Characters
Who is the main character in the story?
What has happened to Andy at the beginning of the story?
He has been stabbed by a member of a rival gang (the Guardians)
What colour is Andy’s jacket?
Purple
What is one theme in the story?
Identity / labels / belonging / violence
Which group label in The Outsiders is similar to the Royals?
The Greasers
What 'gang' does Andy belong to?
The Royals
Where is Andy lying throughout the story?
On the sidewalk in an alley/street
What word is written on the back of the jacket?
“ROYAL”
How do strangers react to Andy when they see him?
Most ignore him, avoid helping, or judge him because of his gang jacket
Which character in The Outsiders struggles with identity, like Andy?
Ponyboy
Who is Laura and what is her relationship to Andy?
Laura is Andy’s girlfriend
What item is Andy trying to remove for most of the story?
His purple jacket
What does the jacket show about Andy’s identity?
It shows his gang identity and how others define him
What does the story suggest about judging people based on appearance?
It is unfair and dangerous because it prevents people from seeing others as individuals
How is Andy being attacked similar to Johnny’s experience with the Socs?
Both are targeted and harmed because of gang rivalry and group identity
Which character chooses not to help Andy because of fear?
The couple (especially the woman who wants to help but is stopped by the man)
What happens when Laura finally finds Andy?
She rushes to him, holds him, and calls for help, but it is too late—he dies
Why is it important that Andy removes the jacket?
It represents him rejecting the gang label and wanting to be seen as just himself
How does Andy’s thinking change before he dies?
He moves from identifying as a Royal to realising he is just Andy and wants to be seen that way
How do both texts show that labels can lead to violence?
In both texts, characters are attacked because of their group (Royals/Guardians, Greasers/Socs), showing how labels create division and conflict
Which character sees Andy as a person rather than his label, and how do their actions show this?
Laura – she calls him Andy, not “Royal,” and focuses on him as an individual rather than his gang identity
What happens at the very end with the police officer, and why is it significant?
The officer calls Andy a “Royal,” showing he is still identified only by his gang label, reinforcing the theme about labels
Explain how the jacket symbol helps the reader understand the message that people are more than labels.
The jacket causes others to judge Andy as a gang member, but when he removes it, we see his true identity, showing that labels hide a person’s real self
What message is the author giving about identity and belonging, and how is it shown through Andy’s experience?
The author shows that labels can limit and harm individuals; Andy’s death demonstrates how being seen only as a gang member prevents others from helping him
Compare how both texts explore the idea that “people are more than their labels.” Give one example from each.
On the Sidewalk Bleeding: Andy removes his jacket to show he is more than a Royal
The Outsiders: Ponyboy shows he is more than a Greaser through his love of books, sensitivity, and relationships (e.g. with Cherry)