Chapter One



Chapter One

1.  Describe each of the characters and their relationship with one another.

2.  Who are the socs?  Who are the greasers?

3.  How do Ponyboy's relationships with Darry and Sodapop differ?  Explain.

4.  Why is the 'gang' important to Johnny?

5.  How does Ponyboy react to what Sodapop tells him about Darry?

6.  Do you think Darry loves Ponyboy?  Why does he treat Ponyboy the way he does?

7.  What does Ponyboy mean on page 18 when he says, "I lie to myself all the time"?  Do you ever lie to yourself?  Why?

Chapter Two

Vocabulary - Find the meaning for the following words in this chapter: incredulous p. 24, vaguely p.33, nonchalantly p. 25.

1.  Who is the fuzz? (p. 20)

2.  Are the names Ponyboy and Sodapop nicknames?  Explain.

3.  Who are Cherry and Marcia?

4.  Why doesn't Ponyboy like referring to Sodapop as a dropout?

5.   What is Ponyboy comparing Two-Bit to when he calls him a "chessy cat" on page 27?  What figure of speech is this besides a simile?

6.  What is "a weed" slang for in 1967?

7.  Why does Dally look sick now (p. 33)?

8.  What literary device does the author use to describe Johnny's mugging (pgs. 31-34)?

Chapter Three

Vocabulary - Find the meaning for the following words in this chapter: aloof p. 38, impersonally p. 38, ornery p. 39, resignedly p. 44

1.  What does Cherry explain as the difference between the socs and the greasers?

2. What does Ponyboy mean on p. 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?

3.  When and how did Pony's parents die?

4.  What happens when Pony comes home after his curfew?

5.  Why does Johnny like it better when his father is hitting him?

6.  At the end of the chapter, how does the author foreshadow that bad things are to come?

Chapter Four

Vocabulary - ruefully p. 60, hermit p. 65, premonition p. 67

1.  What does Pony mean when he says the socs were "reeling pickled" on page 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'd come to you for help instead of Dally?  Explain.

Chapter Five

Vocabulary - reluctantly p. 71, sullen p. 73, eluded p. 78, imploringly p. 72, gallant p. 76, indignant p. 80

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 Johnny think is a hero (p. 76)?  Do you think Dally is a hero based on what he did?

4.  Why does Pony realize he doesn't like Dally?  Can you explain what he means by this?

5.  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?

6.  On page 78, Johnny compares Pony and  his brothers to their parents.  Which one of your parents are you most like?  What similarities do you share?

7.  What does pony mean when he says he drinks Pepsis like a friend (p.78)?

8.  What's a 'heater'?  Why does Dally have one?

9.  Why are the socs and the greasers going to fight in the vacant lot?

10.  Who's the spy for the greasers?  Does this surprise you?  Why or why not?

Chapter Six

Vocabulary - bewildered p. 88

1.  Do you think Dally's parents have influenced the way he is; his personality?  Explain.

2.  Why doesn't Dally want Johnny to turn himself in?

3.  What "other side" of Dallas is revealed in this chapter?

4.  What's your own definitionof a hero?  Do the three boys prove themselves to be heroes, according to your definition?  Explain.

5.  Why do you think Johnny wasn't scared, despite the obvious danger, on page 92?

Chapter Seven

1.  Explain what Pony means when he says Soda "reminds me of a colt" on p. 101.

2.  What condition is Johnny in after the fire?

3.  Why would being crippled be worse for Johnny than someone else?

4.  "Maybe people are younger when they are asleep" (p.104).  what do you think about this comment?

5.  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.

6.  Why would Two-Bit think Johnny, Dally, and Pony were heroes all along; before they saved the kids?

7.  What was Bob's 'real' problem, according to Randy (p.116)?

8.  Why did Pony think it was better to see socs as "just guys" on p. 118?  What do you think he means by this?

Chapter Eight

1.  How does what the doctor first says, on page 119, foreshadow Johnny's condition?

2.  "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?

3.  What does Pony mean on p. 123 when he says, "we could get along without anyone but Johnny"?

4.  If Darry didn't have Soda and Pony, why would he be a soc?

5.  What does Cherry mean when she says Bob "wasn't just anyone" on p.129?

Chapter Nine

1.  On the bottom of p.132, when Pony asks what kind of a world it is, what comment is he making about how society judges people?

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?

4.  What do you think Johnny's last words to Pony mean?

TOP

Chapter Ten

Vocabulary - indignantly p.159

1.  How does Pony's dreaming, or lying to himself, finally work in this chapter?

2.  Why was johnny's dying so difficult for Dally to handle?

3.  Why do you think Dally would have wanted to die?

Chapter Eleven

Vocabulary - acquitted p.168

1.  Explain why pony might rather anyone's hate than their pity (p.162)?

2.  What do you think is going on with Ponyboy when he says, "Johnny didn't have anyhing to do with Bob's getting killed" (p.166)?

Chapter Twelve

1.  What 'circumstances' do Ponyboy's teacher refer to?  What circumstances does Ponyboy think his teacher is referring to?

2.   Why doesn't Ponyboy feel scared when the socs approach him and he threatens them with a broken bottle (p.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 didn't 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?

THE OUTSIDERS:  ESSAY TOPICS

Choose one of the essay topics below and write a well organized and well thought out essay.  Remember to use the essay form you’ve studied in class and be sure to use examples from the novel to support your ideas.

Topic # 1

"Sixteen years on the streets and you can learn a lot.  But all the wrong things, not the things you want to learn" (p. 122).  Discuss this quote from the novel and how it applies to each of the boy's lives.  What things did they learn?  What things might they have liked to learn?  Support your ideas with what you know about the characters through examples from the novel.

Topic # 2

Write an essay explaining how expectations played a role in the lives of the Socs and the Greasers.  How did external and internal expectations influence each group's actions in the novel?

Topic # 3

Write an essay explaining why you believe each of the 'main' Greasers could be considered a hero.  Include your own definition of hero in the essay, and be sure to explain how each boy, in his own way, meets your definition.  Remember to support your ideas with examples from the novel.

Topic # 4

Write an essay explaining how the Socs were more of a disgrace and menace to society than the Greasers.  Look at how society viewed and treated the two groups.  Examine the characteristics of each group, their actions, and the choices each made.  Be sure to support your ideas with examples from the novel.

THEME ANALYSIS

Major Themes

The novel deals with the needless pain and violence caused by gang rivalry. The entire book centers on the animosity that exists between the Socs, the rich kids from the west side of town, and the Greasers, the impoverished teenagers from the east side. Because the Socs think they are superior, they jump on the Greasers at every opportunity. Before the book actually begins, they have beaten up Johnny Cade, the meekest Greaser, for absolutely no reason. Then in the first chapter of the book, the Socs jump Pony, the main character, as he walks home from the movie theater alone. Such needless violence leads directly to the death of Bob and indirectly to the deaths of Johnny and Dally.

When Pony, Johnny and Two-Bit befriend two Socy girls, Cherry and Marcia, there is some hope that with increased interaction between the two gangs, their hostility will decrease. In fact, Pony and Cherry find that they can talk easily with each other and have a lot in common, including their love for sunsets. But this friendship is not allowed to develop because the Socs resent their girls fraternizing with the Greasers. As a result, Bob and a few other Socs attack Pony and Johnny to teach them a lesson. During the fighting, Johnny kills Bob in self-defense. Pony and Johnny then hide in an abandoned church in Windrixville. They rise above themselves and heroically rescue some children from the burning church. During the rescue, Johnny is seriously wounded when a burning beam falls on his back; he is put in the hospital and is not expected to live.

In spite of the fact that Johnny is close to death and Dally is injured, the tension between the Socs and the Greasers increase. The Socs want to have a rumble to settle the score about Bob. In the fight that ensues, the Greasers are joined by the Shepard and Brumly gangs; they easily defeat the Socs. But the violence is still not ended. When Johnny dies, Dally goes crazy. He pounds the wall, rushes out of the hospital, robs a store, and points his unloaded gun at the police. As a result, he is shot and killed while his friend watch in horror. Pony is so upset by the violence and the loss of another friend that he is delirious for more than three days. Fortunately, Johnny's letter, written before his death, makes an impact on Pony, and he vows to rise about his life of gangs and violence and promises to help other underprivileged children. Like Johnny, he has realized the pain and futility of gang rivalry.

Minor Themes

A minor theme is that dysfunctional families place an unbelievable hardship on the children. Johnny has the look of a kicked puppy, for he has been repeatedly beaten by his father and totally ignored by his mother. Dally has no family that cares about him, and he has spent his life in and out of jail since the young age of ten. Darry has had to leave school and work two jobs in order to support Soda and Pony after the death of his parents. Two-Bit's mother must work as a barmaid to support him and his sister, because his father has deserted them. Steve hates his father, who neglects him. All of these teenagers suffer from neglect and a lack of love; as a result, they join a gang in order to have a sense of belonging.

Another minor theme is the injustice of judging people on appearances. The Socs get by with all of their meanness because they appear normal; they live on the right side of town, have plenty of money, dress nicely, have short hair, and drive expensive cars. As a result, they are never blamed for anything bad. In contrast, the Greasers are considered to be hoods, because they are poor, they live on the wrong side of town, their hair is long and greased, and they wear strange clothing. As a result, they are blamed for everything. In truth, it is the Socs who always start the trouble throughout the book.

PLOT (STRUCTURE)

The Outsiders, from the beginning to the end, is centered on the gang rivalry between the underprivileged Greasers from the east side of town and the rich Socs from the west side. In particular, the plot is about the development of one of the Greasers, Ponyboy Curtis, as he journeys down a path of self-discovery. The story unfolds in classical form. Chapters 1-3 serve as an introduction; the main characters are described and the conflict is established. Chapters 4-11 present the rising action, including Bob's murder, Pony and Johnny's flight to Windrixville, the rescue of the children from the burning church, Johnny's death, and Dally's death. The climax occurs late in the novel, during the last and final chapter. After reading Johnny's letter written to him before his death, Pony at last accepts that his friend is gone and decides to follow his advice and rise above a life of gangs and violence. The falling action is very brief, with Pony pledging to spend his time and energy in teaching other people about the problems that underprivileged children must face, hoping to find them help. He begins his mission by writing his semester theme for English class on the subject.

The novel is unified by time, place, and character. Only a few weeks pass in the book, from start to finish. Most of the action takes place within a small town in or around Pony's house, with the only exception being the time spent in Windrixville. Most importantly, the book centers on the development of Pony Curtis, the main character and narrator of the novel. Since he tells the story, Pony is always present, and everything is seen from his point of view. Additionally, Johnny, Dally, Darry, Soda, Two-Bit, and Cherry are repeatedly woven in and out of the narrative like a thread holding the story together. Finally, the emphasis on the futility and tragedy of gang violence throughout the story further unifies the plot.

Even though Pony's plot ends as a comedy, most of the story is tragic, almost from the first page of the novel. As Pony walks home alone from the movie theater, he is jumped by the Socs for no reason. From this point forward, one needless act of violence is followed by another. After the Socs see Johnny and Pony talking to some of their girlfriends, they vow revenge. They follow the two Greasers and jump them in the park. In the fight that follows, Johnny stabs and kills Bob in self-defense. Then Pony and Johnny feel compelled to go into hiding. When their hide-out catches on fire, Johnny is seriously wounded while trying to rescue some children trapped inside. Pony, Johnny, and Dally are all taken to the hospital, but Pony is quickly released, and Dally escapes. The two of them participate in the rumble that has been scheduled between the Socs and the Greasers. Because the Greasers get help from the Brumly and Shepard gangs, they easily defeat the Socs. But the tragedies are not yet over.

Johnny soon dies as a result of his severe burns and his broken back. Dally goes absolutely crazy in response to his death; he leaves the hospital, robs a store, and points his unloaded gun at the police. He is then shot to death in front of his friends. Pony faints at the sight and is delirious for three days. Even after he regains consciousness, he cannot concentrate, do his schoolwork, or accept that Johnny and Dally are really dead. It seems that he will never recover; fortunately, the story ends happily for Pony when he finds the letter from Johnny that encourages him to make something of his life. Pony follows the advice and decides his mission will be to help underprivileged children. Because of Johnny, Darry, Soda, and others who care for him, Pony is able to turn his life around and rise above the life of gangs and poverty that he has always known.

OVERALL ANALYSES

CHARACTER ANALYSIS

Ponyboy Curtis

Pony is a fourteen-year-old boy with greenish gray eyes and light brown hair, which he wears long. His parents were killed in a car accident, so he lives with his two brothers, Soda and Darry. All three of them belong to a gang known as the Greasers, which is comprised of teenagers from the poor east side of town.

Unlike most of the Greasers, Pony is a sensitive teenager. He often likes to be by himself to think or to read. He also enjoys going to the movies alone. His older brother, Darry, often screams at him for being by himself outside the house; he feels it is too dangerous, for the Socs, the rival gang, are always looking for a Greaser to jump. Darry also worries about Pony's grades. Although he is a good student, Darry wants to make certain that Pony does his best in school so that he can rise above being a Greaser and make something of himself. Darry had to drop out of school in order to support his brothers after the death of his parents. Through much of the book, Pony resents Darry's constant criticism and intrusion into his life. In contrast, Pony worships his middle brother Soda, largely because he has a happy-go-lucky attitude towards life and acts as a buffer between him and Darry. Because Pony does not want to be separated from his brothers and put in a boy's home, he avoids getting into any kind of trouble, especially with the police.

Pony is acutely conscious that he is underprivileged and scorned. The Socs look down upon him and the rest of the Greasers as though they are dirt and treat them as hoods. Pony is bitter about the fact that people never blame the Socs for any trouble because they look decent with their short hair, nice clothes, and expensive cars; instead, the Greasers are always blamed because they have long, oily hair and wear scruffy clothes. Pony knows that it is ironic that most of the Greasers are quite decent people who want to be left alone, while most of the Socs are cold-blooded and mean trouble makers.

Pony becomes friends with Cherry Valence, one of the Socs' girls, when he stands up for her against Dally's abusive language and rude behavior. Through her, he realizes that not all of the Socs are alike, for she is a nice, kind, understanding girl. He discovers that she is a dreamer and enjoys watching sunsets, just like he. As a result, Pony feels close to her and tells her things he does not tell anyone else. He talks to her about how nervous Johnny has been since he was beaten up by the Socs and how sad Soda was to be separated from Mickey Mouse, a horse that he "adopted." He even realizes from his conversation with Cherry that the Socs also have problems in spite of their money, nice clothes, and fancy cars. Then when he gets to know Randy Adderson, one of the Socs, he realizes that "Socs were just guys after all."

Pony is often afraid in the novel. When he walks home from the movie theater alone and is attacked by the Socs, he screams loud and long for help from his brothers or anyone else close by. When he sees Bob lying dead on the ground, he is paralyzed with shock and fear, unable to think or act; Johnny must tell him exactly what to do. When Johnny is in the hospital and dying, Pony is again speechless with fear. Then when he sees Dally shot by the police, his fear totally overcomes him; he faints and is unconscious and delirious for over three days. The only time that Pony acts in a courageous, heroic manner is the time when he rescues the children from the burning church.

Through most of the book, Pony misunderstands his oldest brother, Darry. Because he often criticizes him, Pony thinks that Darry does not like him at all. Then when Darry rushes to see him in the hospital, nurses him for three days while he is delirious and unconscious, and calls him little buddy, Pony begins to realize that Darry truly loves and cares for him. He has been strict with Pony because he does not want him taken away and put in a boy's home; in addition, he wants Pony to make something out of himself in life. Soda then makes Pony realize that he has always selfishly expected Darry to be understanding, without ever trying to understand Darry in return. As a result, Pony tries much harder to get along with his oldest brother.

After his full reconciliation with his brothers and his acquittal at the hearing on Bob's death, Pony is still not whole. Disturbed over the deaths of Bob, Johnny, and Dally, he cannot get his life together; he has trouble eating, sleeping, concentrating, doing schoolwork, or accepting that Johnny is dead. As a result of his troubled spirit, his grades suffer, and he is in danger of failing English if he does not produce a good semester theme. Then as he tries unsuccessfully to get his thoughts down on paper, Pony finds a letter that Johnny wrote to him prior to his death. In it, Johnny encourages him to stay gold and to break out of the pattern of violence offered by gang life. The letter provides the healing touch that Pony so needed. He decides that he will spend his time and effort in telling everyone about the problems that underprivileged children, like himself, face in life and seek help for their betterment. He will begin his mission by writing his English theme about it.

At the end of the book, Pony has emerged from his voyage of self- discovery as a much better person. He no longer pities himself or has a chip on his shoulder; instead, he looks into the future with optimism, knowing that he can rise above gang life and poverty and do something constructive in the world.

CONFLICT

Protagonist

Pony Curtis is the teenage narrator and protagonist of the novel. When his parents were killed in a car accident, Darry, his twenty- year-old brother, began to provide for him. He resents Darry's bullying manner, not realizing that he does so because he loves him and wants him to make something of himself. Pony belongs to an eastside gang of poor teenagers, called the Greasers; their rivals are the Socs, the rich kids living on the west side of town.

Antagonist

Pony's antagonist is his status in life. Poor and from the wrong side of town, he gets no breaks in life, even though he is a good student and studies hard. He joins the Greasers because it is the thing to do if you live on the east side of town. Their rivals are the Socs, a gang of rich, spoiled kids living on the west side of town. The Socs constantly pick fights with the Greasers, and Bob, one of the Socs, attacks Johnny and Pony because they have been friendly with Cherry. Johnny kills Bob in self-defense, and he and Pony go into hiding in a church in Windrixville. When the church catches on fire, Johnny and Pony try to save the children trapped inside. Johnny is serious injured during the rescue and dies a few days later in a hospital.

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Dally, who was Johnny's best friend, is completely shattered by his death. Crazy with grief, he robs a store and then threatens the police with an unloaded gun. As a result, he is killed. Now Pony has lost two friends. He falls sick, becomes delirious, tries to deny Johnny's death, and begins to fail in school.

Climax

The climax occurs when Pony reads the letter that Johnny has written to him before his death. Johnny encourages his friend to "stay gold" - to look for the sunsets and good things in life. He tells Pony that if he tries, he will be able to make something worthwhile out of his life. Reading the letter is the turning point in Pony's life.

Outcome

The novel ends as a tragic comedy. Even though Bob, Johnny, and Dally have needlessly perished, Pony overcomes his problems, largely due to Johnny's letter of encouragement. He reconciles with Darry, finally understanding how much his older brother loves and cares for him. He also accepts that he does not have to be an outsider or a Greaser for the rest of his life. In order to seek help and understanding for underprivileged children like himself, Pony's mission becomes to tell others about the immense obstacles that stand in the way of success for teenagers from the wrong side of town. The novel, therefore, ends on a note of hope and optimism.

THEMES

Major Themes

The major theme of the novel revolves around the purposelessness of any gang of teenagers. The book centers on the foolish gang rivalry existing between the Socs, the rich kids from the west side of town, and the Greasers, the poor kids from the east side.

Pony, the protagonist of the story, is bitter about the fact that the wealthy Socs have nice cars, fancy clothes, and girlfriends; things are simply easier for them than for the Greasers. Because the Socs are convinced that they are better, they constantly pick on members of the Greasers, who fight back. During one squabble, Bob, one of the Socs, is murdered by Johnny in self-defense. Then Johnny, while hiding out in a church, is killed while trying to rescue children from the burning building. In reaction to Johnny's death, Dally, his best friend, goes on a rampage. He robs a store and points an unloaded gun at the police; as a result, he is shot and killed. Because of the needless gang fighting, three teenagers are killed in the novel, clearly pointing out the negative aspect of belonging to a gang. Hinton is obviously trying to warn the reader against participation in any gang.

Minor Themes

Related to the major theme of the book is the theme that a teenager can rise above his circumstances through hard work, patience, and determination. Pony is the proof of this theme. Even though he is born into poverty, loses his parents in a car accident at an early age, and participates in the Greasers, by the end of the book, he is determined to better his plight in life, largely due to the encouragement he receives from the deceased Johnny in a letter. At the close of the novel, Pony wants to tell the world that underprivileged children need to have some breaks in order to get ahead and need to be judged for who they are, not by how they look or how they dress. Hinton definitely convinces the reader that Pony, because of his intelligence and determination, will rise above the poverty and gang life that he was born into.

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MOOD

When the story opens, the mood is bitter and rebellious. Pony and the other Greasers resent the fact that the Socs have lots of money, nice cars, fancy clothes, and many girlfriends. In contrast, they are poor and must work extremely hard for everything they have. In addition, society is prejudiced against them because of their clothes, long hair, and greasy appearance. In the middle of the novel, the mood becomes increasingly angry. The Greasers are tired of the Socs always picking on them, and the Socs are furious about the Greasers hanging out with some of "their girls." As a result, the Socs jump Pony and Johnny. In self-defense Johnny kills Bob, one of the Socs.

The mood then becomes one of terror. Pony and Johnny are scared for their own safety and fear the police. Upon Dally's advice, they hide in an abandoned church and worry about being found. The mood then switches to great sadness, for Johnny, in trying to rescue the children when the church catches on fire, is killed himself. Dally then gets himself foolishly shot by the police, leaving Pony with two less friends. By the end of the novel, however, the mood has some degree of hope. Pony is determined to rise above his past. He adopts a new mission in life, to tell the world about the problems and deprivations of underprivileged children, like himself. It is obvious that in the end, Hinton is very sympathetic towards the plight of Pony and the Greasers.

CHAPTER SUMMARIES WITH NOTES

Chapter 1

Summary

Ponyboy Curtis steps out from a movie theater into the bright sunlight, thinking about Paul Newman and catching a ride home. He never likes to walk alone in town, for he is fearful of being jumped by a rival gang member. Pony is a Greaser, a gang member from the poor, east side of town; his bitter enemies are the Socs, the rich gang of teens from the west side of town. The two groups are constantly picking fights with each other.

Pony notices a red Corvair trailing him. It finally pulls up beside him, and five Socs emerge and surround him. One of them pulls out a knife, flips open the blade, and holds it against his throat, while the others pin him down on the ground. Afraid of being killed, Pony starts screaming for his brothers or anybody else who might be around to help. When the Socs hear shouts and the sound of pounding feet, they run away. Some of the Greasers, including Steve Randle, Two-Bit Matthews, Dally Winston, and Johnny Cade, chase after the fleeing Socs and chunk rocks in their direction.

Darry, Pony's oldest brother, is in the group who has come to his aid. He pulls Pony to his feet and asks him if he is seriously injured. He then berates Pony for going out unaccompanied. Darry, who is twenty years old, is Pony's guardian, for their parents have been killed in an automobile accident. He dropped out of school in order to work and provide for his brothers. Now he pins all of his hopes on Pony, knowing he is bright and a good student. The middle brother, Sodapop, seems to be much kinder than Darry. He notices that Pony is bleeding from a cut on his face and is genuinely concerned. Soda is also a high school dropout and works at a gas station.

In bed that night, Pony wonders why the Socs hate the Greasers so much. He resents that they call him a hood and pick on him constantly. His latest encounter earlier in the evening has really shaken him, and he cannot go to sleep. Soda thinks he is upset because Darry is always hollering at him. He tells him that Darry is really proud of him because he is intelligent, but Pony is skeptical about his oldest brother's affection. To cheer Pony up, Soda lets him in on a secret; he tells him that he intends to marry Sandy after she finishes school.

Notes

From the first page of the novel, it is obvious that Pony is to be the first person narrator and protagonist of the story. It also becomes obvious that he will often shift his story from the present to the past, using flashbacks to give important Background Information. Pony establishes that he is a poor fourteen-year-old from the wrong side of town. He belongs to a gang of teenagers who are known as the Greasers, because of their long, oily hair. The rival gang to the Greasers is known as the Socs, an abbreviation for the Socials, a rich gang of west side teenagers. They "jump Greasers and wreck houses and throw beer blasts for kicks." Greasers, on the other hand, are blamed for stealing, starting gang fights, holding up gas stations, and driving their old cars dangerously. By the end of the chapter, it is apparent that the author's sympathies are completely with underprivileged, deprived Greasers.

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The story is filled with dialogue, including taunts from the Socs to the Greasers. They can often be heard yelling, "We're gonna cut all that long greasy hair off." The language also includes street talk, filled with grammatical errors and slang. Soda talks to Pony about their older brother, saying, "Listen, kiddo, when Darry hollers at you...he don't mean nothin'. He's just got more worries than somebody his age ought to. Don't take him serious...you dig, Pony? Don't let him bug you. He's really proud of you 'cause you're so brainy. It's just because you're the baby--I mean, he loves you a lot. Savvy?" Such slang is typical of the dialogue throughout the novel and adds to the realism of the characters.

Pony, the main character, is described in detail in this first chapter. He has greenish-gray eyes and light brown, almost red, hair, which he wears long and slicked down. Although he belongs to a gang, he is not stereotypical. He often enjoys being alone, away from the gang members, to watch sunsets, to think about life, to read, and to study his schoolwork. He takes pride in being a good student. Sometimes, however, Pony can be stubborn. Darry has warned him not to go out alone because of the Socs, but when the novel begins, Pony has been to the movies by himself and is walking home alone.

Although Pony resents Darry's intrusions into his life, it is obvious that he also stands in awe of this twenty-year-old brother. Pony thinks he is very handsome, for he is six feet two inches tall and has eyes like "two pieces of pale blue-green ice." Pony also appreciates the fact that Darry dropped out of school in order to go to work to support Soda and him. But Pony gets tired of Darry's criticism, especially about studying harder. Though Soda assures Pony that Darry really does love him, the younger brother does not believe him, for Darry never shows him any affection.

Although he is awed over Darry, Pony idolizes his middle brother, Soda, who tries to understand and support Pony. In spite of the fact that he is only seventeen years old, Soda has dropped out of school because he was a poor student. He now works in a gas station with his best friend, Steve Randle. Soda is described as a happy-go- lucky boy who gets "drunk on just plain living," never touching a drop of real alcohol.

Within the chapter, other Greasers are introduced and developed. Two-Bit Mathews, is still a junior in high school even though he is eighteen and a half years old. He is infamous for having the last word, shoplifting, getting in fights, and using his black-handled switchblade, which he has stolen. Another gang member is Dallas Winston, usually called Dally. His meanness is reflected in his eyes, which are 'blue, blazing ice, cold with a hatred of the whole world.' He first went to jail at the age of ten and has been in and out of prison ever since; he is known for drinking too much, riding in rodeos, rolling drunks, and cheating. Dally is also respected, for he has spent three years on the wild side of New York and is known for his meanness.

Everyone in the gang is protective of Johnny Cade, who has the look of a small puppy that has been kicked too often. His father constantly beats him, and his mother either yells at or ignores him. The Greasers have become his substitute family, trying to care for him and to answer his needs. Unfortunately, when the novel opens, Johnny has already been jumped and severely beaten by the Socs, an action that caused his nervousness to increase and his sense of insecurity to flourish.

COMMENT ON THE STUDY OF LITERATURE

The study of literature is not like the study of math or science, or even history. While those disciplines are based largely upon fact, the study of literature is based upon interpretation and analysis. There are no clear-cut answers in literature, outside of the factual information about an author's life and the basic information about setting and characterization in a piece of literature. The rest is a highly subjective reading of what an author has written; each person brings a different set of values and a different background to the reading. As a result, no two people see the piece of literature in exactly the same light, and few critics agree on everything about a book or an author.

In this set of PinkMonkey® Literature Notes for a well-known piece of literature, we at have tried to give an objective literary analysis based upon the information actually found in the novel, book, or play. In the end, however, it is an individual interpretation, but one that we feel can be readily supported by the information that is presented in the guide. In your course of literature study, you or your professor/teacher may come up with a different interpretation of the mood or the theme or the conflict. Your interpretation, if it can be logically supported with information contained within the piece of literature, is just as correct as ours. So is the interpretation of your teacher or professor.

Literature is simply not a black or white situation; instead, there are many gray areas that are open to varying analyses. Your task is to come up with your own analysis that you can logically defend. Hopefully, these PinkMonkey® Literature Notes will help you to accomplish that goal.

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