Characters
Who is the narrator of the novel?
Ponyboy Curtis
What group does Ponyboy belong to?
The Greasers
Which group is generally poorer, the Greasers or the Socs?
The Greasers
What is evidence in a paragraph about a novel?
Answer: A specific event, detail, or quotation from the story that supports your answer.
What is a theme?
Answer: A message or lesson about life that a story teaches.
Who are Ponyboy's two older brothers?
Darry and Sodapop Curtis
What group is known for being wealthy and often fighting with the Greasers?
The Socs
Which group is generally wealthier, the Greasers or the Socs?
The Socs
Ponyboy enjoys reading and watching sunsets. What does this tell us about him?
Answer: He is thoughtful and has interests beyond his Greaser reputation.
Is 'The Greasers' a theme or a group of characters?
Answer: A group of characters.
Who is Ponyboy's best friend who is often nervous and afraid?
Johnny
What happens to Ponyboy when he walks home alone at the beginning of the novel?
He gets jumped by the Socs
What are two things people might use to judge Ponyboy before getting to know him?
His appearance, his reputation, his clothes, or his Greaser label.
Ponyboy and Cherry talk honestly even though they belong to different groups. What does this example show?
Answer: People from different social groups can find things in common.
Is 'Ponyboy walks home from the movies' a theme or a plot summary?
Answer: A plot summary.
Which character talks with Ponyboy about the differences between Greasers and Socs?
Cherry Valence
Why does Ponyboy run away from home with Johnny?
Darry slaps Ponyboy for being late.
What does Cherry's conversation with Ponyboy show about Greasers and Socs?
They have differences, but they can also understand one another.
Johnny risks himself to save Ponyboy. What does this action show about Johnny?
Answer: He is loyal, caring, and willing to protect his friend.
Complete this theme statement: 'People should not be judged by…'
Answer: Possible answer: their appearance, reputation, or social class.
Which character is tough and protective of his friends, and helps Ponyboy and Johnny after the park incident?
Dally
What happens at the park that forces Ponyboy and Johnny to seek Dally's help?
The Socs attack them, and Johnny kills Bob while trying to save Ponyboy.
Why is it unfair to assume that every Soc is good and every Greaser is bad?
Answer: People are individuals, and their group does not tell us everything about who they are.
Name two events from Chapters 1–4 that could support the idea that people are more than their social labels.
Answer: Possible answers: Ponyboy's conversation with Cherry; Johnny saving Ponyboy; Ponyboy's love of reading and sunsets.
Write a theme statement that connects to Chapters 1–4 and explains what the reader learns about judging others.
Answer: Possible answer: People are more complex than the labels society gives them, and we should get to know others before judging them.