T HE O UTSIDERS C HAPTERS Read the poem by Robert Frost that Pony recited to Johnny when they were hiding out in the church. Nothing Gold Can Stay 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. Now listen to this song by Stevie Wonder.

A NSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS BASED ON YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF F ROST ’ S POEM & W ONDER ’ S S ONG. 1. What do you think “staying gold” means? 2. What gold did Ponyboy have that didn’t last? 3. Is the message of the poem & the song supposed to be sad? Why or why not?

C HAPTER S TUDY Q UESTIONS 1. Of what did Pony try to convince himself on the way home from the hospital? 2. What did Pony decide was the reason Dally couldn’t take Johnny’s death? 3. Why did Dally rob the grocery store and then raise his unloaded gun to the police? 4. Why would Pony have thought he was in Windrixville while he was delirious? 5. What was Pony’s reaction when Randy talked about Johnny? 6. What was the result of the court hearing? 7. How did Pony react to the three Socs who bullied him about killing Bob? 8. Johnny’s note made several points. What were they? 9. How do we know Pony will be ok?

C ULMINATING A CTIVITY 1. Make a Venn Diagram that shows the similarities and differences between the Greasers and the Socs in The Outsiders Here are some ideas to get you started: Hair, clothing, cars, where they live, how they act 2. Class discussion: If this story were written today, what problems would be the same & what problems different for the characters?