Introductory Notes
THE OUTSIDERS
BY S.E. HINTON
S.E. Hinton
S.E Hinton was and still is
one of the most popular
and best known writers
of young adult fiction.
Her books have been
taught in some schools
and banned from others.
Her novels changed the
way people look at
young adult literature.
S. E. Hinton
Susan Eloise Hinton was born in Tulsa,
Oklahoma. She has always enjoyed reading but
wasn’t satisfied with the literature that was
being written for young adults, which influenced
her to write novels like The Outsiders. That book,
her first novel, was published in 1967 by Viking.
Hinton was only 15 when she wrote the book
and 18 when it was published.
S. E. Hinton
Since her narrator was a boy, Hinton’s publishers
suggested that she publish under the name S.E.
Hinton; they feared readers wouldn’t respect a
“macho” story written by a woman.
Hinton says today, “I don’t mind having two
identities; in fact, I like keeping the writer part
separate in some ways. And since my alter ego
is a 15-year-old boy, having an authorial self that
doesn’t suggest a gender is just fine with me.”
S. E. Hinton
Once published, The Outsiders, gave her a lot of
publicity and fame and also a lot of pressure.
S.E. Hinton was becoming known as “The Voice
of the Youth” among other titles. This kind of
pressure and publicity resulted in a three year
long writer’s block.
S. E. Hinton
Her boyfriend (and now her husband), who had
gotten sick of her being depressed all the time,
eventually broke this block. He made her write
two pages a day if she wanted to go anywhere.
This eventually led to That was Then, This is Now.
S. E. Hinton
Hinton’s books include: The Outsiders; That was
Then, This is Now; Rumble Fish; Tex; and Taming
the Star Runner, among others.
The Outsiders
The Setting – Tulsa, Oklahoma during the
1960’s decade.
Point of View – 1st person narrative from
Ponyboy’s perspective.
The Outsiders Character List
The Greasers
 Ponyboy Curtis - 14, orphan, Greaser,
narrator and protagonist
 Darrell “Darry” Curtis –oldest brother,
Greaser, responsible, raising Ponyboy and
Sodapop
 Sodapop Curtis – Greaser, happy-go-lucky,
handsome, plans to marry Sandy
The Outsiders Character List
 Two-Bit Matthews - Greaser, joker, shoplifts
 Dallas “Dally” Winston - toughest, violent,
extensive criminal record
 Johnny Cade – 16, smallest, shy, abused,
gang’s pet, respectful, nervous, Ponyboy’s
best friend
The Outsiders Character List
The Socials
 Sherry “Cherry” Valance – Social, Bob's
girlfriend
 Randy - 17, a Social
 Bob - 17, a Social, Cherry's boyfriend
 Marcia – a Social, Randy's girlfriend
The Outsiders Character List
The Supporting Characters