1. The world of The Outsiders
1960s America
The world of The Outsiders

2. General Setting
The Outsiders presumably takes place in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where S.E. Hinton grew up.
We mostly see the east side of the city, from the perspective of the Greasers.

3. Fashion Madras Hair Grease
During the time period of the novel, Soc “types” would wear madras shirts and khakis. You can see an example of typical clothing below.
Madras
James Dean embodied the cultivated Greaser image. Leather jacket, jeans, white t-shirt and boots were typical of boys who emulated the free and uncontrolled lifestyle Dean seemed to live.
Hair Grease

4. Music and Film Here are some images of popular artists and movies.
The Beatles
Elvis Presley
Beach movies
Paul Newman
The Beach Boys

5. Drive-ins
Watching movies at the drive-in theatre was a popular thing to do, especially for teenagers.
The car culture was a big part of society.
You’ll notice that cars are often mentioned in the novel.

6. Cars
Here are two cars and a gas station that are mentioned in the novel.
Chevy Corvair
1965 Ford Mustang
DX Gas Station

7. Drive-in Restaurants
These restaurants were a typical place to take a date. They were also where gangs hung out.

8. What makes you happy?
Happiness for the characters of The Outsiders was a girl, a car, some money, and a strong group of friends.

9. Pay attention to opposites
Rich and poor
East and west
Hot and cold words
Blue and red
Fire and water

10. Pay attention to seasons
Spring: new life/hope
Summer: youth/happy
Fall: descent into winter/things about to go wrong/nearing the end.
Winter: End of life/bad.

11. Pay attention to allusions
Whenever an author chooses to include the title of another work of literature in his own work, consider his reasons for doing so.
Example: in Frankenstein, the monster read Paradise Lost by John Milton.

12. Pay attention to colors
Green: naive
Grey: wise
Red: hot
Blue: cold
White: negativity/fear/innocence
Yellow: cowardice

13. GOLD =
perfection

14. SLANG Heater: Gun Cooler: Jail JD: Juvenile Delinquent Hood: Thug
Tuff: good, cool, awesome
Beer blast: party with alcohol

15. QUESTIONS FOR THOUGHT Who has it easier?
What makes a family a family? What makes a parent a parent? Which situation is worst?
--Parents who don’t care what you do.
--Parents who are abusive
--Parents who are gone

16. Greasers Ponyboy Curtis Sodapop Curtis Darry Curtis Dally Winston
Steve Randle
Two-Bit (Keith) Mathews
Johnny Cade

17. Socs
Bob Sheldon
Randy Adderson
David
Cherry Valance
Marcia