The Outsiders Comprehension Guide

What do you think Johnny's last words to Pony mean?

"stay gold, Ponyboy, Stay gold." This quote means two things. First, it relates to the Robert Frost quote Pony recites earlier at the couch in Windrixville. One line is "Nothing gold can stay." Johnnys words tell pony to stay young and innocent (the qualities that set him apart from the other greasers) for as long as he can. Second, it relates back to the boys' time in Windrixvilke in which they had deep conversations and evolved their friendship. "Nothing gold can stay" shows that that time of innocence and fun in the church must come to an end and they had to face the consequences of murder and take responsibility.

Why do you think Dally would have wanted to die?

After Johnny died, Dally realized had he nothing else to live for as he depended open his friendship with Johnny and he was going to die sooner or later anyway for his reputation in life

What does Darry mean when he says, "you don't just stop living because you lose someone"?

Although losing a loved one is difficult, life goes on and at some point you have to accept what has happened and keep pushing though life. Darry reminds Pony of this because he is stuck in a bubble from the recent deaths and cannot escape it.

Why does Pony have a problem with Johnny's idea to disguise themselves?

As cars and jewelry symbolize the socs, hair symbolizes the greasers. Johnny's idea to cut and bleach each others hair takes away from their identities as greasers. Also it took long to grow

Who's the spy for the greasers? Does this surprise you? Why or why not?

Cherry Valence. This doesn't suprise me because it was obvious she liked the greasers after hearing their backstory and she knew Johnny only killed her boyfriend out of self defense

What does Cherry explain as the difference between the Socs and the Greasers? Why don't the Socs feel anything and the greasers feel too violently?

Cherry explains that greasers are more emotional and the socs are sophisticated- cool to the point of not feeling anything. pg 38 The Socs try not to let their true selves show and the greasers try to protect themselves. It is all about emotions.

Why does Dally look sick now?

Dally looked sick while seeing Johnny beat up (by the docs) even though he had seen even worse in New york because Johnny was his pet and inside he didn't want to see him get hurt.

Explain how Darry and Ponyboy play tug of war with Soda.

Darry and Ponyboy, two very not similar siblings, fight a lot and have meaningless arguments almost everyday. As they do this throughout life, they sometimes forget about their middle brother Soda and his problems. Soda voices how he is tired of having to see them fight and forced to pick sides. He wants them to be a family again.

What happens when Pony comes home after his curfew?

Darry gets angry at him at starts to shout at him for staying out late and even slaps Pony which no one in he family has done before causing Pony to run away from home. pg 49 and 50

What does Ponyboy end up doing for his English assignment?

He ends up realizing that the problem about Greasers versus Socs/ the constant violence in his town isn't just a personal thing and many people raised under the wrong influence and stereotyped by those "greater" than them face the same thing. Ponyboy knows he has to let people know about the situation he faced.

If Darry didn't have Soda and Pony, why would he be a soc?

He has a lot more of the qualities(other than having no money) of a soc than a greaser- popular, smart, and would have a future.

What is Ponyboy comparing Two-Bit to when he calls him a "chessy cat"? What figure of speech is this besides a simile?

He is comparing Two-Bit to a cheesy cat which is something for another story ( Alice in Wonderland) It is an allusion: referring to another literary term.

What does Pony mean when he says, "I was supposed to be the deep one"?

He means that Johnny could get more meaning out of some of the stuff in Gone with the Wind than he could. Johnny had failed a year in school but loved exploring things once he understood them. pg 75

What does Ponyboy mean on page 1 '8 when he says, "I lie to myself all the time"? Why does he do this?

He says this because he lied to himself when he said that he didn't care about Darry and didn't need him when in reality he knows he does. In general, he means that he makes false accusations about things to himself just to never believe them.

How does what the doctor first says foreshadow Johnny's condition?

He says, "Let them go in. He's been asking for them. It can't hurt now." This foreshadows to his death because the doctor knew Johnny was dying

Do you think Darry loves Ponyboy? Why does he treat Ponyboy the way he does?

I think Darry does love Ponyboy and the only reason he gets treated so strictly by his older brother is because Darry had to become the father figure for his brothers as their parents were killed in a car accident. He knows Pony can have a successful future

What does Pony mean when he says, "we could get along without anyone but Johnny"?

If any other greaser was in Johnny's condition they would have been fine but Johnny was a important asset to the friend group

Why would being crippled be worse for Johnny than someone else?

If he was crippled he could never hang out with his friends anymore (playing football and a rumble) and he would have to stay in his house with his abusive parents

Why did Pony think it was better to see socs as "just guys"? What does he mean by this?

It brings them down to a level where everyone can understand them instead of refering to them as greater they were just normal kids with feelings and problems

How does Pony's dreaming, or lying to himself, finally work in this chapter?

It helps him cope and ease the pain of both Johnny's and Dallas's recent deaths. he lies to himself by forcing himself to believe his friends aren't dead and believing that Johnny is still in the vacant lot or other places he hung out in

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?

It means that Ponyboy and Johnny are so alike they know each other so well even without words. It is important because it proves they have a true friendship.

What major event happens in this chapter?

Johnny kills Bob with his switchblade out of self defense for himself and protection for Pony as he was getting drowned in the park fountain.

"We needed Johnny as much as he needed the gang. And for the same reason." What do you think Pony means, and what is the reason?

Johnny needed the greasers as a family and so did the greasers- without him (everyones kid brother) they wouldn't be as close. He was the glue that held them together

Why was Johnny dying so difficult for dally to handle?

Johnny was the only thing Dally loved.

Why is the 'gang' important to Johnny?

Johnny's real family is very abusive to him and his father hits him all the time. His mother always ignores him except when she's mad. So he treats the gang like family and knows they will protect him.

What would your advice be to Johnny and Ponyboy if they'd come to you for help instead of Dally? Explain.

My advice would have been to turn themselves in. Due to their age and the fact that it was in self defense, they could get in only a little trouble.

Explain why Pony might rather anyone's hate than their pity?

On page 162, Pony explains he would rather have Bob's parents hate him rather than feel bad for him. Pony is a boy who doesn't want to be pitied but earn his respect instead.

What 'circumstances' do Ponyboy's teacher refer to? What circumstances does Ponyboy think his teacher is referring to?

Ponyboy assumes that the teacher means that he was "goofing up because [he'd] been in a lot of trouble" and he is miserable. He does not realize that the teacher knows that the incident with Johnny was difficult for Ponyboy, and he is just trying to help him out.

What do you think is going on with Ponyboy when he says, "Johnny didn't have anything to do with Bob's getting killed"?

Ponyboy even refuses to acknowledge the fact that Johnny is dead. The reason Ponyboy tells Randy that he killed Bob and denies the fact that Johnny is dead is because he is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

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

Randy was spoiled by his parents a lot and never got told "No" and never got yelled at. Randy claims that if his parents had been stricter he would still be alive as he would know his boundaries

How do we know Sandy didn't love Soda as much as he loved her?

She got pregnant with another man (Soda still was eager to help her out with the baby) and left Soda just by saying his parents didn't let her be with him as he was too young. She received Soda's letter and returned it unopened.

What does Cherry mean when she says Bob "wasn't just anyone"?

She thought Bob was special and better than the crowd and the part of him that beat up Johnny wasn't him but his drunk self

How do Ponyboy's relationships with Darry and Sodapop differ? Explain.

Soda and Ponyboy get along very well as Sodapop understands everything. Darry however tends to yell at pony and makes him feel as if he's not good enough.

`Why do the boys fight? Why is Pony different?

Soda fought for fun, Darry fought for pride, and Two-bit fought for conformity (because everybody fights). Pony's different because he fought for self-defense

Explain what Pony means when he says Soda "reminds me of a colt."

Soda reminds pony of a colt because he gets involved in everything and is handsome like a movie star

How did the author foreshadow that Johnny would use his knife in chapter 2?

The author said, "And Johnny now carried a six inch switchblade. He'd use it too, if he ever got jumped again. They had scared him that much. He would kill the next person who jumped him." on page 34. And on page 50 Johnny uses his switchblade to kill Bob out of self defense and protection.

Who are the socs? Who are the greasers?

The socs (the socials) are the West-side rich kids, and the greasers are the poor kids (east side). they are both "gangs". pg 2&3

Why are the socs and the greasers going to fight in the vacant lot?

The socs are all angry at the greasers for killing Bob so they want to fight it out to see who wins.

What does Pony mean when he says the socs were "reeling pickled"?

The socs were drunk.

Who are Cherry and Marcia?

They are the soc girls they meet at the Nightly Double drive in movie. Johnny and Pony save them from Dally and befriend them while watching movies.

When and how did Pony's parents die?

They died 8 months ago in a car accident

What is the difference between Tim Sheppard's gang and Ponyboy's? Explain how Pony feels this difference might give his group the upper hand?

Tim's gang had a leader and was organized but Ponyboy's were just buddies that stuck together and each man was their own leader. Tims group and the Brumly outfit was also more criminal and violent

What "other side" of Dallas is revealed in this chapter?

Usually Dallas didn't care about anyone but himself and didn't show his affection for his friends but in chapter 6 he cares for Johnny and Pony.

Do you think Dally's parents have influenced the way he is; his personality? Explain.

We do not hear about Dally's parents in the story but I assume he either didn't have a proper parent figure in his life to teach him good habits, manners, etc. or he did not respect his parents and their rules and he himself shaped how he is in the book.

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

a dropout (usually thought of as a poor dumb looking hoodlum wandering the streets) didn't fit the description of pony's happy-go-lucky brother only doing it to help pay bills

What condition is Johnny in after the fire?

critical condition. His back had been broken when a piece of timber fell on his back and he was in severe shock and suffering from 3rd degree burns

Why doesn't Ponyboy feel scared when the socs approach him and he threatens them with a broken bottle? How is this a dramatic change from the Ponyboy we have seen up until this point?

he is in a state of numbness as a result of the guilt and depression from Johnny's death. He is tired of the was Socs are treating greasers and decides to stand up for himself this time. This is a dramatic change from how Pony was at the beginning as he starts to mature into the way the older greasers are, tough. Still, Ponyboy and his friends know he is different than them. he picks up the broken pieces of his bottle proving he wants the best for others and isn't tough but considerate.

When Pony asks what kind of a world it is, what comment is he making about how society judges people?

pg 132. he says how society stereotypes any minority with different looks or behaviors as lazy and unworthy and that it shouldn't be that way

At the end of the chapter, how does the author foreshadow that bad things are to come?

pg 52. The author wrote at the end sentence, "Things gotta get better, I figured. They couldn't get worse. I was wrong." The last sentence shows there are more bad things to occur in the next chapter.

Why does Johnny think Dally is a hero? Do you think Dally is a hero based on what he did?

pg 76. Johnny thinks that Dally is a hero because of his loyalty towards the gang. once, two-bit broke out the school windows but Dally took the blame and got in trouble by the police. that is gallant.

Why does Pony realize he doesn't like Dally? Can you explain what he means by this?

pg 76. Pony says Dally doesn't take up any of the qualities of Soda, Two-Bit, or Darry. They were like the heroes in the books Pony reads but Dally was so real he scared Pony

Examine Robert Frost's poem, Nothing Gold can Stay. What do you think the poem is saying? How might this apply to the characters in the novel?

pg 77. I think the poem suggests the impermanence of gold, pointing to the ending of the idyllic male bonding that Johnny and Ponyboy experience during their week of hiding out and foreshadowing the eventual end of their companionship. Also, it symbolizes their innocence compared to the other older greasers. As Johnny and Ponyboy are the youngest members it is assumed the level of their innocence will decrease as they age.

Why doesn't Dally want Johnny to turn himself in?

pg 89-90 he doesn't want jail to harden Johnny like it did to him

What does Cherry explain as the difference between the Socs and the Greasers?

she says the greasers have a different set of values- more emotional, whereas the Socs are sophisticated cool- to the point where they don't feel anything ( she calls the Socs- values a rat race- keep going and never asking where.Z

Why do you think Johnny wasn't scared, despite the obvious danger?

the fact that he could do something to save the children brought new energy to his life and allowed him to face the danger without fear. pg 92 because they finally have a chance to act out their fantasies of being gallant Southern gentlemen. Just like the heroes they read about in Gone With the Wind who risk their lives for the Southern cause, they too bravely enter a dangerous situation for noble reasons.

Who is the fuzz?

the police (pg 20)