SE
Hinton’s
The
use
of
Outsiders
symbolism
SE Hinton’s use of symbolism
SE Hinton’s use of symbolism
SE Hinton’s use of symbolism
Authors mention images and items in a book again and
again for a reason. This is called symbolism. Recognizing
symbolism can provide additional insight into the plot and
theme of a novel. Along with symbolism, strong visual
images can also draw a reader deeper into the theme or
author’s message. For this essay you should identify
several symbols and strong visual images that SE Hinton
employs in The Outsiders. Examine how these symbols
and images elicit in the reader a deeper meaning, beyond
the words on the page. End this essay by commenting on
SE Hinton’s use of symbols and imagery and how effective
she does or does not use these.
Brainstorm ideas/notes:
SE Hinton’s use of symbolism
Outline
Introduction
Hook (question, quote, shocking statement, anecdote)
Provide relevant background info to introduce your topic. (effectively organizes
complex ideas, concepts, and information and supports the writing task.)
Thesis statement-this is where you tell your reader, in one or two sentences, what you
will be writing about. (effectively introduces the topic using a thesis)
SE Hinton’s use of symbolism
Body Paragraph 1
Introduce idea (Uses effective and varied transitions to create cohesion and clarify the
relationships among ideas and concepts.)
Details/Explanations/at least one Quote (Skillfully develops the thesis using facts,
definitions, concrete details, quotations or other information and examples that are
relevant and sufficient. Effectively uses evidence/quotes)
Wrap it up (Provides an effective concluding statement. Uses effective transitions to
create cohesion and clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts.)
SE Hinton’s use of symbolism
Body Paragraph 2
Introduce idea (Uses effective and varied transitions to create cohesion and clarify the
relationships among ideas and concepts.)
Details/Explanations/at least one Quote (Skillfully develops the thesis using facts,
definitions, concrete details, quotations or other information and examples that are
relevant and sufficient. Effectively uses evidence/quotes)
Wrap it up (Provides an effective concluding statement. Uses effective transitions to
create cohesion and clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts.)
SE Hinton’s use of symbolism
Body Paragraph 3
Introduce idea (Uses effective and varied transitions to create cohesion and clarify the
relationships among ideas and concepts.)
Details/Explanations/at least one Quote (Skillfully develops the thesis using facts,
definitions, concrete details, quotations or other information and examples that are
relevant and sufficient. Effectively uses evidence/quotes)
Wrap it up (Provides an effective concluding statement. Uses effective transitions to
create cohesion and clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts.)
SE Hinton’s use of symbolism
Conclusion
(Provides an effective concluding section that follows from and supports the information
or explanation presented. Uses effective and varied transitions to create cohesion and
clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts.)
Review your ideas...
From Paragraph 1-
From Paragraph 2-
From Paragraph 3-
Final thoughts (connect back to your intro)
SE Hinton’s use of symbolism
Writing Checklist: Informative/Explanatory
I clearly introduced the topic and used a thesis.
I organized my ideas, concepts and information into clear paragraphs.
I developed my topic with well-chosen, relevant and sufficient facts,
definitions, details, quotes or other examples from the text.
I used transitions to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among
ideas.
I used precise language and terminology to explain my topic.
I used quotes and evidence from credible sources.
I wrote a conclusion that follows and supports the information or
explanation presented.
I used appropriate language and tone.
I used a variety of sentence types.
I provided bibliographic information for sources.
I reviewed my writing for good grammar, capitalization, punctuation and
spelling.
SE Hinton’s use of symbolism
SE Hinton’s use of symbolism
Why do symbols matter in a novel? In The Outsiders, S.E Hinton uses symbolism
to represent ideas and lead the reader to a deeper meaning of the novel. Some of these
symbols represent karma, life, and people: A burning church represents karma, a
sunrise represents life, and blue Mustangs represents the Socs. S.E Hinton gives the
reading important insight into the events in The Outsiders by using symbols.
To start with, the burning church represents karma. There is no more powerful
image in the book than the church in Windrixville on fire. When the boys see the
burning church Ponyboy says, “‘I bet we started it,’ I said to Johnny. ‘We must have
dropped a lighted cigarette or something,’” (Hinton, pg. 91). This symbolizes karma
because later on in the chapter, Johnny gets severely hurt. It was karma for his
murdering Bob.
On the other hand, Hinton uses a sunrise to symbolize life or good things.
when there is a sunrise it is beautiful, “All the lower valley was covered in mist, and
sometimes little pieces of it broke off and floated away in small clouds. The sky was
lighter in the east, and the horizon was a thin golden line. The clouds changed from
gray to pink, and the mist was touched with gold. There was a silent moment when
everything held its breath, and then the sun rose. It was beautiful,” (Hinton pg. 77). This
sunrise appears during one of the few happy moments for Ponyboy. This shows the
reader how peaceful a sunrise is and how it can represent the good things in life.
In addition, some of the symbols can represent people. When a blue Mustang
pulls up anywhere, a Soc is guaranteed to walk out of it. Since the Socs are rich, they
are able to afford fancy things like cars and nice clothes. When greasers see a Blue
mustang, they know there is trouble, “We stopped at the Tasty Freeze to buy cokes and
SE Hinton’s use of symbolism
rest up, and the blue Mustang that had been trailing us for eight blocks pulled in. I
almost decided to run, and Two-bit must have guessed this, for he shook his head ever
so slightly and tossed me a cigarette,”(Hinton, pg.114). Ponyboy and Johnny are the
ones who know best about the Socs being trouble.
Symbols represent karma, life, and people. A burning church can represents
karma, sunrises represent life or the good things in life, and blue Mustangs represent
the Socs. Overall, S.E HInton used effective symbols to represent ideas. These
symbols matter because it helps the reader understand and get deeper into the book.