Discussion qUESTIONS
CHAPTER 1
1. How does the narrator describe himself?
2. Why does he like to go to the movies alone?
3. What happens to him on the way home from the movies?
4. How does he feel as he is being followed? Why? What signs does he exhibit that tell you this is how he feels? How does he get out of it?
5. What happened to the parents of the narrator?
6. What do we learn is the name of the narrator?
7. Why is Ponyboy so reluctant to tell Darry how he really feels afterwards?
8. Who are Soda and Steve? Where do they work?
9. How did Two-Bit get his nickname? What is his real name?
10. According to Ponyboy, what is different about Dally from the rest of the guys?
11. Why does Darry work so hard?
12. What does Sodapop tell Ponyboy about his plans for Sandy and himself?
13. Describe Ponyboy, Soda, and Darry‘s relationship with each other.
CHAPTER 2
1. How do the boys get into the Nightly Double? Why do they choose to do that?
2. Why does Dally use vulgar and abrasive language with the girls at the movies?
3. How do the girls respond to the insults? From their reactions, what can you conclude about their personalities?
4. Why is Ponyboy uncomfortable about Dally‘s behavior?
5. Explain why the girls are okay with Johnny and Pony, but not Dally.
6. Why are the girls alone and without a car?
7. What does Two-Bit do that scares Johnny and Pony? Relate why it is especially frightening to Johnny.
8. What rule do the Greasers follow, besides “stick together”? How do you think these rules came to be?
9. Describe the attack on Johnny. Why do you think the attack was so traumatic to him?
CHAPTER 3
1. What does Cherry tell Ponyboy about the Socs?
2. Relate the story of Mickey Mouse and Soda. Why do you think it was included in the novel?
3. Explain the reference to the watching the sunset. Why is it an important part of the buildup of the relationship between Cherry Valance and Ponyboy?
4. When the blue Mustang rolls up, what are its occupants hoping to do? What do the Greasers think they want?
5. Give your opinion of Cherry saying, “…if I see you in the hall at school or someplace and don‘t say hi, well, it‘s not personal…” Explain the reasons for your point of view.
6. What do Pony and Johnny do instead of going home after the movies, and what is the result?
7. Why doesn‘t Darry call the police when Ponyboy doesn‘t arrive home until 2:00 a.m.?
8. Why do Ponyboy and Johnny run away?
9. Why does Johnny say he likes it better when his father is hitting him?
10. Paraphrase why Darry seems like such an angry person.
Chapter Four
1. What happens to Ponyboy at the park?
2. Why does Johnny go after Bob? What is the result?
3. Why does Johnny react so violently to the Socs?
4. To whom do Ponyboy and Johnny go for help? What does he give them? What does he tell them to do?
5. How do the boys get to where they are going? Where are they going to stay?
6. Interpret what Ponyboy means when he says, “things are happening too quick. Too fast.” Do you ever get a similar feeling in your own life? Explain.
7. Why do you think the author included the flashback to when all the guys went to church together? Do you think it was important to include that scene? Why?
8. Make a prediction about Ponyboy‘s ”premonition.” How could this be a hint of something that is being foreshadowed?
Chapter Five
1. When Pony wakes up, why is he alone? What does Johnny bring back?
2. What do the boys do to disguise themselves? Why is Pony so reluctant to do anything with his hair?
3. How did the boys show their feelings as emotion overcame them? Do you think their behavior was “in character” or did it deviate from the image the writer was trying to create? Explain.
4. How do they pass the time over the next few days? What do they eat?
5. Why does Ponyboy get sick on the fifth day at the church?
6. What does Dally bring to Ponyboy from Sodapop? What does Pony learn from it about Darry‘s feelings?
7. How did Dally mislead the police?
8. Where do they go in Buck‘s car?
9. When Dally says that his heater “sure does help a bluff…” what does he mean?
10. Who is the “spy” Dally speaks of?
Chapter Six
1. “The spy” thinks the whole mess was her fault. Dally agrees that it is. Thinking back on the story, do you believe the trouble they are all in is because of her? Explain.
2. What does Johnny announce that he and Pony are going to do? Why does he think it is best?
3. What does Dally tell Johnny when he asks about his parents? How does Johnny react? How is his reaction different from how Dally would react?
4. What is happening at the church when they return? Describe what they do about it.
5. What happens to Ponyboy and Johnny because of their actions?
6. Why does Dally club Pony across the back?
7. Where are they headed when Pony wakes up? Where are Johnny and Dallas? Describe each of the boys‘ injuries.
8. How do Soda and Darry react when they see Ponyboy?
9. Describe the change that has taken place in the relationship between Ponyboy and Darry.
1. How does the narrator describe himself?
2. Why does he like to go to the movies alone?
3. What happens to him on the way home from the movies?
4. How does he feel as he is being followed? Why? What signs does he exhibit that tell you this is how he feels? How does he get out of it?
5. What happened to the parents of the narrator?
6. What do we learn is the name of the narrator?
7. Why is Ponyboy so reluctant to tell Darry how he really feels afterwards?
8. Who are Soda and Steve? Where do they work?
9. How did Two-Bit get his nickname? What is his real name?
10. According to Ponyboy, what is different about Dally from the rest of the guys?
11. Why does Darry work so hard?
12. What does Sodapop tell Ponyboy about his plans for Sandy and himself?
13. Describe Ponyboy, Soda, and Darry‘s relationship with each other.
CHAPTER 2
1. How do the boys get into the Nightly Double? Why do they choose to do that?
2. Why does Dally use vulgar and abrasive language with the girls at the movies?
3. How do the girls respond to the insults? From their reactions, what can you conclude about their personalities?
4. Why is Ponyboy uncomfortable about Dally‘s behavior?
5. Explain why the girls are okay with Johnny and Pony, but not Dally.
6. Why are the girls alone and without a car?
7. What does Two-Bit do that scares Johnny and Pony? Relate why it is especially frightening to Johnny.
8. What rule do the Greasers follow, besides “stick together”? How do you think these rules came to be?
9. Describe the attack on Johnny. Why do you think the attack was so traumatic to him?
CHAPTER 3
1. What does Cherry tell Ponyboy about the Socs?
2. Relate the story of Mickey Mouse and Soda. Why do you think it was included in the novel?
3. Explain the reference to the watching the sunset. Why is it an important part of the buildup of the relationship between Cherry Valance and Ponyboy?
4. When the blue Mustang rolls up, what are its occupants hoping to do? What do the Greasers think they want?
5. Give your opinion of Cherry saying, “…if I see you in the hall at school or someplace and don‘t say hi, well, it‘s not personal…” Explain the reasons for your point of view.
6. What do Pony and Johnny do instead of going home after the movies, and what is the result?
7. Why doesn‘t Darry call the police when Ponyboy doesn‘t arrive home until 2:00 a.m.?
8. Why do Ponyboy and Johnny run away?
9. Why does Johnny say he likes it better when his father is hitting him?
10. Paraphrase why Darry seems like such an angry person.
Chapter Four
1. What happens to Ponyboy at the park?
2. Why does Johnny go after Bob? What is the result?
3. Why does Johnny react so violently to the Socs?
4. To whom do Ponyboy and Johnny go for help? What does he give them? What does he tell them to do?
5. How do the boys get to where they are going? Where are they going to stay?
6. Interpret what Ponyboy means when he says, “things are happening too quick. Too fast.” Do you ever get a similar feeling in your own life? Explain.
7. Why do you think the author included the flashback to when all the guys went to church together? Do you think it was important to include that scene? Why?
8. Make a prediction about Ponyboy‘s ”premonition.” How could this be a hint of something that is being foreshadowed?
Chapter Five
1. When Pony wakes up, why is he alone? What does Johnny bring back?
2. What do the boys do to disguise themselves? Why is Pony so reluctant to do anything with his hair?
3. How did the boys show their feelings as emotion overcame them? Do you think their behavior was “in character” or did it deviate from the image the writer was trying to create? Explain.
4. How do they pass the time over the next few days? What do they eat?
5. Why does Ponyboy get sick on the fifth day at the church?
6. What does Dally bring to Ponyboy from Sodapop? What does Pony learn from it about Darry‘s feelings?
7. How did Dally mislead the police?
8. Where do they go in Buck‘s car?
9. When Dally says that his heater “sure does help a bluff…” what does he mean?
10. Who is the “spy” Dally speaks of?
Chapter Six
1. “The spy” thinks the whole mess was her fault. Dally agrees that it is. Thinking back on the story, do you believe the trouble they are all in is because of her? Explain.
2. What does Johnny announce that he and Pony are going to do? Why does he think it is best?
3. What does Dally tell Johnny when he asks about his parents? How does Johnny react? How is his reaction different from how Dally would react?
4. What is happening at the church when they return? Describe what they do about it.
5. What happens to Ponyboy and Johnny because of their actions?
6. Why does Dally club Pony across the back?
7. Where are they headed when Pony wakes up? Where are Johnny and Dallas? Describe each of the boys‘ injuries.
8. How do Soda and Darry react when they see Ponyboy?
9. Describe the change that has taken place in the relationship between Ponyboy and Darry.