The Outsiders Worksheets

What is this book about?

The story revolves around a 14-year-old boy, Ponyboy Curtis, and the struggles he had to make against the rights and wrongs of society. Ponyboy, along with his brother Darrel and Sodapop, lost their parents in a car accident. They end up living under the guardianship of Darrel, since he was the oldest among the siblings. The story begins when Ponyboy is beaten badly, on his way back from the movies, by a gang named the Socs. The rival gang of Greasers who the boys belonged to; were the rivals of the Socs. Filled with numerous twists and turns, the outsiders are another classic literature, which makes you think you're actually living the life of Ponyboy Curtis.

Character Sketches

A look at the characters as they and others see them. Fill in each box with details from the text. In some cases, you should use quotes to support your answer.


Who Are the Main Characters?

Ponyboy Curtis - He's the 14-year-old protagonist and narrator of the book; and the youngest greaser in the gang. What sets him apart from the rest is his exceptional literary sense, along with the academic qualification. His parents died in a car accident, which made him live alone with his brother Darrel and Sodapop. Darrel Curtis - Darrel Curtis is the oldest sibling in the Curtis family, who becomes the guardian of his younger brothers after their parents died. The 20-year-old greaser is strong, athletic, and intelligent. He also works two jobs to meet ends and is termed as Superman by his siblings. Sodapop Curtis - Sodapop is Ponyboy's older brother, but younger one of Darrel. He's a happy-go-lucky fella; who is not only admired by all of the gang members but has the looks to complement it. He plans to marry Sandy, a greaser girl. Steve Randle - Steve was Sodapop's best friend and 17-year-old greaser as well. Steve knows a lot about the car and specializes in stealing hubcaps. A tall and cocky fellow; with a strong body who took care of four guys at once.

Reading Summaries

After each chapter, it is important to remember the important events that the author included and why he/she included those events. Summaries should discuss everything that occurred in a chapter; only the important things. When you listen to a chapter being read or you read a chapter, it is important to take notes. Look at the information below to help you with your chapter summaries.


Why is The Outsiders a Classic Piece of Literature?

S.E. Hinton started writing The Outsiders when she was 15 years old and sold it at 17. The whole idea behind a teenager writing fiction was a new element in the era. Hinton claimed that most of the books which high school students read had nothing to do with what they faced on a daily basis. Moreover, it also showcased the struggles which the brothers faced in the wake of tragedies and the tyranny of the rich. The character showed by them ensure that the readers get the right idea of what children go through in society.

Essay Writing

Write a four paragraph essay that answers the following writing prompt. Be sure to use details from the novel( a.k.a quotes) to support your answer. Before you begin writing, you will plan your essay using the outline. You must complete the outline before you begin writing your essay.


Who Wrote The Outsiders?

Susan Eloise Hinton wrote the classic novel the Outsiders. She was born on 22nd July and is unarguably the best young writer of her time. She wrote this iconic book during her high school days, in which she introduced the YA genre. This book started her career as a renowned author, in which she never looked back!

Chapter 1-2 Questions

Identify Ponyboy, Darry, and Soda. What are the characteristics of each? What actions support these character traits?

Chapter 3-4 Questions

According to Pony, why is there is a separation between the Greasers and the Socs? What do you think of Pony's reason?

Chapter 5-6 Questions

Why was Pony upset about getting a haircut? What does his hair symbolize?

Chapter 7-9 Questions

When Johnny's mother came to visit him at the hospital, how did he respond? If you were Johnny how would you respond?

Chapter 10-12 Questions

What does Pony think is different regarding what happened to both Johnny and Dally? Why does he think this?


What is the Main Problem?

The Outsiders remains one of the most dramatic novels ever written. The writer, S.E. Hinton, wrote this novel when she 15 and published it at 17. The coming-of-age story is narrated by one of the main characters, Ponyboy Curtis. The book showcases the struggles of three brothers who lost their parents in a car accident. However, several conflicts make it a controversial read for young children. First of all, Ponyboy is a member of a gang, named Greasers which had poor people as members. They fight with a gang of rich kids, known as the Socs. The story involves Johnny, Ponyboy's friend, to kill a member of the Socs in a fight. When the story gets even more controversial as Ponyboy, his brothers, and his friends strive to become mature adults rather than killers.

Chapter Summaries

Identify the title, author, and topic in the first sentence. State the main idea of the chapter in the second sentence. Begin with a sentence that states the topic of the chapter. Include a sentence that states a main event of the chapter. Include 3-5 sentences in which you explain, in your own words, what happened. Include one or two interesting quotations or details to support what you are saying. Include why the author might have included the event. Organize the ideas in the order in which they appear in the chapter. Use transitions such as "A second event that occurred” and "Another event" or "In addition to". Include enough information so that someone who has not read the chapter will understand the events.

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What Moral Does the Book Express?

Apart from being the most dramatic novel in the 19th century, the Outsiders still holds significant value for readers of all ages. Firstly, it shows the importance of camaraderie and friendship, especially by the narrator, Ponyboy Curtis. At one point, he said, “You take up for your buddies no matter what they do. When you're in a gang, you stick up for the members”. This saying holds significant value for Ponyboy; since he witnessed a great tragedy in his young life. He lost his parents at a young age. On top of that, he had to survive a harsh world with his brothers and the Greasers. These people were like his family, and their tenuous friendship helped them become better individuals. The story starts with Ponyboy and a group of Socs (socials). Meanwhile, rich drunk boys drive from the west side and beat up Greasers only for fun. They hate and fear Socs as they once beat up the first group members such as Ponyboy's friend and fellow Greaser Johnny Cade. Johnny and Ponyboy watch movie with their friend Dally Winston including Socs girls Marcia and Cherry. They meet with Socs with girl's boyfriends Randy and Bob. The Bob is the boy who beaten up Johnny but, there is no fighting incident occurred between them. Instead, both girls go home with their boyfriends. Darry slaps Ponyboy due to late arrival then, he runs off to Johnny. Drunk Soc, Bob, and Johnny meet again when Bob threatens Johnny then a little clash starts among them. Then, Johnny and Ponyboy inform Dally about their shelter in state's old church. There was a massive conflict going on in the Church. Johnny died in the Hospital as he saved children trapped in it. Police arrested Dally due to store robbery. The Moral refers to the heroism of Johnny as he saved innocent kids and sacrifices his life forever. It lets us learn that whatever life you are living and how much wealth you have, you don't forget the humanity and should always be good for no reason.

Character Journals

After you read each chapter, choose a character and consider what is going on in your character's mind. Write one paragraph describing the character's reaction to the events in the chapter. Think about the conflicts that your character faces in the chapter. What events are important? This paragraph should be written in "I" form because you are pretending to be the character.


What is the Plot of the Book?

The book Outsider’s theme is a work of fiction. The uppermost message that the author Hinton tried to eradicate class difference that is destructive, pointless, and unwarranted. Consider Chapter#1, page#3, “Ponyboy declare themselves Greaser as their entire group belong to East side. In this, way the author expresses the book’s theme that is class conflict. The purpose of the attitude of Socs and Greasers was their different social classes. It becomes the reason of massive destruction and the lives of many innocent people went in a great danger. As a result, we read the Bob’s assassination due to violence, Johnny’s death, and the transformation of Ponyboy’s life. If we look at the character of Ponyboy’s character Cherry, we learn that all Socs are not the same that means some of them are good. But they have issues that are same as Greasers. The plot of the story revolves around a boy named Ponyboy Curtis, who, along with his brothers, was struggling with a lot. They lost their parents in a car accident, after which the struggles for them began. Ponyboy belonged to a gang of poor children named the Greasers. Their war was against the Socs, who were the rich kids in the region. As they find ways to survive every day, they learn the importance of friendship, camaraderie, and survival. More importantly, the book also tells us how different events and mishaps make us stronger every day. That is, in essence, the true plot of the novel, “The Outsiders.”

Chapter Vocabulary Words

Look up each word and define the word. After you define the word, write a sentence using the word. The worksheets are broken down by chapter.

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Why Is It Seen as a Controversial Book?

The outsiders, when it was released, was a controversial book; and it remains that to date. In 1986, the book was challenged in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to be included in the eighth-grade reading list. The problem was that the book had drug and alcohol abuse, and almost every character was from broken hopes. It has been banned from schools and libraries; because it also has gang violence, strong language, underage drinking and smoking, and family dysfunction.