The Outsiders
During Reading Activities
November 2009
Chapter 2 and 3
• Aim: Weighing the truth and/or significance of
a character’s assertions
• As the story progresses, Ponyboy, as narrator,
makes several comments about what things
mean; he interprets and explains events.
Some of his explanations reflect his view of
the world and life. The comments of some of
the other characters express their views of
life.
Statements that Reflect Viewpoints on
Life
• Select one of the statements from the
following list.
• Think about the statement’s meaning.
• What ideas come to your mind as you read
the statement?
• What views of life are being expressed?
• Do you agree or disagree? Explain.
Statements that Reflect Viewpoints on
Life
• One a piece of notebook paper, write your
name, the date, and the heading Statements
that Reflect Viewpoints on Life
• Julie Freese
• November 9, 2009
• Statements that Reflect Viewpoints on Life
Statements that Reflect Viewpoints on
Life
• Write notes in response to the questions
below:
• What ideas come to mind when you read the
statement?
• What view of life is being expressed?
• Do you agree? Do you disagree? Explain.
Speeches
• Once you have finished your notes, be
prepared to share out your comments in the
form of a short speech.
• Your speech should include the following:
• What view of life is being expressed, whether
or not you agree/disagree with the statement,
what comes to mind when you read the
statement.
Ms. Freese’s Example
• The statement “Our one rule, besides Stick together, is Don’t get
caught”(29) expresses a view on life that is based on a gang as family
mentality. Many of the Greasers don’t have stable home lives. For
example, Ponyboy, Sodapop and Darry no longer have parents, and are left
to fend for themselves. Johnny’s father is abusive, while his mother often
ignores him. Two-Bit’s mom has to work hard to support him and his
brother, and isn’t around much, and Steve has a problematic relationship
with his father.
• As a result of a lack of family support, the Greasers have developed a
support system in their gang that they believe extends beyond friendship.
In order to create a stable system, the gang has a set of rules. One of those
rules is to not get caught and to stick together. This view of life emphasizes
the importance of support from a group.
• I agree with this statement to a certain extent. I think that it is important
to have people in your life who encourage you, and who you know will
support you. I don’t agree with the rule don’t get caught because I think
that one of the best ways to learn and grow is from our mistakes.
Chapter Three
• Aim: To understand how character conflict
advances plot structure.
• In “Chapter Three” the conflicts are
intensified.
• Ponyboy realizes that Cherry’s boyfriend Bob
is probably the boy in the Mustang who beat
up Johnny.
Chapter Three
• Now, Bob and his friend have found their
girlfriends walking with Greasers. Ponyboy
expresses his feelings about Darry to the
others. Finally, when Ponyboy gets home late,
he and Darry get into a fight, and Ponyboy
runs away. Although Ponyboy decides to
return home, the chapter ends with his
comment, “Things gotta get better, I figured.
They couldn’t get worse. I was wrong”(52).
Chapter Three
• During this activity we are going to try to get into
a character’s head, and imagine what he is
thinking.
• Select a different topic from the following list.
• What would the person say? Why would he say
this? Refer to and include what the person in the
text says about this topic. Explain the reasons you
think, from reading between the lines, that the
person feels or believes what he does.
What is a monologue?
• Monologues are a way to get inside
characters’ thoughts.
• This device allows the reader to access the
character’s thoughts and motivations more
intimately since readers learn what the
characters say only to themselves.
Features of the Monologue Genre
• Includes ellipses and dashes to indicate
speech patterns
• Stage directions in parentheses
Definition of a Monlogue
• A monologue is• An extended and uninterrupted speech by a
character. The character may be speaking his
or her thoughts aloud, directly or indirectly
addressing another character or speaking to
an audience.
Examples
Writing Your Monologue
• Turn and talk to your partner, discuss the aspects
of the character you want to reveal, and the
viewpoint you want to express.
• Next, decide what parts of the text you will use in
your monologue. You can convert narrative
description into something a character says.
• Finally, write out the monologue, what you think
the character would say about the topic.
Plot Topics for Monolgues
• Ponyboy speaks on his view of Darry and the way Darry treats him.
• Darry speaks on his view of Ponyboy and the way Ponboy treats
him.
• Soda speaks on his view of the conflict between Ponyboy and Darry.
• Johnny speaks on his view of the conflict between Ponyboy and
Darry.
• Bob speaks on his view of finding the girls with the Greasers.
• Cherry speaks on her view of Ponyboy, Johnny and what she has
discovered about their problems. She also gives an account of her
decision to ride home with Bob.
• Two-Bit speaks on his view of the bitterness Ponyboy expresses
about the unfairness of life and about Darry. He also explains his
feelings about Marcia.
Ms. Freese’s Example
Freewrite # 2
• Ponyboy says it’s not just money that
separates the Socs from the Greasers;
“It’s feelings—the Socs don’t feel anything and
the greasers feel too violently.” If you agree
with this, give examples from the text; if you
don’t agree with it tell why you disagree.
Chapters 4 and 5
• Aim: Weighting the truth or significance of a
character’s assertions
• During “Chapter 5,” Ponyboy discusses several topics
that people have opposing views on. For instance,
Ponyboy is upset about his haircut and thinks about
the reasons hairstyle and clothing matter so much.
Some people see hairstyle and clothes as a statement
of identity; people use appearance to express who they
are. Other people believe too much emphasis is placed
on style, and too much money is wasted on clothes.
Characterization
•
•
•
•
•
Select a topic from the following list.
In your groups discuss the following questions:
What are Ponyboy’s main points on the topic?
Do you agree with him? Why? Why not?
List the reasons and examples which support
your positions.
• Each group will present its beliefs about the topic
to the rest of the class.
• After each presentation, we will discuss the topic
as a class.
Chapter 5
• Aim: Understanding how allusions and
imagery create meaning in a literary text.
• On pages 76-77, Ponyboy wakes early, sits on
the steps of the church, and watches the
approach of dawn. He says he wishes he “had
some paint to do a picture with while the sight
was still fresh in his mind”(77).
Allusions
• When Johnny arrives, Ponyboy makes an allusion to
Robert Frost’s poem “Nothing Gold Can Stay.”
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.
Allusions
• Write a two-paragraph essay discussing the
meaning on Robert Frost’s poem and its
relationship to Ponyboy’s present situation.
• Use at least two specific quotes from the text
to support your argument.
• Your essay should include a thesis statement
stating your argument.
Thesis
• Handout Jim Burke’s handout on creating a
thesis statement.
Freewrite #3
When she is acting as a spy for the Greasers,
do you think Cherry is doing the right thing? Is
it something you would do under the same
circumstances? Why or why not?