STUDY QUESTIONS For The Outsiders

Chapter 1 Who is the narrator of this story? What is the name of the other greaser gang? Who does Ponyboy live with? Darry tells Ponyboy, “You’ve always got your nose in a book, but do you ever use your head for common sense?” What is the difference between book sense and common sense? Which is more important to have? What happened to Ponyboy’s parents?

Chapter 2 Why is Johnny Cade so nervous and scared all the time? Do the greasers like being called greasers? Why does Ponyboy feel the greasers have it so much worse than the Socs? How are Cherry and Marcia different from the girls the greasers normally hang out with? What does Cherry mean when she tells Ponyboy “things are rough all over”?

Chapter 3 Ponyboy and Johnny offer to do what for Cherry and Marcia? Ponyboy tells Cherry a personal story about Sodapop; what is it? What does Ponyboy mean when he says to Cherry, “Just don’t forget that some of us watch the sunset too”? Ponyboy feels Darry doesn’t love him as much as Sodapop. Why? Why does Ponyboy run away?

Chapter 4 Why do the Socs trail Johnny and Ponyboy in the park? What do they do to Ponyboy? How does Dally react when Ponyboy and Johnny tell him about the murder? What illegal activity does Buck participate in? How do Ponyboy and Johnny get away?

Chapter 5 What do Ponyboy and Johnny do once in hiding? How is their hair an important part of who the greasers are? Who wrote the poem Ponyboy recites? Why does Johnny like Gone with the Wind so much? Who sends a letter for Ponyboy to their hideout? Is he angry?

Chapter 6 Why does Johnny think they should turn themselves in? What conflict do Ponyboy, Johnny, and Dally encounter when they return to their hideout after lunch? What does Dally do when Ponyboy emerges from the flames? Who is most injured in the fire? How do Darry and Sodapop react when they see Ponyboy at the hospital?

Chapter 7 Darry tells the doctor that he, Ponyboy and Soda are “about as much family as Dally and Johnny had.” What does he mean? After returning home, Ponyboy discovers what in the newspaper? What does Ponyboy dream about in his recurring nightmare? Why is Ponyboy worried that he might not get to stay with his brothers after getting in trouble? Why does Randy come to see Ponyboy?

Chapter 8 What does he ask Dally and Ponyboy for while in the hospital? What does Dally ask from Two-Bit while he is in the hospital? Why doesn’t Johnny want to see his mother? Do you think he should see her? Why or why not? Two-Bit tells Ponyboy that “the only thing that keeps Darry from bein’ a Soc is us”. What does he mean? How is Darry different from the other greasers? Why do you think Cherry wants to help the greasers?

Chapter 9 Why do the greasers fix themselves up and put extra grease on their hair before the rumble? Where is the rumble to take place? Who starts the fighting at the rumble? Who shows up unexpectedly at the rumble? Did the greasers really win the rumble? Why or why not?

Chapter 10 What does Ponyboy do after leaving the hospital? Who takes him home? Why does the gang go looking for Dally? Ponyboy realizes that Johnny is the only thing Dally really loved. Why do you think Dally loves Johnny? Who does Ponyboy ask for while he is in bed?

Chapter 11 Ponyboy is delirious for several days and has to do what? Who visits Ponyboy while he is in recovery? Why does Ponyboy tell Randy that he is the one who killed Bob, not Johnny? Why is Johnny so important to Ponyboy?

Chapter 12 What happens when Ponyboy goes to court? What does Ponyboy do when three Socs approach him after his court appearance? What advice does Two-Bit give Ponyboy? Is it possible to idolize someone, even if they do something wrong or illegal? What does Ponyboy learn from his experience? How is Ponyboy not like the rest of the greasers? Why does Sodapop run away at the end? What happens when Darry and Ponyboy catch up to Sodapop? What does Johnny leave for Ponyboy? What does Johnny’s letter say? What theme does Ponyboy decide to write for his English class at the end of the book?