Study Guide: The Outsiders
Answer Sheet
Chapter 1
1. Who is the narrator of The Outsiders?
The narrator of The Outsiders is Ponyboy Curtis.
2. What two groups of teenagers does Ponyboy describe? Compare the two groups.
One group described by Ponyboy is the greasers. As the name suggest, they wear grease in their
combed back hair and live in a poorer area. They are a family like gang that fight with each other
but always have each other’s backs. The other group described by Ponyboy is the Socs who live
in a nicer area of town and seem to have everything handed to them. They are cold and held
down by the rules of their society.
3. Why did the Socs beat up Ponyboy?
Ponyboy knows not to walk around by himself. He was seen doing so leaving a movie theater
and, because he is a greaser, was ganged up on by a couple of Socs and beaten.
4. Why did Ponyboy have a hard time with his oldest brother?
Darry became the father figure for Ponyboy after their parents died. Being in the caretaker role
made Darry harsher on his youngest brother and although he only cared about him, Pony
thought they had nothing in common.
5. How are Ponyboy and his friends like you? Different than you?
Ponyboy and his friends spend a lot of time together and have certain understandings about
each other. They are different in that my friends don’t carry around switch blades or get into
physical fights with each other.
6. Why do you think the author uses non-standard English?
The author communicates through the language of the different social classes to juxtapose how
the greasers speak versus the standard language used by the Socs.
Chapter 2
1. Where do the Socs and Greasers hang out? What do they do for fun?
The Socs and greasers hang out at drive in movies. For fun they get drunk, fight, spend time
with girls and hang out.
2. How do the Greasers learn more about the Socs?
Ponyboy is invited to sit next to a Soc girl named Cherry and they form a connection over
sunsets. She talks to him about how things are on her side of the world throughout the
book.
3. What kind of rules do gang members follow in fights?
There are agreed upon rules of what weapons are allowed as well as no fights before the big
fight.
4. How could Cherry be a problem for Dally?
Cherry has an attitude to match his own and he is unaccustomed to people standing up to
him or talking back.
Chapter 3
1. Why do you think Ponyboy and Cherry become good friends?
They connect on how things are difficult for both of them. It unites them knowing that
the social class is the only thing that is truly different.
2. Do the characters in this book seem “real”? Why or why not? How does the author try
to make them believable?
They seem real in the way they face social and personal problems. The way they
struggle for human connection and knowing how to deal with their own problems
makes them believable.
3. Why did Cherry and Marcia leave their dates?
Marcia and Cherry left their dates because they started to drink at the movie theater
after saying that they wouldn’t. When they drink they get really rowdy.
4. Why do you think Darry hit Ponyboy?
Darry was upset with Ponyboy for putting himself in danger and for arguing with him.
He wants to take care of Pony and teach him to think for himself, but he got frustrated.
Chapter 4
1. Who (Greasers or Socs) do you think was wrong in the situation in this chapter?
Why?
I think the Socs were wrong for having jumped Pony and Johnny just for “not
knowing their place”. Bob had already beaten Johnny pretty bad and he was
prepared to defend himself.
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 would cause the difference?
If I was a Soc and my friend had been stabbed, even though he may have deserved
it, I would be very upset and naturally try to blame who did it. If I was a greaser, I
would have known Bob had it coming. However, I would have also been worried
about the unfair repercussions that might take place in a self-defense case. The
difference is whether Bob is a friend or foe; what side of the track you’re on.
3. Why did Ponyboy turn to Dally for help?
Although Pony and Dally weren’t buddies, Dally and Johnny were best buddies. He
knew that since Johnny was in a bind, Dally would do whatever he could for them.
He also knew Dally was the roughest of them and might have some experience in
laying low.
Chapter 5
1. Do you think hiding out was the best thing for Johnny and Ponyboy to do? Why or
why not?
Although it was self-defense, Johnny and Ponyboy were worried it wouldn’t be seen
that way. They should have still faced up to the events of the night since they could
not run forever.
2. What did Johnny admire about Dally?
Johnny admired that Dally wasn’t afraid of anything. He admired that he was tough
and that it didn’t seem that people could hurt him or that he cared about anything.
3. Why did the boys cut their hair? Does the length of hair mean much to the boys? Is
it important to you? To adults you know?
The boys cut off their hair to not be identified as greasers. For them this was a
status symbol in their gang and it was their pride and joy. It was something they
worked hard to grow out and it was how they were expected to look. Hair length
can be a status symbol for adults and says something about them.
Chapter 6
1. Why do you think Cherry chose to associate with – and later help – Johnny and
Ponyboy? Is she a spy?
Cherry doesn’t change alliance, she still identifies as a Soc, but she does see how the
greasers were wronged. She knows that what side they live on is the only divider,
that they both see the sunset, and wants them to have a fair advantage. She is a spy
for the greasers.
2. Why do you think Johnny decided they should turn themselves in?
He knew they couldn’t keep living out there and Pony shouldn’t suffer for something
Johnny did. He also knew it was self-defense and not murder.
3. What did Ponyboy learn about Darry?
Darry really does love Pony and he’s only so harsh because he’s scared a lot of the
time.
Chapter 7
1. How were the boys injured? Why could they be considered heroes?
Ponyboy might have had a concussion. Johnny was severely burned and had
damage to his lungs. Dally had some bruises and cuts but was mostly unharmed.
They were considered heroes for putting themselves at danger to rescue the kids
from the burning building.
2. What additional problem did the brothers face after Ponyboy's return?
Since Pony had been a witness to Bob’s death and fled, the family had to appear in
court to appeal that Pony be sent to a home.
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3. What did Randy say kids want from parents? Do you agree or would you add some other
points?
Randy said kids just want their parents to set their limits; kids just want them to say no. I
agree with this sentiment but I would also add that kids want to be guided morally.
Chapter 8
1. Why did Ponyboy and Two-Bit think they couldn’t get along without Johnny?
Johnny had experienced something very bad and didn’t have the anger and hate
that the rest of the gang had. He had fear but he just wanted good things. Johnny
acted as a source of what was right for the gang who often got lost in vengeance.
2. How did Johnny feel about dying?
He thought he was too young to die. He had thought about suicide before but
decided that he hadn’t seen or done enough for it to be over. He was scared to die
and angry that he wouldn’t be able to do certain things.
3. What did Johnny want the boys to get him for in the hospital? Why were these
things important?
He wanted more grease for his hair and a copy of Gone with the Wind. The grease
made him still feel like part of the gang and that he could die how he lived. The book
reminded him of his time with Pony and how close they were. They both made him
not feel alone.
4. How close to the truth was Johnny when he said he didn’t want to see his mother?
It was the truth that he didn’t want to see her. He didn’t go into much detail about
why he didn’t want to but the gang knew his parents beat him and emotionally
abused him.
Chapter 9
1. What were the reasons that the various boys gave for fighting?
Some were fighting just to fight while some where fighting for vengeance. Some
were fighting because they were tired of feeling less than the Socs.
2. Why did Dally take Ponyboy to see Johnny after the rumble?
He wanted them both to let Johnny know they won. They were all tied together
after the fire and he thought Ponyboy should be there to deliver the news that
Johnny had been avenged.
3. What did Johnny mean when he told Ponyboy to “stay gold’?
He wants Pony not to change what is good about him just because the world is
harsh. He wants him to still enjoy the things that are different and valuable about
him.
Chapter 10
1. Do you think the rumble was worth the trouble?
2.
No, nothing was accomplished during the rumble. Greasers are still greasers and
Socs are still Socs. Just because one group wins doesn’t mean they have it better.
3. Why did Dally want to die?
Dally felt like his only real friend was Johnny, and after Johnny died he didn’t have
anything tying him to this world. He felt alone and angry and was tired of the
injustice.
4. How do you think the other Greasers will end up?
The death of two of its members will cause the group dynamic to change. Hopefully
they will see the preciousness of life and find ways to better theirs regardless of
their limited situation.
Chapter 11
1. Why do you think Ponyboy was ill?
He had inhaled a lot of smoke in the fire and received a head wound. He was also
worried about Johnny and the outcome of the rumble.
2. Why did Randy come to visit Ponyboy when he was ill? Why did Ponyboy not care
that Randy was seeing his house in a messy condition?
Randy wanted to talk to Ponyboy about how he saved the kids. He didn’t think he
would have done the same or thought a greaser would. Ponyboy didn’t care
because he knew what was said made them more equal and his living conditions
were just situational.
3. Why do you think Ponyboy said he’d killed Bob and that Johnny wasn’t dead?
He wanted all the problems to go away and that Johnny would walk away from this.
He thought saying these things would make them real instead of having to face the
truth.
Chapter 12
1. Why was the court hearing important? What were the possible decisions of the
court?
The court hearing decided whether Pony would still get to live with Darry and Soda.
They could have decided that he wasn’t getting properly raised and forced to live in
a foster home.
2. Why do you think Ponyboy’s life was still troubled after the court hearing?
The court hearing didn’t make his life better. He still had the same issue of having
no money and being looked down on because of it. He still wasn’t accepted by the
Socs and the greasers didn’t stop being angry about it. After all of this nothing really
changed other than Johnny and Dally were gone.
3. What message did Johnny leave in the book?
Johnny said that he wanted Dally to know that he was good even though he was
tough. He wanted Pony to keep watching sunsets and being sensitive.