Definitions
What is a motif?
an idea, symbol, image, or device that occurs multiple times throughout a text
Follow up: What is a motif within The Outsiders
"Stay gold Ponyboy"
Johnny
How does Ponyboy's perspective of the Socs change throughout the novel?
He believed that Socs had no significant worries and the only unfair challenges came to the greasers. By the end of the novel, Ponyboy understands that all people, regardless of their status, have significant challenges to face
Name 3 of the 5 archetypes we have learned so far.
The Rebel, Tragic Hero, Orphan, The Caregiver, The Innocent, The Victim
Explain the difference between Ponyboy and Dallas's reaction to Johnny's death.
While Ponyboy initially dealt with Johnny’s death in a state of confused denial, Dallas completely broke after Johnny died. Dallas runs away from the hospital and robs a grocery store.
What is an archetype?
a classic example of a character or thing that recurs throughout literature
Example:
“Golly, you two, it’s bad enough having to listen to it, but when you start trying to get me to take sides…” Tears welled up in his eyes. “We’re all we’ve got left. We ought to be able to stick together against everything. If we don’t have each other, we don’t have anything. If you don’t have anything, you end up like Dallas…and I don’t mean dead either. I mean like he was before. And that’s worse than dead. Please”—he wiped his eyes on his arm—"don’t fight anymore.”
Sodapop
What did Johnny mean when he said "It was worth it?"
While he originally did not want to die, his act of heroism makes his death worth it. This line shows Johnny’s acceptance of his fate because of the good he was able to do for others.
What is a Tragic Hero?
Someone with heroic traits who often experiences a dramatic downfall
Explain how and why Ponyboy’s memory of Dallas’s death will be different from mainstream society’s.
His perspective is that Dallas died a hero. He does this by reflecting on the number of actions Dallas did to protect both Johnny and Ponyboy, despite not being asked to. Despite Ponyboy’s perspective though, society will only view Dallas as a hoodlum, focusing on his reckless behavior, low social status, and deviance
What is first person narration?
a story is told from the point of view of a character in the story
“If he’d been like me he’d never have been in this mess. If he’d got smart like me he’d never have run into that church. That’s what you get for helpin’ people. […] You get tough like me and you don’t get hurt. You look out for yourself and nothin’ can touch you.”
Explain how the fire help shift society's view of the greasers.
Before Johnny and Ponyboy heroically saved the children in the church fire, society viewed greasers are lower status hoodlums who were always up to no good. After the fire, society sees that some greasers are capable of extreme selfless good
What is a victim?
Someone with challenges who often encounters misfortune
What does Stay Gold mean?
Various answers
What is retrospection narration?
a story that reflects on something that happened in the past, often with more insight
example: I know better now
“You only knew his bad side. He could be sweet sometimes, and friendly. But when he got drunk…it was that part of him that beat up Johnny. […] I know I’m too young to be in love and all that, but Bob was something special. He wasn’t just any boy. He had something that made people follow him, something that marked him different, maybe a little better, than the crowd. Do you know what I mean?”
Cherry
Explain how the way Ponybody and Dallas's react to Johnny's death reveals about each character.
Ponyboy’s denial shows his struggle to accept the tragedy of Johnny’s death. Dallas’s breaking point shows that, despite what other’s thought, Dallas really was capable of love and deeply cared for Johnny.
How was Johnny's archetype changed from Victim to Tragic Hero?
Johnny at the beginning of the novel was abused by his mom and dad. At the end of the novel Johnny rescued the children from the fire which was heroic but also became paralyzed and eventually died which was tragic.
What inspired S.E. Hinton to write The Outsiders?
Growing up in Tulsa, Hinton had a friend who was beaten up by the socs which she used to start the beginning of the book.
What is an allusion?
a reference to a significant historical, literary, cultural, or political figure or idea
“You can’t win, even if you whip us. You’ll still be where you were before – at the bottom. And we’ll still be the lucky ones with all the breaks. So it doesn’t do any good, the fighting and the killing. It doesn’t prove a thing. We’ll forget it if you win, or if you don’t. Greasers will still be greasers and Socs will still be Socs. Sometimes I think it’s the ones in the middle that are really the lucky stiffs.”
Randy
Explain how Retrospective Narration impacts our understanding of the novel.
Throughout the novel, Ponyboy leaves subtle hints of his retrospective narration to suggest that he is telling the story looking back on it as a whole. In the end, we learn that the novel is the submission that Ponyboy used for his English paper to share his experience with his teacher. His use of retrospective narration allow Ponyboy to narrate the story with more insight and understanding of meaning and significance of events than he would have had if it was narrated in the present tense.
Name another character besides Johnny and tell how their archetype changed throughout the novel?
Various Answers
What does "Things are rough all over" mean?
Despite what people might think, everyone has problems even if it may not look like it. Don't judge people before you get to know them.