Author

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

S.E.HintonCreated the gender- neutral author name She began The Outsides 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, compete 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

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

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

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’ power and the greasers’ vulnerability Socs’ are physically vulnerable and must work on the cars of the rich, wealthy Socs The greasers work on the nice cars; the socs drive them

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

PLOT OVERVIEW 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, 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

OVERVIEW, CON’TA 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

–Ponyboy Curtis Narrator and protagonist Different from the rest of the greasers: has interests literature and school Reliable and observant Rocky home life and relationship with older brother, Darry

Darrell “Darry” CurtisPonyboy’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

Two-Bit Mathews The joker of Ponyboy’s group

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