Plot Structure
"How'd you like that haircut to begin just below the chin? It occurred to me then that they could kill me. I went wild. I started screaming for Soda, Darry, Anyone." p. 5
Exposition
He felt like he was stuck in the middle of his brothers' constant fighting.
Sodapop
"Let them go in," he said to the nurse. "He's been asking for them. It can't hurt now." p. 119
Lets the reader know how bad Johnny's condition is.
Out of all of the Greasers, who was the one that could have easily been a Soc?
"You really killed him, huh, Johnny?" "Yeah." His voice quavered slightly. "I had to. They were drowning you, Pony. They might have killed you." p. 57
Rising Action
Left Ponyboy a note inside 'Gone With The Wind' before he died.
Johnny
"These ------ hospital people won't let me smoke, and I want out." p. 124
Foreshadows that Dally is going to break out of the hospital.
What happens to Ponyboy at the court hearing?
Ponyboy is acquitted and the case is closed
"Oh, dammit Johnny, don't die, please don't die..." p. 149
Climax
Decided not to fight in the rumble because he realized it wouldn't change anything.
Randy
"I wondered for a long time how to start that theme, how to start writing about something that was important to me. And I finally began like this: 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..." p. 153
Lets the reader know that Ponyboy wrote the story for his final English paper.
All of the following are possible questions that the reader may still have after reading the ending of The Outsiders, EXCEPT ...
-Will Cherry and Ponyboy date in high school?
-Will the Greasers and the Socs stop hating each other?
-Will Ponyboy think of a theme that he can write about for English class?
Will Ponyboy think of a theme that he can write about for English class?
"No thanks. Uh, Ponyboy, one reason I came here was to see if you were okay, but you -we- got to go see the judge tomorrow." p. 164
Falling Action
He felt an enormous amount of responsibility for Johnny's death.
Dally
And Johnny, the most law-abiding of us, now carried in his back pocket a six-inch switchblade. He'd use it, too, if he ever got jumped again...He would kill the next person who jumped him. p. 34
Foreshadows that Johnny is going to get jumped and kill someone
Will Ponyboy have to complete community service because of Bob's death?
No
"Why, uh, not less than five pages." He sounded a little surprised. I'd forgotten it was late at night. "Can it be longer?" Certainly, Ponyboy, as long as you want it." "Thanks," I said and hung up. p. 179
Resolution
Started the rumble between the Greasers and the Socs.
Darry
"Hey," I said suddenly, "can you see the sunset real good from the West Side?" She blinked, startled, then smiled. "Real Good". "You can see it good from the East Side, too," I said quietly. p. 130
Symbolizes that the Socs and the Greasers really aren't that different.
Why does Dally die?
Dally died because he wanted to.