Characters
This 14-year-old Greaser loves books and movies.
Who is Ponyboy Curtis?
The novel opens with Ponyboy coming home from this place.
What is the movie theater?
Greasers are known for this hairstyle.
What is long, greased hair?
This city is where the story takes place.
What is Tulsa, Oklahoma? (implied but not named in the book)
Ponyboy compares Sodapop’s happy, energetic personality to this beverage.
What is a bottle of Pepsi?
He’s the toughest member of the gang and once got arrested at age ten.
Who is Dally (Dallas Winston)?
On his way home, Ponyboy is attacked by this group.
Who are the Socs?
Socs live on this side of town.
What is the West Side?
Ponyboy and Johnny like to hang out in this vacant outdoor place.
What is the lot?
This object represents safety and comfort for Johnny.
What is his switchblade?
Ponyboy describes him as “movie-star handsome.”
Who is Sodapop?
Ponyboy and Johnny meet Cherry and Marcia here.
What is the drive-in movie?
Cherry explains that Socs keep these “on the inside.”
What are their emotions?
Ponyboy and Johnny walk home through this green area after meeting Cherry and Marcia.
What is the park?
Ponyboy says this natural phenomenon looks the same “on the east side and the west side.”
What is the sunset?
This timid Greaser is nervous around Socs because he was once badly jumped.
Who is Johnny?
Ponyboy runs away after this family member hits him.
Who is Darry?
Ponyboy says the Greasers may not have money, but they do have this valuable trait.
What is loyalty?
This nighttime time limit becomes important when Ponyboy gets home late.
What is curfew?
A major theme introduced early on is this idea that people judge groups based on appearance or status.
What is stereotyping / class conflict?
This Curtis brother is strict because he wants what’s best for Ponyboy, even if he doesn’t show it well.
Who is Darry Curtis?
Johnny tells Ponyboy that he once wished this person had hit him instead of Darry, because it would have hurt less.
Who is Darry? (Ponyboy reflecting on feelings)
The first time Ponyboy realizes that Socs can have problems too is when he talks to this Soc.
Who is Cherry Valance?
Socs drive these types of cars, a symbol of wealth and danger in the early chapters.
What are Mustangs (especially blue ones)?
Cherry says that although Socs have more money, they lack this quality that Greasers have.
What is the ability to feel deeply?