Plot Knowledge
Who said this quote, "“You only knew his bad side. He could be sweet sometimes, and friendly. But when he got drunk…it was that part of him that beat up Johnny. […] I know I’m too young to be in love and all that, but Bob was something special. He wasn’t just any boy. He had something that made people follow him, something that marked him different, maybe a little better, than the crowd. Do you know what I mean?”
Cherry
How is the motif of family and brotherhood shown in our novel?
Whether literally or figuratively, Hinton portrays all of the greasers in the novel as some type of literary orphan. Thus, the culture of the group all leads them to find their sense of belonging and need for family in their friendships with each other. This is an important motif because it helps readers understand the rationale for the loyalty behind greaser actions and the emotional responses from the greasers when they lose Johnny and Dallas.
*I am the author of The Outsiders.
SE Hinton
how did se Hinton characterize ponyboy?
He is described as smart, impulsive, and handsome like his brother, Sodapop.
What point of view is our novel told?
The story is told in first-person perspective by teenage protagonist Ponyboy Curtis
How do Ponyboy and Dallas handle Johnny’s death differently?
While Ponyboy initially dealt with Johnny’s death in a state of confused denial, Dallas completely broke after Johnny died. Dallas runs away from the hospital and commits assisted suicide with the police.
What is an Archetype?
a classic example of a character or thing that recurs throughout literature. Examples:
The Innocent
The Orphan
The Victim
The Tragic Hero
The Caregiver
The Rebel
Wealthier, upper-class “status”
Live on the West Side of town
Identifiable by their madras clothing and nice cars
The Socs
How is Johnny being characterized here, "p. 92: Johnny wasn’t behaving at all like his old self. He looked over his shoulder and saw that the door was blocked by flames, then pushed open the window and tossed out the nearest kid. I caught one quick look at his face; it was red-marked from falling embers and sweat-streaked, but he grinned at me. He wasn’t scared either. That was the only time I can think of when I saw him without that defeated, suspicious look in his eyes. He looked like he was having the time of his life."
As a tragic hero
How old was SE Hinton when she wrote the outsiders?
16
How does Ponyboy’s perspective of the Socs change throughout the novel?
Originally, Ponyboy resented the higher social status of the Socs and was bitter about the privileges that they had because of their wealth. He believed that Socs had no significant worries and the only unfair challenges came to the greasers. By the end of the novel, Ponyboy understands that all people, regardless of their status, have significant challenges to face. Through his experiences killing Bob and losing his own friend, he comes to understand the universal humanity in all people.
What is the main theme of the outsiders? Consider Johnny's message of telling Ponyboy to "stay gold".
Hinton’s theme that it is possible to maintain innocence in the face of great tragedy.
Poorer, working-class “status”
Live on the East Side of town
Identifiable by their long, slicked-back hair; jeans; t-shirts; and leather clothing
The Greasers
How did the fire help to shift society’s view of greasers.
Before Johnny and Ponyboy heroically saved the children in the church fire, society viewed greasers are lower status hoodlums who were always up to no good. After the fire, society sees that some greasers are capable of extreme selfless good.
What decade our novel take place?
1960s
Which Character said this line, “You can’t win, even if you whip us. You’ll still be where you were before – at the bottom. And we’ll still be the lucky ones with all the breaks. So it doesn’t do any good, the fighting and the killing. It doesn’t prove a thing. We’ll forget it if you win, or if you don’t. Greasers will still be greasers and Socs will still be Socs. Sometimes I think it’s the ones in the middle that are really the lucky stiffs.” p. 117
Randy
In your own words describe Foreshadowing.
a hint the author gives to suggest what might
*I am a wisecracker; I can’t stop making funny remarks or jokes all of the time.
Two bit
What type of literary orphan is Johnny?
symbolic literary orphans
How did SE Hinton use foreshadowing in her novel?
To create suspense before some of the most impactful events of The Outsiders. Before Johnny killed Bob, Ponyboy mentions that Johnny would kill the next person that tried to jump him and drops a hint that things are about to get even worse.
Who said this quote, "“If he’d been like me he’d never have been in this mess. If he’d got smart like me he’d never have run into that church. That’s what you get for helpin’ people. […] You get tough like me and you don’t get hurt. You look out for yourself and nothin’ can touch you.”Pg, 147
Dally
What is the definition of the term Characterization?
the techniques an author uses to build understanding of a character
*I am known for my “firey” red hair. I can hold my own in a conversation with anyone. I am a “spy” for the Greasers.
Cherry
How is Johnny being characterized here: Johnny Cade was last and least. If you can picture a little dark puppy that has been kicked too many times and is lost in a crowd of strangers, you’ll have Johnny. He was the youngest, next to me, smaller than the rest, with a slight build. […] He had a nervous, suspicious look in his eyes, and that beating he got from the Socs didn’t help matters. He was the gang’s pet, everyone’s kid brother.
As a victim
What is the setting of our novel?
Tulsa, Oklahoma