The Outsiders By S.E. Hinton

Introduction S.E. Hinton began writing The Outsiders when she was 16. The novel was published in 1967 when she was 18 years old. The Outsiders follows the ongoing struggle between two rival groups, “the Greasers” and “the Socs” (pronounced “soshes”; short for “socials”), and the coming of age of the main character, Ponyboy Curtis. Discuss “stereotypes” and try to identify the characteristics of these two groups

The Greasers Ponyboy Curtis – the narrator and main character; the youngest of the Curtis brothers; 14 years old; good in school; runs track. Sodapop Curtis – the middle brother; high school drop-out; works at a gas station; 16 years old. “Darry” Curtis – the eldest brother; looks after his brothers; 20 years old, unofficial leader of the Greasers. Johnny Cade – Ponyboy’s best friend; 16 years old; lives with alcoholic parents. “Dally” Winston – the roughest of the Greasers; lived on the streets of New York for three years; Other characters: “Two-Bit” Mathews; Steve Randle; Tim Shepherd; Sandy

The Socs Bob Sheldon – Cherry’s boyfriend; picks fights with the Greasers “Cherry” Valance – Bob’s girlfriend; attends the same high school as Ponyboy Randy Adderson – friend of Bob’s; Marcia’s boyfriend Marcia – Cherry’s best friend David – A member of Bob and Randy’s group; fights with Ponyboy Paul Holden – a former friend of Darry’s

Setting When – 1965 Where – unnamed city, but based on Hinton’s hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma The action of the story takes place over the time period of about one week, during the fall The city is divided by economic classes, which gives the story its two groups: The Greasers and The Socs