The Russian Revolution and Animal Farm: Power Corrupts Argumentative Essay Research
Name: ____________________________________ Pd.: ___
You will be reading the classic novel Animal Farm by George Orwell. The novel deals with the corrupting nature of
power. You will also be viewing the following videos: Russia’s Last Tsar and Stalin: Man of Steel. During both the reading
of the novel and viewing of the videos, you will be taking notes that will ultimately help you write an essay in which you
defend or challenge the above quote by Lord Acton using evidence from the novel and two videos. Honors students
will also be reading and taking notes from Lord of the Flies by William Golding. Your essay will probably not follow the
traditional five paragraph structure.
Directions: Use the following charts to record information showing how the historical figures (Czar Nicolas II
and Joseph Stalin) and Napoleon (the pig) are corrupted by power and/or use power for the betterment of the
people they lead.
Czar Nicholas II
From: Russia's Last Tzar. National Geographic, 1996. DVD.
Time Period (be as specific as
your sources allow)
Character Qualities that show the beneficial use of power of the abuse of it
“Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts
absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men.”
--Lord Acton
Joseph Stalin
From: Stalin: Man of Steel. History Channel, 2003. Film.
Time Period (be as specific as
your sources allow)
Character Qualities that show the beneficial use of power of the abuse of it
Napoleon
From: Animal Farm. Secker and Warburg, London, England, 1945. Book
Citation
Reference (Chapter and page)
Character Qualities that show the beneficial use of power of the abuse of it