Study Questions--Respond to questions with specific ideas. Note page references to support your ideas.
1. Imperialism involves claiming and exploiting lands beyond a country's border for prestige, raw materials, and markets for its goods. Colonialism involves transforming those lands--their social structure, culture, government, and economy. Explain how the story illustrates this difference. Find examples from the story.
2. What does the story say about the responsibility and duty of ruling, of being king. Does the story suggest that colonialism (empire building) can be enlightened? Benevolent? Responsible?
3. On pp. 948-49, Carnehan discusses government
regulation. What is his criticism, and how does it relate
to the story's themes? According to the Queen
Victoria's Empire video (or the NA, pp. 10, 683), how did government bureaucracy and regulation
affect the Crimean War?
4. What view of India do we get in the opening pages
of the story (pp. 944-46)? Focus on conditions as well as
views of people. Be sure to consider views of the Native
States. You can also consider the entire story.
5. What is the role of storytelling in this story?
Consider that Carnehan and Dravot author their own legend or story
and then make it happen--make it "real." What is the
interplay between fiction and reality? Does storytelling
relate to the themes of imperialism and colonialism?
6. What is the role of the narrator in this story?
What function does he serve?
7. Is empire building a masculine enterprise?
If so, what does this suggest? What role do women play
in this story?