Team Ponyboy
True or false. Ponyboy once dated Cherry.
False
True or false? Johnny's surname is Cade.
True
True or false? Ponyboy prefers to go to the movies with his friends?
False
True or false? Dally is originally from New York?
True
True or false? Ponyboy loves a violent rumble?
False
What does Ponyboy say is his trademark?
Who tells Ponyboy that he doesn't use his head?
Darry
What happens to Johnny after he stabs Bob to death?
He runs away and hides in the church with Ponyboy
Why are Johnny and Ponyboy considered heroes in the paper?
They rescue kids from the fire
What do cars symbolise in the novel?
Identity, belonging, being tuff, youth culture
"It was long and silky, just like Soda’s. Our hair was tuff… it was our trademark." What technique is this?
Direct characterisation
"He would kill the next person who jumped him. Nobody was ever going to beat him again. Not over his dead body..." What technique?
Foreshadowing
"You’re a nice kid, Pony, but you don’t use your head." What technique is this?
Indirect characterisation
Ponyboy remembers Johnny getting beaten up by the Socs. What technique is being used here?
Flashback
"Man, that was a tuff car!" Name the technique(s)
Colloquial language and/or symbolism
How does the symbol of hair help the audience understand the world the Greasers?
It symbolises their identity and 'tuffness' and shows how much appearance matters in their world.
How does Hinton use flashbacks to help us understand Ponyboy’s world?
They give background to traumatic events, to explain why the stabbing happened, to make us empathise with his perspective.
How does going to the rumble represent an inner conflict for Ponyboy?
He feels loyal to the gang which are like his chosen family but he also does not believe violence is the solution.
Why is Ponyboy’s relationship with Darry important to the theme of growing up
At the start he hates Darry but as he grows up he realises that Darry is only hard on him because he loves him and wants him to have a better life than he could.
How does a first person narrative contribute to the world Hinton is trying to create?
Ponyboy's narration allows us direct access to the world of the Greasers through his thoughts and feelings and perspective.
How does Hinton’s use of first-person narrative affect how we see Ponyboy’s world?
It allows us to experience his inner thoughts and emotions, making the world more personal and real.
How does the use of colloquial language make the world of The Outsiders feel more authentic?
It gives the characters a real voice and helps the reader connect to the culture of the Greasers and Socs.
Why does Hinton use foreshadowing when Ponyboy says Johnny would kill the next person who jumped him?
It builds suspense and prepares the reader for the violence to come, deepening the sense of danger. It gives a hint to the reader of what's to come drawing them into the intrigue of the novel.
What effect does the symbol of cigarettes have on our understanding of the Greasers’ relationships?
Cigarettes represent rebellion, but also the close bonds between the Greasers, showing how they care for each other in a harsh world.
How does Hinton use flashbacks to make the reader sympathise with Ponyboy and the Greasers?
By showing their past traumas, Hinton helps us understand why the characters act the way they do, making them more relatable and human.