Reading Check and Short Answer questions on key plot points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

Reading Check

1. In which country does this account take place?

2. How did the people of Moulmein show their hatred of the narrator?

3. Why does the usually tame elephant break free from its chain?

4. How many people does the elephant kill?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. How does the narrator feel about imperialism?

2. What new understanding about himself did the narrator gain from this experience?

3. What did other Europeans think about the narrator’s decision to kill the elephant?

4. What happens to the body of the elephant?

Recommended Next Reads 

“Mother Tongue” by Amy Tan

• In this personal narrative, Amy Tan explores the conflicts that arise from growing up as a first-generation Chinese American, specifically as it relates to learning and using a variety of Englishes and dialects.
• "Mother Tongue" on SuperSummary

A Small Place by Jamaica Kincaid

• In this work of creative nonfiction, Jamaica Kincaid explores the impact imperialism had on her home country, Antigua. Because she details experiences that span both colonial rule and self-governance, this work provides unique insights into the consequences of imperialism and its aftermath.