The Outsiders Lesson 2

Webercise
As you navigate through the Webercise, answer the questions below in complete sentences to
begin learning about the author, themes, and ideas that will show up in S.E. Hintons The
Outsiders.
The Author
1. Who was S.E. Hinton? When was The Outsiders published? How old was Hinton when she
wrote the novel? Was it wise for her to only include her initials as she published the text?
(Visit: http://www.sehinton.com)

The Fashion
2. What was fashion like during the 1960s-the time period when the novel was set? (Visit:
http://www.fashionencyclopedia.com/fashion_costume_culture/Modern-World-1946-1960/Rockn-Roll-Style.html)

3. What is a madras shirt? Look at the ad provided and explain why Socs thought Madras were
a sign of increased social-status?
(Visit: http://www.ivy-style.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/saks-madras.jpg)

4. Greasers undoubtedly took part in the rebellious youth culture that existed in the 1960s.
Attached to this question is photo of Elvis and his Pompadour hairstyle. Why do you think
Greasers were so drawn to this hairstyle themselves? What does it say about them?
(Visit: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02577/evlis-hair_2577037k.jpg)

Music
5. Music plays a HUGE role throughout the novel for both gangs-The Greasers and The Socs.
Why did the Greasers enjoy Elviss music while the Socs enjoyed The Beatles? Did these
artists influence both of their fashion choices? Explain.
(Visit: http://www.elvis.com, http://www.thebeatles.com)

Movie Stars

6. Movies are brought up in S.E. Hintons novel several times, including some key movie stars.
Some of those stars discussed by our characters include Paul Newman and Will Rogers. Who
were they? Why were they important to our gangs in the novel?
(For Newman Information Visit: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000056/bio)
(For Newman Trailer Visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofxtDrRVQY40
(For Rogers Information Visit: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000056/bio)
(For Rogers Trailer Visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0Q87kBPyRo)

Smoking
7. Both gangs, especially Greasers participate in the social hobby of smoking cigarettes. In the
novel, S.E. Hinton has Ponyboy refer to the cigarettes as Kools? What are Kools? Why do you
think more people smoked in the 1960s? More specifically why did Greasers smoke more
often? Watch this compilation of KOOL ads from the 1960s to answer this question.
(Visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImUpZhR7FAQ)

Robert Frost
8. Towards the end of the novel, Ponyboy references Robert Frosts poem-Nothing Gold Can
Stay. Who was Robert Frost? Copy down the poem Nothing Gold Can Stay below. What do you
think the poem is saying after learning about Frost and his background? Why is it important to
Ponyboy?
(Visit: http://www.internal.org/Robert_Frost)
(For a copy of poem, Visit: https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/nothing-gold-can-stay)