The Outsiders Cloze Notes
Chapter One:
- Ponyboy
- Socs
- Darry
- Soda
- Steve
- Two-bit
- Johnny
- Dally
Chapter Two:
- Dally
- Johnny
- Cherry
- Dally
- Coke
- Two-bit
- Johnny
- Jumped
- Socs
Chapter Three:
- Marica
- Cherry
- Money
- Not
- Mustang
- Randy
- Lot
- Hit
- Ponyboy
- Johnny
The Outsiders Chapters 1-3 Questions
Chapter One:
1. What do you know about Ponyboy, Sodapop, and Darry?
They're brothers. Darry is the oldest, Sodapop the middle child and Ponyboy is the youngest.
2. Who are the Socs? Who are the Greasers?
The Socs and Greasers are "gangs". The Socs are more violent than the greasers and are on the rich side of town. They are more closer to being gangs. The Greasers are more like a group of friends that have each others backs. And if another Greaser gang is in trouble, they'll come and help.
3. How do Ponyboy’s relationships with Darry and Sodapop differ? Explain.
Ponyboy feels as if Darry doesn't like him and is constantly nagging him. Ponyboy has a better brother relastionship with Soda. Darry has a better relastionship with Soda and Soda is the peacekeeper of the brothers.
4. Why is the “gang” important to Johnny?
Because it gives him a sense of security. He doesn't ever want to be jumped on again, so Greasers are better in numbers. They are his family. Johnny is the gang's pet.
5. How does Ponyboy react to what Sodapop tells him about Darry?
He says sure, but he doesn't mean it. He tries hard to keep the sarcasm out of his voice. He doesn't believe that Darry loves him.
6. What does Ponyboy mean when he says at the end of chapter 1, “I lie to myself all the time?” Do you ever lie to yourself? Why?
He lies to himself, trying to brush away the problem as if it doesn't exist. That's what people do when they're hurt by something but don't want to admit it.
Chapter Two:
1. Who is the Fuzz?
The Fuzz is slang for the police.
2. What happens at the drive-in?
Ponyboy and Johnny sneak into the drive-in and meet-up with Dally. They also meet Marcia and Cherry. Dally flirts with the girls and they grow uncomfortable. He leaves, and Johnny and Ponyboy talk with the girls. They find out a lot about the Soc's that not all of them are bad.
3. Why doesn’t Ponyboy like referring to Sodapop as a dropout?
He feels embarrassed and feels as if Soda is not living up to his potential.
4. What happened to Johnny?
Johnny got jumped by Soc's and was beat up really bad. The attacker had rings and that could link to one of the girls boyfriends, because he had rings on.
Chapter Three:
Define these words
Aloof - Either uninvolved or not friendly and distant.
Impersonally - Having no personal feelings involved.
Ornery - Bad-tempered or difficult to deal with.
Resignedly - Dealing with it passively. Accepting it.
1. What does Cherry explain as the difference between the Socs and the Greasers?
Cherry basically says their both the same and they have problems of their own.
2. Why does Johnny like it better when his father is hitting him?
Because those are the times he feels noticed by his father.
3. How does the author foreshadow that bad things are going to happen?
Because the direct sentences, "Things gotta get better, I figured. They couldn't get worse. I was wrong.", it suggests bad things will happen.
Chapter Six:
1. Johnny makes a surprising decision. What is it? Why does Dally plead?
He says he wants to surrender to the police. Dally pleads because, one, he will get the electric chair and, two, prison surely changed Dally and he doesn't want Johnny to change. Being in prison is a tough lifestyle and Dally believes that Johnny is "pure".
2. Why does Ponyboy feel responsible for the burning of the church?
Because they left their cigarettes and lighters.
3. Who is injured most badly in the fire and how?
Johnny got crushed by the falling beam and broke his back and he got severe burns. Dally also got bad burns along the arm, but Johnny had it worse.
4. At the end of this chapter, Ponyboy realizes how Darry really feels about him. What is Darry’s fear? How does Ponyboy understand this?
Darry's fear is losing another loved one. He already lost both his parents, he's afraid of losing Pony and Soda. Ponyboy realizes this when he sees Darry crying and Darry has never cried, even after the loss of his parents.
5. Have you ever felt angry at your parents for decisions they have made “in your best interest” or “for your own good?” Tell us about it. Did you eventually understand why they made that decision?
Every child gets angry at their parents one time or another, for making a -- what seems harsh decision at the time -- for our best interest. We feel angry at first because it seems unjust and unfair, but really, it can be for the greater good when thinking about it fully.
For fast finishers:
The Outsiders - writing a SEXY paragraph
Fill in the blanks to practice writing paragraphs the SEXY way (statement, example, explanation, your link/opinion). Feel free to tweak the sentence starters, as long as the basic structure remains the same.
Statement
A theme present in the novel The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton is the importance of friendship and belonging.
Example and quote
An example of the theme of the importance of friendship and belonging is when the greasers aren't a gang, but more friendship based.
The author writes, “but here, organized gangs are rarities --- there are just small bunches of friends who stick together,”.
EXplanation
This quote reflects the theme of the importance of friendship and belonging because rather than being a full bodied gang, they are a group of friends who have one anothers backs when they did it the most.
Your link/opinion
The theme of the importance of friendship and belonging connects to my own life and just about everyone who inhabits the world.
For example, mostly everyone has a group of friends, or even better, bestfriend, who has their back. And at times, they are the most relatable person in the world that understands you, even more than your own parents.
S.E.X.Y. Body Paragraphs
Remember, this format is not used for the Introduction or Conclusion
Instructions: I have begun a SEXY body paragraph for you below. I have provided a Statement and an Explanation.
Your task is to complete the paragraph by finishing the sentences for Example and Important Why?/Your Link.
Essay Question: Describe at least ONE character or individual who was important in the text. Explain why the character helped you understand an idea/theme in the text.
Statement:
One of the reasons Johnny is an important character in the novel is because he shows us the key theme of the importance of friendship.
Explanation:
Johnny demonstrates the importance of friendship because the Greasers, who are his best friends, are the only family he truly has. His parents neglect and abuse him, but the gang is always there for him.
Example (Complete the sentence):
For example, this is evident when Hinton writes, “If it hadn't been for the gang, Johnny would never have known what love and affection are.”
Important Why?/Your Link (Complete the sentence):
This direct quote is important because he got no love from his parents, but from the gang and its members itself. Friendship is basically built up on love and affection among the loyalty of friends.
Or
I can relate this to my own experience because I have a group of friends that I feel I can rely on and vice versa.
The Outsiders Chapter 9 Questions
1. On the bottom of p.132, when Pony asks, “What kind of a world it is where all I have to be proud of…” what comment is he making about how society judges people?
"-is a reputation for being a hood, and greasy hair? I don't want to be a hood, but even if I don't steal things and mug people and get boozed up, I'm marked lousy. Why should I be proud of it? Why should I even pretend to be proud of it."
That society groups people and people have no choice on the matter and have to accept it.
2. The boys all have different reasons for fighting. What are they? Why is Pony different? (pg 133)
3. What do you think Johnny's last words to Pony mean?
