The Outsiders – Study Guide #2
Vocabulary:
Aghast: struck with terror
Apparently: appearing obvious
Bewilderment: a state of confusion
Conviction: being found guilty of a crime
Doggedly: stubbornly; obstinately
Elude: to avoid
Hue: color
Hysteria: behavior exhibiting emotional excess
Implore: beg
Indignant: filled with anger
Mimic: to copy
Radiate: to shine brightly
Subside: to sink or fall to the bottom
Sullenly: sluggishly; gloomily
Vital: necessary for life
Wistful: full of desire
Chapters 5-9
Abruptly: suddenly
Agony: pain
Aimlessly: without a clearly directed intent or purpose
Clenching: to set or close tightly
Disgusted: to provoke to loathing; dislike
Grimacing: making a facial expression usually of disgust or
disapproval
Leery: suspicious
Mock: make fun of
Numbly: without feeling
Reformatory: an institution for young or first time offenders
Stifled: suffocate
Superiority: the state of being above another in rank
Underprivileged: deprived through social or economic condition
of some rights
1. Why does Pony have a problem with Johnny’s idea to disguise themselves?
2. Who does Johnny think is a hero? Do you think Dally is a hero based on what he did?
3. What’s a “heater”? Why does Dally have one?
4. Why are the Socs and the greasers going to fight in a vacant lot?
5. Who’s the spy for the greasers? Does this surprise you?
6. How do Johnny and Pony spend their time at the church? What do they do?
7. Why doesn’t Dally want Johnny to turn himself in? What other side of Dally do we see during this conversation?
8. Why do you think Johnny wasn’t scared, despite the obvious danger of the situation (the fire)?
9. How/when does Pony finally realize that Darry really does care about him?
10. What do we learn about Dally when goes in to save Johnny? Do you think he would have done the same
for Pony? Darry? A Soc? Why or why not?
The Outsiders – Study Guide #2
Chapters 5-9
11. What happened to Johnny, Pony, and Dally because of the fire?
12. What was Bob’s “real” problem according to Randy?
13. Why didn’t Randy want to fight in the upcoming rumble?
14. What important discovery about individuals did Randy and Pony make when they met at Tasty Freeze?
16. “We needed Johnny as much as he needed the gang. And for the same reason.” What do you think Pony
means, and what is the reason?
17. If Darry didn’t have Soda and Pony, why would he be a Soc?
18. What was Dally going to do with Two-Bit’s knife?
19. Why does Pony suddenly bring up the sunset when he is talking to Cherry? What is he trying to say?
20. How is Dally like Bob?
21. What do you think Johnny’s last words to Pony mean?
22. Why did Dally want Pony to be tough and hard like him rather than be like Johnny? Do you think Dally
believed his own advice?
23. Explain this quote by Dally: “…you get tough like me and you don’t get hurt. You look out for yourself and
nothin’ can touch you…” How is this ironic? Do you agree with him that this is the right way to be? Why
or why not?
The Outsiders – Study Guide #2
Chapters 5-9
Literary Devices
1. Irony: when the opposite of what is expected happens.
 What is ironic about Johnny’s behavior inside the burning church?

Why do you think he acts this way?
2. Foreshadow: a writer uses to hint at a future course of action.
 How does Hinton foreshadow that the church would catch fire?
3. Idiom: expressions that do not mean exactly what they say.
Explain the following:

Johnny let me look in the old cracked mirror…I did a double take.

We killed time by playing poker.

I was dying for a Pepsi
4. Characterization:
Fighting appealed to each character for a different reason. Tell why each character was anxious to join
the rumble.
Character
Sodapop
Darry
Steve
Two-Bit
Dally
Reason to join rumble