Characters
Ponyboy Curtis-- 14 years old Light brown almost red hair, greenish-gray eyes Likes books and movies Moved up a year in school Very book smart, but common sense dumb—doesn’t use his head Sodapop Curtis-- 16 going on 17 Very handsome—movie star handsome Not as tall as Darry and a little slimmer Finely drawn sensitive face that can be reckless and change to thoughtful Dark gold hair that bleaches to a shining wheat gold from the sun in summer Dark brown eyes- lively, dancing, recklessly laughing eyes that can be gentle and sympathetic one moment an blazing with anger in the next moment Loves life and understands everyone Dropped out of school—works at a gas station Darry or Darrel Curtis--20 years old Six feet-two, broad shouldered and muscular Dark brown hair and pale blue green eyes—like ice with a determined set to them Handsome Tough, cool , and smart—uses his head Works two jobs- roofs houses Johnny Cade- 16 years old Smaller than the rest with a slight build Big black eyes in a dark tanned face Jet-black hair, heavily greased and combed to the side, but it was so long that it fell in shaggy bangs across his forehead Nervous, suspicious look in his eyes Father always beats him up and his mother ignores him unless she is mad Would never have know what love and affection are if it hadn’t been for the gang Scar from temple to chin from the beating by the Socs quiet Very law abiding, but now carries a switchblade in his back pocket Dally or Dallas Winston- 17 years old Elfish face with high cheekbones and a pointed chin White/blonde hair, Blue blazing ice-cold eyes with a hatred of the whole world Lived 3 years on the wild side of New York City Tougher than the others—tougher, colder, meaner Arrested at the age of 10 Very bitter He had been arrested, he got drunk, he rode in rodeos, he lied, cheated, stole, rolled drunks, jumped small kids Two Bit Mathews (Keith)- 18 1/2 years old Wisecracker, thinks he is very funny, a comedian Six feet tall, stocky in build, with long rusty colored sideburns Gray eyes with a wide grin Famous for shoplifting and his black handled switchblade He likes fights, blondes, and school (still a junior at 18 ½) Keeps the gang laughing Steve Randle-- 17 years old Tall and lean Cocky, smart, and Soda’s best buddy Very good with fixing and driving cars Worked part time at the same gas station as Soda Thinks Pony is a tagalong Cherry or Sherri Valance-- 17 years old --Soc Long red hair, cheerleader Bob’s girlfriend Cute, calm or cool headed, has principles Thinks Socs have problems too “things are rough all over” Rides in rodeos Marcia- 17 years old--Soc Brown hair, good sense of humor, smaller than Cherry Randy’s girlfriend Rides in rodeos Bob Sheldon (Robert)—Soc Wearing a wine colored sweater—rings on his hand (3 rings) Handsome Black haired Reckless grin and a hot temper Stabbed and killed by Johnny when Bob attacked and tried to drown Pony Had something special that made people follow him, marked him different , maybe a little better, than the crowd Spoiled rotten by his parents Randy Adderson—Soc Tall guy with a semi-Beatle haircut Drives the blue mustang Bob’s best friend Does not want to fight in the rumble Feels bad about letting his dad down by being mixed up in these events Themes, Motifs & Symbols Themes Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work. Bridging the Gap Between Rich and Poor The Outsiders tells the story of two groups of teenagers whose bitter rivalry stems from socioeconomic differences. However, Hinton suggests, these differences in social class do not necessarily make natural enemies of the two groups. The greasers and Socs share some things in common. Cherry Valance, a Soc, and Ponyboy Curtis, a greaser, discuss their shared love of literature, popular music, and sunsets, transcending—if only temporarily—the divisions that feed the feud between their respective groups. Their harmonious conversation suggests that shared passions can fill in the gap between rich and poor. This potential for agreement marks a bright spot in the novel’s gloomy prognosis that the battle between the classes is a long-lasting one. Over the course of the novel, Ponyboy begins to see the pattern of shared experience. He realizes that the hardships that greasers and Socs face may take different practical forms, but that the members of both groups—and youths everywhere—must inevitably come to terms with fear, love, and sorrow. Honor Among the Lawless The idea of honorable action appears throughout the novel, and it works as an important component of the greaser behavioral code. Greasers see it as their duty, Ponyboy says, to stand up for each other in the face of enemies and authorities. In particular, we see acts of honorable duty from Dally Winston, a character who is primarily defined by his delinquency and lack of refinement. Ponyboy informs us that once, in a show of group solidarity, Dally let himself be arrested for a crime that Two-Bit had committed. Furthermore, when discussing Gone with the Wind, Johnny says that he views Dally as a Southern gentleman, as a man with a fixed personal code of behavior. Statements like Johnny’s, coupled with acts of honorable sacrifice throughout the narrative, demonstrate that courtesy and propriety can exist even among the most lawless of social groups. Motifs Motifs are recurring structures, contrasts, or literary devices that can help to develop and inform the text’s major themes. Literature Literary references occur throughout The Outsiders, helping us understand how the characters in the novel view themselves and those around them. Ponyboy first alludes to a work of literature in Chapter 1, when he compares himself to Pip from Charles Dickens’s Great Expectations. Ponyboy identifies with Pip because he, like Pip, is orphaned, impoverished, and struggling to make sense of the world. Additionally Ponyboy and Johnny put special emphasis on Robert Frost’s poem “Nothing Gold Can Stay,” which helps them understand that growing up and facing reality is a necessary part of life. Finally, Johnny likens Dally to a Southern gentleman in Gone with the Wind. Having this idealized vision of Dally makes Johnny able to understand him. Literature not only creates a bond between Ponyboy and the other characters, as when he discusses books with Cherry and reads to Johnny, but it also creates a cyclic premise for the narrative itself. We find out at the novel’s end that the narrative of The Outsiders is in fact an autobiographical work that Ponyboy is writing in order to pass his English class. This revelation confirms the importance of literature in the story as a means of connecting with others. Eye Shape and Color Though Hinton gives thorough physical descriptions of all her characters, she places particular importance on their eyes. Characters’ eyes represent key facets of their personalities. For example, Darry and Dally—the two boys with whom Ponyboy feels the least comfortable—have icy blue eyes. Dally’s eyes, in particular, are narrow. The narrator considers these two characters to be hard, even heartless, and the narrowness and cool hues of their eyes reflect their invulnerability. Hinton repeatedly defines Johnny Cade, on the other hand, by his wide, brown eyes. In correspondence with his eye shape and color, Johnny is generally nervous, gentle, and vulnerable to attack. Ponyboy’s Losses of Consciousness During the second half of the novel, beginning with the scene at the burning church, Ponyboy loses consciousness multiple times. It might seem strange at first to have a narrator slip in and out of mental clarity and thus miss out on entire spans of plot development. However, it makes sense that Hinton would distance her narrator temporarily in this manner, as this gives us, as well as Ponyboy, a needed rest from the intense action. This device also allows for events to be recounted after they happen, so that Ponyboy can sift through unnecessary details. Symbols Symbols are objects, characters, figures, or colors used to represent abstract ideas or concepts. Two-Bit’s Switchblade Two-Bit’s switchblade is his most prized possession and, in several ways, represents the disregard for authority for which greasers traditionally pride themselves. First of all, the blade is stolen. Second, it represents a sense of the individual power that comes with the potential to commit violence. This symbolism surfaces most clearly when Dally borrows the blade from Two-Bit and uses it to break out of the hospital to join his gang at the rumble. It is fitting that Two-Bit finally loses the blade when the police confiscate it from Dally’s dead body. The loss of the weapon, at this point, becomes inextricably linked with the loss of Dally—a figure who embodies individual power and authority. Cars Cars represent the Socs power and the greasers’ vulnerability. Because their parents can afford to buy them their “tuff” cars, the Socs have increased mobility and protection. The greasers, who move mostly on foot, are physically vulnerable in comparison to the Socs. Still, greasers like Darry, Sodapop, and Steve do have contact with automobiles—they repair them. We can interpret this interaction with cars positively or negatively. On one hand, it symbolizes how the greasers have a more direct and well-rounded experience than the Socs with the gritty realities of life. On the other hand, the fact that the greasers must service and care for Soc possessions demonstrates that the Socs have the power to oppress the greasers. Bob’s Rings Bob Sheldon’s rings function similarly to the Socs’ cars. Throughout literature, rings and jewelry have been traditional symbols of wealth. The rings in this story represent the physical power that accompanies wealth. By using his rings as combative weapons, Bob takes advantage of his economic superiority over Ponyboy and the other greasers, using his wealth to injure his opponents. Greaser Hair The greasers cannot afford rings, cars, or other physical trappings of power that the Socs enjoy. Consequently, they must resort to more affordable markers of identity. By wearing their hair in a specific style, greasers distinguish themselves from other social groups. Conservative cultural values of the 1960s called for men to keep their hair short, and the greaser style is a clear transgression of this social convention. It is not only distinctive, but, as a physical characteristic, this hair is truly an organic part of the greaser persona. When the Socs jump Ponyboy at the beginning of the novel, they ask him if he wants a haircut and threaten to cut off his hair. By doing so, they would rob him of his identity. |
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The Outsiders
S.E. Hinton Study Guide Author S. E Hinton or Susan Eloise Hinton is the author. She wrote this book when she was 16 or 17 years old. It was written/ published in 1967. She decided to write a book because she felt that there wasn’t much out there for teenagers to read. The movie was made in 1983. Some students in a junior high in California read the book and wrote letters suggesting that this would be a good book to make into a movie. Other books by this author- Tex That Was Then This Is Now Rumble Fish Taming the Star Runner Setting- a small town in Oklahoma 1960’s (1964-1969 because that was when Mustangs came out.) The vacant lot, the park, Pony’s house, the church, the hospital, and other places around town. Characters Ponyboy Curtis-- 14 years old Bob Sheldon Sodapop Curtis-- 16 going on 17 Randy Adderson Darry or Darrel Curtis--20 years old Tim Shepherd Johnny Cade- 16 years old Curly Shepherd Dally or Dallas Winston- 17 years old Jerry Wood Two Bit Mathews (Keith)- 18 1/2 years old Marcia- 17 years old Steve Randle-- 17 years old Cherry or Sheri Valance-- 17 years old Greasers poor kids from he East side of town. Kids who are emotional, have strong feelings. They have long greased back hair. They wear blue jeans and t-shirts. Some are hood (hoodlums) in trouble with the law. Socs rich kids from he West side of town. Very rich. They dress really nice and drive nice cars. Very clean cut looking. These kids are very cool. They don’t show their emotions or feelings very much. Know what these words mean 1. cooler 2. heater 3. tuff 4. tough 5. fuzz 6. J.D. 7. hood 8. Greaser 9. Socs 10. weed Conflicts- External Conflict- Character vs. Character Greasers vs. Socs Pony vs. Darry Internal Conflict--Character vs. himself Pony vs. himself POEM---”Nothing Gold Can Stay” by Robert Frost who also wrote “The Runaway” from our new English book. Pony finds a letter from Johnny in the book Gone With the Wind. In this letter Johnny explains the meaning of the poem. _ 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. |