1. The Outsiders
by S.E. Hinton

2. Who is S.E. Hinton?

3. Author

4. 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, because the majority of her stories dealt with male characters and violent conflicts
Early pictures of Hinton

5. Author, Continued S.E.Hinton Created a gender-neutral author name
She began The Outsiders at the age of fifteen

6. Background Information

7. 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

8. Background, Con’t
The Outsiders features many references to the 1960s: Elvis, Beatles, etc.
Examined universal urges to form cliques, and unite with similar groups
The Greasers are tough and rough, but also vulnerability and full of emotion
A poster from the hit film

9. Literary Focus

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

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

12. Transcending Social Divisions Man’s Struggles and Fears
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

13. Symbols
Cars
Cars represent the Socs’ economic power and the Greasers’ economic vulnerability
Cars also represent the Socs physical vulnerable and the Greasers’ physical strength
The Greasers work on the nice cars; the Socs drive them

14. 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

15. Overview

16. Ponyboy Curtis is part of a lower-class gang called the Greasers
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

17. 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

18. A rumble is organized to settle the differences between the two groups
OVERVIEW, CON’T
A 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

19. Characters

20. Narrator and protagonist
Characters
Ponyboy Curtis
Narrator and protagonist
Different from the rest of the greasers; he has interests in literature and school
Reliable and observant
Rocky home life and relationship with older brother

21. 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”

22. 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

23. Sodapop Curtis
Cherry and Marcia
Happy and attractive older brother of Ponyboy
Soc girls who become interested in the greasers

24. 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

25. The joker of Ponyboy’s group
Two-Bit Mathews

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

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