Outsiders Analysis Chapters One and Two

Theme: Appearance & Character Analysis The theme of appearances is immediately introduced in Chapter 1. When Ponyboy becomes aware of the Socs trailing him in their car, he says, "I automatically hitched my thumbs in my jeans and slouched," to make up for his small size and appear tough. Characterization: Ponyboy describes himself to the reader as unique in the gang for loving movies and books. This characterization is demonstrated as he describes his homework - which includes reading Great Expectations. He relates to Pip, the main character, because "he felt marked lousy because he wasn't a gentleman or anything.”

Theme: Dreaming In the last paragraph of Chapter 1, the theme of dreaming is introduced indirectly. Ponyboy is falling asleep, and admits to the reader that, "I don't care about Darry. But I was still lying and I knew it. I lie to myself all the time. But I never believe me." Lying to yourself and daydreaming are equated in Ponyboy's head, suggesting that he feels guilty over his tendency to escape to alternate realities.

Use of Anecdote & Foreshadowing (An anecdote is a short tale narrating an interesting biographical incident.) Hinton uses the technique of anecdote to reveal to the reader the story of Johnny's attack. Ponyboy describes it as it happened four months ago to Cherry at the concession stand. The anecdote is key to the development of Johnny's character, and the whole story, since Johnny's hatred of Socs is solidified in the attack. The anecdote of Johnny's attack ends with a passage of foreshadowing: "They had scared him that much. He would kill the next person who jumped him." This proves true later. Foreshadowing is also used in the last sentence of the chapter, in which Ponyboy thinks about the Socs and says, "Man, I thought, if I had worries like that I'd consider myself lucky. I know better now."

Building Bridges Examples from story Cherry and Ponyboy’s interaction

Family Ties Examples from the story-SHARE Soda Pop and Ponyboy Pg. 12-”If it hadn’t been for the gang, Johnny would never have known what love and affection are.” Incident when Johnny was jumped-how gang reacted Two-bit-paying for Johnny’s popcorn Pg. 26 “You take up for your buddies no matter what they do. When you’re a gang, you stick up for the members. If you don’t stick up for them, stick together, make like brothers.”

Theme-Social Injustice Examples of this from the story: SHARE Johnny getting jumped Ponyboy getting jumped Johnny’s parents