Answer the following questions in complete sentences. You may refer back to your book if need be.
CHAPTER 1
1. Who is the narrator of The Outsiders?
1. A fourteen year old boy named Ponyboy. He lives with his two brothers are their gang. His parents died in a car crash.
2. What two groups of teenagers does Ponyboy describe? Compare the two groups.
2. The Socs, they're the Socials and have more money. They are from the nicer part of town and they're west-side rich kids. They drive vehicles like and Mustangs. The other group are the Greasers, they live on the east-side. They don't have nice cars, they are considered low lives. They don't live in the nice part of town and they come from difficult homes.
3. Why did the Socs beat up Ponyboy?
3. As Ponyboy is walking home alone from the movies and the Socs come beat him up because he's an easy target. He and Johnny are the youngest, so they pick on Ponyboy because he's small. The Socs think lowly of the Greasers and pick on them since they don't have what the Socs have.
4. Why did Ponyboy have a hard time with his oldest brother?
4. Ponyboy's oldest brother Darry, has a hard time getting along because nothing's ever good enough for him. He is basically the parental figure of Ponyboy and he has really high expectations for him. He wants Ponyboy to do good for the gang and himself, he's smart and Darry wants more for him. Darry does roofing and has to take care of two younger people.
5. How are Ponyboy and his friends like you? Different than you?
5. Steve Randle is a 17 year old who works at a gas station and works with cars. He's Soda's best friend and doesn't like Ponyboy because he thinks he's a tag along.
Keith Matthews is also known as Two-Bit. He's 18 and the oldest in the gang, besides Darry, and he's still a junior in high school. He is always joking and always has something to say.
Dallas Winston is Also known as Dally, he's from New York. He is the toughest one in the gang and he's a little wild. He has a lot of history with the police.
Johnny is the gang's pet. He's 16 years old and he's like everyone's little brother.
Soda Pop is 17 and works at the gas station. He's Ponyboy's brother and protects him. He is described as the handsome one in the entire group.
His friends are kind of like my friends since we have our own little group of friends and we look out for each other.
6. Why do you think the author uses non-standard English?
6. He uses non standard English because he wants the readers to relate and be immersed into Ponyboy's frame of mind.
7. “Greaser” is first used in the first paragraph on page one. How far must you read before you have a good idea of who or what a greaser is? (Reading to the end of a sentence, paragraph, page, or further is one strategy to use when you find a word you don’t know.)
7. A Greaser is basically someone who lives in the east side of town. They don't have nice cars, they are considered low lives. They don't live in the nice part of town and they come from difficult homes.
Chapter 2:
1. Where do the Socs and Greasers hang out? What do they do for fun?
1. They hang out at drive ins and downtown. They watch movies.
2. How do the Greasers learn more about the Socs?
2. They learn more about the Socs by taking to Soc girls like Cherry and Marcia. They learn that there is trouble all over.
3. What kind of rules do gang members follow in fights?
3. The gang members talk about how its a fair fight if it's only two people, the person who was wronged and the person who committed the crime.
4. How could Cherry be a problem for Dally?
4. Cherry could be a problem for Dally because she might get him in trouble with the cops or some other Socs.
5. Why do you think Johnny spoke up to Dally?
5. Johnny spoke up to Dally because he was annoyed at him for bothering such nice girls and they haven't done anything wrong. Dally is just instigating a fight with the girls because he knows he'll win, so Johnny wanted to stop him.
6. Why didn’t Ponyboy, Johnny, and Dally pay to get into the drive-in movie?
6. Dally wanted to prove to the boys that he refuses to follow the rules. Dally is a rule breaker and a rebel so he felt that he was entitled to go against the law.
7. What is Cherry’s real name? Why is she called Cherry?
7. Her real name is Sherri but she's called Cherry because of her red hair.
8. What did Cherry do when Dally brought her a Coke?
8. Instead of drinking the Coke, she threw it at Dally's face. She did this because he's being a jerk and obnoxious to her so she was getting annoyed by him.
9. Give three reasons why Cherry and Marcia are not scared of Johnny and Ponyboy even though, like Dally, they are Greasers.
9. Cherry and Marcia aren't scared of Johnny and Ponyboy because they're not acting like jerks and they didn't do anything bad to them. The boys look young and innocent to them so she has no reason to be afraid of them.
10. What are two rules Greasers have for themselves?
10. They always have to stick together and to never get caught.
11. How did Johnny get beaten up?
11. Johnny gets beaten up when he looks for a football so he can practice, then a blue Mustang pulls up. Then a bunch of Socs come out and beat him up.
12. What did Cherry mean when she said, “Things are rough all over”?
12. Cherry says this and means that everyone has their own problems and you can never judge a book by their cover.
Chapter 3:
1. Why do you think Ponyboy and Cherry become good friends?
1. They are polite to each other and they get along well. They are very open to one another.
2. Do the characters in this book seam “real”? Why or why not? How does try to make them believable?
2. It's believable because sometimes the things that are happening in the book happen to people in real life. Some kids have parents, no parents, or maybe only one parent. She's giving the reader things that have happened or what we've heard of.
3. Why did Cherry and Marcia leave their dates?
3. She didn't want a fight between the Socs and the Greasers. She doesn't want to get in trouble because her parents would be mad if they found out that she was hanging with the low lives (Greasers.)
4. Why do you think Darry hit Ponyboy?
4. He was furious and he came home passed his curfew. He stands up for Soda and that gets Darry mad because it's like Ponyboy is picking favorites and sides.
5. Why do you think Ponyboy and Cherry told each other things they had never told anyone else before?
5. They're going through the same problems and struggles. They both understand each other and can trust each other.
6. 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?
6. Yes, because it's not the same because you're always going to be close to your family and that at the end of the day, they would always be there. Your friends would usually leave you at the end of the day to go to their own place.
7. What did Cherry say was the main difference between the Socs and the Greasers?
7. The Socs are more sophisticated and the Greasers are more emotional with things. Greasers have a different set of values and they aren't sophisticated.
8. What was the name of Sodapop’s horse? What happened to Soda’s horse?
8. Mickey Mouse and he was sold.
9. Why did Ponyboy think that maybe his world and Cherry’s weren’t so different?
9. They watch the same sunset and they both go through tough times.
10. Why did Johnny stare at the rings on the Soc’s hand?
10. That was the same person that beat up Johnny.
11. Why did Cherry and Marcia let their drunken boyfriends drive them home?
11. She didn't want a fight between the Socs and the Greasers. She doesn't want to get in trouble because her parents would be mad if they found out that she was hanging with the low lives (Greasers.)
12. What was the last thing Cherry says to Ponyboy before she leaves in the car?
12. " 'I could fall in love with Dallas Winston,' she said. 'I hope I never see him again, or I will.' "
13. How long has it been since Ponyboy’s parents were killed?
13. It's been eight months.
14. Why was Ponyboy late getting home?
14. He falls asleep in the vacant lot with Johnny.
Chapter 4:
1. Who (Greasers or Socs) do you think was wrong in this situation in this chapter?
1.
2. If you had been one of the Socs how would you have felt after Bob was stabbed? If you had been one of the Greasers, how would you have felt after Bob was stabbed? What causes the difference?
2.
3. Why did Ponyboy turn to Dally for help?
3. Dally can do anything. He knows how to help with these types of situations. He's older and wiser.
4. What does Bob say a Greaser is?
4. White trash with long hair
5. What do the Socs do to Ponyboy?
5. They shoved his face in the fountain and drowned him.
6. What does Ponyboy see when he recovers consciousness?
6. He saw Bob lying there dead.
7. Why did Johnny attack Bob?
7. He attacked Bob to stop them from drowning Ponyboy.
8. Where do Johnny and Ponyboy go when the leave the park?
8. They go to find Dally at Buck's house.
9. What does Dally give Johnny and Ponyboy?
9. Gives him extra clothes, a gun, and $50 dollars.
10. Where does Dally tell them to go?
10. THe Church on Jay mountain.
11. How do they get there?
11. They get there by train.
12. How do they find the church?
12. They asked a farmer.
CHAPTER 1
1. Who is the narrator of The Outsiders?
1. A fourteen year old boy named Ponyboy. He lives with his two brothers are their gang. His parents died in a car crash.
2. What two groups of teenagers does Ponyboy describe? Compare the two groups.
2. The Socs, they're the Socials and have more money. They are from the nicer part of town and they're west-side rich kids. They drive vehicles like and Mustangs. The other group are the Greasers, they live on the east-side. They don't have nice cars, they are considered low lives. They don't live in the nice part of town and they come from difficult homes.
3. Why did the Socs beat up Ponyboy?
3. As Ponyboy is walking home alone from the movies and the Socs come beat him up because he's an easy target. He and Johnny are the youngest, so they pick on Ponyboy because he's small. The Socs think lowly of the Greasers and pick on them since they don't have what the Socs have.
4. Why did Ponyboy have a hard time with his oldest brother?
4. Ponyboy's oldest brother Darry, has a hard time getting along because nothing's ever good enough for him. He is basically the parental figure of Ponyboy and he has really high expectations for him. He wants Ponyboy to do good for the gang and himself, he's smart and Darry wants more for him. Darry does roofing and has to take care of two younger people.
5. How are Ponyboy and his friends like you? Different than you?
5. Steve Randle is a 17 year old who works at a gas station and works with cars. He's Soda's best friend and doesn't like Ponyboy because he thinks he's a tag along.
Keith Matthews is also known as Two-Bit. He's 18 and the oldest in the gang, besides Darry, and he's still a junior in high school. He is always joking and always has something to say.
Dallas Winston is Also known as Dally, he's from New York. He is the toughest one in the gang and he's a little wild. He has a lot of history with the police.
Johnny is the gang's pet. He's 16 years old and he's like everyone's little brother.
Soda Pop is 17 and works at the gas station. He's Ponyboy's brother and protects him. He is described as the handsome one in the entire group.
His friends are kind of like my friends since we have our own little group of friends and we look out for each other.
6. Why do you think the author uses non-standard English?
6. He uses non standard English because he wants the readers to relate and be immersed into Ponyboy's frame of mind.
7. “Greaser” is first used in the first paragraph on page one. How far must you read before you have a good idea of who or what a greaser is? (Reading to the end of a sentence, paragraph, page, or further is one strategy to use when you find a word you don’t know.)
7. A Greaser is basically someone who lives in the east side of town. They don't have nice cars, they are considered low lives. They don't live in the nice part of town and they come from difficult homes.
Chapter 2:
1. Where do the Socs and Greasers hang out? What do they do for fun?
1. They hang out at drive ins and downtown. They watch movies.
2. How do the Greasers learn more about the Socs?
2. They learn more about the Socs by taking to Soc girls like Cherry and Marcia. They learn that there is trouble all over.
3. What kind of rules do gang members follow in fights?
3. The gang members talk about how its a fair fight if it's only two people, the person who was wronged and the person who committed the crime.
4. How could Cherry be a problem for Dally?
4. Cherry could be a problem for Dally because she might get him in trouble with the cops or some other Socs.
5. Why do you think Johnny spoke up to Dally?
5. Johnny spoke up to Dally because he was annoyed at him for bothering such nice girls and they haven't done anything wrong. Dally is just instigating a fight with the girls because he knows he'll win, so Johnny wanted to stop him.
6. Why didn’t Ponyboy, Johnny, and Dally pay to get into the drive-in movie?
6. Dally wanted to prove to the boys that he refuses to follow the rules. Dally is a rule breaker and a rebel so he felt that he was entitled to go against the law.
7. What is Cherry’s real name? Why is she called Cherry?
7. Her real name is Sherri but she's called Cherry because of her red hair.
8. What did Cherry do when Dally brought her a Coke?
8. Instead of drinking the Coke, she threw it at Dally's face. She did this because he's being a jerk and obnoxious to her so she was getting annoyed by him.
9. Give three reasons why Cherry and Marcia are not scared of Johnny and Ponyboy even though, like Dally, they are Greasers.
9. Cherry and Marcia aren't scared of Johnny and Ponyboy because they're not acting like jerks and they didn't do anything bad to them. The boys look young and innocent to them so she has no reason to be afraid of them.
10. What are two rules Greasers have for themselves?
10. They always have to stick together and to never get caught.
11. How did Johnny get beaten up?
11. Johnny gets beaten up when he looks for a football so he can practice, then a blue Mustang pulls up. Then a bunch of Socs come out and beat him up.
12. What did Cherry mean when she said, “Things are rough all over”?
12. Cherry says this and means that everyone has their own problems and you can never judge a book by their cover.
Chapter 3:
1. Why do you think Ponyboy and Cherry become good friends?
1. They are polite to each other and they get along well. They are very open to one another.
2. Do the characters in this book seam “real”? Why or why not? How does try to make them believable?
2. It's believable because sometimes the things that are happening in the book happen to people in real life. Some kids have parents, no parents, or maybe only one parent. She's giving the reader things that have happened or what we've heard of.
3. Why did Cherry and Marcia leave their dates?
3. She didn't want a fight between the Socs and the Greasers. She doesn't want to get in trouble because her parents would be mad if they found out that she was hanging with the low lives (Greasers.)
4. Why do you think Darry hit Ponyboy?
4. He was furious and he came home passed his curfew. He stands up for Soda and that gets Darry mad because it's like Ponyboy is picking favorites and sides.
5. Why do you think Ponyboy and Cherry told each other things they had never told anyone else before?
5. They're going through the same problems and struggles. They both understand each other and can trust each other.
6. 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?
6. Yes, because it's not the same because you're always going to be close to your family and that at the end of the day, they would always be there. Your friends would usually leave you at the end of the day to go to their own place.
7. What did Cherry say was the main difference between the Socs and the Greasers?
7. The Socs are more sophisticated and the Greasers are more emotional with things. Greasers have a different set of values and they aren't sophisticated.
8. What was the name of Sodapop’s horse? What happened to Soda’s horse?
8. Mickey Mouse and he was sold.
9. Why did Ponyboy think that maybe his world and Cherry’s weren’t so different?
9. They watch the same sunset and they both go through tough times.
10. Why did Johnny stare at the rings on the Soc’s hand?
10. That was the same person that beat up Johnny.
11. Why did Cherry and Marcia let their drunken boyfriends drive them home?
11. She didn't want a fight between the Socs and the Greasers. She doesn't want to get in trouble because her parents would be mad if they found out that she was hanging with the low lives (Greasers.)
12. What was the last thing Cherry says to Ponyboy before she leaves in the car?
12. " 'I could fall in love with Dallas Winston,' she said. 'I hope I never see him again, or I will.' "
13. How long has it been since Ponyboy’s parents were killed?
13. It's been eight months.
14. Why was Ponyboy late getting home?
14. He falls asleep in the vacant lot with Johnny.
Chapter 4:
1. Who (Greasers or Socs) do you think was wrong in this situation in this chapter?
1.
2. If you had been one of the Socs how would you have felt after Bob was stabbed? If you had been one of the Greasers, how would you have felt after Bob was stabbed? What causes the difference?
2.
3. Why did Ponyboy turn to Dally for help?
3. Dally can do anything. He knows how to help with these types of situations. He's older and wiser.
4. What does Bob say a Greaser is?
4. White trash with long hair
5. What do the Socs do to Ponyboy?
5. They shoved his face in the fountain and drowned him.
6. What does Ponyboy see when he recovers consciousness?
6. He saw Bob lying there dead.
7. Why did Johnny attack Bob?
7. He attacked Bob to stop them from drowning Ponyboy.
8. Where do Johnny and Ponyboy go when the leave the park?
8. They go to find Dally at Buck's house.
9. What does Dally give Johnny and Ponyboy?
9. Gives him extra clothes, a gun, and $50 dollars.
10. Where does Dally tell them to go?
10. THe Church on Jay mountain.
11. How do they get there?
11. They get there by train.
12. How do they find the church?
12. They asked a farmer.