The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
Mrs. Hammer 2014
Answer the following questions in complete restated sentences. Provide clear reasoning and textual
citation to support your answer. Provide the page number for each citation.
Write your answer on your own paper. Clearly label each question with Chapter #.
Chapter 1
Ponyboy, the narrator, explains in chapter one the differences between two social groups, the Socs
and the greasers. To which group does he belong? In what ways is Pony not a typical gang member?
What characteristics identify him as member of the group/gang? Cite textual evidence to explain each
question.
Chapter 2
What role does violence play in Johnny Cade’s life? How has violence influenced and changed his
behavior? Cite 3 specific examples.
Chapter 3
What does the episode with the horse Mickey Mouse tell you about Sodapop and Ponyboy? Cite
textual evidence.
Chapter 4
As Pony and Johnny flee, Pony becomes aware of how strangers might react to their appearance.
What does Pony know? What would strangers see? Cite textual evidence to explain each question.
Chapter 5
Why does Johnny like Gone With the Wind so much? What quality does he seem to admire most?
Why is this quality important to him? Cite textual evidence to explain each question.
In this chapter Pony recites Robert Frost’s poem “Nothing Gold Can Stay”. Why did Hinton choose
this poem for her novel? How does the message, theme, of the poem relate to the story ? Provide
specific examples to support your claim. You may use lines from the poem as the textual support.
Chapter 6
What motivates Dally, Johnny, and Pony to rescue the children caught in the church fire? Cite textual
evidence.
Chapter 7
What is family life like in the Curtis house? How is it different from what you might expect? Cite
textual evidence to explain each question.
Chapter 8
What does Two-Bit mean when he says, “the only thing that keeps Darry from being a Soc is us”?
Cite textual evidence.
Chapter 9
There are 3 major themes that thread through chapters 7-9.These themes are (1) similarities and
differences between the greasers and the Socs (2) the impact of violence, and (3) the importance of
family. Identify each theme using a scene (textual evidence) from the Chapters7-9 and explain your
reasoning. Cite textual evidence.
Chapter 10
Why does Sodapop beg Ponyboy to stop fighting with Darry? What is the most important thing Pony
realizes about the way he has treated Darry? Cite textual evidence to explain each question.
Chapter 11
Johnny’s letter contains an important message. What is it? Why is his message apt? Cite textual
evidence to explain each question.
Chapter 12
Throughout the novel we witness many forms of conflict. Find textual evidence to support Ponyboy’s
struggle with each of the following types of conflict. Man vs Man, Man vs Society (Environment), Man
vs Himself. Cite textual evidence to explain each conflict.
Mrs. Hammer 2014