The Outsiders
S. E. Hinton
Chapter 1
1. Complete a brief summary of the important events of this chapter (8-10
lines).
Summary: This chapter starts with a line made classic by The Outsiders:
“When I stepped out …and a ride home.” This is also the line that
makes up the ending of the book.
The chapter opens with Ponyboy coming out of the movie theatre and
starting on his long walk home. His thought give the reader some
insight into the setting and the life of the characters. We learn that
Ponyboy’s parents are deceased, having been killed in an automobile
accident. We also learn that Darry (Darrel), the older brother, takes care
of Sodapop and Ponyboy. We learn of the relationship between the
brothers, and of their standing as “Greasers” in society. We learn also
that the enemies of the greasers are the “Socs”(short for socials).
The next action in the chapter is the assault by the Socs on Ponyboy.
His brothers come to his rescue. What ensues is a conversation
between Ponyboy and his brothers, mixed in with Ponyboy’s thoughts
on their way home. Through the conversation and the thoughts, we
learn more about the family situation and about the boys’ friends.
Among other things, Ponyboy remembers when the Socs assaulted
Johnny, and how Johnny had been scared since. We also witness Darry
yelling at Ponyboy, and Sodapop standing up for his little brother.
2. Give a brief physical and psychological description for each of the
following characters:
a) Ponyboy Curtis:
14 years old; light brown, almost-red hair; greenish-gray eyes; his hair a bit
long; small for his age, though he has a good build; makes good grades
and has high IQ, but doesn’t use his head…
b) Sodapop Curtis:
16 years old; handsome as a movie star; finely drawn, sensitive face
that looks reckless and thoughtful at the same time; dark gold hair
which is long silky and straight; dark brown lively, dancing eyes that
can be sympathetic one moment and blazing with anger the next; never
cracks a book; happy-go-lucky; doesn’t drink…
c) Darry Curtis:
20 years old; six-feet-two; broad-shouldered and muscular; dark brown hair;
his eyes are like two pieces of pale blue green ice; looks tough, cool and
smart; does not understand anything that’s not plain hard fact, but he uses
his head; works long and hard; real name is Darrel…
d) Two-Bit Matthews:
18 years old; oldest of the gang; wisecracker; six feet tall; stocky in build;
long rusty-colored sideburns; gray eyes; wide grin; very talkative which
explains his nickname; famous for shoplifting and his black-handle
switchblade.
e) Steve Randle:
17 years old; tall and lean; has thick greasy hair; cocky and smart; Soda’s
best friend; likes to work on cars.
f) Dallas Winston:
Dally; elfish face with high cheekbones and pointed chin; small, sharp
animal teeth; ears like a lynx long blond hair looks almost white; blue eyes
which are blazing ice, cold with a hatred of the whole world, arrested at the
age of ten; tougher, colder, meaner than the others; lived in New York.
g) Johnny Cade:
Looked like a little dark puppy kicked too many times; slight build, big black
eyes in a dark tanned face; jet black greased hair; nervous suspicious look
in his eyes; the gang’s pet; his father beats him up, and his mother ignores
him.
3) Describe the setting (time and place):
The story takes place in a small unidentified town, specifically in the
“East Side” where the greasers lived. The action in this chapter
takes place at night: from early to late evening. On page 5, there is
bright sunlight outside the movie house, whereas on page 19, there
is moonlight.
Chapter 2
4. How do Ponyboy, Johnny, and Dally get in to see the movie?
They sneak in over the back fence of the Nightly Double drive-in movie:
Dally never liked to do things the “legal way”.
5. a) How does Dally behave with the girls?
He is mean, inconsiderate, and impolite.
b) How do the girls react to his behaviour?
An angered Cherry throws a Coke in his face.
6. Who sticks up for the girls against Dally?
Johnny Cade
7. How does Dally react?
Because Johnny was the gang’s pet, Dally simply walked away and
didn’t come back.
8. On pages 32 and 33, there is foreshadowing. Explain what it is and
say what it annouces.
“And Johnny, who was the most law-abiding of us, now carried in his
back pocket a six-inch switchblade. He’d use it too, if he ever got jumped
again.” This serves to foreshadow Johnny using his knife to possibly kill
someone.
9. Why doesn’t Johnny speak to girls much?
According to Ponyboy, it’s either because he’s afraid of Steve or because he
is shy.
Chapter 3
10. How does Cherry explain the difference between socs and greasers?
How does this make Ponyboy feel?
They have different sets of values: the greasers are emotional, whereas
the socs are superficial to the point of not feeling anything.
11. What important conclusion about socs and greasers does Ponyboy
come to? Explain the importance of his realization.
“…You don’t feel anything and we feel too violently.” Ponyboy’s
conclusion illustrates how these two groups are different: the greasers
tend to react too much in difficult situations. However, even if the two
groups are very different on the outside, they are all the same on the
inside; they all have fears, joys sorrows, etc.
12. Who comes looking for Cherry and Marcia? How do the girls react?
Randy and Bob, along with a few of their friends. Cherry wants everyone
act normally: that way, their boyfriends might not recognize them.
13. Why weren’t the girls with them in the first place? What does this tell
you about Cherry’s character?
They were drunk. Through her behaviour, Cherry demonstrates that she
is a responsible, young woman who has enough intelligence to avoid
trouble.
14. Compare and contrast Cherry and Marcia: list the points they have
in common and the ones thy do not.
Similarities: Socials who hang around with the same crowd.
Differences: Whereas Cherry is outspoken, and stands up for her beliefs,
Marcia is extremely superficial: she rarely stands up for herself.
15. Explain the circumstances leading to Ponyboy running away from home.
How would you have reacted?
He runs away from home after his brother Darry hit him during an argument.
Chapter 4
16. Complete a brief summary of the important events of this chapter
(8-10 lines)
Ponyboy and Johnny walk to the park. There, they see a blue mustang
with five socs in it pull up. Bob and Randy get out of the car. They want
to beat up Ponyboy and Johnny for picking up their girlfriends. Bob tells
David to drown Ponyboy. Johnny takes out his switchblade and stabs
Bob to death. The socs run away, and Ponyboy regains full
consciousness. Ponyboy gets sick and Johnny tells Ponyboy about the
stabbing. Both of the boys go to Buck Merril’s place to find Dally who
helps them by giving them some money and a gun. Dally tells them
where to hide and how to get there. Johnny and Ponyboy get to their
destination by jumping a train and walking the rest of the way. When
they reach the hideaway, an old church, they go to sleep.
Chapter 5
17. a) Why does Ponyboy panic not long after he wakes up?
He wakes up and realizes that Johnny is gone and that he is all alone.
b) What calms him down?
He reads Johnny’s note, explaining that he had left to go get supplies.
18. What suggestion does Johnny give Ponyboy that will enable them to
hide better?
Johnny suggests that he and Ponyboy cut their hair and that Ponyboy
should bleach his.
19. How long do they remain hidden?
They remained hidden approximately 5 days.
20. What is Johnny’s attitude towards Dally Winston?
Johnny respects Dally, remembering the time Dally had taken responsibility
for breaking a school window: something Two-Bit had done. He finds Dally
“gallant” for doing that. Johnny has a big hero-worship for Dally. He thinks
he’s cool and gallant like the cowboys in Gone with the wind.
21. Ponyboy remembers a poem by Robert Frost he once heard. Write it
down and try to find the meaning behind it.
“Nature’s first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf’s a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.”
The meaning behind the poem is that beautiful things in life unfortunately
do not always stay that way forever. There is a cycle which is unavoidable.
The poem symbolizes the loss of childhood innocence; a child’s growing
up.
22. What feelings are portrayed in Sodapop’s letter to Ponyboy? What
values can you find in it? Justify.
Sodapop’s letter to Ponyboy shows that he values family, love, and honesty.
It is clear that Darry and Sodapop are extremely worried about their brother,
and that they even want him to turn himself in.
23. Where does Dally take Ponyboy and Johnny?
He takes them to Dairy Queen in town for some lunch.
24. Ponyboy and Johnny find out that someone is helping the greasers.
Who is it?
Ponyboy and Johnny find out that Cherry Valance is helping the greasers.
Chapter 6
25. Complete a brief summary of the important events in this chapter.
(8-10 lines).
Johnny and Ponyboy are surprised that Cherry Valance is helping the
greasers. Dally tells them that Cherry took a big risk to help them out,
especially since Bob Sheldon was her boyfriend. Johnny decides that
he and Ponyboy should go back and turn themselves in. He says he
won’t involve Dally. We find out that Johnny still cares a great deal
about what his parents think of him.
They see the church is on fire, so they rush in and rescue children who
were trapped inside. Dally goes back in to save Johnny after Johnny
pushes Ponyboy out of the church. While in the waiting room of the
hospital, Pony sees his brothers and realizes that Darry is crying.