Name: ________________________
THE
OUTSIDERS
By S. E. Hinton
CHAPTER QUESTIONS
Chapter 1
1.
Who is the narrator of the story?
Ponyboy Curtis is the narrator of the story
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2.
How does he feel about Soda?
Pony feels that if Soda didn't have to help ... Pony to drop out of high school, he's
happy with his own choice to do so.
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3.
What happens to him on the way home from the movies?
the Socs and Greasers do not get along; they are from opposite sides of the town.
Ironically, right before Ponyboy is jumped by the Socs he is thinking about how
dangerous it is for him to be walking home alone; Darry then yells at him for the
same thing after they have him from the Socs.
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4.
What does Ponyboy say the difference between Darry and their father are?
"We're poorer than the Socs and the middle class. ... even notes a physical
resemblance between his real father and Darry.
5.
What does Ponyboy think about Steve?
Ponyboy is sweating thinking about what happen to his friend Johnny when he got ...
Steve does not like Ponyboy because he thinks he is a “tag along”.
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6.
Who is the "character" of the gang? Why?
Ponyboy Curtis - The novel's fourteen-year-old narrator and protagonist, and the
youngest
of
the
greasers.
Ponyboy's
literary
interests
and
academic
accomplishments set him apart from the rest of his gang.
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7.
What does Ponyboy do in biology class that surprises people?
he pulled out a blade to dissect the frog when his tool wasn't working
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8.
What secret does Soda tell Ponyboy?
He told Ponyboy and Johnny that he might marry/wants to marry Sandy
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9.
What do you think Soda meant when he told Ponyboy that Darry yells at him because he has
a lot of worries (p17)?
i think that soda cares about Ponyboy alot
Chapter 2
1.
Where are Johnny and Pony boy when the chapter
opens?
They go and meet at picket and Sutton
Why does Dally sneak in?
Becuase They enjoy the challenge of sneaking in
because Dally hates to do
Who are the two girls they meet there?
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Cherry and Marcia
2.
Why does Dally leave and go somewhere else?
Because he didn’t wanna talk to the 2 girls
3.
Who gets Dally to stop bothering the girls? Why is this surprising?
The girl with red hair turns around and coolly tells him to stop, but Dally ... When he
will not listen to Cherry's protests, the usually quiet Johnny stuns Dally by telling him
not to bother the girls.
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4.
Why does Two-Bit tell them that Tim Shepard is looking for Dally?
Tim Shepherd is looking for Dally in Chapter 2 because someone slashed the tires on his car,
and Tim's brother Curly "spotted Dally doing it". Two-Bit observes nonchalantly that "skin
fighting", or tangling without weapons, "isn't rough...it blows off steam better than
anything", and that if Dally doesn't "pull a blade", Tim will fight fair. Two-Bit figures that if
it's a fair fight, Dally "deserves whatever he gets", because it takes a lot of hard work to get
the money to replace tires, and because he got caught. Two-Bit says, "Dally was getting
kicks. He got caught. He pays up. No sweat".
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5.
Why do people turn and look as Ponyboy and Cherry go for refreshments?
Because Pony was a greaser and Cherry was a Soc.
6.
Who are the people that beat up Johnny (hint: a gang and someone else?
The Socs and cherry
7.
If someone tries to beat up Johnny again, what will he do?
He will save ponyboy
8.
After Ponyboy tells Cherry the story about Johnny, what does she
say (p34)? Do you think that's true?
Yes i think its true
Chapter 3
1.
What seems funny to Ponyboy as they walk to get the car? As
they was making a joke up
What does Cherry see as the differences between the two gangs? Be sure to fill in your gang
chart.? It could be because the socs have alot of money and the greasers don't have alot of
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money. Also the socs don't really have to work for there money, live in big houses with
servants and everything and the greasers dont because they're poor.
2.
Who is Mickey Mouse?
Mickey Mouse is a horse. Sodapop really loves him, but since he is poor he does not
have the money to keep him. Ponyboy says the topic of Soda's horse is “personal”
but he tells Cherry anyway. Soda used to work at the horse stables when Ponyboy
was ten.
3.
What does Soda do when Mickey Mouse dies?
Soda tries to cry it out and he burries him down
4.
What do Ponyboy and Cherry both like?
Ponyboys wants to tell Cherry that they're not so different. He may live on "the wrong side of the
tracks" and she may be a rich Soc, but they're both teenagers who see the same sunset. They live in
the same town and are separated by social class, but Ponyboys wants her to know that that in itself
doesn't make them totally different.
5.
What mean thing does Ponyboy say to Johnny? Why?
To get rid of all of the pain inside himself and because ponyboy isn't thinking straight.
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6.
Why does Johnny get nervous when Bob drives up in his blue Mustang?
He gets really nervous but remains still and calm on the outside but is staring at ... of
the Socs) rings; since bob was the soc who had beat him up and his rings
7.
Who does Cherry confess she could fall in love with? Why?
Cherry doesn't give a specific reason why she could fall in love with Dally, just that if she
ever saw him again, she would fall in love with him. However, judging by her taste in
boys, namely Bob her boyfriend, we can assume she likes wild, bad boys. Bob is out-ofcontrol with his antics and constantly pushes the envelop much like Dally. Bob also feels
unloved and is always trying to get the attention of his parents. That is a direct parallel to
Dally who has been abandoned by his parents. Perhaps Cherry is attracted to this
particular need in a guy.
8.
What does Darry do when Ponyboy comes home late?
When Ponyboy comes home very late, Darry gets angry and hits him. Ponyboy
runs away and meets up with Johnny. As they wander around the neighborhood, Bob,
Randy, and three other drunk Socs confront them. After the Socs nearly drown
Ponyboy in a fountain, a terrified Johnny stabs Bob, accidentally killing him.
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9.
Why do you think Johnny says the gang isn't the same as having
your own folks care? Because Johnny isn’t loyal to the gang
Chapter 4
1.
How many Socs are in the park? What condition are they in?
There are 3 socs in the park
What does Bob do to Ponyboy?
They made short conversation, then Ponyboy spit on Bob and the Socs ran after
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2.
What does Johnny do to help Ponyboy?
After killing Bob the Soc in the park, Pony and Johnny know they need to hide from the
police, since turning themselves in doesn't seem to be an option. Johnny decided that
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3.
Who do Johnny and Ponyboy go to for help? Why? What does he give them?
Ponyboy and Johnny “run away” from home and go to the park because Ponyboy got into
an argument with his brother Darry. They never intend to actually leave for a long time
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but when the Socs show up at the park and try to drown Ponyboy, Johnny feels that he
has to save Ponyboy no matter what. So, Johnny takes out his knife and stabs Bob, the Soc
who is trying to drown Ponyboy, killing him. After this happens, Johnny and Ponyboy run
to Dally for advice, and he tells them to go to Windrixville; while there they hide out in an
abandoned church on Jay Mountain Where do Ponyboy and Johnny go to hide out? How do
they get there? Do you think this is a good hideout? Why or why not?
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4.
What happened the last time that Ponyboy and Johnny went to church?
The church was on fire and little kids were trapped inside and pony boy and johnny went in
to get them then once all of the kids were out johnny threw out pony
Chapter 5
1.
What does Ponyboy say you do "when you haven't got anything
to do" (p69)? What does he mean?
He means that the gang got got anything to do
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2.
Who does Johnny say Ponyboy acts like? Why?
Like soda pop
3.
Why does Johnny cut Ponyboy' s hair? Why is this hard for Ponyboy?
Ponyboy and Johnny are greasers, a class term that refers to the young men on
the poor, East side of town. They and their friends feel like real outsiders with
their greased, long hair and rough appearance. The greasers' rivals are the Socs,
short for Socials, who are the "West-side rich kids." Socs wear nice clothes and
short, conservative hairstyles.
4.
What book do they read together?
Gone with the wind .
5.
What do Johnny and Ponyboy swear they won't do anymore before they fall asleep?
he knows he's sleeping on the floor of the church in Windrixville. ... When Ponyboy sits on the
back steps, he can see for miles since he's on top of a high hill.
6.
Why does Johnny think Dally is a hero? Do you agree with him?
In the group of boys who comprise the "outsiders," it is Dally who Johnny idolizes the
most. It's probably consistent with their characters, because Johnny is timid, a follower, a
"little dark puppy that has been kicked too many times and is lost in a crowd of
strangers," and Dally's rude, bold, confrontational manner is the polar opposite. Johnny
sees Dally as what he will never be, and what he likely wishes he was, especially in light
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of his brutal beating at the hands of some Socs. Dally is also his protector, and Johnny is
the one person Dally will not confront. In the incident at the drive-in, early in the book,
Dally was harassing the Soc girls until Johnny told him to quit. Dally was surprised,
shocked, amazed that anyone would tell him that and not expect retribution--but it was
Johnny who said it and Dally let it go. The only real glimpse of Dally's humanity in
Hinton's book is his protective, brotherly love for Johnny.
7.
What do you think the poem on p77 means?
I think the poem was amazing and lovely
8.
Who comes to visit them?
The other greasers members
9.
What does Dally tell them is happening back in town?
10. Who is acting as a spy for the Greasers? Why do you think this person is spying?
At the drive-in movie, Johnny and Ponyboy meet a couple of nice girls that just happen to be Socs. As
greasers, there is a big class and gang difference between the two groups, but Cherry is impressed with
Ponyboy’s intelligence and sensitivity. They become friends, and Ponyboy realizes that Cherry is not
so unlike him.
Unfortunately, Cherry’s boyfriend is one of the Socs that Johnny and Ponyboy fight with in the
park. The boys’ meeting with Cherry sets off a terrible chain of events. When Johnny and
Ponyboy have to run away, Dally brings them news of Cherry’s defection.
Chapter 6
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1.
Do you think the whole mess is Cherry's fault?
No i don’t think its cherry’s fault
2.
What does Johnny announce they are going to do? Why?
Johnny announces that he thinks he and Ponyboy should
turn themselves in to the ... As they drive past the church
3.
Why doesn't Dally want Johnny to turn himself in?
Dally doesn't want Johnny to turn himself in because Dally cares about Johnny and Dally
was in jail so he knows how bad it is and what it can do to you.
4.
What happens to the church?
at the church there were kids having a picnic and there was a fire and pony goes in to save the kids
and Johnny goes in to save pony boy and dally goes in to save pony boy and johnny.
5.
How does Ponyboy describe Johnny as the two of them are inside the church (p92)? Why do
you think Johnny is like that? Johnny and Ponyboy are like brothers
6.
What does Darry do when he sees Ponyboy in the hospital?
One thing thing he asked for him to buy was the book gone with the wind so Ponyboy
could read it to him.the second thing he asked for was hair grease
7.
What does Ponyboy finally realize about Dairy?
It was all about the truth
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8.
What is Dairy's silent fear?
darry's silent fear was losing another person
Chapter 7
1.
Why were reporters interested in what happened to Ponyboy and Johnny?
Johnny because they had gone through a lot
2.
What was Johnny' s physical condition after the fire?
Johnny's back is broken.
3.
What do the Curtis brothers like to eat for breakfast?
Darry was still asleep when I went into the kitchen to fix breakfast...I hunted through
the icebox and found some eggs.
4.
What information did Ponyboy learn from the newspaper about him and his brothers?
and him and putting the younger two in "a boys' home or something".
5.
What sport is Ponyboy good at?
Ponyboy is a pretty good track athlete at his high school.
6.
Why did Randy want to talk to Ponyboy?
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Two-Bit reminds him that no fighting is allowed before the rumble, but Randy says he
wants only to talk. He asks Ponyboy why he saved those children and says he would
never have thought a greaser could do such a thing.
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7.
According to Randy, what should Bob's parents have done differently? Why do you think this
bothered Bob so much about his parents?
Randy tells Ponyboy that Bob's mother has had a nervous breakdown after ...
Ponyboy gets out of the car
8.
What does Ponyboy finally understand after talking with Randy?
(find the quote)
“Socs were just guys after all.
Chapter 8
1. What two things does Johnny ask Two-Bit and Ponyboy for when he is in the hospital?
Hair grease and a copy of Gone With The Wind for Ponyboy to read to him.
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2. What does Johnny tell Ponyboy when they are alone in the hospital room?
He tells him that he’s scared of dying. He says, “I don’t want to die now. It
ain’t long enough. Sixteen years ain’t long enough. I wouldn’t mind it so much
if there wasn’t so much stuff I ain’t done yet and so many things I ain’t see.
It’s not fair.”
Who else comes to visit Johnny? Why doesn't he want to see her? Do you agree with his
decision? Yes i do agree on johnnys decision
3. What does Two-Bit give to Dally?
He gives him a his prized switchblade.
4. Why won't Cherry visit Johnny in the hospital?
He figures she’s there to tell him that he’s causing her trouble and how glad
she and his dad will be when he’s dead.
5. What did Cherry love about Bob?
Cherry says he was sweet sometimes, and friendly. She says that he had
something that made people follow him.
6. Why do you think Ponyboy asks Cherry about sunsets?
If she likes it or not
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Chapter 9
1. Why do the Greasers get dressed up for the rumble?
They wanted to show the Socs they were just as good as them.
2. What two things do Greasers have according to Ponyboy?
They have friendship and loyalty.
3. What are Darry, Soda, Steve, and Two-Bit's reasons for fighting?
They like to fight.
4. How do the boys describe Greasers?
“They are mostly lean and kind of panther-looking in a slouchy way.”
5. How do the Socs look? What does Ponyboy say is important about looks?
They all look the same with their same style of dress.
6. Why was Darry angry at Paul?
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They used to be friends in high school, but now Paul was representing as a
Soc.
7. How is Dally able to join the rumble?
He talked the nurse into letting him go.
8. What does Dally tell the police when he is stopped?
He says that Ponyboy fell off a motorcycle and is in really bad shape.
9. What are the last two things Johnny says? What do you think he means?
He says that fighting is useless and tells Ponyboy to stay gold.
He wants him to stay good and positive.
Chapter 10
1. What does the man who picks up Ponyboy notice
about him?
He notices that he’s been in a fight and is bleeding all over.
2. Who calls the house? Why?
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Dally calls the house because He has robbed a grocery store and the cops
are after him.
3. What happens to Dally? Why?
He gets shot and killed by the police because He pulled out his gun which
isn’t actually loaded.
4. Do you think Ponyboy was right and that was what Dally wanted? Why?
5. What does Ponyboy think is different about what happened to Dally and Johnny?
Dally wanted to die, whereas Ponyboy didn’t.
6. How long has Ponyboy been asleep?
he wakes up on Tuesday and he’s been sick since Saturday.
7. What is Ponyboy worried that he did when he was sick? Why?
He was worried that he didn’t really call for Darry. He worries about this
because up until recently they haven’t been very close.
8. What did Johnny leave for Ponyboy?
Because Johnny had no chance to live
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Chapter 11
1. Whose picture does Ponyboy come across in Soda's yearbook?
He finds Bob’s picture
2. What does Ponyboy begin to think about when he sees this picture?
He starts to wonder what Bob was like.
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3. Ponyboy says he would rather have ‘hatred’ than ‘what’? Why do you think he says this?
Pity because He doesn’t want people to feel sorry for him.
4. Who comes to visit Ponyboy? Why do you think he is there?
Randy comes to visit.
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5. Why doesn't Ponyboy like people to come to his house?
He was worried about Ponyboy and he wanted to see what Ponyboy
planned to do at the hearing.
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6. What lies does Ponyboy say to Randy? Why do you think he does this?
It’s a rundown house in an older part of the neighborhood and most people he
goes to school with live in better houses.
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7. What does Darry call Ponyboy? Why does Ponyboy like this?
He tells Randy that he was actually the one who stabbed Bob.
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Chapter 12
1. Who was at the hearing?
Pony, Darry, Soda, Randy and his parents, Cherry and her parents, the judge, Pony's
doctor, and some of the other guys who had been with Bob and Randy that night were at
the court hearing
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2. What does the judge ask Ponyboy?
He asked if he liked living with Darry? If he liked school? What kind of
grades did he make?
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3. Why do you think Ponyboy' s life is so mixed up after the hearing?
He hasn’t had an opportunity to deal with the deaths of Johnny and Dally. He
was sick and then he had the hearing.
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4. What deal does Ponyboy's teacher make? Why?
He says that if he comes up with a good theme and paper that he will pass him
with a “C”. because he feels that under the circumstances that Ponyboy deserves
a second chance.
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5. What does Ponyboy do when he sees the Socs?
He pulls a broken bottle on them and tells them he will use it if they don’t
back off.
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6. What does Ponyboy think is good about being tough? Do you agree?
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He says if he is tough, he won’t get hurt and yes i do agree
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7. What does Darry tell Ponyboy that upsets him?
Darry tells him that he has to pull it together and that Johnny and Dally are
dead and there is nothing he can do about it.
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8. Why does Soda get so upset?
Soda sent Sandy a letter and it got returned unopened
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9. What does Ponyboy realize about the lies he's been telling?
He was telling the lies so the pain of the deaths wouldn’t hurt anymore
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10. What does Johnny want Ponyboy to tell Dally? Why?
He wants Dally to know that saving the kids was worth it. He also wants him
to tell Dally to look at a sunset because Johnny doesn’t think Dally has ever
taken the time to look at a sunset.
11. What does Ponyboy decide to write about for his English assignment?
He decides to write on the Greasers’ story.
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