Introductory Activities
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Resources
This semester we will be reading S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders.
- For chapter summaries, character notes, and background on the novel see the Cliff's Notes here.
- Click for a link to the audiobook.
- The "Knife Fight" Scene comes from the 1950s film "Rebel Without a Cause". The film, starring James Dean, was an influential story about teenagers who engage in risky behaviour. Can you see the similarities between this film and "The Outsiders"? Who would be a Greaser and who would be a Soc?
- Ponyboy says Greasers listen to Elvis and drive old beat up jalopies, whereas Socs listen to The Beatles and drive Mustangs.
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Story Analysis
Characters
For a detailed description of the characters, visit the Cliff's Notes Character page
Guide to Slang in "The Outsiders"
For definitions of 1960s Oklahoma slang, visit the GradeSaver Guide to slang page
For a detailed description of the characters, visit the Cliff's Notes Character page
Guide to Slang in "The Outsiders"
For definitions of 1960s Oklahoma slang, visit the GradeSaver Guide to slang page
Themes
Identity - How do we determine who we are? What are our values? Do we share our values with others in our community? What happens when we don't fit in? How can we tell who is 'like us' and who is 'different'? Is it possible to be friends with people who are very different from us? How different is your life likely to be if you live in a city versus living in the country?
Loyalty - How important is it to be loyal to friends and family? What happens when you can't trust someone? What would you be willing to do for a friend?
Status - How important is it to be friends with people who have similar wealth and status? How important is it to show status through fashion and material possessions? Do wealth and status allow some people to get away with things they shouldn't? Does being poor limit your opportunities in life? Do you have to sacrifice your friends, style and status if you become wealthy?
Overcoming Difference - Is it possible to be friends with people who are very different than you? If your friends dislike another group of people, can you be friends with someone from the other group? How can we make it easier to be friends with people who are different than we are? What can we do to reduce conflict between different groups of people?
Machismo and Gender Roles - Do boys and men have to act macho to get respect? In what ways can boys and men express their manliness? What expressions of manliness are not acceptable? Are any of these expressions of manliness healthy? Are men and women equal now? Has it always been this way? What can boys and men do to make sure girls and women can participate and contribute to society equally and safely? Is violent behavior ever acceptable? Is it a man's job to protect women?
Heroism - What qualities do heroes possess? Can regular people be heroic? Can bad people be heroes? Should society celebrate heroes regardless of the kind of person they are?
Symbols
Clothing - Usually we think of our clothes as a marker of our individuality and identity. How do clothes symbolize identity in The Outsiders?
Cars - As status symbols, the kind of cars characters drive help separate the different groups. What abstract ideas can cars represent? (*hint: what can you do if you have a car that you can't do if you have no car?)
Fire - Of course fire is a destructive force, but are there ways in which destruction can be healthy?
Weapons - weapons are the tools of violence, but what does it say about a character who uses weapons? Do all characters who carry weapons in "The Outsiders" use them? Which characters use weapons and what conclusions can we draw about them?
Films/Books - Some kids love reading and watching films, but many say they hate reading. What conclusions can you draw about a character who reads a lot versus someone who doesn't?
Trains - Considering the way hobos in the 1930s used to hop on trains to escape poverty and seek employment opportunities, what is significant about the train in "The Outsiders"? Who jumps a train and why?
Identity - How do we determine who we are? What are our values? Do we share our values with others in our community? What happens when we don't fit in? How can we tell who is 'like us' and who is 'different'? Is it possible to be friends with people who are very different from us? How different is your life likely to be if you live in a city versus living in the country?
Loyalty - How important is it to be loyal to friends and family? What happens when you can't trust someone? What would you be willing to do for a friend?
Status - How important is it to be friends with people who have similar wealth and status? How important is it to show status through fashion and material possessions? Do wealth and status allow some people to get away with things they shouldn't? Does being poor limit your opportunities in life? Do you have to sacrifice your friends, style and status if you become wealthy?
Overcoming Difference - Is it possible to be friends with people who are very different than you? If your friends dislike another group of people, can you be friends with someone from the other group? How can we make it easier to be friends with people who are different than we are? What can we do to reduce conflict between different groups of people?
Machismo and Gender Roles - Do boys and men have to act macho to get respect? In what ways can boys and men express their manliness? What expressions of manliness are not acceptable? Are any of these expressions of manliness healthy? Are men and women equal now? Has it always been this way? What can boys and men do to make sure girls and women can participate and contribute to society equally and safely? Is violent behavior ever acceptable? Is it a man's job to protect women?
Heroism - What qualities do heroes possess? Can regular people be heroic? Can bad people be heroes? Should society celebrate heroes regardless of the kind of person they are?
Symbols
Clothing - Usually we think of our clothes as a marker of our individuality and identity. How do clothes symbolize identity in The Outsiders?
Cars - As status symbols, the kind of cars characters drive help separate the different groups. What abstract ideas can cars represent? (*hint: what can you do if you have a car that you can't do if you have no car?)
Fire - Of course fire is a destructive force, but are there ways in which destruction can be healthy?
Weapons - weapons are the tools of violence, but what does it say about a character who uses weapons? Do all characters who carry weapons in "The Outsiders" use them? Which characters use weapons and what conclusions can we draw about them?
Films/Books - Some kids love reading and watching films, but many say they hate reading. What conclusions can you draw about a character who reads a lot versus someone who doesn't?
Trains - Considering the way hobos in the 1930s used to hop on trains to escape poverty and seek employment opportunities, what is significant about the train in "The Outsiders"? Who jumps a train and why?
Assignments
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Vertical Classroom Tasks (under construction)
Chapter Six Questions
Chapter Six Questions
- Explain PB's relationship to the country
- Explain the factors leading to Johnny's decision to turn himself in
- Explain the importance of family to Johnny, Ponyboy, and Dally
- Explain Dally's reasons for not wanting Johnny to turn himself in
- What is the significance of who goes into the church and in what order?
- What is the symbolic significance of saving the children?
- Whose jacket is Ponyboy wearing? What is the significance of the jacket?
- Explain the impact of PB's reunion with Darry.