Characters
Who is the narrator of the novel?
Ponyboy Curtis
What happens to Ponyboy at the start of Chapter 1?
He gets jumped
“I lie to myself all the time. But I never believe me.”
Ponyboy
Why does Dally give Ponyboy and Johnny money and a gun?
To help them escape after Johnny kills Bob
What is the exposition of The Outsiders?
Introduces Ponyboy, the Greasers, their rivalry with the Socs, and the 1960s Tulsa, Oklahoma setting where the story takes place.
Which Greaser has been to jail multiple times?
Dally
Where do Ponyboy and Johnny hide after Bob’s death?
An abandoned church
"I think I like it better when the old man is hitting me."
Johnny
Why do Ponyboy and Johnny approach Dally for help after Bob’s death?
Because he has experience with crime and getting away
What is the initial conflict that sets the story in motion?
Ponyboy gets jumped by a Soc on his way back home from the movie.
Which Greaser is known for being quiet?
Johnny
What book do Johnny and Ponyboy read in the church?
Gone with the Wind
"You get tough like me and you don’t get hurt."
Dally
What causes Johnny to kill Bob?
Bob was drowning Ponyboy in the fountain
What event marks the beginning of the rising action?
Darry and Ponyboy argue over Ponyboy breaking his curfew. In the argument, Darry hits Ponyboy and he runs away.
Who is Cherry Valence's boyfriend?
Bob Sheldon
What major event happens at the end of Chapter 6?
The church catches on fire
"Just don't forget that some of us watch the sunset too."
Cherry Valence
How does the fire at the church start?
A lit cigarette
How does the church fire serve as a turning point in the rising action?
It forces Johnny and Ponyboy to act heroically, leading to Johnny’s injury and further escalating tensions.
Which character works at a gas station and is described as “movie star handsome”?
Sodapop
Why do Johnny and Ponyboy cut and bleach their hair?
To disguise themselves from the police
"You can’t win. You know that, don’t you? It doesn’t matter if you whip us. You’ll still be where you were before."
Randy Anderson
What does Ponyboy realize about the Socs after talking to Cherry?
They have struggles too, and not all Socs are cruel
How does the relationship between Ponyboy and Darry change as the rising action progresses?
Ponyboy realizes that Darry truly loves him after seeing him cry at the hospital, which shifts their dynamic.