Name ___________________________________________ Period _______________
Standards Focus: Character Development
Chapters 1-3
The characters in a novel or play may be revealed to the reader or audience in a variety
of ways. Your main impression of a character is formed through his/her speech or
actions, physical description, mannerisms, surroundings, other characters‘ reactions to
the character, or the writer‘s feelings about the character. In Chapters One-Three,
Hinton introduces most of the characters from the novel, and through her writing, gives
the reader a good idea of each character‘s attitude, background, physical appearance,
and overall persona. Character development is of major importance to Hinton‘s writing.
Directions: To help you remember each of the characters in The Outsiders, fill in the following chart,
detailing each individual character’s physical appearance, as well as general attitude and
personality type. Then, tell how each character’s social environment has influenced him/her. An
example has been started for you. As you proceed through the novel, you will want to add to your
description of each character, so keep this activity to use as you read.
Name
Physical Description
Personality Traits
Social/Environmental
Influences
Long brownish-red greasy
hair, greenish-gray eyes;
small for 14, good build;
Likes to be alone
sometimes; likes walking;
smokes; smart but doesn’t
use his head; loves his
brother Soda but afraid of
brother Darry; scared of
girls - not into girls yet;
has seen a lot; quiet type
Doesn’t get along with
Darry, who yells at him a
lot since their parents died
8 months ago
Almost 17; handsome like
a movie star; dark gold
straight hair; dark brown
eyes
Understanding; happy and
will never grow up; high
on life—gets drunk
without alcohol; doesn’t
drink; gets along with
both brothers; too much
energy and feeling; not
good in school; girls go
crazy for him; horse-crazy
Dropped out of school
when his parents were
killed to help Darry with
expenses of a family; has a
girlfriend named Sandy
that he “loves”
Ponyboy
Sodapop
Name
Physical Description
Personality Traits
Social/Environmental
Influences
20 years old; 6’2”; broad
shouldered and muscular;
icy, blue-green eyes; big
and handsome; hard as a
rock
Works long and hard;
tough, cool and smart;
grew up too fast; rough
with Pony because he
doesn’t like him—very
strict with him, nags at
him, blows up at him;
never yells at Soda
because he likes him
Works all the time as a
roofer to support his
brothers since his parents
died; was popular in
school; resentful that he
never got to go to college
2nd youngest in the gang;
smallest; slight build and
tan; black eyes; long,
black, shaggy hair
Nervous and suspicious;
high-strung; knows love
and affection only from
the gang; the Pet of the
gang; quiet type; has seen
a lot; brave and loyal
His dad beats him and
mom ignores him; he was
beaten up by the Socs so
he is fearful; parents fight
all the time; Dad is a drunk
Elfish face—high
cheekbones, pointed chin,
sharp teeth, ears like a
lynx; white-blonde hair;
blue, hateful eyes
A real character; came
from NY; tough, cold,
mean; arrested at 10;
bitter; a real criminal—has
a long record; smoker;
dirty mouth; drinker
Johnny’s hero; lived the
life of a hood on the
streets of NY
Darry
Johnny
Dally
Name
Physical Description
Personality Traits
Social/Environmental
Influences
6’ tall and stocky; long
sideburns; gray eyes; 18 ½
years old and a junior in
high school
Wisecracker; funny—has
to get his two-bits in,
hence the name; life is a
big joke to him; shoplifter;
likes fights, blondes, and
school; not smart; drinker;
scatterbrained
Mother is a barmaid since
Dad ran out on them
17; tall and lean; thick hair
in greasy swirls
Car fanatic; too much
energy and feeling
Hates his father
Red hair; a real looker
Self-confident, classy Soc;
says things to impress
others
Money; has more than she
wants
Cute; smaller than Cherry
Classy Soc, scatterbrained
Money
Physical Description
Personality Traits
Social/Environmental
Influences
Madras shirts
Rich, west-side kids; they
have their own troubles;
aloof—don’t feel anything
Money; beer blasts; riverbottom parties; have too
much; drive nice cars
Long, greasy hair; jeans
and T-shirts, tennis shoes
or boots
Get jumped by the Socs;
poor; wild; they steal, hold
up gas stations, have gang
fights; they are like a
family, say nasty things to
girls
Decent girls looked at
them like dirt
Two-Bit
Steve
Cherry Valance
Marcia
Name
The Socs
(in general)
Greasers
(in general)