THE OUTSIDERS
by S.E. HINTON
Team 7-1 Language Arts
Name:
Adapted and compiled by Elizabeth Chu Period:
Essential Questions Who deserves a second chance? Why do some stories grab you and never let you go? How do our character traits (e.g., speech, thoughts, effect on others, actions, looks) reveal our motives? Why is it important to judge a person as an individual rather than a member of a group? How do friends, family, and social class sustain order or cause chaos in life? How do relationships contribute to the formation of one’s society? Do successful relationships have to be equal? Who am I really? What makes me “me”? A Brief Biography of S.E. Hinton S.E. Hinton, was and still is, one of the most popular and best-­‐known writers of young adult fiction. Her books have been taught in some schools, and banned from others. Her novels changed the way people look at young adult literature. Susan Eloise Hinton was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She has always enjoyed reading but wasn’t satisfied with the literature that was being written for young adults, which influenced her to write novels like The Outsiders. That book, her first novel, was published in 1967 by Viking. Once published, The Outsiders gave her a lot of publicity and fame, and also a lot of pressure. S.E. Hinton was becoming known as “The Voice of the Youth” among other titles. This kind of pressure and publicity resulted in a three year-­‐long writer's block. Her boyfriend (and now, her husband), who had gotten sick of her being depressed all the time, eventually broke this block. He made her write two pages a day if she wanted to go anywhere. This eventually led to That Was Then, This Is Now. That Was Then, This Is Now is known to be a much more well thought out book than The Outsiders. Because she read a lot of great literature and wanted to better herself, she made sure that she wrote each sentence exactly right. She continued to write her two pages a day until she finally felt it was finished in the summer of 1970. She got married a few months later. That Was Then, This is Now was published in 1971. In 1975, S.E. Hinton published Rumble Fish as a novel (she had published a short story version in a 1968 edition of Nimrod, which was a literary supplement for the University of Tulsa Alumni Magazine). by Antoine Wilson and Jay Daly Rumble Fish was the shortest novel she had published. It received a great deal of contrasting opinions, with one reviewer claiming it to be her best book and the next claiming it to be her last. The latter was apparently wrong. Tex was published in 1979, four years after Rumble Fish. It received great reviews and people raved about how the writing style had matured since previous publications. Tex would be the last book S.E. Hinton published for nine years. After another span of four years, S.E. Hinton's son, Nick was born. Four years after Tex was released, quite a few major events took place in S.E. Hinton's life. In March of 1983, the movie The Outsiders was released. The following August, Nicholas David was born. Two months later the movie Rumble Fish was released. In 1985 the movie version of That Was Then, This Is Now was released. Three years later S.E. Hinton became the first person to receive the YASD/ SLJ Author Achievement Award, which was given by the Young Adult Services Division of the American Library Association and School Library Journal. Taming the Star Runner was released in October of that year. It was the first book that S.E. Hinton had published that wasn't in first person. With a seven-­‐year wait, S.E. Hinton released another book in 1995. This time she did something that no one expected. Big David, Little David was written for children around the kindergarten age. This deviation from teen fiction seems to be a reflection of the current important things in S.E. Hinton's life: family. The children's fiction trend continues with her latest release–The Puppy Sister, which is a fantasy book written for elementary school level children. How It All Started... “I wanted something to read,” states S.E. Hinton. “I'd wanted to read books that showed teenagers outside of the life of, ‘Mary Jane went to the prom.’” She recalls, “The books available just didn't read true, they didn't deal with the real lives of teenagers.” She began writing The Outsiders during her sophomore year at Will Rogers High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Even though The Outsiders was her first published novel, it was actually her third novel. She had written two previously–neither of which were published–all before the tenth grade. She had been writing since the third grade, and her stories had almost completely been about cowboys and horses, including her first two unpublished novels. It took Hinton only a year and a half to write The Outsiders (the same year she managed to earn a grade of 'D' in a Creative Writing class). “The whole status thing drove me nuts,” she says of her high school years. “It drove me nuts that people would get worked up over who they should and should not talk to in the hall.” She got the call that the book had been accepted for publication the day she graduated from high school. The book was released by Viking in April of 1967, as she was in her freshman year at the University of Tulsa. It is well known why the initials of S.E. Hinton were chosen by her publishers at the time the book was initially published. However, Ms. Hinton continues to utilize the name for publishing as it gives her the anonymity she loves at home and in her private life. She is a very private person and using the initials help protect that. “Nothing Gold Can Stay” by Robert Frost 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. Note: Enjoy this poem? Robert Frost, a highly revered American poet, wrote it. Check out “The Road Not Taken” and “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.” Discussion Questions 1. What is the subject of this poem? What is the speaker writing about? 2. Tone is the speaker’s attitude towards the subject. What is the speaker’s attitude (tone) towards the subject of this poem? 3. Mood is the general feeling or atmosphere that a piece of writing creates within the reader. What kind of mood does the poem generate? 4. What is the theme (or message) of this poem? Explain using textual evidence and analysis. Active Reading Categories for Tabs Unless you have your own copy, in which case you can highlight and mark your pages, you should keep track of important details using sticky notes. 1. Character A. Personality Traits B. Physical Traits 2. Themes, Motifs, and Symbols A. Identity B. Purpose C. Community (or division in community) D. Social class (rich vs. poor) E. Honor F. Literature G. Things or places that are representative of themes in the book 3. Events A. Important events in the story B. Climax C. Conflict 4. Setting A. Places in the story B. Detailed description of places 5. Literary Elements A. Foreshadowing B. Allusion 6. Important Quotations A. Sentences, phrases, and words that are meaningful. 7. Questions A. Any part of the book that confuses you – Write your question down on a sticky note. 8. Unfamiliar Words A. Keep these on one sticky note, but be sure to keep track of the page numbers as well. Chapter 1 Discussion Questions 1. Who are the Socs? Who are the Greasers? 2. Why is the “gang” important to Johnny? 3. How does Ponyboy react to what Sodapop tells him about Darry? 4. What does Ponyboy mean on page 8 when he says, “I lie to myself all the time”? Do you ever lie to yourself? Why? Blog Topics Forward: Although Ponyboy seems not to like Darry’s intrusions into his personal life, it is obvious that he also stands in awe of his twenty-­‐year-­‐old brother. How do Ponyboy's relationships with Darry and Sodapop differ? Explain using textual evidence. Uphill: Does Darry love Ponyboy? Why does he treat Ponyboy the way he does? Is there such a thing as “tough love”? Explain using textual evidence and a text-­‐to-­‐self connection. Mountainous: When describing the growing tensions between the Greasers and the Socs, Ponyboy says, “Here in the Southwest there’s no gang rivalry . . . No rival gang. Only Socs. And you can’t win against them no matter how hard you try, because they’ve got all the breaks and even whipping them isn’t going to change that fact.” Explain what Pony means. Then, make a text-­‐to-­‐world connection. Do we have these social class differences today? Did they have them back in history? Explain in depth with examples. Chapter 2 Discussion Questions 1. Are the names Ponyboy and Sodapop nicknames? Explain. 2. Why doesn't Ponyboy like referring to Sodapop as a dropout? 3. Why does Dally look sick now (p. 33)? Blog Topics Forward: What places in your neighborhood would equate to The Dingo, Jay’s, The Way Out, and Rusty’s? Why? Describe them in detail. Uphill: The character of Dally is further developed in this chapter. He likes to defy the law and any proper behavior. It is obvious that his attempts to gain attention are a way of covering up his sense of inadequacy and insecurity. Describe Dally’s character and his actions and then explain if you think there is any way a teen like him could be taught better. Should he be put in jail? Are juvenile detention centers the answer? Explain your thoughts. Mountainous: On pp. 34-­‐35, Cherry and Pony have a great conversation about stereotyping: “All Socs aren’t like that . . . that’s like saying all you Greasers are like Dallas Winston . . . I’ll bet you think the Socs have it made. We have troubles you’ve never even heard of.” Explain what you think Cherry means, and then discuss the idea of stereotyping others. What does that mean? Have you ever stereotyped someone? Chapter 3 Discussion Questions 1. What does Cherry explain as the difference between the Socs and the Greasers? 2. When and how did Pony's parents die? 3. What happens when Pony comes home after his curfew? 4. Why does Johnny like it better when his father is hitting him? 5. At the end of the chapter, how does the author foreshadow that bad things are to come? Blog Topics Forward: What does Ponyboy mean on page 39 when he says, "Johnny and I understood each other without saying anything"? Have you ever had a relationship with someone who you understood or who understood you without having to say anything? Describe that relationship. Uphill: Do you agree with Johnny that having friends care for you is not the same as having your own folks care about you? Why or why not? What can or should parents do or say to show their children that they care for them? Mountainous: Pony thinks that money is the only separator of the Socs from the Greasers, but Cherry believes that money only partly accounts for the difference. She points out that their sets of values are very different. She explains that the Greasers react emotionally to situations, whereas the Socs always try to be indifferent and sophisticated. Using both this conversation (p. 38) and the information you have gained about the two classes/groups (Greasers and Socs), which group is “better”? Which one—a Greaser or a Soc—are you like? Explain, and go beyond physical attributes. Chapter 4 Discussion Questions 1. What does Pony mean when he says the Socs were "reeling pickled" (p. 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 had come to you for help instead of Dally? Explain. Blog Topics Forward: What would your advice be to Johnny and Ponyboy if they'd come to you for help instead of Dally? Explain. Was it smart of Dally to give them $50 and a gun? Why or why not? Uphill: Imagine you are in the boys’ household when you heard the news of what happened with Pony, Johnny, and the Socs. Write a dialogue between Darry and Soda after hearing the news. What would be said? Who would be to blame? What’s the next step? (Use speech tags [e.g., he angrily shrieked].) Mountainous: We all know that news stories are sometimes biased, meaning they tell only one perspective of a story. Keep in mind that this situation involved a lower class teen killing an upper class teen at 2:30 in the morning. Alcohol was involved, and there are many unanswered questions. Write a newspaper article that would appear the next day, detailing what happened the night of Bob’s death. (Note: Creative headlines, images, quotes, etc. are encouraged!) Chapter 5 Discussion Questions 1. Why does Pony have a problem with Johnny's idea to disguise themselves? 2. What does Pony mean when he says, “I was supposed to be the deep one” (p. 75)? 3. Why does Pony realize he does not like Dally? 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. Why are the Socs and the Greasers going to fight in the vacant lot? Blog Topics Forward: Pony tries to deny the reality of what has happened the previous night and pretends that he is safe within the confines of his house; however, the reality overwhelms him and causes him to sweat and tremble. Have you ever had a similar experience, wishing that something bad did not happen and trying to convince yourself that it didn’t? Or possibly even the opposite experience: dreaming that something horrible happened and awakening not sure if it happened or not? Explain. Uphill: Johnny tells Pony that Dally possesses gallantry, and he admires that. Pony disagrees, for he does not really like Dally and knows that he does not possess Soda’s understanding ways, Two-­‐Bit’s humor, or Darry’s superman qualities. Out of these characters, who do you admire most? Also, describe someone you personally know whom you really admire. What qualities does s/he have that you really think highly of? Mountainous: Examine Robert Frost's poem “Nothing Gold Can Stay” (p. 77). What do you think the poem is saying? How might this apply to the characters in the novel? Explain using a text-­‐to-­‐self and text-­‐
to-­‐world connection. Chapter 6 Discussion Questions 1. Do you think Dally's parents have influenced the way he is—his perspective, personality, choices, etc.? Explain. 2. Why does Dally not want Johnny to turn himself in? 3. What “other side” of Dallas is revealed in this chapter? 4. Why do you think Johnny was not scared, despite the obvious danger, on page 92? Blog Topics Forward: What is your own definition of a hero? According to your definition, do the three boys prove themselves to be heroes? Explain. Also, have you ever done anything heroic? Explain. Uphill: Why do Pony and Johnny try to save the kids? Why do they not feel scared while they are in the burning church? Why does Johnny look like he was having the “time of his life” (p. 92)? Mountainous: When Dally arrives, Johnny asks about his parents. He is hurt to learn that his parents have not even inquired about him. Also in this chapter, Pony realizes for the first time that Darry truly cares about him. He accepts that his oldest brother’s harsh, critical ways have come from Darry’s desire to protect Pony and have him make something of his life. Think about your relationships with your siblings and parents. Have you ever thought that they did not care? What happened? What did you learn? Chapter 7 Discussion Questions 1. Explain what Pony means when he says Soda “reminds me of a colt” (p. 101). 2. Why would being crippled be worse for Johnny than someone else? 3. “Maybe people are younger when they are asleep” (p. 104). What does Ponyboy mean by this comment? What are your thoughts on his words? 4. What is a juvenile delinquent (p. 107)? Find a definition on the internet, in a dictionary, or create your own based on your own knowledge. 5. Why does Pony think it is better to see Socs as “just guys” (p. 118)? What does he mean by this? Blog Topics Forward: According to Randy, what was Bob’s “real” problem (p. 116)? Tell why you agree or disagree with Randy’s assessment of what kids want from their parents. Uphill: What does Randy mean when he says, “I’m sick of it” (pp. 116-­‐117)? Reread his dialogue with Pony and respond to Randy’s comments from Pony’s perspective. Do you agree with what he says? About not winning? About money? Explain. Mountainous: Gandhi once said, “An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind.” Explain what you think he meant by this. Relate it to The Outsiders, to life as a seventh grader, and the world at large. Does this statement apply to everything? Dig deep. Chapter 8 Discussion Questions 1. “We needed Johnny as much as he needed the gang. And for the same reason” (p. 121). What do you think Pony means, and what is the reason they need each other? 2. What does Two-­‐Bit mean on when he says, "We could get along without anyone but Johnny” (p. 123)? 3. If Darry did not have Soda and Pony, why would he be a Soc? 4. What does Cherry mean when she says Bob “wasn't just any boy” (p. 129)? Blog Topics Forward: What was your response when Johnny refused to see his mother? Was that right of him or was that over the line? What would have been the best way to handle that situation? Uphill: On page 121, Johnny starts fearing for his life. He says, “I don’t want to die now. It ain’t long enough. I wouldn’t mind it so if there wasn’t so much stuff I ain’t done yet and so many things I ain’t seen. Its not fair.” What have you really “done” in your life so far? What are your most memorable experiences? Are there still major places you want to go? People to meet? What do you see in your future? Mountainous: Pretend you are Dally and have just found out that Johnny isn’t doing too well and may be paralyzed or worse. Write a letter to Johnny. Chapter 9 Discussion Questions 1. On the bottom of page 132, Pony asks, “What kind of world is it where all I have to be proud of is a reputation for being a hood, and greasy hair?” What comment is he making about how society? 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. Blog Topics Forward: On page 141, Pony claims that “people usually go by looks”—the Greasers/hoods will always be the bad guys and the clean-­‐shaven will always be considered the good guys? Do you agree? Explain, and connect this to the world at large. Do we stereotype people in other cities, states, countries? Explain. Describe a time when you misjudged someone based on his or her appearance or you were misjudged by your appearance. How did this make you feel? Uphill: What do you think Johnny's last words to Pony mean? What does he mean by “stay gold”? Mountainous: On page 137, Pony seems to finally get it: “Soda fought for fun, Steve for hatred, Darry for pride, and Two-­‐Bit for conformity.” Can you think of anything in your life that you or people you know do just for fun? Hatred? Pride? Conformity? Explain each one and your thoughts on it. Chapters 10-11 Discussion Questions 1. How does Pony's dreaming, or lying to himself, finally work in this chapter? 2. Why is Johnny's dying so difficult for Dally to handle? 3. Why does Dally want to die? 4. Why does Ponyboy prefer to be hated rather than pitied (p. 162)? 5. What do you think is going on with Ponyboy when he says, “Johnny didn't have anything to do with Bob's getting killed” (p.166)? Blog Topics Forward: When Dally crumples to the ground, Pony describes Dally as having “a look of grim triumph on his face.” Why do you think Dally would have wanted to die? Did he die “gallantly”? Explain. Uphill: Pony goes through denial about the events that have transpired and is in a weak mental state. He tells himself, “Best of all, don’t think . . . blank your mind. Don’t remember. Don’t remember.” Have you ever used this strategy when dealing with personal problems? Did it work? Do you think it is a smart thing to do? Explain. Mountainous: Randy explains to Pony, “I kind of let him down, being mixed up in all this. I feel lousy, and it’s the first time I’ve felt anything in a long time.” Have you ever been mixed up in a bad situation and felt guilty about letting someone down? Explain the situation, what happened, and what you learned from it. Chapter 12 Discussion Questions 1. What “circumstances” do Ponyboy's teacher refer to? What circumstances does Ponyboy think his teacher is referring to? 2. Why does Ponyboy not feel scared when the Socs approach him and he threatens them with a broken bottle (pp. 170-­‐171)? How is this a dramatic change from the Ponyboy we have seen up until this point? 3. What does Darry mean when he says, "You don't just stop living because you lose someone" (p. 173)? 4. How do we know Sandy did not love Soda as much as he loved her? 5. Explain how Darry and Ponyboy play tug of war with Soda. 6. What do we learn was so special about Johnny (p. 178)? 7. What does Ponyboy end up doing for his English assignment? Blog Topics Forward: Have you or someone you know ever gone through an experience like Pony’s? What was the event that happened? Is this a typical reaction to trauma or a very difficult situation? Explain. Uphill: In Johnny’s final letter to Ponyboy, he tells him, “There’s still lots of good in the world. Tell Dally. I don’t think he knows.” What does Johnny mean? Is there “lots of good in the world” that we take for granted? That you take for granted? Explain. Mountainous: Reflect on the scene when Darry tells Pony he must go on with his life and “stop living in a vacuum.” Also, reflect on Johnny’s final letter to Pony. These scenes help readers think about how it would be to lose a loved one and also to be the one dying and leaving behind a loved one. Put yourself in Johnny’s shoes and imagine that you know that death is near. Write a final letter to someone that you really care about. What would you tell them? What kind of advice would you give? What would your final words be?