Characters
Name the members of our greaser gang. Who is the gang pet?
Ponyboy and his brothers, Sodapop and Darry. Sodapop's best friend, Steve Randle. Two-Bit. Dallas "Dally" Winston. Johnny Cade.
Johnny is the gang's "pet" - they take care of him because his parents are abusive.
How does Johnny react when Dally tells him they won the rumble?
He says it's useless and fighting's no good.
What is Two-Bit's prized possession?
A black-handled switchblade. He stole it, but never uses it. Dally borrows it. It is confiscated by the police after Dally's death, and Two-Bit never gets it back.
Johnny vs. Bob
Character vs. Character
Vague
Unclear
Why is Ponyboy surprised when Johnny stands up to Dally?
Johnny worships Dally as his hero. Dally doesn't fight back because 1. Johnny is like the gang's pet- it would be like kicking the family dog, and 2. Johnny's the only thing Dally really cares about.
How does Dally die?
Dally robs a grocery store. The manager calls the cops while Dally calls the gang. The gang rushes to help Dally. Dally decides he doesn't want to live when Johnny is dead and pulls an unloaded gun on the cops. The cops shoot him and he dies.
What is a heater?
A heater is a gun. Dally gives Ponyboy and Johnny a heater when they run away. After Johnny dies, Dally uses a heater to trick the police into shooting him.
Character vs. Society
Gallant
Brave, Heroic
Why doesn't Cherry want to visit Johnny in the hospital?
Who does Johnny refuse to see in the hospital?
She knows that Bob was a terrible person, but she still loved him. She likes Johnny and wants him to be okay, but she can't forgive him for killing the boy she loved.
Johnny refuses to see his mother. He says she just wants to yell at him.
How did Bob's actions contribute to his death?
Bob jumped Johnny and made him start carrying a knife.
Bob brought booze to his date with Cherry and made her upset enough to leave.
Bob attacked Ponyboy and Johnny.
Bob told his friends to drown Ponyboy.
What is a rumble?
Who is the Social that Darry knows at the rumble?
Who shows up just as the fighting starts?
A large fight between two sides. Similar to a brawl, but with teams. The greasers and Socials have one to settle Bob'd murder.
The rumble starts with Darry facing off against Paul. Paul and Darry used to be best friends who played HS football together.
Dally shows up just as the fight starts.
Ponyboy and Johnny vs. Church Fire
Character vs. Nature
Premonition
Indignant
A feeling something unpleasant is going to happen
Feeling anger about being treated unfairly; resentful
What are Darry and Sodapop like? What is Ponyboy's relationship with his brothers like in the beginning of the story? What is it like at the end?
Darry - Strict and serious. Thinks Darry hates him at the beginning and they fight often. Slaps Ponyboy. Realizes after fire Darry loves him. They still argue, but they promise to stop for Sodapop.
Sodapop - Is kind and understanding. Ponyboy realizes he gets caught in the middle when he and Darry fight. Makes them all promise to stay together.
Who testifies at the trial? What is the outcome of the trial?
Randy, Cherry, Ponyboy and his brothers testify. Randy and Cherry tell the truth about what happened the night Bob died. Ponyboy and his brothers talk about their friends and how they live.
The judge decides that Ponyboy will face no charges for Bob's murder, and he gets to stay with Darry and Sodapop.
What does it mean to be jumped?
Jumping someone means to be attacked.
Johnny is jumped by Bob, Randy, and their friends 6 months before the start of the book.
Ponyboy is jumped by Socials on his way home from the movies.
Ponyboy and Johnny are jumped by Bob and his friends at the park
Johnny vs. Running away
Character vs. Self
Incredulous
Grimace
Facial expression showing pain/disgust
What did Johnny mean when he told Ponyboy to "Stay Gold"? What did he want Ponyboy to tell Dally?
Johnny says being "gold" is being young/able to appreciate life. He wants Ponyboy to be someone who appreciates the little things, like sunsets.
Johnny wants Ponyboy to tell Dally there's still good in the world. He wants Dally to appreciate a sunset.
What is the significance of the first lines of Ponyboy's essay? Why is it important for Ponyboy to share his story?
The first lines of the essay are the same as the first lines of the book. (The book is Ponyboy's essay). He hopes that reading his story will make greasers realize there's still good in the world and make non-greasers realize they shouldn't look down on the lower class.
Why is Ponyboy so upset when he has to cut and dye his hair?
What does Ponyboy say greasers have to be proud of? Is he going to grow up to be a hood?
Greasy hair is a trademark of a greaser. Ponyboy and his friends aren't rich enough to have status symbols like the Socials, so they use what they have- hair and grease.
Ponyboy says greasers are proud of their greasy hair and bad reputation. Ponyboy won't be a hood because he doesn't want to be a criminal.
Ponyboy vs. Feeling judged for being greaser
Character vs. Society
Contempt
Unbelievable; cannot be understood
A feeling of disapproval and disgust; scorn