THE OUTSIDERS

Comprehension

BELL WORK
Define identity.

What is the difference between individuality and belonging

to a clique or gang?
Give examples.
Put your work in the 3rd tray when completed.

Chapter 1
What is your impression of the setting, including time
period and place?
How are the 1960s different from 2014?
Who is Ponyboy? What other characters do you learn
about in Chapter 1?

Story Elements (The Outsiders)

Describe the
introduction, setting,
mood, and theme.
(Literature Section)

Chapter 1 (The Outsiders)

What has the story
taught you so far?

What does the setting and the

events of Chapter 1 tell you
about identity and cliques?

Name Identity
Write a name poem for
Ponyboy.
Use the descriptions
used in Chapter 1 to
help you.
You can write a
sentence or use single
words. Just make sure
they are relevant.
Example:

Patience
Outstanding character
Nice guy
Youngest brother
Best friend to
O
Y

Twinning! Who is your celebrity twin?

Choose a famous person
(musician, actor, athlete,
writer, etc.) who you feel
shares a similar identity to
you.
Tell me what values you feel
you have in common.. Jot
down those values
Write a paragraph or two
explaining why you feel the
two of you have a similar
identity and values.

OR you may choose a person

who has the complete
opposite identity and values
from you and explain

Journal
Who are you? What
makes you unique?
What factors
influence who you
are? (family, friends)
Why?

Poster Activity
Choose one of the characters
from The Outsiders and create
a poster:
Ponyboy, Soda, Dally,
Darry, Steve, Two-Bit,
Johnny, and Cherry.
Each poster will include:
Characters name

Physical characteristics
Personality traits
Relationship to other
characters
Any other relevant
information
Use the descriptions in Ch. 2
& 3 to help you.

Comprehension (Ch. 2 & 3)

1. Are the identities the same?
Different?
2. Does gender play a role in
identity or position?
3. What makes the characters

different? Money? House?

Clothes?
4. Do any characters seem
similar to you? Different? How?

5. Do you know someone who is

similar to one of the characters?

Comprehension (Ch. 2 & 3)

1. Ponys neighborhood, The
East, what is it like?
2. What is the West like?
3. What are the differences
between East & West?
Similarities?
4. How does where the
characters live make them
different from each other?

Ch. 4 & 5 Comprehension

1. Why do you think Johnny
killed Bob? Do you think
you would have reacted
differently?
2. What could have been some
alternatives?
3. If you were Ponyboy and
Johnny, whom would you
turn to for help? Why do you
think they went to Dally?
4. Why do you think Ponyboy
and Johnnys situation
prompted Ponyboys
recitation of Nothing Gold
Can Stay?
5. Who is innocent? Who has
experience?

Homework
Write a 1-page journal entry
about a particular event that
has impacted your life and has
shaped who you are. Include a
photo, drawing, or object that
represents this event and
explain why you chose the item.

Journal
Finish the following statements:
The best thing about me is ,
and the worst thing about me
is?

Ch. 6 Comprehension
1.

Whats the difference between

Cherry the Soc and Cherry the
Dreamer?

2.

Why is Cherry going to say Johnny

acted in self defense?

3.

Why does Johnny decide to turn

himself in?

4.

Why did Ponyboy and Johnny run

into the burning church to save the
kids?

5.

Are Ponyboy, Johnny, and Dally

heroes? Why or why not?

6.

How does this effect Ponyboys,

Johnnys, and Dallys identity?

7.

How do we know that Darry does

truly care for Ponyboy?

8.

What happens to the Curtis family?

Homework
Write a 1-page description about
your interpretation of Frosts
poem.

Writing Activity
Write a short newspaper article
with a catchy title about one of
the two events below:
Johnnys stabbing of Bob
Johnny and Ponyboys rescue
of the children in the church fire

Use the details from the novel

to help you.

Comprehension (Ch. 8 & 9)

1.

What threat does Juvenile court have on the Curtis family?

2.

How does Ponyboys dream affect his family?

3.

How does Two-Bit explain greasers to Ponyboy? p. 113

4.

How does Randys talk with Ponyboy demonstrate

similarities in Greasers and Socs?

5.

At the beginning of Chp. 8, how do we know Johnnys

condition is bad?

6.

Why doesnt Johnny want to see his mother?

7.

What is Dally going to do with Two-Bits switchblade?

8.

Is Ponyboy sick? What is happening to him at the end of

Chp. 8?

9.

Why is Cherry so worried about Ponyboy?

10.

Why does she keep coming around?

11. Read the sunset quote on p. 129. What is its significance?

How does it relate to the quote on p. 40-41 We saw the same
sunset?
12. Why does Ponyboy want to help Cherry and Randy?
13. What does rumble mean to each of the Greasers?
14. Why does Dally take Ponyboy to the hospital to see Johnny?
15. What is Dally going to do at the end of Ch. 9?