1. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton Finding themes

2. What is a theme? A theme is the message that the author of a work if trying to give the audience regarding life and the world we live in. Sometimes the themes are right in your face, but sometimes have you to read between the lines to discover them. Every novel, story, poem, movie, television show, song, etc. has a theme.

3. How many themes can there be? The can be numerous themes throughout a work. Often there is a main theme and various sub-themes. The Outsiders has numerous themes. They are as follow:

4. Theme 1 Regardless of the differences that seem to exist between different groups of people, when it comes right down to it we are all the same. We all have problems that confront us in life that we must overcome, goals that we want to achieve, and things that we find joy and happiness in.

5. Example of Theme 1 "I'll bet you think the Socs have it made. The rich kids, the West-side Socs. I'll tell you something, Ponyboy, and it may come as a surprise. We have troubles you've never even heard of. You want to know something?" She looked me straight in the eye. "Things are rough all over." Hey," I said suddenly, "can you see the sunset real good from the West Side?" She blinked, startled, then smiled. "Real good." "You can see it good from the East Side, too,"

6. Theme 2 Many times people will resort to violence to try to change a situation or put an end to a conflict, but when all is said and done violence solves nothing and only leads to more violence.

7. Example of Theme 2 “You can't win, you know that, don't you?" And when I remained silent he went on: "You can't win, even if you whip us. You'll still be where you were before--- at the bottom. And we'll still be the lucky ones with all the breaks. So it doesn't do any good, the fighting and the killing. It doesn't prove a thing. We'll forget it if you win, or if you don't. Greasers will still be greasers and Soes will still be Socs. Sometimes I think it's the ones in the middle that are really the lucky stiffs..."

8. Theme 3 Anyone can be a hero, even those who seem the most unlikely.

9. Example of Theme 3 Randy pulled out a cigarette and pressed in the car lighter. "I don't know. I don't know anything anymore. I would never have believed a greaser could pull something like that." " 'Greaser' didn't have anything to do with it. My buddy over there wouldn't have done it. Maybe you would have done the same thing, maybe a friend of yours wouldn't have. It's the individual."

10. Theme 4 Childhood and innocence never last. As we grow older we eventually loose our innocence as we are exposed to the problems and issues the world has to offer. It is important, however, to hold on to a bit of our innocence and our childhood.

11. Example of Theme 4 Nature's first green is gold, Her hardest hue to hold. Her early leafs a flower; But only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf. So Eden sank to grief, So dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay."