The Outsiders

by: S.E. Hinton

The Outsiders is a novel focusing on the life of 14 year old Ponyboy. Ponyboy explains that there are two people in his town, greasers and socs. Ponyboy is a greaser and constantly has to watch his back as well as his friends. The greasers and the socs have always fought and it's not uncommon for an argument to break out between the two. Most fights just end in a few bruises, until one of Ponyboys friends ends up killing a socs and the boys have to run and hide. Ponyboy learns that no matter your social status, pain and guilt feels the same.

Students may have a difficult time relating to this book because it was written so long ago. The young kids are depicted far different than how kids act these days. The boys are constantly drinking, smoking, and running around the town. These are not common things that middle schoolers are doing. There are also hard phrases to understand as well as terms and concepts that are no longer talked about. For example, the term switchblade is not a common term used often, so it may be difficult for students to understand. Though the book may be initially hard for students to connect with, it still shares some major themes of violence, loneliness, insecurities, and poverty. These topics may be relatable for students.

If I were to teach this book in my class, I would try to relate the book to my students in a different way. For example, I might teach a lesson on identity. Identity plays a huge role in the novel (greasers v. socs). Students can analyze the two differnet groups based on personality, appearance, traits, and activities. Then students can group themselves as well, explaining their identity. This would also be a great book to teach about stereotypes and stereotyping and the harm it can do. We can pull in other, more recent, events that will help students further understand the ideas.

Themes within the Novel

1. Violence, and the cycle of it...

Fighting is a common theme that occurs within the novel. The greasers and the socs are constantly fighting and will never back down against a fight. This is has been engrained in the boys since they were born. In the novel, Ponyboy explains that a lot of the fights that they have come on because of grudge. He also states that often the socs start the fights because they have everything they could need and they are just bored. In their gangs, the fighting has gone on for so long that usually at some point, someone has either been badly harmed or killed. This creates a new level of revenge seeking. No matter how often Ponyboy realizes that fighting is not important and it doesn't fix the issues, he still continues to do it. Time after time, Ponyboy continues to fight because that's all he has ever done.

2. Honor...

Honor is a huge theme within the novel. When Johnny and Ponyboy get into trouble, Dally shows loyalty by helping them get away to the next town until things calm down. Darry, stayed back to help his brothers and turned down a chance to get out of the greaser lifestyle and go to college. Dally, who was once believed to not care about anyone but himself, shows his ultimate honor by helping during the fire.

3. Identity

Identity plays a huge role in the book The Outsiders. Each character within the novel has an identity and they stick to it. Often, their identity is not one that they have chosen for themselves, but rather were put into due to stereotypes. The greasers, look, act, and talk one way. This way of life is very different from the socs. The two never mix and it is in their identity that they must fight against each other. This is also where stereotyping plays a role. Everyone has preconceived notions about the others and it takes a lot of understanding for the groups to realize that they aren't much different.

Current Events

This book deals with a lot of ideas that are still prominent in today's society. One major idea is the stigma around mental health. Students in middle school are often masking their mental health issues and/or not quite sure what to do with them. Here are some links that can be useful for students in middle school...

This video explains mental health in simplistic terms

This video focuses on stress and anxiety.

Another current event that occurs within the text is issues and tension surrounding socioeconomic status. Again, this could be a major stressor for students and could affect them daily. Here are some articles focusing on how to help ease the divide in the classroom.

Here are a few quick ways to address socioeconomic gaps in the classroom.

Here are just a few other methods to combat inequalities in the classroom.

Lastly, another very important topic that is explained in this novel is adolescent development. This occurs within the friendship of Ponyboy and his friends as well as their families (or lack there of). Adolescent development is a pivotal role of the middle school life style.

Check out this article about developmental milestones.

Community Members

Some effective members that could talk to my students would be the social worker within the school. The social worker could explain all of the duties they have and the ways that they can help the students. The social worker could explain adolescent mental health as well as familial issues that she can aid students in.

I would also have a police officer come in to talk about the issues with gang violence and how to seek help if you were to get involved with the wrong crowd.

Lastly, I would have someone in the medical field come in and discuss the issues behind pre-exposure to alcohol and smoking. This book glorifies drinking and smoking and discusses the two like it's okay for middle schoolers to be partaking in this activity. If a healthcare worker were to come in, they could discuss the health issues and safety issues with partaking in these activities.

Quotes:

"You know you shouldn't be smoking"

"How come?" "Why, um you're too young."

"I am? I had never thought about it."

(Ch. 6)

"Greasers can't walk alone too much or the'll get jumped, or someone will come by and scream"Greaser!" at them, which doesn't make you feel too hot, if you know what I mean. We get jumped but eh Socs. I'm not sure how you spell it, but it's the abbreviation for the Socials, the jet set, the West-side rich kids. It's like the term "greaser," which is used to class all us boys on the East Side" (pg. 2).

"I lie to myself all the time. But I never believe me" (pg. 18)

"You take up for your buddies, no matter what they do. When you're a gang, you stick up for the members. If you don't stick yp for them, stick together, make like brothers, it isn't a gang anymore. It's a pack. A snarling, distrustful, bickering park like the Socs in their social clubs or the street gangs in New York or the wolves in the timber" (pg. 26).

"I really couldn't see wha the Socs would have to sweat about - good grades, good cars, good girls, madras and Mustangs and Corvairs - Man, I thought, if I had worries like that I'd consider myself lucky. I know better now" (pg. 36).

"You get a little money and the whole world hates you. No, I said, you hate the whole world" (pg. 117).

"Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold..." (pg.148).