The Outsiders – Study Questions – Write each question and answer it completely.
Chapter One
1. Who are the socs? Who are the greasers?
2. How do Ponyboy's relationships with Darry and Sodapop differ? Explain.
3. How does Ponyboy react to what Sodapop tells him about Darry?
Chapter Two
1. Are the names Ponyboy and Sodapop nicknames? Explain.
2. Who are Cherry and Marcia?
3. Why doesn't Ponyboy like referring to Sodapop as a dropout?
Chapter Three
1. When and how did Pony's parents die?
2. What happens when Pony comes home after his curfew?
3. Why does Johnny like it better when his father is hitting him?
Chapter Four
1. What does Pony mean when he says the socs were "reeling pickled"
2 What major event happens in this chapter?
3 How did the author foreshadow that Johnny would use his knife in chapter 2? Explain.
Chapter Five
1. Why does Pony have a problem with Johnny's idea to disguise themselves?
2. Why does Pony realize he doesn't like Dally? Explain what you think he means by this?
3. Who's the spy for the greasers? Does this surprise you? Why or why not?
Chapter Six
1. Why doesn't Dally want Johnny to turn himself in?
2. What "other side" of Dallas is revealed in this chapter
3 Why do you think Johnny wasn't scared to go into the blazing, despite the obvious danger?
Chapter Seven
1. What condition is Johnny in after the fire?
2. Why would Two-Bit think Johnny, Dally, and Pony were heroes all along, before they saved the kids?
3. What was Bob's 'real' problem, according to Randy?
Chapter Eight
1. "We needed Johnny as much as he needed the gang. And for the same reason.” What do you think Pony means, and what is the reason?
2. If Darry didn't have Soda and Pony, why would he be a soc?
3. What does Cherry mean when she says Bob "wasn't just anyone”?
Chapter Nine
1. Why do the boys fight? Why is Pony different?
2. What is the difference between Tim Sheppard's gang and Ponyboy's? Explain how Pony feels this difference might give his group the upper hand?
3. What do you think Johnny's last words to Pony mean?
Chapter Ten
1. Explain what happens to Dally in this chapter.
2. Why might Dally have pulled an empty gun?
3. What causes Pony to have to stay in the hospital?
Chapter Eleven
1. Who comes to see Pony at home and why does he visit?
2. What does the visitor say that upsets Pony?
3. Who does Pony say killed Johnny? Why might he have said this?
Chapter Twelve
1. Why doesn't Ponyboy feel scared when the socs approach him? How is this a dramatic change from the Ponyboy we have seen up until this point? How does Pony defend himself against the socs?
2. How do we know Sandy didn't love Soda as much as he loved her?
3. What does Ponyboy end up doing for his English assignment?
Chapter One
1. Who are the socs? Who are the greasers?
2. How do Ponyboy's relationships with Darry and Sodapop differ? Explain.
3. How does Ponyboy react to what Sodapop tells him about Darry?
Chapter Two
1. Are the names Ponyboy and Sodapop nicknames? Explain.
2. Who are Cherry and Marcia?
3. Why doesn't Ponyboy like referring to Sodapop as a dropout?
Chapter Three
1. When and how did Pony's parents die?
2. What happens when Pony comes home after his curfew?
3. Why does Johnny like it better when his father is hitting him?
Chapter Four
1. What does Pony mean when he says the socs were "reeling pickled"
2 What major event happens in this chapter?
3 How did the author foreshadow that Johnny would use his knife in chapter 2? Explain.
Chapter Five
1. Why does Pony have a problem with Johnny's idea to disguise themselves?
2. Why does Pony realize he doesn't like Dally? Explain what you think he means by this?
3. Who's the spy for the greasers? Does this surprise you? Why or why not?
Chapter Six
1. Why doesn't Dally want Johnny to turn himself in?
2. What "other side" of Dallas is revealed in this chapter
3 Why do you think Johnny wasn't scared to go into the blazing, despite the obvious danger?
Chapter Seven
1. What condition is Johnny in after the fire?
2. Why would Two-Bit think Johnny, Dally, and Pony were heroes all along, before they saved the kids?
3. What was Bob's 'real' problem, according to Randy?
Chapter Eight
1. "We needed Johnny as much as he needed the gang. And for the same reason.” What do you think Pony means, and what is the reason?
2. If Darry didn't have Soda and Pony, why would he be a soc?
3. What does Cherry mean when she says Bob "wasn't just anyone”?
Chapter Nine
1. Why do the boys fight? Why is Pony different?
2. What is the difference between Tim Sheppard's gang and Ponyboy's? Explain how Pony feels this difference might give his group the upper hand?
3. What do you think Johnny's last words to Pony mean?
Chapter Ten
1. Explain what happens to Dally in this chapter.
2. Why might Dally have pulled an empty gun?
3. What causes Pony to have to stay in the hospital?
Chapter Eleven
1. Who comes to see Pony at home and why does he visit?
2. What does the visitor say that upsets Pony?
3. Who does Pony say killed Johnny? Why might he have said this?
Chapter Twelve
1. Why doesn't Ponyboy feel scared when the socs approach him? How is this a dramatic change from the Ponyboy we have seen up until this point? How does Pony defend himself against the socs?
2. How do we know Sandy didn't love Soda as much as he loved her?
3. What does Ponyboy end up doing for his English assignment?