In The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, Ponyboy experiences the first stage of grief after Johnny dies, which is denial. When in the denial stage, the person denies the reality of the situation and “We block out the words and hide from the facts” (Axelford). This happens to Ponyboy after Johnny dies. Ponyboy is aware of Johnny’s death, “But he wasn’t. That still body in the hospital wasn’t Johnny. Johnny was somewhere else” (Hinton 150). This shows the denial stage because Ponyboy is afraid to admit that Johnny is gone forever. Although it is a painful experience, this benefits Ponyboy because it makes it less overwhelming for him. That is how Ponyboy deals with the death of Johnny. In The Outsiders, Dally experiences the second stage of grief