Outsiders Reflection & Discussion Questions
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S.E. Hinton was inspired to write The Outsiders based on her experiences in high school in the 1950s in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She observed social divisions between lower class "Greasers" and wealthy "Socs." The 1967 novel is about class conflict between the Greaser gang and the Socs. It explores themes of violence, prejudice and finding one's place in the world. The story is told in first person by the protagonist Ponyboy Curtis and examines what it means to be an outsider from both sides of the social divide.
Outsiders Reflection & Discussion Questions
- 2. Notebook Entry Questions What does it mean to be an “outsider”? Describe a time when you have felt like an outsider. What does it mean to be an “insider”?
- 3. S. E. Hinton background born in the 1950s in Tulsa, Oklahoma Inspired by the social divisions at her high school and the lack of realistic fiction for adolescents Published under S.E Hinton to cloak her gender to the public She was 16 years-old when she wrote The Outsiders
- 4. The Outsiders (1967) Groundbreaking young adult novel Set in the 1960s Southwest Class conflict between the Greasers and the Socs (socials) Low-class youths vs. privileged rich kids Violence, class conflict, prejudice Bildungsroman Allegory Circular plot
- 5. Outsiders Reflection I After reading the S.E. Hinton interview,please answer the following questions in your notebook : 1. What are 5 facts about S.E Hinton that are important? 2. What are 5 of S.E. Hinton influences as she wrote The Outsiders? Or, how did what was happening in the world of politics and society influence The Outsiders? 3. As we read a text that is written as a flashback in the first person, how could that affect our perspective of a story?
- 6. Characters As you read chapter 1, briefly describe each of the main characters as you read the first few chapters. Write down which "group" each belongs to, his/her age, and some unique things about each person.
- 7. The Greasers Ponyboy Curtis Sodapop Curtis Darry Curtis Steve Randle Keith "Two-Bit" Mathews Dallas Winston Johnny Cade
- 8. The Socs Cherry Marcia Bob Randy
- 10. Chapter 1: The Greasers Re-read chapter 1: YES! Re-read it! We are studying, not just reading, this piece of literature! Character: Copy down a sentence in quotation marks (and note the page number) for each member of the Greasers that either describes his personality or appearance. Conflict: Find one sentence that describes a difference between the Greasers and the Socs; copy down the sentence in quotation marks, note the page number, and explain in your own words what it means.
- 11. The Greasers Ponyboy Curtis Sodapop Curtis Darry Curtis Steve Randle Keith "Two-Bit" Mathews Dallas Winston Johnny Cade
- 12. How are the Greasers like a family? How do Darry, SodaPop and Ponyboy operate as a family? What is the problem between Darry and Ponyboy? Why do you think Darry’s expectations are different for Ponyboy than for SodaPop? What is Johnny’s “position” in the gang? What is happening to him in his family life and what has happened to him with the Socs that has contributed to his position in the gang?
- 13. Chapter 2: The Conflict 1. Why do the Soc girls--Marcia and Cherry--sit by the Greasers? 2. Can you name some other differences between the Socs and the Greasers? 3. Summarize the events that occurred to Johnny “four months ago” (p. 30). How did they effect him? 4. Find one important sentence from the chapter. Copy it down in quotation marks and tell why you think it’s important.
- 14. Chapter 3: The conversation continues… 1. What more do Cherry and PonyBoy say about how the Socs are similar or different from the Greasers? 2. What is important about the sunset in the story? 3. What more do we learn about the Greasers’ family lives? 4. On p. 40, what does PonyBoy say about how bad the Greasers have it compared to the Socs? 5. Why does PonyBoy dream about getting away to the country? 6. Why is Darry so upset about PonyBoy coming in late? 7. Why would Johnny rather have his “old man” hitting him instead of ignoring him?
- 15. Chapter 4 1. What does Pony mean when he says the socs were "reeling pickled" on page 54? 2. What major event happens in this chapter? 3. How did the author foreshadow that johnny would use his knife in chapter 2? 4. What would your advice be to Johhny and Ponyboy if they'd come to you for help instead of Dally? Explain.
- 16. Chapter 5 1. Why does Pony have a problem with Johnny's idea to disguise themselves? 2. Why does Johnny think is a hero? Do you think Dally is a hero based on what he did? 3. Why does Pony realize he doesn't like Dally? Can you explain what he means by this? 4. Examine Robert Frost's poem, Nothing Gold can Stay. What do you think the poem is saying? How might this apply to the characters in the novel? 5. Johnny compares Pony and his brothers to their parents. Which one of your parents are you most like? What similarities do you share? 6. What's a 'heater'? Why does Dally have one? 7. Why are the socs and the greasers going to fight in the vacant lot? 8. Who's the spy for the greasers? Does this surprise you? Why or why not?
- 17. Chapter 6 & 7 1. How does Jerry stereotype the Greasers? Why is he so surprised that the Greasers would save the little kids from the fire? 2. What does PonyBoy realize about his relationship with Darry? What was Darry afraid of, according to PonyBoy? (p. 87) 3. “I had taken the long way around, but I was finally home. To stay” (p. 88). What does this quote mean? 4. What condition is Johnny in after the fire? 5. Why would being crippled be worse for Johnny than someone else? 6. What is a juvenile delinquent (p. 93)? 7. Why would Two-Bit think Johnny, Dally, and Pony were heroes all along; before they saved the kids? 8. What was Bob's 'real' problem, according to Randy (p.102-3)? 9. Why did Pony think it was better to see socs as "just guys" on p. 118? What do you think he means by this?
- 18. Chapter 8 1. How does what the doctor first says foreshadow Johnny's condition? 2. "We needed Johnny as much as he needed the gang. And for the same reason”. What do you think Pony means, and what is the reason? 3. What does Pony mean when he says, "we could get along without anyone but Johnny"? 4. If Darry didn't have Soda and Pony, why would he be a soc? 5. What does Cherry mean when she says Bob "wasn't just anyone”?
- 19. Chapter 9 1. When Pony asks what kind of a world it is, what is he saying about how society judges people? 2. Why do the boys fight? Why is Pony different? 3. What is the difference between Tim Sheppard's gang and Ponyboy's? Explain how Pony feels this difference might give his group the upper hand? 4. What do you think Johnny's last words--“stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold”-- mean?
- 20. Chapter 10 & 11 1. How does Pony's dreaming, or lying to himself, finally work in this chapter? 2. Why was Johnny's dying so difficult for Dally to handle? 3. Why do you think Dally would have wanted to die? 4. Explain why Pony might rather have anyone's hate than their pity.
- 21. Chapter 12 1. Why doesn't Ponyboy feel scared when the socs approach him and he threatens them with a broken bottle? How has Ponyboy changed? 2. What does Darry mean when he says, "you don't just stop living because you lose someone”? 3. How do we know Sandy didn't love Soda as much as he loved her? 4. Explain how Darry and Ponyboy play tug of war with Soda. 5. What was so special about Johnny? 6. What does Ponyboy end up doing for his English assignment?
- 22. “When you’re a kid everything’s new, dawn. It’s just when you get used to everything that it’s day.” --Chapter 12, Johnny “There should be some help, someone should tell their side of the story, and maybe people would understand then and wouldn’t be so quick to judge a boy by the amount of hair oil he wore. It was important to me. --Chapter 12, Ponyboy