Class of 2021

Summer Reading Work

The Outsiders

Scholar’s Name:

Chapter 1 – Answer all questions in complete sentences.

Who is the narrator of this novel?
What two groups of teenagers does Ponyboy describe? Compare the two groups.
Why did the Socs beat up Ponyboy?
Why did Ponyboy have a hard time with his oldest brother?
How are Ponyboy and his friends similar to you?....different than you?

Chapter 2

How do the Greasers learn more about the Socs?
How could Cherry be a problem for Dally?
Why do think Johnny spoke up to Dally?
What is Cherry’s real name? Why is she called Cherry?
Give three reasons why Cherry and Marcia are not scared of Johnny and Ponyboy even though, like Dally, they are Greasers. / 1.
2.
3.
What two rules do Greasers have for themselves? / 1.
2.
What does Cherry mean by the following statement, “Things are rough all over?”

Chapter 3

Why do you think Ponyboy and Cherry became good friends?
Why do you think Darry hit Ponyboy?
Do you agree or disagree with Johnny that having friends care for you is not the same as having your own folks care about you? Why or why not?
What does Cherry say was the main difference between the Socs and the Greasers?

Chapter 4

Who (Greasers or Socs) do you think was wrong in this situation presented in this chapter?
If you had been one of the Socs, how would you have felt after Bob was stabbed? If you were a Greaser, how would you have felt after Bob was stabbed? What causes this difference?
Why did Ponyboy turn to Dally for help?
According to Bob, what is a Greaser?
Why did Johnny attack Bob?

Chapter 5

Do you think hiding out was the best thing for Johnny and Ponyboy to do? Why or why not?
Based on what Johnny collected, what can you conclude about Johnny?
Do you think crying helped the boys or did it make them weaker? Justify your response.
What do you think the poem by Robert Frost means? What do you think Robert Frost is describing? Why do you think Ponyboy remembered this poem?
Do you think Ponyboy and Johnny will ever be able to go home again? Why or why not?

Chapter 6

Why do you think Cherry chose to associate white – and later help – Johnny and Ponyboy?
Why do you think Johnny decided they should turn themselves in?
Would you say that Ponyboy and Johnny are heroes? Why or why not?
At the hospital, Ponyboy realizes that Darry really cares for him. Why has Darry been so hard on Ponyboy in the past?

Chapter 7

How were the boys injured? Why could they be considered heroes?
What did Randy say kids want from parents? Do you agree or would you add some other points? Why or why not?
What do you think it would have been like for Johnny to return to his home in a wheelchair?
Why does Randy say the rumble between the Socs and the Greasers won’t solve anything?

Chapter 8

How did Johnny feel about dying?
What did Johnny want the boys to get for him in the hospital? Why were these things important?
What was the significance of Ponyboy asking Cherry, “Can you see the sunset real good from the West Side?”

Chapter 9

What does Johnny mean when he told Ponyboy to “stay golden”?
Think about yourself. Have you ever labeled someone based on how they look/dress. What does this tell you about first impressions?
Who are the good and bad guys in this novel? Justify your answer.

Chapter 10

Do you think the rumble was worth the trouble? Why or why not?
Why did Dally want to die?

Chapter 11

Why do you think Ponyboy was ill?
Why was Ponyboy concerned about his friends seeing his house but not about Randy seeing his house?

Chapter 12

Why was the court hearing important? What were possible decisions of the court?
What message did Johnny leave in the book?
Why did Ponyboy’s life seem so different after the hearing?
Why does Ponyboy think that his experiences as a Greaser are important for everyone to read about?
Why is the last sentence of the book unusual?

After the novel - Choose one of the following topics to complete a well-written essay:

Option 1: Write an essay explaining why you believe each of the “main” Greasers could be considered a hero. Include your own definition of hero in the essay, and be sure to explain how each boy, in his own way, meets your definition. Remember to support your ideas with examples from the novel.

Option 2: Write an essay explaining how the Socs were more of a disgrace and menace to society than the Greasers. Look at how society viewed and treated the two groups. Examine the characteristics of each group, their actions, and the choices each made. Be sure to supportyour ideas with examples from the novel.