Paired Texts > The Model Millionaire

by Oscar Wilde 1876

We've identified these texts as great options for text pairings based on similar themes, literary devices, topic, or writing style. Supplement your lesson with one or more of these options and challenge students to compare and contrast the texts. To assign a paired text, click on the text to go to its page and click the "Assign Text" button there.

The Million Pound Bank Note
The Million Pound Bank Note
Mark Twain

In this classic example of Twain comedy, a man gains fame and fortune simply because he is in possession of a large bank note -- without spending a single cent.

Pair “The Million Pound Bank Note” with “The Model Millionaire” and have students compare how appearance is perceived in terms of a person’s identity and wealth.

10th Grade Short Story 910L
The Three Questions
The Three Questions
Leo Tolstoy

Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) was a famous Russian author, perhaps best known for his novels War and Peace and Anna Karenina. In this short story, a king looks for three answers to three questions in order to make himself a better ruler.

Pair “The Model Millionaire” with “The Three Questions” and ask students to discuss how the themes of control, rewards, and good fortune develop in each text. Also, ask students to compare the tone of each text—mocking or serious, humorous or didactic?

8th Grade Short Story 980L
The Fallacy of Success
The Fallacy of Success
G.K. Chesterton

G. K. Chesterton (1874-1936) was an English critic, philosopher and writer. Chesterton often wrote parables, which are stories that illustrate lessons in morality. In this opinion piece, Chesterton uses humor to mock books that aim to teach a person how to become wealthy and successful.

Pair “The Model Millionaire” with “The Fallacy of Success” and ask students to discuss how each piece uses humor to discuss wealth, status, and how to become successful.

11th Grade Opinion 990L
The Nose
The Nose
Nikolai Gogol

The nose of a St. Petersburg official disappears and starts living a life of its own.

Pair “The Nose” with “The Model Millionaire” to teach students how appearance is perceived in terms of a person’s identity.

9th Grade Satire 1010L
The Necklace
The Necklace
Guy de Maupassant

In "The Necklace," a poor woman borrows an expensive necklace for a fancy ball. When the necklace goes missing, the woman and her husband spend years living in poverty in order to pay back the debt.

Pair “The Model Millionaire” with “The Necklace” to show students how greed and generosity can make a huge difference in our lives.

9th Grade Short Story 890L
The Selfish Giant
The Selfish Giant
Oscar Wilde

A selfish giant's interaction with a special child inspires him to become generous.

Pair “The Selfish Giant” with “The Model Millionaire,” both by the same author, and ask students to compare the depictions of love in each text. How do the definitions of love and affection differ in the texts?

6th Grade Folktale 790L
Nice Chimps
Nice Chimps
Emily Sohn

In the informational text "Nice Chimps," Emily Sohn discusses a study that explores the altruistic nature of young children and chimpanzees.

Pair “The Model Millionaire” with “Nice Chimps” and ask students to discuss how altruism is explored in the two texts. In “Nice Chimps,” the author discusses how people, and some animals, act altruistically because it makes them happy. Do you think that Hughie acts altruistically in “The Model Millionaire”? What motivates him to give money to the “beggar”? How do both texts explore how acting altruistically can actually be rewarding?

9th Grade Informational Text 1040L