English Language Arts9-12+
East Egg vs. West Egg: Old and New Money Organizer
By MARILYN M.
A one-page graphic organizer with a comparison table and Venn diagram that guides 11th-grade+ readers through the geography and social signals of old versus new money in Chapter 1 of The Great Gatsby. It builds close-reading, textual evidence, and comparative analysis skills, with a table structure that prompts students to record exactly what Nick says about each Egg.
Customize for your classroom
Teacher Guide & Tips
- Use as a companion to a guided or independent reading of Chapter 1, either during reading or as a post-reading discussion tool for a 30 to 45 minute block.
- Discussion question: Nick says the two Eggs are 'exactly alike' in shape but very different in social standing; what does this tell us about how wealth is judged in the novel?
- Scaffold for struggling readers: Pre-teach the terms 'old money' and 'new money' and have students first fill in just the 'physical description' row together before working independently.
- Extension for advanced students: Ask students to connect the Eggs' geography to Fitzgerald's broader critique of the American Dream, drawing on one additional chapter.
- Estimated time: about 15 minutes to complete the organizer, plus 15 to 30 minutes for discussion.
English Language Arts9-12+
East Egg vs. West Egg: Old and New Money Organizer
By MARILYN M.
A one-page graphic organizer with a comparison table and Venn diagram that guides 11th-grade+ readers through the geography and social signals of old versus new money in Chapter 1 of The Great Gatsby. It builds close-reading, textual evidence, and comparative analysis skills, with a table structure that prompts students to record exactly what Nick says about each Egg.
Customize for your classroom
Teacher Guide & Tips
- Use as a companion to a guided or independent reading of Chapter 1, either during reading or as a post-reading discussion tool for a 30 to 45 minute block.
- Discussion question: Nick says the two Eggs are 'exactly alike' in shape but very different in social standing; what does this tell us about how wealth is judged in the novel?
- Scaffold for struggling readers: Pre-teach the terms 'old money' and 'new money' and have students first fill in just the 'physical description' row together before working independently.
- Extension for advanced students: Ask students to connect the Eggs' geography to Fitzgerald's broader critique of the American Dream, drawing on one additional chapter.
- Estimated time: about 15 minutes to complete the organizer, plus 15 to 30 minutes for discussion.