The Outsiders By S. E. Hinton: Chapter Analysis

Exposition: The Outsiders By S.E Hinton doesn't make the setting very clear, but I think the story takes place in an unnamed city in the united states in the early 1960's. In the novel, there is the West side, and the East side, the Greasers, “The poorer than the Socs and the middle class” (Hinton 2) live on the East side. I The story introduces the main characters- Pony Boy Curtis a 14 year old who is the narrator of the story and, brother to Soda and Darry “ I have light-brown, almost-red hair and greenish-gray eyes” (Hinton 1), Sodapop Curtis a 16 year old and middle brother to Ponyboy and Darry “ Soda is handsomer than anyone else I know.” “He's not as tall as darry,and he's a little slimmer” (Hinton 7), Darrel Curtis a 20 year old also

This happens in chapter 9 when the rumble begins. The reason why Chapter 9 is important is because the rumble is turned into a lesson. The lesson being that violence won't solve anything and won't make anything better. After the greasers won the rumble, they understood that violence is useless and nothing had improved for them. Johnny was still dying in the hospital, the greasers were injured, and the separation of the three brothers was still on the line. The rumble began with the Greasers, The Brumly Boys and Tim Shepard's gang meeting up at the vacant lot. Shortly after the Socs show up in their cars. As the fight begins Darry steps up and says '' I'll take on anyone." (Hinton 142) Paul Holden (Darry's old friend and football member of his old team) steps up and faces Darry. As they are talking Dally shows up fresh out of the hospital because he escaped, and yells out'' This ain't a rumble without me". Paul throws a punch at Darry's jaw and the rumble begins. Everyone vs the Socs. A few minutes later the Socs started running away and that signaled the defeat of the

At the court hearing, the charges are dropped and Pony is allowed to stay under the custody of Darry, keeping the Curtis boys together. Later in life Ponyboy finally has the courage to finish the book Johnny had left him, Gone with the Wind. Inside the book there was a note from him saying: Stay gold kid Stay gold. Johnny also tells Pony his sacrifice to save all the little boys and girls in the church was worth dying for because he felt like a hero in the end when parents thanked him and made him feel important. (Hinton 178-179) Pony learns that not all Socs are the same, just like not all Greasers are the same. He begins to see past the stereotype, realizing guys are just guys. Pony writes a story for English, telling Johnny's story for all the boys in the world who have a struggling life just like theirs. He begins his story with, "When I stepped out into the bright sunlight from the darkness of the movie house, I had two things on my mind: Paul Newman and a ride home." (Hinton