The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton Class discussions and group activities ...

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton Class discussions and group activities from chapters from The Outsiders will take place on the following dates. Please read a chapter before each meeting and write a response to the questions in your Outsiders document. Please date and title each response. Please add a question or comment of your own as well. Tuesday, September 3 - Setting the Stage - Contrast and Foreshadow Read Chapter 1 Organize the characters in a chart according to which gang they are in; add information about their appearance, character traits and relationships. Think about Ponyboy’s role as a narrator. How is it strength? In what ways is it limiting? Monday, September 9 - Recurrent Theme - Belonging to a Gang Read Chapter 2 What do gangs do for individuals? What void might they fill? How is a gang different from a group or a club? Thursday, September 12 – Recurrent Theme – Life isn’t Fair Read Chapter 3 In what ways has life dealt various characters an unfair deal? Write about a time when you felt life was unfair to you or someone you know. Monday, September 16 – Turning Point Read Chapter 4 Ponyboy and Johnny have a late night run in with the Socs. This chapter contains a turning point in the action. How do the chapter’s events change the characters in the story? Symbolism: Find examples of Hinton’s use of color? Why do you think the author chose to have the boys hide out in a country church?

Thursday, September 19 - Nothing Gold Can Stay Read Chapter 5 Look for examples of foreshadow and “the power of three” How does Robert Frost’s poem Nothing Gold Can Stay create a bond between Johnny and Ponyboy? Monday, September 23 – Heroism Read Chapter 6 What constitutes a hero? How does the fire change Ponyboy’s perception of his brother? How is their relationship changed by this event? How has Cherry become an outsider”? How do Cherry and Dally compare to Romeo and Juliet? Thursday, September 26 – Dreams and Nightmares Read Chapter 7 Every family has its traditions, which provide a sense of security and belonging. Ponyboy knows that the first one up in the morning cooks breakfast; he feels the sense of responsibility to honor this tradition; cooking breakfast provides him with a sense of security. Steve Randall, Soda’s best friend experiences painful traditions with his father throwing him out of the house one day and offering him money to make up for it the next day. What are some of your family traditions? Do limits need to be set? How can one be held responsible if expectations are not met? Why is Darry so strict with Ponyboy? Monday, September 30 – Sunsets and Premonitions Read Chapter 8 The author offers further clues about Pony’s deteriorating physical and mental health. Give examples of what he says, how he acts or what others say to him.

Pony tells Two-Bit that he has “the awful feeling that something bad is going to happen at the rumble.” How does Two-Bit deal with Ponyboy’s premonition and why? Is Ponyboy’s premonition foreshadow? How do these two terms differ? How are they the same? The Outsiders airs a lot of critical and contentious issues that can confront teenagers (gangs, school dropouts, alcohol, smoking, drug abuse, teen suicide, dysfunctional families, mental illness, teen pregnancy to name a few) Does Hinton handle these “compelling” issues effectively? Support your response with examples from the text. Find references to sunsets in the chapter. What do they symbolize? Give examples of how the lines that separate the Greasers from the Socs are fading. Why does Hinton make it seem like the gangs seem interchangeable at times? Thursday, October 3- Rumble in Oklahoma Read Chapter 9 Ponyboy questions his identity with the East Side greasers and his motivation for the gang rumble. Give examples of some of the attitudes and selfdestructive behavior of his gang members. Being an outsider has come almost full circle. How is Pony beginning to view himself? How does one acquire identity and why is having one important? What character would you identify with and why? Johnny’s wish for Pony is to “Stay Gold”, a reference to Robert Frost’s poem and Hinton’s color theme. If Johnny were to write a list of rules for Pony to follow what would they be? Monday, October 7– Gone With The Wind Read Chapter 10 Pony is in a state of denial; give examples of how Pony handles his grief. Why does Johnny instruct the nurse to give Pony Gone With the Wind? Dally had a choice. How does his death ask a reader to take a closer look at the serious themes of the story?

Thursday, October 10 – Aftermath Read Chapter 11 and 12 What is your reaction to the rumble? Describe how Hinton uses contrast in comparing Randy’s crime, punishment and repercussions compared to Pony’s. Why does the judge question Pony only about his family? How is the movie like “stepping out of a movie house” after seeing a gripping movie? Friday, October 11 – Final Day Outsiders quiz and watch movie