Susan Hinton: The Outsiders

4. Do you think that different groups of people are treated differently? If so, how? If not, why not?

5. Imagine that you were a character in the book. Would you be associated with the Greasers or the Socs? Why?

6. Discuss the various attitudes toward fighting found in The Outsiders . Which attitudes do you agree with? Which attitudes do you disagree with? Do you feel that violence can ever be justified?

7. Who is the narrator of The Outsiders ? What point of view is it told in? What effect do you think this has on the story?

8. How do Ponyboy’s relationships with Darry and Sodapop differ? Explain. Do you think Darry loves Ponyboy? Why does he treat Ponyboy the way he does?

9. Johnny is portrayed as being particularly quiet and sensitive. Why do you think he is this way? How do the other Greasers treat him?

10. Why is the “gang” so important to Johnny? How is his family situation different from that of Ponyboy and his brothers?

11. Dallas is portrayed as a particularly tough character. What makes Ponyboy admire him? Is Dally redeemed by his love and concern for Johnny?

12. Ponyboy says, “I lie to myself all the time.” What do you think he means by this? And why do you think he does it? Do you ever lie to yourself? Why?

13. What does Cherry tell Ponyboy is the difference between the Socs and the Greasers? How does this differ from Ponyboy’s perspective on the situation?

14. Ponyboy says, “Johnny and I understood each other without saying anything.” What does he mean by this statement? Have you ever had a relationship with someone who you understood, or who understood you, without having to say anything?

15. When and how did Pony’s parents die? How were his and his brothers’ lives changed by this?

16. How do Johnny’s prior experiences with the Socs affect his behavior in the park? Does the fact that he was defending his friend’s life justify his actions? Why or why not?

17. What is your definition of a hero? Do you think that Johnny, Ponyboy, and Dallas are heroes? Explain.

18. Ponyboy says that he would rather have someone’s hate than their pity. Why do you think he says this?

19. Ponyboy says, “Johnny didn’t have anything to do with Bob’s getting killed.” What do you think he means by this? Does he believe that this is true?

20. Johnny leaves the copy of Gone with the Wind to Ponyboy. Why is this significant? How does it illustrate their friendship?

21. Examine Robert Frost’s poem, “Nothing Gold can Stay.” What do you think the poem is saying? How does this apply to the characters in the novel? What does Johnny mean when he tells Pony to “stay gold”?

22. Do you think it is obvious that the novel was written when the author was only sixteen years old? Support your answer with details from the book.

S. E. HINTON’s career as an author began while she was still a student at Will Rogers High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Disturbed by the clashes of the two gangs in her high school, the Greasers and the Socs, Hinton wrote The Outsiders , an honest, sometimes shocking novel told from the point of view of a 14-year-old Greaser named Ponyboy Curtis.

The Outsiders was published during Hinton’s freshman year at the University of Tulsa, and was an immediate sensation. Today, with more than fourteen million copies in print, the book is the bestselling young adult novel of all time. The book was also made into a film in 1983, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and featuring budding young stars Tom Cruise, Matt Dillon, and Rob Lowe.

The Outsiders brought with it publicity and fame. S.E. Hinton became known as “The Voice of the Youth.” This overnight success also brought a lot of pressure, resulting in a three-year-long writer’s block. Her boyfriend (now husband) eventually helped break this block by suggesting she write two pages a day before going anywhere. This ultimately led to her second novel, That Was Then, This Is Now . Ms. Hinton went on to write several other novels, including Rumble Fish and Tex .

In 1988 she was awarded the first annual Margaret A. Edwards Award, given in honor of “an author whose book or books, over a period of time, have been accepted by young adults as an authentic voice that continues to illuminate their experiences and emotions, giving insight into their lives.”

S. E. Hinton still lives in Oklahoma with her husband and son, where she enjoys writing, riding horses, and taking courses at the university.