George Orwell's “Shooting an Elephant” incorporates the “five recurring ideas” of literary theory outlined in Peter Barry's “Beginning Theory: An Introduction to Literary and Cultural Theory.” Orwell's literary work is heavily influenced by allusions to imperialism, historical events, and the impact his time in the army had on his writing. “Shooting an Elephant” serves as a directional correlate for the principles of literary theory because of the impact that Orwell's environment and his personal life had on his writing. According to Barry, "the meanings within a literary work are never fixed and reliable, but always changing, multifaceted and ambiguous. In literature, as in all writing, there is never the possibility of establishing fixed and defined: it is rather characteristic of language to generate infinite threads of meaning, so that all texts are necessarily self-contradictory, as the process of deconstruction will bring with it reveal” (Barry 34). a writer (not fictional or fictional). Literary theorists recognize that each writing has a different meaning due to various external forces. Orwell's "Shooting the Elephant" can be interpreted in various ways, such as its political focus about imperialism or whether the essay is a reflection of his time as a soldier. Orwell's critical essay, "Shooting the Elephant", is historically accurate. It illustrates the treatment white European soldiers received from Burmese citizens. The Burmese are described as: "...the yellow, mocking faces of young [Burmese] men who met me everywhere, the insults they shouted at me when I was at a safe distance, got on my nerves...there were several thousands of... ... half of the paper ...... the position of the literary piece manages to create a distinct point of view in his literary essays and books George Orwell's critical essay “Shooting an Elephant” is a example of literary theory. His writing is not purely a figment of his imagination, but a testimony of his life. He incorporates his opinions from his personal experiences and ultimately has a greater impact in capturing the attention of readers " was heavily influenced by the "five recurring ideas" of literary theory. Works Cited Barry, Peter. "Early Theory: An Introduction to Literary and Cultural Theory." 3rd ed. Manchester: Manchester UP, 2009. Print. Orwell, George . "Shooting an elephant." English Gateway Seminar 301A. Suffolk University. January 27, 2014. “Orwell the Writer.” Pantry. English Gateway Seminar 301A. Suffolk University. January 15, 2014.