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The Outsiders
Section Four Comprehension Questions
Chapter Ten
1. Why was Johnny’s death difficult for Dally to handle? Why do you think Dally would have wanted to die?
2. What technique does Ponyboy use for dealing with the deaths of his friends?
Chapter Eleven
3. Explain why Ponyboy would rather have anyone’s hate than their pity.
4. Why is being able to feel lousy because he disappointed his father a breakthrough for Randy?
5. What do you think is going on with Ponyboy when he says, “Johnny didn’t have anything to do with Bob’s getting killed.”
6. What does Darryl call him that makes Ponyboy feel good?
Chapter Twelve
7. Why doesn’t Ponyboy feel scared when the Socs approach him and he threatens them with a broken bottle? How is this a dramatic change from the Ponyboy we have seen up until this point?
8. What does Darry mean when he says, “You don’t just stop living because you lose someone”?
9. Explain how Darryl and Ponyboy play tug-o-war with Sodapop.
10. When he sits down to write his English theme (essay), how is Ponyboy different from the way he is at the opening of this chapter? How has he changed since the beginning of the novel?