1. The Outsiders
by S.E. Hinton

2. Author

3. 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, since it dealt with male characters and violent conflicts
Early picture of Hinton

4. S.E.Hinton
Created the gender-neutral author name
She began The Outsides at the age of fifteen

5. Background Information

6. Background of The Outsiders 1967
Date of Publication
Inspiration
Major Conflicts
(person v. society,
person v. person,
person v. self)
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 (pronounced “soches,”) a group of privileged rich kids, who live on the West Side

7. Background, Cont’d
The Outsiders features many references to the 1960s: Elvis, Beatles, etc.
Examined universal urges to form cliques, compete and unite with similar groups—embrace of a sub-culture
The greasers are tough and rough, but also vulnerable and full of emotion
A poster from the hit film

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

9. Literary Focus Genre Setting (TIME) Setting (PLACE) Tone
Young-Adult Fiction
Mid-1960s
Tulsa, Oklahoma (though never disclosed in the story, it’s revealed in another story by Hinton, with some of the same characters, titled That Was Then, This is Now)
Youthful, rebellious, simplistic, melodramatic

10. Transcending Social Divisions Human Struggles and Fears
Literary Focus, CONT’D
Themes
Rich vs. Poor
Class Differences
Transcending Social Divisions
Human Struggles and Fears
Honor and Loyalty
One’s Ability to Sacrifice
Male-Female Interactions
Male Bonding
Human embrace and loathing of violence
Although they present a tough exterior, the greasers feel emotion and show a great deal of love for their “gang” brothers

11. Cars represent the Socs’ power and the Greasers’ vulnerability
Symbols
Cars
Cars represent the Socs’ power and the Greasers’ vulnerability
Greasers 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

12. 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

13. Characters

14. Narrator and protagonist
Characters
Ponyboy Curtis
Narrator and protagonist
Different from the rest of the greasers; has interests in literature and school
Reliable and observant—a “wallflower”
Rocky home life and relationship with older brother, Darry

15. 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”
Embodiment of sacrifice for family

16. 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.
A tragic hero?
Leader of another group of greasers

17. Sodapop Curtis
Cherry and Marcia
Attractive older brother of Ponyboy
Possibly the “deepest” but presents as “surface” character
Soc girls who personify themes for the greasers
Offer a different perspective on society; rep. optimism? Change? Hope?

18. Randy Adderson
Johnny Cade
Soc who creates a foil to greasers—offers a new perspective on upper-class society
The most redeeming soc character?
Parents are abusive
Nervous and sensitive
Greasers are his family more than his parents
Protected by the gang

19. The “typical” joker of Ponyboy’s group
Offers a fatalist nature to the novel—pay attention to not only his jokes, but the subjects that he jokes about…is it surface, or is there something real and human under his jokester façade? ...Is it a façade?
Two-Bit Mathews

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