The Man in the High Castle Lesson Plan

Local Alternative History

Kind of Activity:

Creative Writing

Objective:

To examine the concept of the butterfly effect and how it is illustrated in the narrative

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.3, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.3

Structure:

In The Man in the High Castle, the successful assassination of Franklin D. Roosevelt changes the course of history. One bullet hitting instead of missing its mark, and years later the Nazis rule the world. This is a good illustration of the Butterfly Effect: a term coined by scientist Edward Lorenz, though he did not publish his paper explaining his own true, scientific findings until 1963.

Have students read the article...