Comprehension Questions ch. 9-12
CHAPTER 9:
1. What were the reasons that the various boy gave for fighting?
To prove themselves as a gang. To get revenge, everyone does this. They want a reputation and maintain it.
2. Why did Dally take Ponyboy to see Johnny after the rumble?
Because Johnny was dying and Johnny wanted to see Ponyboy.
3. What did Johnny mean when he told Ponyboy to “stay gold”?
Johnny meant that Ponyboy should try his best to stay himself.
4. Think about yourself. Do you ever label someone as a hood, a scum, a nerd, a dork, because of the way someone is dressed or groomed? Have you been guilty of believing a stereotype and then found out later that the person just didn’t fit that perception? What does that tell you about first impressions?
Yes, I label many of my friends jocks or nerds or dorks. Yes, sometimes those people who are labeled are just their perceptions, but some of them, are really good people inside. First impressions don't tell the whole story or personality of someone, you have to take time to look deeper and get to know them more,
5. Do you agree or disagree with Ponyboy when he said that people usually go by looks so hoods will always be the bad guys and the clean shaven, neatly dressed kids will always be considered the good guys? Why?
I disagree, some of those "hoods" could be caring and loyal people that have your back. Then some of those neat kids could be selfish and mean people.
6. Who are the good guys and bad guys in The Outsiders? Explain.
The good guys are the Greasers and the bad guys are the Socs. The Greasers are the good guys because they care about everyone and stick together. The Socs are bad people because they beat up the Greasers and don't allow their members to be with the Greasers.
7. What are the two things Greasers have to be proud of?
Their hair and themselves.
8. Who is the only Greaser who doesn’t like fights?
Darry
9. Why is Tim Shepard’s kid brother, Curly, not going to be at the rumble?
He is in the reformatory because they were burning each other.
10. Why does Ponyboy feel he and his gang don’t belong with Tim Sheperd’s gang and the Brumley boys?
11. What are the rules for the rumble?
Fists, first one to run, losses
12. Who joins the rumble at the last minute?
Dallas Winston.
13. How did Dally get out of the hospital?
He switched with Two-Bit.
14. How does the fight end?
The Socs go in retreat back to their cars.
15. Where do Ponyboy and Dally go after the rumble?
They go to the hospital to visit Johnny.
16. How do they get there so quickly?
They get to the hospital quickly because they fool the officer and tell them that Ponyboy fell of a motorcycle, then they were escorted to the hospital.
17. What does Johnny tell Ponyboy to do?
Johnny tells Ponyboy to stay golden.
CHAPTER 10:
1. Do you think the rumble was worth the trouble?
No, because it only caused more trouble, it brought a lot of people to the hospital. The rumble did not cause anything.
2. Why did Dally want to die?
He didn't care anymore. Once Johnny died, he had no more reason to live.
3. How do you think the other Greasers will end up?
Soda, Darry, and Ponyboy will step it up and mature and have their own life. They will all split up and no more of the gang, Greasers.
4. Why was Ponyboy concerned with whether or not he had asked for Darry while he was unconscious?
He doesn't want to leave Darry out. He has trouble showing emotion to him. They have an awkward and distant relationship.
5. How does Ponyboy get home from the hospital?
He was driven home by Dally, he borrows the car from Buck Marrow.
6. Why is Dally so upset about Johnny’s death?
Because Johnny was like his little brother, he was the reason for him.
7. Who phones Darry, and what does he want?
Dally calls Darry because he tells him that he robbed a grocery store.
8. What did Johnny leave for Ponyboy?
The book, Gone with the Wind. He leaves it because it was a lasting memory
9. Why wouldn’t Ponyboy eat anything when he was sick?
Because he doesn't like bologna. Since he is sick, everything tastes like bologna.
10. Why is Ponyboy worried about whether or not he called for Darry when he was sick?
He doesn't want to leave Darry out. He has trouble showing emotion to him. They have an awkward and distant relationship.
CHAPTER 11:
1. Why do you think Ponyboy was ill?
He was kicked in the head, now he has a concussion.
2. Why did Randy come to visit Ponyboy when he was ill? Why did Ponyboy not care that Randy was seeing his house in a messy condition?
They have a mutual understanding. They both have to go to court, and for them to tell the truth. He is non judgmental. He does not care about how Randy thinks about the situation because he doesn't care.
3. Why do you think Ponyboy said he’d killed Bob and that Johnny wasn’t dead? (p.g. 165-166)
He is in denial. He does not want to admit that his best friend is dead. He doesn't want Johnny to be remembered as a murderer, he wants him to die a hero.
4. Why was Ponyboy concerned about his friends seeing his house but not about Randy seeing his house?
He is non judgmental. He does not care about how Randy thinks about the situation because he doesn't care.
5. Why did Ponyboy say he’d killed Bob and that Johnny wasn’t dead?
He is in denial. He does not want to admit that his best friend is dead. He doesn't want Johnny to be remembered as a murderer, he wants him to die a hero.
CHAPTER 12:
1. Why was the court hearing important? What were possible decisions of the court?
He could have been put into jail. He could have been put into death row. It is up to the judge and the jury.
2. Why do you think Ponyboy’s like was still troubled after the court hearing?
Because it was because of what he went through. He wasn't the same after the experiences. Seeing and witnessing something like that, he is messed up.
3. What message did Johnny leave in the book?
The message was Johnny explaining the message of the poem in gone with the Wind. And epithet he was not afraid of dying.
4. What do you think the doctor told the judge before the hearing?
He told him that he was going through emotional stress.
5. Why did Ponyboy’s life seem so different after the hearing?
He was different. He was absentminded. He felt nothing, he had no emotions. He was emotionally numb.
6. Why did Soda think that being like Dally before he died was worse than being dead?
Soda believed that being with Dally before he died was worse than being dead because Dally didn't have anyone.
7. What do you think Ponyboy will write about in his theme? Why? What will be the result of his having written about events of the past week? (Hint: Look at the first two sentences of the novel.)
He wanted to be like Paul Newman, tough, which he did become.
8. Why does Ponyboy think that his experiences as a Greaser are important for everyone to read about?
You should know all aspects good or bad. Also to show that they are like everyone. They experience like everyone else.
9. What is one of the stereotypes in this novel? How is it INACCURATE?
Greasers were white trash. It was inaccurate because there are many different kinds of Greasers.
10. What is the theme of The Outsiders? There is definitely more than one right answer.
The theme is that everyone is the same, no matter what their situation is. Life is rough for everyone. To not be a leader and don't do bad things,
11. What is Darry’s motivation throughout the novel?
He is like the father figure to all of his sibling, especially Ponyboy, because he wants them to have a more successful life than he did.
12. Why is the last sentence of the book unusual?
The last sentence of the book was unusual because it was realistic. It was also normal for Ponyboy to think of Paul Newman with Gone with the Wind. And usually he has someone to take him home, his brothers.
1. What were the reasons that the various boy gave for fighting?
To prove themselves as a gang. To get revenge, everyone does this. They want a reputation and maintain it.
2. Why did Dally take Ponyboy to see Johnny after the rumble?
Because Johnny was dying and Johnny wanted to see Ponyboy.
3. What did Johnny mean when he told Ponyboy to “stay gold”?
Johnny meant that Ponyboy should try his best to stay himself.
4. Think about yourself. Do you ever label someone as a hood, a scum, a nerd, a dork, because of the way someone is dressed or groomed? Have you been guilty of believing a stereotype and then found out later that the person just didn’t fit that perception? What does that tell you about first impressions?
Yes, I label many of my friends jocks or nerds or dorks. Yes, sometimes those people who are labeled are just their perceptions, but some of them, are really good people inside. First impressions don't tell the whole story or personality of someone, you have to take time to look deeper and get to know them more,
5. Do you agree or disagree with Ponyboy when he said that people usually go by looks so hoods will always be the bad guys and the clean shaven, neatly dressed kids will always be considered the good guys? Why?
I disagree, some of those "hoods" could be caring and loyal people that have your back. Then some of those neat kids could be selfish and mean people.
6. Who are the good guys and bad guys in The Outsiders? Explain.
The good guys are the Greasers and the bad guys are the Socs. The Greasers are the good guys because they care about everyone and stick together. The Socs are bad people because they beat up the Greasers and don't allow their members to be with the Greasers.
7. What are the two things Greasers have to be proud of?
Their hair and themselves.
8. Who is the only Greaser who doesn’t like fights?
Darry
9. Why is Tim Shepard’s kid brother, Curly, not going to be at the rumble?
He is in the reformatory because they were burning each other.
10. Why does Ponyboy feel he and his gang don’t belong with Tim Sheperd’s gang and the Brumley boys?
11. What are the rules for the rumble?
Fists, first one to run, losses
12. Who joins the rumble at the last minute?
Dallas Winston.
13. How did Dally get out of the hospital?
He switched with Two-Bit.
14. How does the fight end?
The Socs go in retreat back to their cars.
15. Where do Ponyboy and Dally go after the rumble?
They go to the hospital to visit Johnny.
16. How do they get there so quickly?
They get to the hospital quickly because they fool the officer and tell them that Ponyboy fell of a motorcycle, then they were escorted to the hospital.
17. What does Johnny tell Ponyboy to do?
Johnny tells Ponyboy to stay golden.
CHAPTER 10:
1. Do you think the rumble was worth the trouble?
No, because it only caused more trouble, it brought a lot of people to the hospital. The rumble did not cause anything.
2. Why did Dally want to die?
He didn't care anymore. Once Johnny died, he had no more reason to live.
3. How do you think the other Greasers will end up?
Soda, Darry, and Ponyboy will step it up and mature and have their own life. They will all split up and no more of the gang, Greasers.
4. Why was Ponyboy concerned with whether or not he had asked for Darry while he was unconscious?
He doesn't want to leave Darry out. He has trouble showing emotion to him. They have an awkward and distant relationship.
5. How does Ponyboy get home from the hospital?
He was driven home by Dally, he borrows the car from Buck Marrow.
6. Why is Dally so upset about Johnny’s death?
Because Johnny was like his little brother, he was the reason for him.
7. Who phones Darry, and what does he want?
Dally calls Darry because he tells him that he robbed a grocery store.
8. What did Johnny leave for Ponyboy?
The book, Gone with the Wind. He leaves it because it was a lasting memory
9. Why wouldn’t Ponyboy eat anything when he was sick?
Because he doesn't like bologna. Since he is sick, everything tastes like bologna.
10. Why is Ponyboy worried about whether or not he called for Darry when he was sick?
He doesn't want to leave Darry out. He has trouble showing emotion to him. They have an awkward and distant relationship.
CHAPTER 11:
1. Why do you think Ponyboy was ill?
He was kicked in the head, now he has a concussion.
2. Why did Randy come to visit Ponyboy when he was ill? Why did Ponyboy not care that Randy was seeing his house in a messy condition?
They have a mutual understanding. They both have to go to court, and for them to tell the truth. He is non judgmental. He does not care about how Randy thinks about the situation because he doesn't care.
3. Why do you think Ponyboy said he’d killed Bob and that Johnny wasn’t dead? (p.g. 165-166)
He is in denial. He does not want to admit that his best friend is dead. He doesn't want Johnny to be remembered as a murderer, he wants him to die a hero.
4. Why was Ponyboy concerned about his friends seeing his house but not about Randy seeing his house?
He is non judgmental. He does not care about how Randy thinks about the situation because he doesn't care.
5. Why did Ponyboy say he’d killed Bob and that Johnny wasn’t dead?
He is in denial. He does not want to admit that his best friend is dead. He doesn't want Johnny to be remembered as a murderer, he wants him to die a hero.
CHAPTER 12:
1. Why was the court hearing important? What were possible decisions of the court?
He could have been put into jail. He could have been put into death row. It is up to the judge and the jury.
2. Why do you think Ponyboy’s like was still troubled after the court hearing?
Because it was because of what he went through. He wasn't the same after the experiences. Seeing and witnessing something like that, he is messed up.
3. What message did Johnny leave in the book?
The message was Johnny explaining the message of the poem in gone with the Wind. And epithet he was not afraid of dying.
4. What do you think the doctor told the judge before the hearing?
He told him that he was going through emotional stress.
5. Why did Ponyboy’s life seem so different after the hearing?
He was different. He was absentminded. He felt nothing, he had no emotions. He was emotionally numb.
6. Why did Soda think that being like Dally before he died was worse than being dead?
Soda believed that being with Dally before he died was worse than being dead because Dally didn't have anyone.
7. What do you think Ponyboy will write about in his theme? Why? What will be the result of his having written about events of the past week? (Hint: Look at the first two sentences of the novel.)
He wanted to be like Paul Newman, tough, which he did become.
8. Why does Ponyboy think that his experiences as a Greaser are important for everyone to read about?
You should know all aspects good or bad. Also to show that they are like everyone. They experience like everyone else.
9. What is one of the stereotypes in this novel? How is it INACCURATE?
Greasers were white trash. It was inaccurate because there are many different kinds of Greasers.
10. What is the theme of The Outsiders? There is definitely more than one right answer.
The theme is that everyone is the same, no matter what their situation is. Life is rough for everyone. To not be a leader and don't do bad things,
11. What is Darry’s motivation throughout the novel?
He is like the father figure to all of his sibling, especially Ponyboy, because he wants them to have a more successful life than he did.
12. Why is the last sentence of the book unusual?
The last sentence of the book was unusual because it was realistic. It was also normal for Ponyboy to think of Paul Newman with Gone with the Wind. And usually he has someone to take him home, his brothers.