The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

Who is S.E. Hinton?

Author

S.E. stands for Susan Eloise S.E.Hinton S.E. stands for Susan Eloise Hinton’s publishers worried her work would not be respected coming from a woman, because the majority of her stories dealt with male characters and violent conflicts Early pictures of Hinton

Author, Continued S.E.Hinton Created a gender-neutral author name She began The Outsiders at the age of fifteen

Background Information

Background of The Outsiders Date of Publication Inspiration Major Conflict 1967 Hinton was frustrated with social divisions within her high school and a lack of realistic fiction for high school students The Greasers, a group of low-class youths, battle the Socs, a group of privileged rich kids, who live on the West Side

Background, Con’t The Outsiders features many references to the 1960s: Elvis, Beatles, etc. Examined universal urges to form cliques, and unite with similar groups The Greasers are tough and rough, but also vulnerability and full of emotion A poster from the hit film

Literary Focus

Literary Focus First Person Ponyboy Social Groups Point of View Narrator and Protagonist Antagonist First Person Ponyboy Social Groups

Youthful, rebellious, simplistic, melodramatic Literary Focus Genre Setting (TIME) Setting (PLACE) Tone Adult Fiction Mid-1960s Tulsa, Oklahoma Youthful, rebellious, simplistic, melodramatic

Transcending Social Divisions Man’s Struggles and Fears Literary Focus, CON’T Themes Rich vs. Poor Class Differences Transcending Social Divisions Man’s Struggles and Fears Honor and Loyalty Man’s Ability to Sacrifice Male-Female Interactions Male Bonding Although they present a tough exterior, the Greasers feel emotion and show a great deal of love for their “gang” brothers

Symbols Cars Cars represent the Socs’ economic power and the Greasers’ economic vulnerability Cars also represent the Socs physical vulnerable and the Greasers’ physical strength The Greasers work on the nice cars; the Socs drive them

Rebellion against society Symbols Greaser Hair Rebellion against society Cannot afford physical items to make them stand out (ie cars), must use their hair to stand out Most men in society during the 1960s wore their hair short A few famous people have sported the greaser look

Overview

Ponyboy Curtis is part of a lower-class gang called the Greasers Ponyboy Curtis is part of a lower-class gang called the Greasers. They are at odds with a group of rich kids called the Socs The greasers become involved with some of the Socs’ girls and this elevates tensions between the groups PLOT OVERVIEW

PLOT OVERVIEW, CON’T Ponyboy is nearly killed by a Soc and his fellow greaser, Johnny saves his life Johnny, however must kill a Soc in the process

A rumble is organized to settle the differences between the two groups OVERVIEW, CON’T A rumble is organized to settle the differences between the two groups In the process other characters die, sometimes needlessly, and sometimes heroically The novel ends with Ponyboy writing about his fallen friends for English class, which ends up being the novel itself (he is the narrator) A cycle of violence continues throughout the novel

Characters

Narrator and protagonist Characters Ponyboy Curtis Narrator and protagonist Different from the rest of the greasers; he has interests in literature and school Reliable and observant Rocky home life and relationship with older brother

Darrell “Darry” Curtis Ponyboy’s oldest brother Raised his brothers after the death of their parents in a car crash Works two jobs Strong, athletic and intelligent Nicknamed “Superman”

Dallas “Dally” Winston Tim Shepard The toughest hood in Ponboy’s group A hardened teen who used to run gangs in New York Does not put grease in his hair. Leader of another group of greasers

Sodapop Curtis Cherry and Marcia Happy and attractive older brother of Ponyboy Soc girls who become interested in the greasers

Randy Adderson Johnny Cade Soc who eventually see the pointlessness of fighting the Greasers If the most redeeming Soc character Parent are abusive and drunks Nervous and sensitive Greasers are his family more than his parents

The joker of Ponyboy’s group Two-Bit Mathews

Talent of stealing hub caps Cocky, aware and smart Steve Randle Sodapop’s best friend Talent of stealing hub caps Cocky, aware and smart This guy might look a little familiar

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