Character Check: Who's Who?
Who is the narrator of The Outsiders?
Ponyboy Curtis
What is Ponyboy doing when the novel begins?
Walking home from the movies.
Why does Ponyboy get home so late?
He fell asleep.
Where do Ponyboy and Johnny hide after the park incident?
An abandoned church in Windrixville.
Why does Ponyboy feel like he doesn't fit in with what people see as the stereotypical "greaser?"
He likes reading, movies, and poetry and sees things more thoughtfully.
Who is Ponyboy's oldest brother and legal guardian?
Darrel (Darry) Curtis
What happens as Ponyboy is walking home?
He gets jumped by some Socs.
What does Darry do to Ponyboy that causes him to run away?
He slaps him.
Who helps Ponyboy and Johnny get to the church?
Dally
What does the conversation between Ponyboy and Cherry on the way home show about the two groups?
It shows that Greasers and Socs have more in common emotionally than Ponyboy originally believed.
Which character is known for being funny? Their real name is Keith.
Two-Bit Matthews
Who comes to save him?
Where do Ponyboy and Johnny go after Ponyboy runs away?
The park.
What do Ponyboy and Johnny do to change their appearance while hiding?
They cut and bleach Ponyboy's hair, and Johnny cuts his hair.
Why is Johnny's relationship with Ponyboy important?
They understand and support each other, and Ponyboy feels especially connected to Johnny because both feel vulnerable and misunderstood.
Who was jumped and needs to carry a switchblade?
Johnny Cade
Who does Ponyboy formally meet for the first time at the drive-in?
Cherry and Marcia
What happens to Ponyboy and Johnny at the park?
The Socs confront them, and Ponyboy is held underwater in the fountain.
What poem does Ponyboy recite to Johnny?
"Nothing Gold Can Stay" by Robert Frost.
What does "Nothing Gold Can Stay" symbolize for Ponyboy and Johnny?
Their innocence, goodness, and the beautiful moments in their lives that they fear they may lose.
Who helps Ponyboy and Johnny get out of town?
Dallas (Dally) Winston
What does Cherry tell Ponyboy that helps him understand the Socs differently?
She explains that Socs have problems too and that things aren't as simple as Greasers vs. Socs.
Why does Johnny kill Bob?
Johnny stabs Bob while trying to protect Ponyboy from being drowned.
What does Johnny say the poem means?
He connects it to the idea that beautiful/good things don't last forever and that they should try to hold onto their innocence.
By the end of Chapter 5, how has Ponyboy's view of the world changed from Chapter 1?
He has begun to realize that people are more complicated than their social groups. He sees that Socs have problems too, and he is beginning to question the Greaser/Soc divide.