation, or grammar errors. | There are many spelling, punctuation, or grammar errors. | There are too many spelling, punctuation, or grammar errors. |
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Shooting an Elephant
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