Slang Words
“Ain’t you about about to freeze to death, Pony?” “You ain’t a woofin’,” I said, rubbing my bare, cold arms between drags on my cigarette.
What is joking, kidding
“I lie to myself all the time. But I never believe me.”
What are thoughts and feelings?
Both Greasers and Socs face personal struggles or challenges; both Greasers and Socs make some bad decisions, and both Greasers and Socs participate in violence are all examples of this.
What is something Greasers and Socs have in common. (What are some things they don't have in in common?)
Johnny's and Ponyboy's actions in the burning church are best described as this.
What is Heroic.
“He could lift a hubcap quicker and more quietly than anyone in the neighborhood, including most criminals!”
What is to steal
"If you can picture a little dark puppy that has been kicked too many times and is lost in a crowd of strangers...."
What is Looks. (Who is it.)
The quote “'Dally’s okay,' Johnny said defensively, and I nodded. You take up for your buddies no matter what they do." supports this big idea from the story
What is loyalty among the gang
When we learn both Ponyboy and Cherry like to watch sunsets, we are really being told this idea about both Greasers and Socs.
What is they are basically the same.
“Like the way you dig sunsets, Pony. That’s gold.”
To like; to understand
“You read a lot, don’t you Ponyboy?” Cherry asked.
I was startled. “Yeah. Why?”
She kind of shrugged. “I could just tell. I’ll bet you watch sunsets, too.” She was quiet for a minute after I nodded. “I used to watch them, too, before I got so busy…”
What is "Says"? (What does it tell us about Cherry?)(What does it say about Greasers and Socs?)
"In that second what Soda and Dally and Two-Bit had been trying to tell me came through. Darry did care about me, maybe as much as he cared about Soda, and because he cared he was trying too hard to make something of me." shows this about Ponyboy.
What is how much he has grown since chapter 1.
The use of the poem "Nothing Gold Can Stay" supports this important idea in the book.
What is its theme
"Tim'll fight fair if Dally don't pull a blade."
What is a knife.
She was coming through to me alright. Probably because I was a greaser and younger; she didn't have to keep her guard up with me.
What is Effects on others. (Who is it about? What does it suggest)
"Ponyboy Curtis, his brothers, and their friends are greasers who fight against the Socs. In one encounter, Ponyboy and his friend, Johnny, are jumped by five Socs. Johnny kills one of the boys, and he and Ponyboy are forced to flee. Travelling to the country, they hide out in an abandoned church which catches fire and burns. The boys save the children stranded inside and become heroes. Meanwhile, back in the city, a rumble is being planned to avenge the death of the soc boy who was killed," is an example of this.
What is an effective summary.
When Ponyboy says, "But this church gave me a kind of creepy feeling. What do you call it? Premonition?" it is being used to do this in the story.
What is foreshadow the fire and Johnny's injury.
“Five Socs were coming straight at us, and from the way they were staggering I figured they were reeling pickled.”
What is drunk.
Suddenly I realized, horrified, that Darry was crying. He didn’t make a sound, but tears were running down his cheeks. I hadn’t seen him cry in years, not even when Mom and Dad had been killed.
What is action? (How does Darry normally behave? Is this typical of his character?)
Cherry no longer looked sick, only sad. "I'll bet you think the Socs have it made. The rich kids, the West-side Socs. I'll tell you something, Ponyboy, and it may come as a surprise. We have troubles you've never even heard of. You want to know something?" She looked me straight in the eye. "Things are rough all over." supports this big idea from the book.
What is the idea that everyone has problems and that Socs and Greasers are not that different.
The slowing down of the action while maintaining suspense as Ponyboy drowns is an example of this narrative technique.
What is Pacing