C hinton, the main character, ponyboy, has changed a lot from the beginning of the book to the end. Darry repeatedly accuses ponyboy of lacking in common sense, but ponyboy is a reliable and observant character in the book. Greasers cant walk alone too much or theyll get jumped, or someone will come by and scream greaser. Ponyboy let get you up to speed on key information and facts on the outsiders by s. The novel describes johnny as a lost puppy and a puppy that has been kicked too many times. Ponyboy curtis is a goodnatured teen who loves books and movies. In this essay i will be writing about their unusual brotherly relationship. Ponyboy describes him as always happygolucky and grinning. Ultimately, ponyboy himself takes on the role of showing the two groups their shared humanity by writing his english essay, which turns out to be the novel itself.
One line in the poem reads, nothing gold can stay, meaning that all good things must come to an end. The narrator of the story, this character is more sensitive than the other greasers. What is ponyboys physical description in the outsiders. He lives with his two older brothers, sodapop and darry, jokester twobit, sodas friend, steve, the toughest, dally, and weakling, johnny. Terms in this set 25 at the start of the book, ponyboy is just leaving the. Ponyboy curtis, the youngest member of the greasers, narrates the novel. Together these ragtag, workingclass boys, known as greasers to the locals, try to make their way in. In this book ponyboy goes on an amazing adventure from hanging out with some lady socs. E hintons novel, the outsiders, there are many themes represented in the book, but one of the main themes is social ostracism, or the conflict between the economic classes. Ponyboy is a fourteen years old teenage, who has long hair, greenishgray eyes, and who is part of a gang called the greasers.
The socs are from the rich side and the greasers are from the poor side of this small town in oklahoma. Darrel, known as darry, is a twentyyearold greaser who is raising ponyboy because their parents have died in a car crash. Dallys death is the ultimate tribute to johnny, without whom life seemed meaningless. The narrator of ithe outsiders, ponyboy is fourteen years old and a greaser. Hinton tells the story of 14yearold ponyboy curtis and his struggle with right and wrong in a society in which he is. Later in the novel, johnny gives cherry a more detailed description of johnnys beating, and its really hard to read. Ponyboy prefers to do things, like going to movies and reading books, that he can do alone, but being alone can be dangerous for a greaser. Ponyboy describes the greasers as poor and wild than their rival gang socs socials who were very highclass people, who loved to jump the greasers. When recalling events with his older brother, soda, ponyboy claims that he loved soda more than he ever loved anyone, even his mother and father. Character of the outsiders study guides and book summaries. Though only fourteen years old, he understands the way his social group functions and the role each group member plays. Syme expresses concern over ponyboys falling grades.
A variety of factors can affects a characters coming of age. Darry took this role as a guardian or father of his brothers sodapop and ponyboy curtis after the death of their parents. The narrator of the book the outsiders was ponyboy curtis. Other than being financially and socially disadvantaged, the greasers main problem is getting jumped by the socs, the rich kids from the. A description he gives of himself is, my hair is longer than a lot of boys wear theirs, squared off in back and long in the front and sides, but i am a greaser and most greasers rarely. Hinton, follows two rival groups the socs and the greasers. Ponyboy michael curtis is the narrator and protagonist of the 1967 novel the outsiders, and its 1983 film adaptation. Ponyboy not only has just about the best name weve ever heard of we dare. Ponys interested in everything from books and movies to the intricacies of nature. In the outsiders, ponyboy shares that sodapop, or soda, is handsomer than anyone he knows. Ponyboy theorizes on the motivations and personalities of his friends and describes events in a slangy, youthful voice. The outsiders ponyboy curtis english literature essay. In this lesson, well learn more about ponyboy, his life, and his perspective on the east versus west side struggle in the book. The outsiders book hennepin county library bibliocommons.
Ponyboy has many physical characteristics that make him a distinct person in the story. The opening paragraph of chapter one of hintons novel provides ponyboys description of his own appearance. Because his parents have died in a car accident, ponyboy lives. The novel focuses on the socs and the greasers, two gangs of differing social backgrounds. They also spend more time than you might expect ruminating on how the tightness of a tshirt might enhance the rippling musculature of a steelyeyed fellow gang member this is where stephanie meyer got the idea for how to. Like comment and subscribe thanks for watching check out my friends the most amazing youtuber and friend also greater of my banner and just a really nice guy paradox jedi s. Describe ponyboy, sodapop, and darry in the outsiders. Ponyboy curtis, or pony, is the narrator for the s. The book details the conflict between two rival gangs divided by their socioeconomic status. Essay on the outsiders relationship on ponyboy and darry introduction in the book called the outsiders written by s. Ponyboys inner conflict over the deaths of his friends, for which he blames himself. E hinton, darry was a grown up boy, smart and brawn, who was the leader of a gang called the greasers and was a guardian for his brothers. Ponyboy not only has just about the best name weve ever heard of we dare you to start calling yourself kittenlad or rottweilergal, but also has a real flair for the written word ponyboy is fourteen, is our narrator, and has a ton to say about himself and his world.
Hes a little shorter than ponyboys oldest brother, darry. He has lightbrown, almostred hair and greenishgray eyes, and wears his hair longer than a lot of boys wear theirs, squared off in the back and long at the front and sides. They are all members of a greaser gang, meaning they are considered hoods or juvenile delinquents by society. What is the physical description of sodapop in the outsiders. The outsiders is a book about sensitive teenage boys who alternately get into gang fights, hug one another, and burst into tears. He offers to raise ponyboys grade if he turns in a wellwritten autobiographical theme. The 45th anniversary of a landmark work of teen fiction ponyboy can count on his brothers and his friends, but not on much else besides trouble with the socs, a vicious gang of rich kids who get away with everything, including beating up greasers like ponyboy. Johnny cade cliffsnotes study guides book summaries. They have a reputation of being juvenile delinquents, because they wear their hair.
Ponyboy curtis, whose name is often shortened to pony by those who know him, is the main protagonist of the outsiders. Character analysis of ponyboy curtis the outsiders. Ponyboy curtis, a 14 year old greaser, tells the story. Because ponyboys parents have died in a car accident, he lives with his 2 older brothers named darry and sodapop. 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. In hintons original descriptions of ponyboys gang, she uses primarily cool colors. As he lies dying in chapter 9, johnny cade speaks these words to ponyboy. Coming of age is the transition from childhood to adulthood. Quiet, nice, likes books and movies important roles in the book. Everyone has their own personalities and characteristics, even if they cant or wont show it. He is only 16 years old, but has already been beaten down by the cruelty of life. Ponyboy curtis, the fourteenyearold narrator, lives with his older brothers sodapop and darry, since their parents passed away in a car accident. Other characters include sodapop and darry, ponyboys brothers, johnny, dallas, and two. 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.
He helps johnny and ponyboy slip away to the rural town of windrixville after bobs stabbing, and he plays a key role in the church fire rescue. Stay gold is a reference to the robert frost poem that ponyboy recites to johnny when the two hide out in the windrixville church. E hinton, she writes about an important relationship between a boy called ponyboy and darry. Johnny had been severely beaten by a group of socs before this story begins. Writing his story becomes a way for pony to deal with the generous portions of grief that. What is ponyboys physical appearance in the outsiders. Ponyboys literary interests and academic accomplishments set him apart from the rest of his gang. Hes also an orphan whose two older brothers and streetsmart friends guard and protect him. At the beginning of the book, he is very set in his ideas about himself and other. Natures first green is gold, her hardest hue to hold. Ponyboys eyes are greenishgray, darrys eyes are like two pieces of pale bluegreen ice, dallys hair was almost white it was so blond and his eyes are blue, blazing ice, cold with a hatred, and twobit mathews has gray eyes. Ponyboy curtis, a teenaged member of a loose gang of greasers, is leaving. In the film, ponyboys appearance is faithful to his novel appearance.
He narrates the book and he is the protagonist in the book. Ponyboy is explaining what life is like for the greasers living on the east side of town. This character is constantly trying to make peace between his two brothers. In the curtis family, it is sodapop who helps ponyboy recognize that darrys high expectations for ponyboy result from darrys love for ponyboy and determination to provide ponyboy. The outsiders is very clear that the violence is serious and real. Selfsacrifice and honor theme in the outsiders litcharts. Book description penguin books australia, australia, 1998. Ponyboy michael curtis is the youngest among the curtis brothers and also among the gang of greasers. Get an answer for what are three personality traits of ponyboy curtis. Pony is the 14yearold younger brother of darry and sodapop curtis. Described as moviestar handsome, sodas hair is long and is a dark golden color that lightens in the summer. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. This assignment inspires ponyboy to write about the greasers and the socs, and his autobiographical theme turns.