Characters
Characters
Themes
Plot Events
Anything Goes
100

sensitive; doesn’t use his head; appreciates the fact that everyone sees the same sunset 

Who is Ponyboy

100

strong, athletic, intelligent, a leader; guardian of his two brothers 

Darry

100

How does Ponyboy reveal the theme of individual identity?

He likes books and movies, does well in school, and doesn't like to fight/see the point in fighting except for self-defense. He also begins to understand the Socs and realizes their groups may not be as different as they think they are.

100

After Darry slaps Ponyboy , Ponyboy runs away and meets up with Johnny. Him and Johnny go to the park, where they encounter the Socs. Summarize what happens next 

The Socs approach the Greasers because they picked up their girls at the drive-in. Tensions rise, and Bob begins to drown Ponyboy in the fountain, so Johnny kills Bob with his switchblade to save Ponyboy's life.

100

What are Johnny's last words to Ponyboy, and what do they mean?

"Stay gold, Ponyboy, Stay gold."

Johnny is telling Ponyboy to stay good/pure/young/innocent

200

rebellious, tough, defiant; loyal to the greasers; wants to die after losing the one person he cared about

Who is Dally
200

 independent, caring; acts as a spy for the greasers; tells Ponyboy that things are rough all over

Cherry

200

How does Johnny's character develop the theme of family?

His father hits him and his mother ignores him. He is constantly abused/neglected by his biological family, so he finds a chosen family in the Greasers. They are the only people in his life who love him

200

How does Dally die? Explain!

After Johnny dies, Dally runs a grocery store and the cops start chasing him. As the cops are chasing him, Dally pulls out his gun, causing the police to shoot him.
200

At the church fire in Chapter 6, Ponyboy claims, “Johnny wasn’t behaving at all like his old self.” What evidence from the text best clarifies Ponyboy’s claim?

A. Johnny’s face was red-marked from falling embers

B. When Pony jumped out of the window, he heard Johnny scream.

C. Johnny yelled, “Shut up! We’re goin’ to get you out!”

C. Johnny yelled, “Shut up! We’re goin’ to get you out!”

300

timid, vulnerable; dies a hero in the eyes of some and a murderer in the eyes of others

Johnny

300

A neglected, entitled Soc who bullied others and was murdered

Bob

300

What does the sunset that Ponyboy frequently refers to symbolize?

The sunset symbolizes unity/sameness/humanity. Despite all the differences between the Greasers and the Socs, they all see the same sunset. 

300

When Ponyboy sees Darry crying at the hospital, what does he realize about Darry?

He realizes that Darry really does care about him

300

How and why is Ponyboy an unreliable narrator in chapter 11?

He is delusional after Johnny's death.

Ponyboy tells Randy that he's the one who killed Bob, not Johnny, and that Johnny didn't have anything to do with it.

400

 energetic, understanding; the person who Pony loves more than anyone; always felt like “the middleman in a tug o’ war”

Sodapop

400

In Chapter 7, Randy and Ponyboy are having a conversation at the Tasty Freeze. What does Ponyboy learn about Bob and his home life?

Bob was spoiled and his parents never told him no. Randy believes that if his parents "had just belted him- just once, he might still be alive"

400

How can the Greasers be considered "outsiders" in society?

The Greasers are known for being poor and acting like hoods (stealing things, driving old, souped up cars, hold up gas stations, and have gang fights). 

They face a lot of stereotyping, judgement, and assumptions from people in society based on their socioeconomic status and how they look. They are often undervalued and underestimated 

400

 In Chapter 6, there is a shift in how Ponyboy and Johnny are perceived (viewed) by others after they save the kids from the burning church. What is the shift?

They go from being viewed as murderers/criminals/hoods to being viewed as heroes

400

Which example best supports Pony’s belief that Dally “died gallant” ?

A. Dally wanted to be dead and he always got what he wanted.

B. Dally loved Johnny more than anything in the world.

C. Dally risked his life for the gang on several occasions.



A. Dally wanted to be dead and he always got what he wanted

500

A dynamic character; learns to see beyond the stereotypes; visits the Curtis household before the trial

Randy

500

How does Sodapop work to resolve the conflict between the three brothers at the end of the novel? Be specific!

Soda expresses that he is tired of being the middleman in Ponyboy and Darry's arguments. He tells Darry that he needs to try and understand Ponyboy more, and tells Ponyboy that he doesn't realize everything Darry's given up just to give him a chance he missed out on.

500

How does Ponyboy's understanding of Cherry's quote, "things are rough all over" change from the beginning of the novel to the end?

At the beginning of the novel, Ponyboy doesn't think the greasers could have any "real" problems. He thinks things are only rough for the Greasers. His understanding of the quote changes towards the end of the novel. He realizes they all have struggles in life

500

How does Johnny feel about dying? (Ponyboy learns this when he reads the letter Johnny left for him)

He doesn't mind dying; he thinks saving the kids was worth it because their lives are worth more than his, they have more to live for

500

Explain the significance of this quote: 

“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.”

This is the opening and closing line of the play. At the end of the novel, Ponyboy has to write a theme in order to pass his English class. We see that this is the first line of his composition, so we know that Ponyboy wrote the book The Outsiders for his composition about the conflict between the Socs and the Greasers