Book Notes: The Outsiders
Due _____________________________
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Notes must be clearly titled and organized.
Assignment must be typed and submitted either as a paper copy or email attachment.
All quotes must include page numbers.
Include a MLA citation of the novel. (You may use citation machine.)
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1) Characterization: Write a description of each character listed below. For the characters with a star next to their
name (*) also identify two quotes, one direct and one indirect.
Characters:
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Greasers
Pony Boy*
Steve
Darry*
Two-bit
Sodapop*
Dally*
Johnny*
Socs
Cherry*
Randy
Bob*
Character Description: Describe the character in your own words. (One to three sentences.)
Quote #1: Physical Description of the character (direct/explicit characterization)
Quote #2: Identify a character trait and support it with a quote. (indirect/implied characterization.)
2) Symbol: A symbol is something tangible that represents something intangible.
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Identify a symbol in the novel and what concept it represents.
Identify two quotes that describe or relate to the symbol.
Explain how the symbol relates to the novel.
3) Theme: Three themes that are found in The Outsiders are:
Prejudice/Stereotypes
Family/Friendship
Dichotomy: a contrast between two things that are or are represented as being opposed or entirely
different.
o Greaser/Socs
o Rich/Poor
o Male/Female
1. Identify two quotes that support each theme.
2. Choose one of the themes above, write a theme statement, and explain.
Example Notes: The Giver Notes
1. Characterization
Jonas: Jonas is the protagonist in The Giver. He is selected to be the receiver of memory. His view of his
community changes as he begins to receive the memories of the past and results in him leaving his community in
search of something better.
Quote #1: “But he had been startled by the newchild’s eyes. Mirrors were rare in the community; they weren’t
forbidden, but there was not real need of them, and Jonas has simply never bothered to look at himself very
often even when he found himself in a location where a mirror existed. Now, seeing the newchild and its
expression, he was reminded that the light eyes were not only a rarity but gave the one who had them a certain
look – what was it? Depth, he decided; as if on were looking into the clear water of the river, down to the
bottom, where thinks might lurk which hadn’t been discovered yet. He felt self-conscious, realizing that he, too,
had that look.” (pg. 21)
Quote #2: Trait: Courageous:
“Jonas reached the opposite side of the river, stopped briefly, and looked back. The Community where his entire
life had been lived lay behind him now sleeping. At dawn, the orderly, disciplined life he had always known
would continue again, without him. The life where nothing was ever unexpected. Or inconvenient. Or unusual.
The life without color, pain, or past.” (pg. 165)
2. Symbol:
Symbol: In The Giver the sled represents freedom.
Quote #1:“Sled, he knew abruptly. He was sitting on a thing called a sled. And the sled itself seemed to be poised
at the top of a long, extended mound that rose from the very land where he was. Evan as he thought the word
“mound” his new consciousness told him hill.
Then the sled, with Jonas himself upon it, began to move through the snowfall, and he understood instantly that
now he was going downhill. No voice made an explanation. The experience explained itself to him.” (pg. 81)
Quote #2:“Using his final strength, and a special knowledge that was deep inside him, Jonas found the sled that
was waiting for them at the top of the hill. Numbly his hands fumbled for the rope.
He settled himself on the sled and hugged Gabe close. The hill was steep but the snow was powdery and soft,
and he knows that this time there would be no ice, no fall, no pain. Inside his freezing body, his heart surged with
hope.
They started down.” (pg. 178)
Explanation: The memory of the sled is the beginning of Jonas’ realization that his community is being controlled
and that they are not free to think for themselves. At the end of the novel the sled provides Jonas with what he
needs to reach the boundary and free himself and the community.
3. Theme: Safety vs. Emotion
Quote #1:
"They were called Grandparents."
"Grand parents?"
"Grandparents. It meant parents-of-the-parents, long ago." "Back and back and back?" Jonas began to laugh.
"So actually, there could be parents-of-the-parents-of-the-parents-of-the parents?" Jonas hesitated.
"I certainly liked the memory, though. I can see why it's your favorite. I couldn't quite get the word for the whole
feeling of it, the feeling that was so strong in the room."
"Love," The Giver told him.
Jonas repeated it. "Love." It was a word and concept new to him. (Pg. 123-124)
Quote #2:
"Do you love me?"
There was an awkward silence for a moment. Then Father gave a little chuckle. "Jonas. You, of all people.
Precision of language, please!"
"What do you mean?" Jonas asked. Amusement was not at all what he had anticipated.
"Your father means that you used a very generalized word, so meaningless that it's become almost obsolete,"
his mother explained carefully.
Jonas stared at them. Meaningless? He had never before felt anything as meaningful as the memory. (pg. 127)
Theme Statement: Making a choice comes with risk, but the risk is worth the reward.
Explanation: In The Giver, to make the community “safe”, the elders have removed all color and emotion from
daily life. Without color and emotion there is no choice, everything is the same. As a result, words like “love”
become meaningless. When Jonas feels love, he realizes that keeping the community safe by denying members
the ability to feel is worse than any harm that emotion might cause.
Work Cited: Lowry, Lois. The Giver. New York: Dell Laurel-Leaf, 2002. Print.