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Allusions in The Outsiders
Allusion: a reference to another piece of literature, a work of art, historical figure or
event, or popular culture figure or event within a story
Examples of Literary Allusions in the novel
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens (page 15)
“I had to read Great Expectations for English, and that kid Pip, he reminded me of
us—the way he felt marked lousy because he wasn’t a gentleman or anything, and the
way that girl kept looking down on him. That happened to me once.”
Besides the memory Ponyboy gives in this part, how is he like his description of Pip?
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Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (page 75-76)
[Johnny] was especially stuck on the Southern gentlemen—impressed with their
manners and charm.
“I bet they were cool ol’ guys,’ he said, his eyes glowing after I had read the part
about them riding into sure death because they were gallant. ‘They remind me of
Dally.”
Why do you think men like that fascinate Johnny? _______________________________
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What does it tell us about Johnny that he understands so much despite his low grades
in school? ___________________________________________________________________
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What else might Johnny and Ponyboy have in common with the characters in the book?
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“Nothing Gold Can Stay” by Robert Frost (page 77)
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.
What does it tell us about Ponyboy that he remembered this poem? Keep in mind that
he remembers it but did not fully understand it. ________________________________
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What does Johnny’s reaction to the poem tell us about him? ______________________
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What do you think the poem means? __________________________________________
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Why do writers use allusions in their books, poetry, music, etc.?
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