Outsiders S.E Hinton 1962 Coming of age

1. OutsidersS.E Hinton1962Coming of age Jennifer J. Period:4

2. Setting • This was in the time period on 1950’S. This story took place in Tulsa, Oklahoma . This book describes how life was for a teenager in a gang. If the setting was different then the story wouldn’t make much sense.

3. Characters

4. Conflict • This story is man vs. self • Johnny killed one of the socs and has to run away with Ponyboy in order to not get caught by the police. Ponyboy & Johnny

5. Summary of Plot • The Outsiders plot summaryPonyboy is a kid from the wrong side of the tracks (a greaser) who's parents were killed in a car accident. He, his friends, Johnny, Dally, Two-Bit, and Steve, and brothers, Darry and Soda, are always getting beaten up by a gang called the socs. One night, he and his nervous best friend Johnny, are attacked by socs. The socs almost drown Ponyboy, and Johnny, defending Ponyboy, stabs bob, one of the socs to death. Their aggressive, troubled friend Dally, gives them money and a gun loaded, and tells them to hide in an abandoned church on Jay mountain. Pony, and Johnny find the church, and set up camp. Johnny, cuts and bleaches Ponyboy's hair, and cuts his own. Dally comes to the church, and takes Pony and Johnny to get some food. He tells them that a big fight is scheduled for tomorrow, and that Bob's (member of the socs) girlfriend, Cherry, is going to testify that Bob asked for it, since he was drunk, and that the murder was self-defense. They return to the church, and see it's on fire. A bunch of little kids are trapped inside, and Pony, Johnny, and Dally save them. Ponyboy gets out ok, Dally burns his arm, but a huge piece of wood falls on Johnny, breaking his back, and burning him badly. Johnny, Ponyboy, and Dally are declared heroes, but a juvenile trial is scheduled for Johnny and Ponyboy. Pony is reunited with his brothers, Darry, and Soda. With the fight near, Ponyboy visits Dally, and dying Johnny in the hospital, and Dally declares that they beat the socs for Johnny. The Greasers and Socs fight each other, and the socs lose. The Greasers go and see Johnny to tell him the news. Johnny tells Ponyboy to "stay strong," and then dies. Dally, unable to live with the fact that Johnny is dead, flips out, and robs a store. He is Chased to the vacant lot by the cops. Pony and the guys arrive, only to see Dally get gunned down by the cops. The guys get over Johnny and Dally's deaths, and try to become more friendly with the socs. Ponyboy finds a letter that Johnny wrote for him before he died.

6. Theme • “Problems are universal”. • Just cause we are socs doesn't mean we don’t have problems of our own. "its rough everywhere"

7. Point of View • This was told from 1st person point of view. If the author would've chosen another point of view we wouldn’t know Ponyboy thoughts or feelings. I think the book wouldn’t be as good. Ponyboy

8. Symbolism • Two-Bit’s switchblade is his most prized possession and, in several ways, represents the disregard for authority for which the greasers pride themselves. First of all, the blade is stolen. Second, it represents a sense of the power that comes with the potential to commit violence. This symbolism surfaces most clearly when Dally borrows the blade from Two-Bit and uses it to break out of the hospital to join his gang at the rumble. It is fitting that Two-Bit finally loses the blade when the police confiscate it from Dally’s dead body. The loss of the weapon, at this part, becomes inextricably linked with the loss of Dally—a figure who shows individual power and authority.

9. Recommendation • I recommend this book to teens to read it’s a great book. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton is a great book with a lot of action suspense and sorrow. S.E. Hinton is a very good writer. The book is very excellent and I think you will enjoy this book.