The Outsiders
Chapter 8 and 9
S. E. Hinton
Chapter 8
38. Why did the doctor finally let Ponyboy and Two-Bit in to see Johnny?
Johnny, who was dying, had asked to see them. Also, the doctor knew that
Johnny wouldn’t last very long so the added stress wouldn’t matter much.
39. What important “event” is to be held that night?
The rumble is the important event to be held that night.
40. Find a simile on page 106/123?
The simile is “He was as pale as the pillow”.
41. What does Johnny tell Ponyboy about dying?
He’s too young; he doesn’t want to die. However, he doesn’t regret what he’s
done since his life, shot though it may be, now has meaning.
42. How does Johnny react when his mother goes to visit him in the hospital?
Why?
Johnny does not want to see his mother: he believes that she’s only come to
tell him about all the trouble he’s caused his parents, and about how happy
they’ll be when he dies. He has finally realized that his mother is a hypocrite
and that it isn’t his fault. He now refuses to be the scared child. He knows
that he will not get his mother’s love and therefore stops trying.
43. Find an antithesis on page 108/123.
The antithesis is “Johnny-cake’s eyes were fearful and sensitive; hers were
cheap and hard”.
44. How does Johnny’s mother react when she sees Ponyboy and Two-Bit?
She gave them a look of hatred and accused them of being responsible for
putting Johnny in the hospital.
45. Say what figure of speech is found in the following sentence: “He kept it
razor-sharp”. (page 110/125)
This is a metaphor.
46. What does Two-Bit give Dally before leaving the hospital? Why?
Two-Bit gave Dally his ten inch-long switchblade because Dally wanted to be
sure to win the fight that very same night. He readily gives Dally his knife
because he knows Dally would never ask for it unless it was extremely
important. Dally knows how much Two-Bit loves his knife.
47. Why won’t Cherry go see Johnny in the hospital?
Cherry holds Johnny responsible for Bob’s death. She can’t stand to look at
him. She also is still influenced by the differences separating the greasers
and the socs.
48. What reason does Cherry give for helping Ponyboy?
She tells Ponyboy that she helped him because she liked him and he was a
nice kid.
Chapter 9
49. Briefly summarize the events leading up to the rumble, as well as its
outcome.
The boys prepare in anticipation for the rumble. Darry allows Ponyboy to
participate. Dally shows up. The rumble takes place, and the greasers
eventually win. Ponyboy was beaten up quite badly, although he and Dally
still head to the hospital to go see Johnny.
50. What advice does Dally give Ponyboy on the way to the hospital?
Dally tells Ponyboy that he should act tough like him, instead of being soft
like Johnny: that way, he won’t get hurt.
51. As Johnny dies, he tells Ponyboy to “Stay gold”. Explain the
significance of this statement.
When Johnny tells Ponyboy to “stay gold”, he is referring to Robert Frost’s
poem which seems to have had a profound effect on the boys. “Stay gold”
means stay the way you are: don’t change.