The Outsiders Test Review
Characters: Study your character charts for the following characters:
Pony – narrator; 14; smart but doesn’t use common sense, loves Soda more than anyone; sensitive
Dallas – hated the whole world; cold; mean; bitter; soft spot for Johnny; reputation with police
Soda – 16; dumb; happy-go-lucky; handsome; high school dropout; loves Sandy
Darry – 20; doesn’t smile; leader; responsible; athletic; tough on Pony
Johnny – 16; “abused puppy;” everyone’s pet; only knows love because of the gang
Steve – 17; Soda’s BFF; doesn’t like Pony tagging along; works @ gas station; cocky; smart
Two-Bit – 18; wise-cracker; scatter-brained; shoplifter; loves his switchblade
Cherry – red-hair; sensitive; loves sunsets; Randy’s girl; feels torn between the two groups; hates
drinking
“Nothing Gold Can Stay:” study page 15 of your packet.
Vocab: Use your packet to define the following:
Reputation – opinions of someone based on what happened in the past
Aloofness – acting distant; indifferent
Sympathetic – showing that you understand how sad, lonely, or hurt, someone feels
Gallant - brave
Indignant – angry because you have been insulted or treated badly
Sullen – showing that you are angry or in a bad mood by being silent or looking unhappy
Resemblance – people or things that are similar to each other
Mourning – great sadness because someone has died
Aghast – suddenly struck with terror, amazement, or horror
Vague – unclear, not enough details
Idolize – to worship; to regard with blind adoration
Desert – to abandon someone
Comprehension questions:
1. Who is the narrator of the story?
2. How is the novel written?
Ponyboy
1st person narration
3. At the beginning of the novel, Pony boy wishes he looked like who?
Paul Newman
4. What happened to Ponyboy’s parents?
They died in a car accident.
5. What is a symbol of the greaser’s defiance?
Their hair
6. Describe at least three different themes for The Outsiders?
1. Understanding and kindness
can overcome prejudices. 2. Everyone needs to feel accepted. 3. Loyalty is a necessary quality in
human relationships.
7. What is the author’s purpose for writing this novel?
stereotypes and prejudices.
To show the importance of overcoming
8. Pony tells Cherry an important story at the beginning of the novel when they are at the drive in.
What was this flashback about?
Johnny was jumped and severely beaten by a Soc. He
now carries a blade.
9. What are some of the stereotypes of Socs?
Rich; without problems
10. What are some of the stereotypes of the Greasers? “white trash with long hair;” wild; juvenile
delinquents
11. How did the fight between Pony and Johnny and the Socs start? Socs were mad their girls were
with greasers. Soc shoved Pony’s face in a fountain.
12. What happened at the fountain between Johnny and Pony and the Socs?
Bob with a knife.
Johnny killed
13. After the fight at the fountain, what did Johnny and Pony do? They ran to Dally for help and
hopped a train for Jay Mountain. They hid out in an abandoned church.
14. What did the newspaper headline after the fire say?
Juvenile Delinquents Turn Heroes
15. What was the outcome of the media coverage of the fire?
a boy’s home. They had to go to court.
Pony and Soda might be sent to
16. What did Randy and Pony talk about the first time they met? Randy wasn’t going to fight in
the rumble.
17. When does Pony learn he can resolve the conflict between him and Darry?
After he
realizes that their fighting is hurting Soda and tearing their family apart.
18. Why does Pony insist he killed Johnny? He is traumatized and confused by what has happened
to him. He doesn’t want to believe Johnny is dead. He is still trying to protect Johnny.
19. What kind of transformation does Pony make throughout the novel?
He can tell people the
truth about what happened to Bob, Dally, and Johnny. He can explain the truth behind the
stereotypes.
20. How does Gone with the Wind relate to The Outsiders? Like during the Civil War, people from
the same community are fighting for what they believe in, and there are causalities from all the
fighting. It is also to be noted that Pony never finished the novel, just like Johnny’s life was left
unfinished.
21. Why does Pony better understand the full spectrum of the world?
person and matured.
22. How does Randy’s visit to Pony’s home affect Pony?
Greaser. There are more important aspects of life.
He has grown as a
He realizes that life is more than Soc vs.
23. Why does Pony think it is better for things to be rough all over?
Socs and Greasers really aren’t that different. The Socs are human, too.
He realizes that the