Characters
Ponyboy Curtis
"Oh, Pony, I thought we'd lost you...like we did Mom and Dad..."
Darry Curtis
Ponyboy walks home from the movie theater alone, and is jumped by Socs. What stage of the plot is this?
Exposition
Why does Ponyboy run away from his house?
What is the significance of sunsets for Ponyboy and Cherry?
What red-headed Soc is Ponyboy surprised to connect with?
Cherry Valance
"You want to know something? Things are rough all over."
Cherry Valance
What happens during the climax of the story?
The greasers win the rumble, run to tell Johnny, and Johnny dies.
Why did Johnny kill Bob?
The Socs were drowning Ponyboy.
Bob drives a fancy car and wears many rings. What do these items show about his social status?
These items are signs of his/the Socs' wealth.
This character has been "scared of his own shadow" since he was attacked by Socs.
Johnny Cade
"You know what a Greaser is? White trash with long hair."
Bob
What is the setting of the story -- time period and place?
Tulsa, Oklahoma in the 1960s
Why do people see Johnny and Ponyboy as heroes?
They saved children from a burning church.
What explanation does Randy give for Bob's bad behavior?
This character had to turn down a scholarship so he could work and provide for his family.
Darry Curtis
"Sixteen years ain't long enough. I wouldn't mind it so much if there wasn't so much stuff I ain't done yet and so many things I ain't seen."
Who is Johnny Cade
State one major theme in The Outsiders.
Several correct answers.
- You can't judge a person based only on what you see on the outside.
- Social class does not determine a person's value.
- It is important to appreciate the good in life.
- Violence cannot solve problems.
Why do the Socs attack Johnny and Ponyboy (there are several correct reasons -- give one).
- PB & J picked up their girls.
- The Socs are drunk.
- Socs hate greasers.
What does Johnny mean when he tells Ponyboy to "stay gold"?
He wants Ponyboy to stay innocent and continue to appreciate the beauty of life.
This character was arrested at 10 years old, and it changed him for the worse.
Dally Winston
"I'm the middleman in a tug o' war and I'm being split in half... We're all we've got left. We ought to be able to stick together against everything."
Sodapop
Explain the resolution of the novel: What does Ponyboy write for his essay?
Ponyboy writes his essay about his experiences with Johnny, Dally, and Bob -- the book is his essay!
How and why does Dally die?
Why doesn't Dally want Johnny to turn himself in to the police?
He does not want Johnny to become hard and bitter like him.