The Outsiders Study Guide

9. Find a quote from chapter three that foreshadows Ponyboy and Johnny's experience in the burning church.

"I saw Johnny's cigarette glowing in the dark and wondered vaguely what it was like inside a burning ember..." (47). This line foreshadows Ponyboys eventual entrance to the church when he returns to this idea when he says "I remembered wondering what it was like in a burning ember, and I thought: Now I know, it's a red hell" (92).

7. What would your advice have been if Ponyboy and Johnny came to you for help instead of Dally?

* Answers for this question will vary, but students should demonstrate self-reflection.

6. What was Bob's real problem, according to Randy?

According to Randy, Bob's parents played a significant role in shaping his personality. He says his parents gave into him all the time. Bob "kept trying to make someone say 'No'....to set limits" (116), but it never happened. Whenever Bob made a mistake, his parents always blamed themselves for his actions, so Bob continued to get himself in trouble.

9. How does Ponyboy's perspective on Socs start to change after his conversation with Randy? Why does he start to see things differently?

After Ponyboy's conversation with Randy, he begins to see that the individual is not always defined by the group. During his conversation, Randy says he didn't think a greaser could do something as heroic as Pony and Johnny did, but Ponyboy says "'Greaser' didn't have anything to do with it. My buddy over there wouldn't have done it. Maybe you would have done the same thing, maybe a friend of yours wouldn't have. It's the individual" (115). He begins to see that not all members of the group are the same, and that perhaps he has more in common with members of the Socs than he once thought. To further solidify this, when the conversation is over, and Pony returns to speak with Two- Bit he asks "'What'd Mr. Super-Soc have to say?' [and Pony responds by saying] "'He ain't a Soc,'...'he's just a guy'" (118).

4. Explain how Darry and Ponyboy's actions affect Sodapop.

After an argument between Darry and Ponyboy ensues, Sodapop can no longer take it. He storms out of the house in complete frustration. When they find him, Soda reveals that he feels like he is "the middleman in a tug o' war" (175). He feels like he cannot take either side, so he is caught between a rock and a hard place. He says "Darry yells too much and tries to hard and takes everything too serious, and Ponyboy, you don't think enough, you don't realize all Darry's giving up just to give you a chance he missed out on" (177-76).

7. On the bottom of p.132, when Pony asks what kind of a world it is, why is this questioning important to Ponyboy's character development?

At this point in the novel, Ponyboy begins to question his association with the gang and the reasons that he feels proud to be a member. He asks himself why being a greaser with a "reputation for being a hood" (132) is so important to him. As an individual, he doesn't want to be a hood who steals and drinks and has a bad reputation, but he feels compelled to be proud (or at least pretend to be proud) of it because it is the pride of the gang. This quote shows Ponyboy's real feelings about being a hood and shows, once again, that the individual and the group can be distinct from one another.

1.What does Cherry explain as the difference between the Socs and the greasers?

Cherry expresses that the greasers have a different set of values. She believes that the greasers are far more emotionally sensitive. She sees the Socs, on the other hand, as a group who are generally not emotional because they hide behind a veil of cool sophistication. She says that Socs are void of emotion, while the greasers often feel too violently.

12. What is Ponyboy comparing Two-Bit to when he calls him a "chessy cat" on page 27? What two literary devices are used here?

Chessy Cat refers to a "Cheshire Cat, a proverbial grinning cat from Cheshire, in England as described in Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland". In The Outsiders, Ponyboy was trying to describe that Two-Bit Matthews was smiling broadly, much like that of the Cheshire Cat. This is an example of a simile (comparing two unlike things using like or as), as well as allusion (to make a passing reference to something outside the text).

4. Why do Dally and Ponyboy go to the hospital after the fight?

Dally and Ponyboy go to the hospital after the fight to see Johnny and share the good news that they won the rumble. Dally is particularly eager to get there, assumedly because he worries that Johnny is dying and thinks the good news may cheer him up.

5. Why doesn't Dally want Johnny to turn himself in? Why does Johnny insist on confessing?

Dally does not want Johnny to turn himself in because he has been to jail before, and he knows how it can make someone bitter. Johnny insists on turning himself in because he believes he has "a good chance of bein' let off early" (87). He has no criminal record and the crime was self-defense.

4. Why are the Socs and Greasers going to have a rumble?

Dally shares that the Socs and the Greasers are planning a brawl soon. He reveals that the "kid [Johnny] killed had plenty of friends and all over town it's Soc against grease" (83). The tension is so strong that greasers cannot even walk alone for fear of being attacked. Dally even confides that he is carrying a gun now (heater).

3. Who did Darry first take on in the rumble? Why is this person significant?

Darry first takes on Paul Holden in the rumble. Paul is significant because "he and Darry used to buddy it around all the time" (142). Paul and Darry have a lot in common as they were both on the football team together. The only thing that separated them was their association with their respective gangs. Ponyboy believes that Darry was ashamed to be associated with some of the greasers who were hoods, but because he is part of the greaser gang, he needs to fight someone, who he really has no individual problems with, for the sake of the group.

5. Why did everyone go silent when Pony asked Soda if he would take Sandy to the party?

Everyone goes silent because they know what happened between Sodapop and Sandy, but Ponyboy does not. It is revealed that Sandy's "parents almost hit the roof at the idea of her marryin' a sixteen-year-old kid." (111).

8. How does Hinton use humor during the church fire? Why do you think she does this?

Hinton uses humor in a few different ways during this section of the novel. Firstly, she uses humor in the interactions between Ponyboy and Johnny. This is shown when Pony looks at him and Johnny "grinned at [him]...he looked like he was having the time of his life". Another form of humor that Hinton uses is with the children. When Ponyboy picks up the first kid to help him out, the child bites him. Hinton lightens the mood through her use of humor in this scene.

5. What does Ponyboy end up doing for his English assignment?

In the end, Ponyboy decides to write his composition on his life experiences. The reader learns that the novel is, in fact, Ponyboy's composition. We know this because the first lines of the composition, are identical to the first lines of the novel.

7. Why doesn't Johnny want to see his mother?

Johnny doesn't want to see his mother because he thinks that she will blame him. He states that "[s]he's probably come to tell me about all the trouble I'm causing her and about how glad her and the old man'll be when I'm dead" (122). He feels no connection to his parents, and sees his greaser friends as his family.

5.Why does Johnny react so violently to the socs?

Johnny has been attacked by the socs in the past. This attack was very violent and left him with many injuries. One of his attackers wore rings, which left him with many cuts. Ponyboy says "Johnny recognized them; he was watching the moonlight glint off Bob's rings with huge eyes" (55). When the five boys show up to the park that night, the reader can infer that Bob may have played a role in this attack as he is wearing rings. When the socs attack Pony, he snaps and protects Pony from the socs.

3.Why does Johnny like it better when his father is hitting him?

Johnny shares this after he learns about Ponyboy's fight with Darry. Johnny says that he prefers when his father is hitting him because it is at these times that he feels like his father knows he is there. He says "I walk out and nobody says anything. I stay away all night, and nobody notices" (51). This tells us that Johnny is often ignored by his parents, and Johnny would rather have his father give him any attention, even if it is negative.

1. What is Ponyboy's issue with Johnny's suggestion that they disguise themselves?

Johnny suggests that he and Ponyboy cut and dye their hair so they will not be recognized by their descriptions in the newspaper. Ponyboy is immediately against this idea and shares that his hair "was [his] pride...our hair was tuff...our hair labeled us as greasers too - it was our trademark" (71). He feels by changing his hair, he is changing his identity.

8. What do you think Johnny's last words to Pony mean? Explain why this message is important to this novel.

Johnny's last words to Ponyboy were "'Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold" (148). This message refers back to the poem that Johnny and Pony read while they were at the church in Windrixville. Stay gold in this particular instance refers to being true to yourself and attempting to remain innocent an uncorrupted. When Johnny, in his final hour, tells Ponyboy to "Stay Gold" he is telling him to not conform to what society dictates and to stay true to his pure self despite the violent and tumultuous world he lives in.

8. What types of conflict are used in these chapters? Explain

Person vs Person - This type of conflict is most prominently demonstrated in these chapters at two points. Firstly, there is a continuing conflict between Ponyboy and Darry. This conflict comes to a head in these chapters when Darry hits Pony. The second person vs person conflict occurs between Johnny and Pony vs the socs. This conflict also results in crisis when the socs attack Pony and Johnny stabs Bob. Students could also make an argument for person vs society since Johnny and Ponyboy are forced to flee because they broke the established laws. Person vs self could also be argued since Johnny needed to make the decision to put his life in danger by killing Bob and protecting Ponyboy.

4.To whom do Ponyboy and Johnny go for help? What does he give them? What does he tell them to do?

Ponyboy and Johnny decide to go to Dally for help since he has been in trouble with the law before. They find him at Buck Merril's home. Dally gives the boys fifty dollars, a change of clothing for Pony who is wet from being drowned in the fountain, and a loaded gun. He advises the boys to take a train to Windrixville. He tells them that once they arrive they should find an abandoned church for refuge.

9.Why doesn't Ponyboy like referring to Sodapop as a 'dropout'?

Ponyboy does not like referring to Soda in this way because he feels that it makes people think "of some poor dumb-looking hoodlum wandering the streets breaking out street lights" (23). He did not feel that this described the fun, happy brother that Soda truly was.

6.What is the difference between "tuff" and "tough"?

Ponyboy explains that "[t]ough and tuff are two different words. Tough is the same as rough; tuff means cool, sharp - like a tuff-looking Mustang or a tuff record" (12).

1. What condition were Dally and Johnny in?

Ponyboy explains that Dally would be okay after a couple of days in the hospital. He says that for Dally, "one arm was badly burned and would be scarred for the rest of his life, but we would have full use of it in a couple of weeks" (102). As for Johnny, the prognosis was not as promising. He was in critical condition because "[h]is back had been broken when that piece of timber fell on him" (102). He also had third degree burns. The doctor was unsure if he would survive, but explains that he will be crippled if he does.

3. Why did Darry never lock the front door to the house and what does this say about the greasers?

Ponyboy explains that the greasers often stick their heads into each other's houses and walk in without knocking. Although Darry was warned about burglars by Two-Bit's mother, he keeps the door unlocked "in case one of the boys is hacked off at his parents and needs a place to lay over and cool off" (105).

2.How is Ponyboy different from the other members of his gang?

Ponyboy is described as different from the rest of the Greasers at the very beginning of the novel. He says that he enjoys reading, drawing, and watching movies, but that the rest of the gang is not interested in things like that. He also doesn't participate in many of the violent activities because his brother Darry would not approve.

6. How did Dally make a difference according to Ponyboy?

Ponyboy knows that no one would be writing editorials praising Dally for being a hero since he was perceived as a hoodlum. He does; however, understand the difference that Dally has made. He remarks memories he has of Dally "pulling Johnny through the window of the burning church; Dally risking his life for us, trying to keep Johnny out of trouble" (154). While Pony knows that he did not die a hero, he did die gallant as Johnny described him.

10. What does Ponyboy mean when he says, "I lie to myself all the time?" Do you ever lie to yourself? Why?

Ponyboy lies to himself by saying he doesn't care about Darry and that it is irrelevant to him whether Darry loves him or not. In reality, he knows that he does care. • Answers for the rest of this question will vary, but should make a connection to the students' life in some way.

2. What is the difference between Tim Sheppard's gang and Ponyboy's? Explain why Ponyboy thinks this difference gives his group the advantage.

Ponyboy notes that the difference between Tim Sheppard's gang and theirs was that "they had a leader and were organized; we were just buddies who stuck together - each man was his own leader" (138). Pony thought that this gave their gang the advantage. Tim Sheppard's gang was also more criminal. They enjoyed being 'hood', while Pony and his brothers were more determined to make something of their lives.

7.How does Ponyboy relate to Pip from Great Expectations?

Ponyboy relates to the character of Pip because Pip was "marked lousy because he wasn't a gentleman or anything, and the way the girl kept looking down on him" (15). He felt similar since the Socs had also judged him. He tells a story of a girl in his class calling him a hood when he used his switchblade to dissect a worm in Biology to prove his point.

5. Why was Johnny's death so difficult for Dally?

Ponyboy remarks that Johnny's death was particularly difficult for Dally because he "was the only thing Dally loved" (152). Dally was a hard and cold person, but Johnny's death became the breaking point for him. He was unable to control his emotions and keep his cool because of the strong emotions he felt for Johnny and the pain he felt for losing him.

6. What does Ponyboy mean when he says "Johnny and I understood each other without saying anything?" Have you ever had a relationship with someone who you understood, or who understood you, without having to say anything? Why is that important?

Ponyboy says this to show the strong bond that he shares with Johnny. Although Johnny and Pony do not have long conversations, they understand each other completely. * Answers for this question will vary, but students should make a connection to their life.

1. Why would Ponyboy rather have someone's hate than pity?

Ponyboy shares that he would rather the socs hate him than pity him. He says he hopes they "weren't full of that pity-the-victims-of-environment junk that social workers kept handing Curly Shepard" (162) who often was sent off to a reformatory. Ponyboy has seen people pity other greasers before, and he does not want to experience that.

3.How does Ponyboy's relationship with Darry and Sodapop differ? Explain.

Ponyboy's relationship with Sodapop is more positive since "Soda tries to understand" (2) him. Soda also defends Pony. Darry, on the other hand, is always getting angry and hollering at Ponyboy. He states that "[Soda's] always happy-go-lucky and grinning, while Darry's hard and firm and rarely grins at all" (2). Darry is most likely this way because he has gone through a lot being forced to raise his brother's after the death of his parents.

2. Why does Randy come to visit Pony? What does he discover through their conversation?

Randy explains that he came to see Ponyboy to see how he was feeling, but it seems he is really there because he feels stress about the upcoming trial. Randy, according to Ponyboy, had nothing two worry about since Pony was in a much worse situation. During their discussion Randy learns the Ponyboy's parents are dead and that there is a possibility the judge could take Ponyboy out of his home.

1. What are some of the reasons that the boys like to fight? Why is Darry hesitant about letting Pony fight?

Sodapop says that he likes fighting because "[i]t's action. It's a contest, Like a drag race or a dance or something" (133). Steve, is more violent in the sense that he likes fighting because he wants to "beat those Soc' head in" (133) because he enjoys it. The boys explain that Darry likes to fight because he gets to show off his muscles. Ponyboy says that Darry likes to take part in anything related to strength. Ponyboy will fight, but he doesn't like it. Darry is hesitant to let Ponyboy fight because he has lost weight and strength since being in Windrixville. He also doesn't like that Ponyboy will be fighting without Johnny, since they usually protect each other.

1.Who are the Socs? Who are the Greasers?

The Socs and the Greasers are two distinct groups in this community who do not get along. The Socs are described by Ponyboy as "the jet-set, the West-side rich kids"(2). The Greasers, on the other hand, are poorer than the Socs. They are also more wild and wear their hair long and greased back. They "steal things, and drive souped up cars and hold up gas stations and have a gang fight once in a while" (3).

11. Discuss the theme of gender in these chapters. How do the characters treat members of the same sex, and of the opposite sex?

The author suggests in these chapters that male-female relationships between the Greasers and Socs are more peaceful and respectful than male-male relationships. The encounters between Johnny, Ponyboy, Marcia, and Cherry show that relationships between Greasers and Socs are positive, even though they are from different groups. Although Dally has a negative encounter with the girls, Johnny protects them because of their gender. He most likely would not have done this if the conflict were with another male. The male greasers and male Socs encounters consistently result in violence. This difference shows that the gang rivalry is one that is masculine in nature. It is also worth noting; however, that internal group bonding in also strongly masculine. The Greasers are all male, and they are protective and supportive of one another.

4. How are Ponyboy, Johnny and Dally portrayed in the newspaper article?

The boys are portrayed as reformed juvenile delinquents who become heroes. The article explains how Ponyboy and Johnny "risked [their] lives saving those little kids" (107).

9.The climax of The Outsiders occurs during these chapters. Explain what happens during the climax and why this is considered the climax of the novel.

The climax of this novel is Johnny's death. The rising action develops Johnny and Pony's relationship, and his death is the highest peak of action in the novel. The narrative builds up to this moment, and we can assume that after his death, everything will change.

13. What literary device does the author use to describe Johnny's mugging (pgs.31-34)?

The literary device used is flashback. This is a literary or cinematic device in which an earlier event is inserted into the normal chronological order of a narrative.

7. Discuss the importance of narrative point of view in The Outsiders.

The narrative point of view used in this novel is first person narration through the character - Ponyboy. While the narration of the novel is important and allows greater insight into the main character, we learn in these chapters how important the narration really is. In the end, the reader learns that this novel's narration has been a written composition by Ponyboy to his English teacher.

3. What poem is referenced to in these chapters? Who wrote the poem?

The poem referenced in these chapters is called "Nothing Gold Can Stay" by Robert Frost.

4.What does the reader learn about what happened to Johnny before the story began?

The reader learns that Johnny was attacked by four Socs. Ponyboy says that he "had seen Johnny after four Socs got hold of him, and it wasn't pretty. Johnny was scared of his own shadow after that" (4). He explains remembering Johnny all cut up and half conscious crying after the attack.

6. Discuss the changes in characterization of Ponyboy from the beginning of the novel compared to his reaction to the Socs approaching him in chapter 12. What do you think caused this change?

Throughout most of the novel, Ponyboy shows very little interest in violence or crime. In chapter 12, after Johnny's death, the reader sees a different side of Ponyboy. When he is approached by socs looking to start a fight, he immediately turns to violence by breaking a bottle and threatening them. This is uncharacteristic of Pony and shows the bitterness that is creeping in after his traumatic experiences.

8. What was it about Darry that made him different from the rest of the gang?

Two-Bit reveals in this chapter that the only thing that keeps Darry from being a soc is his association as a greaser. Ponyboy agrees by explaining "in spite of not having much money, the only reason Darry couldn't be a Soc was us. The gang. Me and Soda. Darry was too smart to be a greaser. I don't know how I know, I just did. And I was kind of sorry" (126).

3. How do we know that Sandy did not love Soda as much as he loved her?

We learn in this chapter that although Sodapop loved Sandy, and wanted to marry her, "she just left" (174). Sandy disregarded Soda's affections, and left him to go to Florida.

2.What happens when Pony comes home after his curfew?

When Pony arrives home, he finds Darry is angrily waiting for him. An argument begins which leads to Darry slapping Ponyboy. Ponyboy says "Darry wheeled around and slapped me so hard that it knocked me against the floor" (50). Ponyboy is shocked, as it is the first time anyone in his family has ever slapped him. This event solidifies for Pony the idea that Darry doesn't care about him, so he storms out and intends to run away.

7. What does Ponyboy realize about Darry at the end of chapter 6?

When Ponyboy is in the hospital, Darry and Sodapop come to his room. Ponyboy sees Darry in tears and he realizes that "Darry did care about [him], maybe as much as he cared about Soda" (98).

10. What was the reason for Cherry not going to the hospital to see Johnny? Do you believe she was justified in her reasoning? Why or why not?

When Ponyboy suggests Cherry visit Johnny in the hospital, she says that she couldn't because he killed Bob. *Answers for this question will vary, but students may empathize with Cherry as she knew a different side of Bob, or they may empathize with Ponyboy who thinks she should also mourn the death of her friend Johnny.

5.What happens to Ponyboy when he walks home from the movies?

While Ponyboy is on his way home from the movies, a Corvair holding four Socs follows him. The got out, rounded him, and pulled a knife on him threatening "[w]e're gonna cut all the long greasy hair off" (5). They punched him, pinned him down and put a knife to his throat. Ponyboy screams for help and his gang comes to his rescue.

8.Explain what altercation at the drive-in?

While at the drive-in, Dally loudly makes rude suggestive comments about two girls sitting down in front. Ponyboy is embarrassed because they are Soc girls. Dally continues to harass the girls until one turns around and says "Take your feet off my chair and shut your trap" (21). The argument continues until Dally leaves.

2. The doctor says that Johnny will be crippled if he survives. Why is this worse for Johnny than it would be for someone else?

While being crippled would be a terrible fate for anyone, Ponyboy explains that this is worse for Johnny not only because he would not be able to play football or join rumbles, but also because "[h]e'd have to stay in that house he hated, where he wasn't wanted, and things could never be like they used to be" (103).

6. What happens at the church?

While on their way back home, the boys notice the church is on fire. Ponyboy thinks his cigarette may have started the fire. When there are children missing and after hearing screams coming from the church, Pony and Johnny heroically jump into the church to rescue the children. The roof is about to cave in as the last child is saved. Johnny pushes Ponyboy out through the window, and he is injured by a falling timber.

2. Why does Johnny think Dally is a hero? Do you think he is a hero based on this?

While reading Gone With The Wind, Johnny expresses that he thinks the southern gentleman reminds him of Dally because of their gallant nature. Ponyboy does not see his point, so Johnny explains that Dally was once arrested, but he remained cool under pressure and "took the sentence" (76) even though it was Two-bit who committed the crime. Johnny says that this is gallant, and Ponyboy says it "was the first time [he] realized the extent of Johnny's hero-worship for Dally Wilson" (76).

11. The following lines from these chapters use figurative language. Label which literary device is being used (see Literary Terms Reference Sheet).

a. "The reporters fired one question right after another at me" (100). (metaphor) - comparing the speed of the questions to gun shots b. "I heard our Ford's vrrrrooooom and thought: Soda's driving" (113). (onomatopoeia) - word imitating the sound of the car. c. "He's so greaser...he goes to the barber for an oil change, not a haircut" (114). (hyperbole) - exaggeration of the amount of grease in his hair d. "He was as pale as the pillow and looked awful" (120). (simile) - comparing his coloring to the color of the pillow using 'as' e. "We knew better than to talk to Dally when his eyes were blazing" (125). (metaphor) - comparing his angry eyes to fire.