The Outsiders Chapter 2

Questions and Answers

1. THE OUTSIDERS Chapter Two Questions & Answers November 2018 Miss Riddell

2. 1. Ponyboy and Sodapop are the boys’ actual names. What does this show you about their parents? Ponyboy’s parents were definitely original and perhaps not traditional but they raised three nice boys who look out for each other. The story is set in the late 1960’s, which was the time of the Hippie or Flower Power movement and many parents gave non-traditional names during this time.

3. 2. Why doesn’t Ponyboy like referring to Soda pop as a dropout? In what way does this label fit? In what way does it not fit? Pony feels that the word unfairly labels Sodapop . In a way, it fits because Sodapop has actually dropped out of school and now works at a gas station, a low-paying job without much of a future. It doesn’t fit, though, because Ponyboy says that Sodapop is smart in his own way and that he has a lot of value in their world. He’s one of the kindest, most warm-hearted people that Ponyboy knows.

4. 3. Using a Venn Diagram do a compare and contrast of the following: what happened to Pony and what had previously happened to Johnny four months earlier

5. PONYBOY *both jumped by a gang of Socs *beaten up but not badly *rescued by the gang *both were alone *both were fearful after *badly beaten *unconscious when the gang found him *cut up by a Soc’s rings *cut by a knife JOHNNY BOTH

6. 4. During the attack, Johnny’s “T-shirt was splattered with blood.” What color was his T-shirt originally? Symbolically, why do you suppose Hinton made the T-shirt that color instead of, say, green or black? Johnny’s T-shirt was white, which is the color of innocence and purity. With the attack, Johnny’s innocence was lost and replaced by violence. Also, blood soaking into white cotton is visually alarming, just as the boys were scared and sickened when they found Johnny.

7.   5. An allusion is a figure of speech that refers to a well-known story, event, person, or object in order to make a comparison in the readers' minds.

8. Find an example of an allusion in the first chapter. P-1 Paul Newman P-15 Pip, “Great Expectations”

9. 6. What does Pony mean when he says “I lie to myself all the time?” We answered this in the last questions.

10. 7. To Ponyboy , what’s the difference between a gang and a pack? A gang is a group, like the Greasers, who stick together and help each other, no matter what. A pack is a wild, uncontrollable group of thugs, which he equates to the Socs . He says they are like animals, a pack of beasts.

11. 8. Ponyboy is confused about the different treatment his friends give toward girls they know and girls they don’t know. Explain what he means. If the guys know a girl either from class or as a friend/relative, they will be more respectful. If the girl is a stranger, though, they’ll be crude and disrespectful as they check her out.

12. Give an example of how this holds true in our world today. This is true today, as well. Once you know someone’s name and build a friendly relationship, you’ll be more mindful of your manners. An example is when we walk past students we don’t know, but we stop and say hello or wave to the kids that we know from class. We’re friendly and more open to people we already know; we’re closed off to strangers.

13. 9.When Dally brings each of the girls a soda, what does Cherry do? Cherry throws the soda in Dally’s face

14. What does Marcia do? Marcia drinks the soda.

15. Which girl do you think Ponyboy respects more? If you were one of the girls, which move would you make? Ponyboy seems to respect Cherry more because she’s brave, even if it’s foolish bravery, and she stands by her beliefs. Dally was a pig to the girls and Cherry follows through on exactly what she said she’d do.

16. 10. Explain why Pony is surprised that he is getting along with Cherry? Ponyboy is a Greaser and Cherry is a S oc. The two classes don’t intermingle and almost always see each other as enemies. It is hard to believe they have anything in common. Pony expects Cherry to think of herself as too good for a Greaser. Plus she is older and very pretty.

17. 11. To what is Ponyboy comparing Two-Bit when he calls him a “ chessy cat” on page 27? What two literary devices are being used? 1. An allusion to “Alice in Wonderland’s” Cheshire Cat.

18. 2. A simile – Two-Bit, grinning like a C hessy cat.

19. 12. What literary device does the author use to describe Johnny’s mugging? (p 31-34) A flashback.

20. 13. At the end of the chapter, Ponyboy says that the Socs have it so easy in life – “good grades, good cars, good girls, madras, and Mustangs and Corvairs – Man, I thought, if I had worries like that I’d consider myself lucky. I know better now.”

21. a) How is Ponyboy’s opinion hypocritical, given his earlier stance about Sodapop being labeled a “dropout?” In the first part of the quote, Ponyboy is being hypocritical (acting in a way that suggests one has higher standards or more noble beliefs) because he hates people who label and make snap judgments based on outward appearances, yet he’s doing the exact same thing to the Soc kids.

22. b) Look at the last four words , “I know better now” which foreshadow an eventual change in Ponyboy’s thinking. In the last four words, Ponyboy seems to have changed his mind and realized that Socs have troubles, too. You will likely guess that Ponyboy will get to know some of these kids , like Cherry, and realize that their lives also have problems.

23. Give at least two guesses of the kinds of problems these wealthier kids might have. Their parents might have unrealistically high expectations of them. They might be the victims of peer pressure.

24. VOCABULARY

25. Page 22 - roguishly (adjective) playfully mischievous, acting rascally

26. Page 24 - incredulous (adjective) disbelieving, doubtful

27. Page 25 - nonchalantly (adjective) cooly unconcerned, indifferent, unexcited, casual

28. Page 28 - Shanghaiing (verb) to enroll or obtain (a sailor) for the crew of a ship by unscrupulous means, as by force or the use of liquor or drugs

29. CHARACTERS

30. PONYBOY CURTIS 14 years old Youngest Curtis brother Light-brown, almost red, longer hair Skipped a grade, s mart, good at school Greenish-gray eyes Like reading, drawing, watching movies Best friends with Johnny

31. SODAPOP CURTIS 16 years old Middle Curtis brother, orphan Dark gold hair Dark brown eyes Tall and slim Movie star handsome Dropped out of school, works at a DX gas station Rides horses and drag races Doesn’t drink Best friends with Steve Has a girlfriend named Sandy

32. DARRYL “Darry” CURTIS 20 years old Oldest Curtis brother, orphan Dark brown hair with a cowlick, cold green-blue eyes, 6’2” height, muscular Works 2 jobs, one as a roofer Smart, won an athletic scholarship Played football, skis, athletic Didn’t go to college so he could look after his younger brothers Expects a lot from Ponyboy

33. STEVE RANDALL 17 years old Knows everything there is to know about cars: driving, stealing, fixing Thick greasy hair , combed in complicated swirls, tall and lean Smart and cocky Thinks Ponyboy is a tag along kid Works at the DX gas station with his best friend Soda Needs to blow off steam Has a girlfriend named Evie

34. TWO-BIT MATTHEWS 18 years old Knows everything there is to know about cars: driving, stealing, fixing Rusty coloured sideburns , gray eyes, 6 feet tall, stocky build Likes joking around, likes to have the last word Is still a Junior (grade 11) in high school Shoplifted his prized possession a black-handled switchblade Real name is Keith Drinks a lot

35. DALLAS “Dally” WINSTON 18 years old From New York, has been in jail White blond hair ( no oil), blue eyes, elfish face Tough, mean, fearless Dangerous, Hates the Socs Fights, beats up little kids, drinks, smokes Has a rough background (has seen a lot of violence) Had a girlfriend Sylvia

36. JOHNNY CADE 16 years old Was beaten up by the Socs , has a scar on his face Black eyes, dark tanned skin, jet-black hair ( with bangs), small for this age Nervous, jittery, brave Very quiet, smokes, carries a switchblade Is the gang’s pet, Idolizes Dally. Pony’s best friend Has a rough home life, abused at home (dad beats him, mom yells at him Likes football

37. SHERRI “Cherry” VALANCE 16 or 17 years old Is a Soc Long red hair, v ery pretty Doesn’t like drunks Is a cheerleader Brave, stands up for herself Has a boyfriend named Bob Has a friend named Marcia