The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton Pre-Reading Information

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

Pre-Reading Information

Anticipation GuideAnticipation Guide

Answer “true” or “false” Most people are not content with what they have. It is common to feel like a loner (outsider) sometimes. People should be judged by how they look or what

they have. A person is often stereotyped by the people he hangs

out with. It is ok to stereotype people. Popular means that you are better. It is ok to pick on people who are different than you. It is good to have friends to count on.

S.E. HintonS.E. Hinton stands for Susan Eloise

Born in the 1950’s in Tulsa, Oklahoma

She started The Outsiders at age 15

It was published in 1967

Young Adult Fiction

The language and details of the story are rooted in the 1960s

The setting is in the Southwest

Bridging the gap between rich and poor

Honor among the lawless Treacherousness of male-female interactions

The book takes place in TulsaTulsa, OklahomaOklahoma in the Mid-1960sMid-1960s.

Symbols:Symbols: symbols are objects, characters, figures, or colors used to represent abstract concepts or ideas. SymbolsSymbols to watch for:

Two-Bit’s SwitchbladeTwo-Bit’s Switchblade, CarsCars, Bob’s RingsBob’s Rings, Greaser Greaser HairHair

Motifs:Motifs: motifs are recurring structures, contrasts, or literary devices that can help to develop and inform the text’s major themes.Some motifsmotifs are:literatureliterature, eye shape and coloreye shape and color, and Ponyboy’s losses of Ponyboy’s losses of consciousnessconsciousness.

This book is narrated by the protagonist Ponyboy. It is narrated in the first first person subjectiveperson subjective.

objective = factsubjective = opinion

First person objective - I am 21 years old.First person subjective- I think the sky is purple.

Be aware of the one sided narration of 1narration of 1stst person person subjectivesubjective

Search for some examples of the themesthemes discussed here

Look for some of the motifsmotifs and uncover their importance to the text

Chapters 1 & 2 Vocabulary

After reading Chapters 1 & 2: Study QuestionsAfter reading Chapters 1 & 2: Study Questions

1. Identify Darry, Soda, & Ponyboy. 2. How are Greasers different from Socs? 3. Who were other members of Pony’s gang? 4. What happened to Pony on the way home from the

movies? 5. Who did Dally, Johnny and Ponyboy meet at the Nightly

Double? 6. Contrast Dally’s approach to Cherry and Marcia with

Pony’s. 7. Contrast Cherry’s response to Dally with her response to

Pony. 8. Why were Cherry & Marcia alone at the drive-in? 9. Why was Pony surprised that he was getting along with

Cherry & Marcia? What had happened to Johnny prior to the time of this

story?

Picture Credits Animated book http://www.aurealtd.co.uk/

animated_book02.gif

S.E. Hinton photo http://fuzzyllama.net/mediac/

400_0/media/hinton_se.jpg

Outsider’s cover http://

www.eastchester.k12.ny.us/schools/Ms/teachers/burke/images/outsiders_000.jpg

School cafeteria http://

www.departments.dsu.edu/dsuarchives/images/Student%20Life/East%20Hall%20Cafeteria%20snack%20bar%201960%20%202%20small.jpg

Gold stick figure Power Point clip art