Gatsby Then & Now

This thoughtful worksheet is designed for Grades 9-12 and invites students to examine why The Great Gatsby continues to resonate in the modern world. Focusing on the major themes of materialism, love, and class division, students analyze specific moments from the novel, explain what those examples reveal about American society in the 1920s, and then draw meaningful parallels to contemporary culture. The activity encourages critical thinking, close reading, and reflection on social continuity and change across time.

Learning Goals

• Theme Analysis (Secondary ELA) – Identify and analyze central themes within The Great Gatsby
• Historical Contextualization – Explain how Fitzgerald’s themes reflect the values and tensions of the 1920s
• Modern Application – Connect literary themes to present-day social, economic, or cultural issues
• Critical Reasoning – Evaluate the novel’s ongoing relevance as social commentary

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Aligned with high school ELA and cross-curricular social studies standards
• Text-to-World Connections – Encourages deeper engagement beyond plot and character analysis
• Discussion-Ready – Ideal for class discussion, small-group work, or written reflection
• Supports Analytical Writing – Helps students organize evidence-based comparisons across time periods
• Flexible Use – Works well during novel study, as a culminating activity, or for enrichment
• Low Prep – Print-and-use worksheet with clear prompts and structured response space

This worksheet helps students see The Great Gatsby not just as a historical novel, but as a mirror reflecting ongoing social dynamics. By comparing Fitzgerald’s portrayal of materialism, love, and class with modern examples, learners develop a stronger understanding of theme, cultural context, and the enduring power of literature. Whether used in the classroom or a homeschool setting, this activity promotes meaningful, real-world connections to a classic text.

This worksheet is part of our Great Gatsby Worksheets collection.