Characters
Who Said it?
Literary Elements & Plot
How did that happen?
Digging Deeper
100
Who is the youngest of the greasers?

Ponyboy Curtis

100

"Oh, Pony, I thought we'd lost you...like we did Mom and Dad..."

Darry Curtis

100

Ponyboy walks home from the movie theater alone, and is jumped by Socs. What stage of the plot is this?

Exposition

100

Why does Ponyboy run away from his house?

Darry slapped Ponyboy for coming home late.
100

What is the significance of sunsets for Ponyboy and Cherry?

Sunsets represent their connection -- even though they are in different social classes, they see the same sunset.
200

What red-headed Soc is Ponyboy surprised to connect with?

Cherry Valance

200

"You want to know something? Things are rough all over."

Cherry Valance

200

What happens during the climax of the story?

The greasers win the rumble, run to tell Johnny, and Johnny dies.

200

Why did Johnny kill Bob?

The Socs were drowning Ponyboy.

200

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.

300

This character has been "scared of his own shadow" since he was attacked by Socs.

Johnny Cade

300

"You know what a Greaser is? White trash with long hair."

Bob

300

What is the setting of the story -- time period and place?

Tulsa, Oklahoma in the 1960s

300

Why do people see Johnny and Ponyboy as heroes?

They saved children from a burning church.

300

What explanation does Randy give for Bob's bad behavior?

He was entitled because no one ever said no to him. His parents did not enforce rules or hold him accountable for his actions.
400

This character had to turn down a scholarship so he could work and provide for his family.

Darry Curtis

400

"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

400

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.

400

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.

400

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.

500

This character was arrested at 10 years old, and it changed him for the worse.

Dally Winston

500

"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

500

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!

500

How and why does Dally die?

After Johnny's death, Dally robbed a grocery store and pulled a gun on the police, so the police fatally shoot him. 
500

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.