The Outsiders

Character Chart
Fill in the chart below with information about the character given. Use this chart
throughout the reading of the novel. Please add information about the character as you
learn new facts or descriptions. This will help you with the character study and studying
for tests. If you need more space, write on another sheet of paper.

Name Age Physical Personality Significant

Description Traits Events

Ponyboy
Curtis

Sodapop
Curtis

Darry Curtis

Dally Winston

Johnny Cade
Character Chart

Two-Bit
Matthews

Steve Randle

Cherry
Valence

Tim Shephard

Bob

Randy
Gangs
On this page, you should keep track of the differences and similarities between the two
gangs, the Socials and the Greasers. Write the things that are different about each gang in
the outside columns. Write the things that are similar on the inside column. Update this
page after each chapter.

Greasers Similarities Socials

Greasers Differences Socials

Chapter 1
1. Who is the narrator of the story?

2. How does he feel about Soda?

3. What happens to him on the way home from the movies?

4. What does Ponyboy say the difference between Darry and their father is?

5. What does Ponyboy think about Steve?

6. Who is the “character” of the gang? Why?

7. What does Ponyboy do in biology class that surprises people?

8. What secret does Soda tell Ponyboy?

9. What do you think Soda meant when he told Ponyboy that Darry yells at him because
he has a lot of worries?

Chapter 2
1. Where are Johnny and Ponyboy when the chapter opens?

2. Why does Dally sneak in?

3. Who are the two girls they meet there?

4. Why does Dally leave and go somewhere else?

5. Who gets Dally to stop bothering the girls? Why is this surprising?

6. Why does Two-Bit tell them that Tim Shepard is looking for Dally?

7. Why do people turn and look as Ponyboy and Cherry go for refreshments?

8. Who are the people that beat up Johnny (hint: a gang and someone else)?

9. If someone tries to beat up Johnny again, what will he do?

10. After Ponyboy tells Cherry the story about Johnny, what does she say (p.34)? Do
you think that’s true?

Chapter 3
1. What seems funny to Ponyboy as they walk to get the car?

2. What does Cherry see as the differences between the two gangs? Be sure to fill in your
gang chart.

3. Who is Mickey Mouse?

4. What does Soda do when Mickey Mouse dies?

5. What do Ponyboy and Cherry both like?

6. What mean thing does Ponyboy say to Johnny? Why?

7. Why does Johnny get nervous when Bob drives up in his blue Mustang?
8. Who does Cherry confess she could fall in love with? Why?

9. What does Darry do when Ponyboy comes home late?

10. Why do you think Johnny says the gang isn’t the same as having your own folks
care?

Chapter 4
1. How many Socs are in the park?

What condition are they in?

2. What does Bob do to Ponyboy?

3. What does Johnny do to help Ponyboy?

4. Who do Johnny and Ponyboy go to for help?

Why?

What does he give them?

5. Where do Ponyboy and Johnny go to hide out?

How do they get there?

Do you think this is a good hideout? Why or why not?

6. What happened the last time that Ponyboy and Johnny went to church?
Chapter 5
1. What does Ponyboy say you do “when you haven’t got anything to do” (p69)? What
does he mean?

2. Who does Johnny say Ponyboy acts like? Why?

3. Why does Johnny cut Ponyboy’s hair?

Why is this hard for Ponyboy?

4. What book do they read together?

5. What do Johnny and Ponyboy swear they won’t do anymore before they fall asleep?

6. Why does Johnny think Dally is a hero? Do you agree with him?

7. What do you think the poem on p.77 means?

8. Who comes to visit them?

9. What does Dally tell them is happening back in town?

10. Who is acting as a spy for the Greasers?

Why do you think this person is spying?

Chapter 6
1. Do you think the whole mess is Cherry’s fault?

2. What does Johnny announce they are going to do? Why?

3. Why doesn’t Dally want Johnny to turn himself in?

4. What happens to the church?

5. How does Ponyboy describe Johnny as the two of them are inside the church (p.92)?

Why do you think Johnny is like that?

6. What does Darry do when he sees Ponyboy in the hospital?

7. What does Ponyboy finally realize about Darry?

8. What is Darry’s silent fear?

Chapter 7
1. Why were reporters interested in what happened to Ponyboy and Johnny?

2. What was Johnny’s physical condition after the fire?

3. What do the Curtis brothers like to eat for breakfast?

4. What information did Ponyboy learn from the newspaper about him and his brothers?

5. What sport is Ponyboy good at?

6. Why did Randy want to talk to Ponyboy?

7. Why didn’t Randy want to fight in the rumble?

8. According to Randy, what should Bob’s parents have done differently?

Why do you think this bothered Bob so much about his parents?

9. What does Ponyboy finally understand after talking with Randy? (find the quote)

Chapter 8
1. What two things does Johnny ask Two-Bit and Ponyboy for when he is in the
hospital?

2. What does Johnny tell Ponyboy when they are alone in the hospital room?

3. Who else comes to visit Johnny?

Why doesn’t he want to see her? Do you agree with his decision?

4. What does Two-Bit give to Dally?

5. Why won’t Cherry visit Johnny in the hospital?

6. What did Cherry love about Bob?

7. Why do you think Ponyboy asks Cherry about sunsets?

Chapter 9
1. Why do the Greasers get dressed up for the rumble?

2. What two things do Greasers have according to Ponyboy?

3. What are Darry, Soda, Steve, and Two-Bit’s reasons for fighting?

4. How do the boys describe Greasers?

5. How do the Socs look? What does Ponyboy say is important about looks?

6. Why was Darry angry at Paul?

7. How is Dally able to join the rumble?

8. What does Dally tell the police when he is stopped?

9. What are the last two things Johnny says? What do you think he means?

Chapter 10
1. What does the man who picks up Ponyboy notice about him?

2. Who calls the house? Why?

3. What happens to Dally? Why?

4. Do you think Ponyboy was right and that was what Dally wanted? Why?

5. What does Ponyboy think is different about what happened to Dally and Johnny?

6. How long has Ponyboy been asleep?

7. What is Ponyboy worried that he did when he was sick? Why?

8. What did Johnny leave for Ponyboy?

Chapter 11
1. Whose picture does Ponyboy come across in Soda’s yearbook?

2. What does Ponyboy begin to think about when he sees this picture?

3. Ponyboy says he would rather have hatred than ______________. Why do you think
he says this?

4. Who comes to visit Ponyboy? Why do you think he is there?

5. Why doesn’t Ponyboy like people to come to his house?

6. What lies does Ponyboy say to Randy? Why do you think he does this?

7. What does Darry call Ponyboy? Why does Ponyboy like this?

Chapter 12
1. Who was at the hearing?

2. What does the judge ask Ponyboy?

3. Why do you think Ponyboy’s life is so mixed up after the hearing?

4. What deal does Ponyboy’s teacher make? Why?

5. What does Ponyboy do when he sees the Socs?

6. What does Ponyboy think is good about being tough? Do you agree?

7. What does Darry tell Ponyboy that upsets him?

8. Why does Soda get so upset?

9. What does Ponyboy realize about the lies he’s been telling?

10. What does Johnny want Ponyboy to tell Dally? Why?

11. What does Ponyboy decide to write about for his English assignment?