Characters
sensitive; doesn’t use his head; appreciates the fact that everyone sees the same sunset
Who is Ponyboy
strong, athletic, intelligent, a leader; guardian of his two brothers
Darry
How does Ponyboy reveal the theme of individual identity?
He likes books and movies, does well in school, and doesn't like to fight/see the point in fighting except for self-defense. He also begins to understand the Socs and realizes their groups may not be as different as they think they are.
After Darry slaps Ponyboy , Ponyboy runs away and meets up with Johnny. Him and Johnny go to the park, where they encounter the Socs. Summarize what happens next
The Socs approach the Greasers because they picked up their girls at the drive-in. Tensions rise, and Bob begins to drown Ponyboy in the fountain, so Johnny kills Bob with his switchblade to save Ponyboy's life.
What are Johnny's last words to Ponyboy, and what do they mean?
"Stay gold, Ponyboy, Stay gold."
Johnny is telling Ponyboy to stay good/pure/young/innocent
rebellious, tough, defiant; loyal to the greasers; wants to die after losing the one person he cared about
independent, caring; acts as a spy for the greasers; tells Ponyboy that things are rough all over
Cherry
How does Johnny's character develop the theme of family?
His father hits him and his mother ignores him. He is constantly abused/neglected by his biological family, so he finds a chosen family in the Greasers. They are the only people in his life who love him
How does Dally die? Explain!
At the church fire in Chapter 6, Ponyboy claims, “Johnny wasn’t behaving at all like his old self.” What evidence from the text best clarifies Ponyboy’s claim?
A. Johnny’s face was red-marked from falling embers
B. When Pony jumped out of the window, he heard Johnny scream.
C. Johnny yelled, “Shut up! We’re goin’ to get you out!”
C. Johnny yelled, “Shut up! We’re goin’ to get you out!”
timid, vulnerable; dies a hero in the eyes of some and a murderer in the eyes of others
Johnny
A neglected, entitled Soc who bullied others and was murdered
Bob
What does the sunset that Ponyboy frequently refers to symbolize?
The sunset symbolizes unity/sameness/humanity. Despite all the differences between the Greasers and the Socs, they all see the same sunset.
When Ponyboy sees Darry crying at the hospital, what does he realize about Darry?
He realizes that Darry really does care about him
How and why is Ponyboy an unreliable narrator in chapter 11?
He is delusional after Johnny's death.
Ponyboy tells Randy that he's the one who killed Bob, not Johnny, and that Johnny didn't have anything to do with it.
energetic, understanding; the person who Pony loves more than anyone; always felt like “the middleman in a tug o’ war”
Sodapop
In Chapter 7, Randy and Ponyboy are having a conversation at the Tasty Freeze. What does Ponyboy learn about Bob and his home life?
Bob was spoiled and his parents never told him no. Randy believes that if his parents "had just belted him- just once, he might still be alive"
How can the Greasers be considered "outsiders" in society?
The Greasers are known for being poor and acting like hoods (stealing things, driving old, souped up cars, hold up gas stations, and have gang fights).
They face a lot of stereotyping, judgement, and assumptions from people in society based on their socioeconomic status and how they look. They are often undervalued and underestimated
In Chapter 6, there is a shift in how Ponyboy and Johnny are perceived (viewed) by others after they save the kids from the burning church. What is the shift?
They go from being viewed as murderers/criminals/hoods to being viewed as heroes
Which example best supports Pony’s belief that Dally “died gallant” ?
A. Dally wanted to be dead and he always got what he wanted.
B. Dally loved Johnny more than anything in the world.
C. Dally risked his life for the gang on several occasions.
A. Dally wanted to be dead and he always got what he wanted
A dynamic character; learns to see beyond the stereotypes; visits the Curtis household before the trial
Randy
How does Sodapop work to resolve the conflict between the three brothers at the end of the novel? Be specific!
Soda expresses that he is tired of being the middleman in Ponyboy and Darry's arguments. He tells Darry that he needs to try and understand Ponyboy more, and tells Ponyboy that he doesn't realize everything Darry's given up just to give him a chance he missed out on.
How does Ponyboy's understanding of Cherry's quote, "things are rough all over" change from the beginning of the novel to the end?
At the beginning of the novel, Ponyboy doesn't think the greasers could have any "real" problems. He thinks things are only rough for the Greasers. His understanding of the quote changes towards the end of the novel. He realizes they all have struggles in life
How does Johnny feel about dying? (Ponyboy learns this when he reads the letter Johnny left for him)
He doesn't mind dying; he thinks saving the kids was worth it because their lives are worth more than his, they have more to live for
Explain the significance of this quote:
“When I stepped out into the bright sunlight from the darkness of the movie house, I had only two things on my mind: Paul Newman and a ride home.”
This is the opening and closing line of the play. At the end of the novel, Ponyboy has to write a theme in order to pass his English class. We see that this is the first line of his composition, so we know that Ponyboy wrote the book The Outsiders for his composition about the conflict between the Socs and the Greasers