I have not read the book, so i was not sure what to expect. The theme of divided communities in the outsiders from. It is told in a firstperson narration style, with the narrator being a 14yearold boy. If youre in the market for a book thats resonated with teenagers for decades, definitely try the outsiders. Read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary and analysis. Welcome to the haralson county charter school district. The outsiders is a famous young adult novel by american author s.
But, it does teach us the importance of friendship, seeing how much of a strong bond the whole gang has, especially ponyboy, and johnny. The theme of preserving childhood innocence in the outsiders. The outsiders can be termed a comingofage novel because of the many topics that the story deals with. An authors message in a work of fiction is more often than not referred to as the theme. Based on stephen kings bestselling novel, the outsider begins by following a seemingly straightforward investigation into the gruesome murder of a young boy. Hinton has a few themes present in the outsiders, but i feel the most powerful theme message is that. Puffin is proud to publish this contemorary classic for a new generation of readers. Hinton was 15 when she started writing the novel but did most of the work when she was 16 and a junior in high school. Hinton, in tulsa, oklahoma, ponyboy curtis, the youngest of a clan that was poor in the east side of town known as greasers, is a guy with good grades and is very sensitive.
Hinton, follows two rival groups the socs and the greasers. Ponyboy concludes that loyalty is paramount and expected when you are in a gang. The greasers and socs are divided by their wealth, social class and opportunities to succeed. Hinton reflects on the outsiders sep 29, 2007 beyond its cluster of office towers, tulsa is a city built close to the ground, a broad clash of neighborhoods you can tell apart by how the grass grows, bright and.
Ponyboy and his greaser gang fight rival gang the socs short for socials, the wealthier, more preppie kids and try to make a place for themselves in the world. Hinton is that you dont have to be who others want you to be or what your crowd is you can be anything you want and you have your whole life to do it. Gang violence, child abuse, stabbings, shootingsthese drive the action. I have showed what ponyboy learned and hope you have learned the same. The authors message is the theme in a work of fiction in the outsiders, hintons message is that class conflict is pointless, unwarranted, and destructive ponyboy begins by explaining. The socs are from the rich side and the greasers are from the poor side of this small town in oklahoma. When two poor greasers, johnny, and ponyboy are assaulted by a vicious gang, the socs, and johnny kills one of the attackers, tension begins to mount between the two rival gangs, setting off a turbulent chain of events. Sep 23, 2015 the outsiders is gritty, honest and authentic, and a novel that i feel every teenager needs to read. After the initial introductions to the characters and the basic conflicts, we find ourselves on a wild ride full of fights, rumbles, shootouts, and the flashing bulbs of newspaper cameras. A lot of the time i feel that the outsiders was meant to be written, and i was chosen to write it. Welcome,rules, regs, and other boring but necessary stuff rules, regs, and other stuff to read before you post a safe, friendly, closely moderated place for fans to discuss all things having to do with this title or any of s. Despite dally being the aggressor in the situation, johnny justifies his actions in coming to dallys defense. The outsiders 1983 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more.
Hinton was 15 when she started writing the novel, butdid most of the work when she was sixteen and a junior in high school. Hinton begins to lay out her main theme early in the book, when she has cherry teach ponyboy that things are rough all over. Thirty years later, it speaks to teenagers as powerfully as ever. Cigarette smoking, like many serious issues, is treated in the novel as part of everyday life. Many of them have led hard lives already, and they are tough, angry and unforgiving. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of the outsiders and what it means.
But when an insidious supernatural force edges its way into the case, it leads a seasoned cop and an unorthodox investigator to question everything they believe in. Both groups despise each other because they do not understand each other. The author s message is the theme in a work of fiction. Hinton weaves together a couple of pretty compatible genres to create the overall effect of the outsiders. The outsiders is gritty, honest and authentic, and a novel that i feel every teenager needs to read. I am a fan of jason bateman so that is what initially drew me in. Looking at life as an outsider and feeling as though one is being treated as an outsider is a matter of. What do you think is the messagemoral in the outsiders.
The outsiders what seems to be the novels message about innocence. What is the inspiration behind the book the outsiders. Over the last few years, we have seen continual growth with the district and more change is coming as we move forward in a progressive manner. The outsiders was written by a teenager about teenagers. The outsiders tells the story about two groups of teenagers who are rivals and mostly because of their socioeconomic differences. We could mostly found this message when johnny said in the end stay gold.
However, hinton suggests, these differences in social class do not necessarily make natural enemies of the two groups. This story deals with issues that are very close to the hearts of teens, whether in the 1960s when this book was written or today. This forum is intended to focus on the books primarily, with some discussion on the movies made from them. Praise for the outsiders this remarkable novel gives a moving, credible view of the outsiders from the inside. Greasers cant walk alone too much or theyll get jumped, or someone will come by and scream greaser. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. Ponyboys daydreams about the country, his appreciation of sunrises and sunsets, and his rescue of the children from the burning church distinguish him from other characters in the novel. Hinton i will discuss character and plot development, as well as the setting, the authors style and my opinions about the book. Hinton has written many wellknown books such as that was then, this is now, rumble fish, tex, but shes most famous for her book the outsiders, that is why three most important focuses are theme, symbolism, and characterization. Although in the beginning of the book the socs and greasers hate each other, they begin to realise they are not that different and have several similarities. In the end ponyboy starts as he started, walking out of the theater.
The authors of books for teenagers are still 15 years behind the times, she wrote in an oped for the new york times. When it was published, the outsiders was controversial because of its portrayal of gang violence, delinquency, underage drinking and smoking, and strong language. The novel tells the story of ponyboy curtis and his struggles with right and wrong in a society in which he believes that he is an outsider. I mean, my second oldest brother, soda, who is sixteengoingon seventeen, never cracks a book at all, and my oldest brother, darrel, who we call darry, works too long and hard to be interested in a story or drawing a, picture, so im not like them. Through symbolism, the main character in the book sees his true potential and how he should never lose who he is.
Ponyboy stands in the middle of two major conflicts. Ponyboy begins by explaining that he is a greaser, a term he says is used to class all us boys on the east side ch 1, p. The horn book a new york herald tribune best teenage book a chicago tribune book world spring book festival honor book an ala best book for young adults. Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work. Her millionselling book not only helped establish the young adult novel but remains a classic story of gangs at knifes edge. Hintonaccording to wikipedia, the outsiders is a coming of age novel by s. The outsiders is a book that everyone should read, it shows a glimpse of a life that some think is a story or a myth, and to others is a reality. T he book did have a message of staying young and innocent, but i also thought it was saying it is possible to stay true to yourself for the rest of your life. Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in the outsiders, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. Why the outsiders still matters 50 years later rolling stone. A good example is cherry and ponyboy they both share their love for literature, popular music, and sun set. Ponyboy curtis, a teenaged member of a loose gang of greasers, is leaving a movie theater when he is jumped by socs, the greasers rival gang. Hinton wrote the book when she was only 16 because she wanted a story that looked seriously at teenage life.
In the outsiders, hintons message is that class conflict is pointless, unwarranted, and destructive. Get it today with same day delivery, order pickup or drive up. Although in the beginning of the book the socs and greasers hate each other, they begin to. I guess the best reply is its the book, not the author and its the message, not the messenger. There is some underage drinking on the part of the socs. There is also some violent parts to the books, such as a murder, a rumble, and a suicide by cop. What is the theme or message in the book the outsiders answers. S e hinton the struggle of three brothers to stay together after their parents death and their quest for identity among the conflicting values of their adolescent society. It is with great pleasure that i write to you as your superintendent.
Hinton demonstraits that they are not that different from each other, they have many things in common. Its certainly done more good than anything i could accomplish on a personal level. Johnnys letter is a letter in the copy of gone with the wind that johnny asked the nurse in the hospital to give to ponyboy text in the book ponyboy, i asked the nurse to give you this book so you could finish it. E hinton makes you feel empathy for the characters. The outsiders study guide contains a biography of author s. The novel explores the impact of living in a place where a teenager cant even walk home by himself and where fear is the predominant emotion, as is the case for recently orphaned ponyboy curtis and his friends. As the title suggests, the outsiders is a theme in itself. The outsiders is about two weeks in the life of a 14yearold boy. Summary introduction in this book analysis, about the book the outsiders by s. Find the quotes you need to support your essay, or. He lives with his two older brothers, sodapop and darry, jokester twobit, sodas friend, steve, the toughest, dally, and weakling, johnny. In this part of the analysis i will give some information about the subjects of the book, and about. Through ponyboys life and story, the author depicts friendship as a force. The horn book a new york herald tribune best teenage book a chicago tribune book world spring book festival honor book an ala best book for.
E hintons the outsiders is a book about a boy named ponyboy who is apart of a gang called the greasers. All in all the outsiders does convey a messages of not judging people based on how they look and family is an important aspect in life. Symbolism in the outsiders science leadership academy. Hinton, is an excellent story about the hardships and triumphs experienced by the greasers and the socs, two rival. The outsiders 1967 is a wellknown young adult novel by american writer s. These are only a few of many instances in the book where friendship plays a crucial role. What he ment was that no matter what how the society acts or what they do you should always be you, dont try to do things yoiu dont want just to impress some one or to try to fit in. The novel explores the impact of living in a place where a teenager cant even walk home by himself and where fear is the predominant emotion, as is. The outsiders shows the importance of preserving the hope, openmindedness, and appreciation of beauty that are characteristic of childhood. The theme of the book the outsiders is a story of two groups of teenagers who go through ups and downs related to their socioeconomic status.
It tells the story of 14yearold ponyboy curtis and his two older brothers, soda and. To clarify which book it is, its the outsiders by s. The outsiders tells the story of two groups of teenagers whose bitter rivalry stems from socioeconomic differences. Susan elouise hinton started this book at the age of 15 as a short story about a boy who gets beaten up on the way home from the movies. The outsiders has been one of the most popular book among teens and preteens since it came out in 1967.
Nov 29, 2010 in the book the outsiders it is basically a party that the socs have for kids. National observer this remarkable novel gives a moving, credible view of the outsiders from the inside. Hinton, the major theme surrounds the conflict between the social classes, but there are other underlying themes as. See a complete list of the characters in the outsiders and indepth analyses of ponyboy curtis, johnny cade, cherry valance, sodapop curtis, and darry curtis. This message underscores the importance of male bonding in the novel to the creation of unity and structure. Sep 22, 2015 an important theme in the book the outsiders by s. Hinton is credited to have written one of the first novels about young adults, for young adult readers. Sep 27, 2009 the theme of the book the outsiders is things are rough all over, nothing gold can stay, and never judge a book by its cover. The outsiders what were johnnys last words to ponyboy. Hinton, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. She began writing at a young age and allowed her horizons to expand. Hinton tells the story of 14yearold ponyboy curtis and his struggle with right and wrong in a society in which he is. Based on two rival teenage gangs, the poor, eastside greasers, and the rich, westside socials socs, the outsiders is told through the eyes of sensitive, 14yearold greaser, ponyboy curtis. It makes the reader see that at the end of the day, as ponyboy says, we see the same sunset.
241 885 978 1054 1185 1465 1345 1290 610 446 987 158 210 1419 1496 1654 754 82 934 1199 269 874 124 692 459 1419 323 273 1272 1092 470 972 170 994