1. The Outsiders
By S.E. Hinton

2. What is an Outsider?
Think of the word Outsider. What does it mean? What does it make you think of?
Take the next few minutes and write about what the word Outsider means to you. Draw a picture if you would like to.

3. Agree or Disagree
Read the following statements, then write whether you agree or disagree with each one and why (this can be one sentence).
A person’s physical appearance (including how they dress) tells a lot about them.
It’s easy to be friends with people who are different from me.
People who are alike should stay together.
The environment you are raised in determines your future.

4. Make a Prediction
Based on what we’ve talked about so far, predict what you think The Outsiders will be about? Be sure to explain why.

5. S.E. Hinton A few facts about the author
Full name: Susan Eloise Hinton
From Tulsa Oklahoma
Used “S.E.” instead of Susan Eloise so that readers would not dismiss her work because she was female
Wrote the story when she was in high school. Started it as a sophomore, and she got the call that it was to be published on the day she graduated in 1967.
Other Hinton books include Rumble Fish, Tex, and That Was Then, This is Now.

6. The 60’s The Outsiders is set in 1967 Lyndon B. Johnson was president
A stamp cost 5 cents
The Andy Griffith show was the #1 show on tv.
The Beatles were very popular

7. Outsiders Slang Fuzz: The police Heater: A gun Broad: A girl
Jumped: To get beat up

8. Outsiders Slang Rumble: A big fight The Cooler: Jail
A weed: A cigarette
JD: A juvenile delinquent.
(A teenager who gets in trouble
And goes to jail)

9. Basic Storyline
The Outsiders is a coming of age story about the orphaned Curtis brothers. They belong to a gang of East Side Greasers, and the novel focuses on their struggle to stay together as a family in the face economic hardship and violent conflict with a rival gang, the wealthy West Side Socials.

10. Characters
The characters are broken up into two gangs: The Greasers and The Socs
The Greasers are poor, most don’t have cars (the ones that do have cars have old, beat up cars), and have longer, greased back hair
The Socs (pronounced soshes) have money, really nice cars, some wear expensive jewelry.

11. 60’s Fashion
The Socs tended to wear madras (plaid), khakis, sweaters, etc.
The Greasers wore leather jackets, blue jeans, and had slicked back hair.

12. The Greasers
Ponyboy Curtis- Narrator of the story. Youngest in the gang. Intelligent.
Darrel (Darry) Curtis- Oldest of the gang. Strong, athletic, intelligent. Works to support his younger brothers
Sodapop Curtis- happy-go-lucky, handsome. Wants to marry his girlfriend Sandy

13. The Greasers
Two-Bit Matthews- Joker who regularly shoplifts. Has a prized switchblade that he stole.
Steve Randle- Sodapop’s best friend. Good with cars. Very tough. Doesn’t like Ponyboy.
Dallas (Dally) Winston- Toughest of the Greasers. Spent time in gangs in New York.
Johnny Cade- Son of abusive alcoholic parents. Sees the gang as his family. Nervous and sensitive.

14. The Socs
Randy Adderson- Marcia’s boyfriend and Bob’s best friend. Shows that the Socs have some redeeming qualities.
Bob Sheldon- Cherry’s boyfriend. Beats up Johnny before the book begins. Wears heavy rings from his wealthy parents.
Paul Holden- Husky blond. Used to be friends and teammates with Darrell when they were in high school.

15. Women
Sandy- Sodapop’s girlfriend. Is only mentioned when then boys talk about her.
Cherry Valance- Bob’s girlfriend. Real name is Sherri, but is called Cherry because of her red hair. Befriends Ponyboy.
Marcia- Randy’s girlfriend. Befriends Two-Bit. They share a sense of humor.

16. Others
Jerry Wood- Teacher who accompanies Ponyboy to the hospital after the fire. Though he is an adult, he judges the boys on their merits, instead of automatically assuming they are juvenile delinquents.
Tim Shepard- Leader of another group of Greasers who are more like criminals than Ponyboy’s group. Respects Dally and comes to the rumble to help them out.
Curly Shepard- fifteen year old brother of Tim. Can’t go to the rumble because he was put in a reformatory after robbing a liquor store. Tim is proud of his brother’s criminal background.
Mr. Syme- Ponyboy’s English teacher

17. Switchblades Many of the Greasers carry a switchblade
It makes them feel safer because they can be used for protection.

18. Cars The Socs drive expensive, new cars. The Ford Mustang
Nice cars show
that they are Socs
and they are wealthy
Remember, the Socs are Wealthy and from the West side (they both start with a W!)

19. Themes in the Story Society and class Love Loyalty Violence Isolation
Appearances
Education
Choices
Family

20. Essential Questions
The questions you need to think about while we read this novel are:
What is family?
What makes someone a hero?

21. Setting 1965. An unnamed city, in an unnamed state…
Some say it is based on her home town of Tulsa, Oklahoma
The city is split into East and West sides. East side=poor. West side =wealth
The story takes place over a single week!