YEAR 8 ENGLISH
the outsiders

This guide has been developed to support the novel The Outsiders.
If you have any problems with these resources or need further help, please contact Mrs Bakitch.

Last updated 10 April 2024
Watch the following video for a summary of the story.
The Outsiders was written by S.E. Hinton in 1967 when she was just a teenager. 

Find out 15 Fascinating Facts about S.E. Hinton's 'The Outsiders'.
Don't forget there is an audiobook of ​The Outsiders available on Connect.
  • S.E. Hinton
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    Abrams, D. (2009). S.E. Hinton. Chelsea House.
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    Barowski, J. (n.d.). S.E. Hinton. Study.com
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    eNotes. (2010). S.E. Hinton biography. https://www.enotes.com/topics/s-e-hinton/biography
    Source: Penguin Young Readers
  • Setting
    The setting of The Outsiders​ is based on Hinton's hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma in the 1960s, where she was living when she wrote the story as a high school student.

    Tulsa is the second largest city in Oklahoma and former "Oil Capital of the World".
    Where is Oklahoma?
    Source: Nations Online
    Find out more about the setting and time period from Study.com
    Gangs in the 1960s
    1960s
    The book reflects what was happening to Americans, and other western countries, during the 1960s. Young people were attempting to find their voices and express their own political opinions. The Civil Rights movement was drawing attention towards the racial discrimination of African Americans.
    Greasers
    Greasers were a groups of teenagers with a particular style and look mainly from working and lower class people in the United States & Canada.
    Cars
    ​Fashion
    Music
  • Study Guides
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    Clark, Janet. (n.d.). CliffsNotes on The Outsiders. https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/o/the-outsiders/book-summary
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    Course Hero. (2017). The Outsiders study guide. https://www.coursehero.com/lit/The-Outsiders/
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    SparkNotes. (2005). The Outsiders: Study guide. https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/outsiders/
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    Fogt, Lis. (2013). The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. https://www.litcharts.com/lit/the-outsiders
    Source: AdobeStock
  • Chapter Summaries, Vocabulary & Context
  • Character Information
    BOB SHELDON
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    Tuschman, S. (n.d.). Bob in The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. Study.com
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    Shmoop. (2008). Bob Sheldon in The Outsiders character analysis.  https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/the-outsiders/bob-sheldon.html
    DALLAS WINSTON "DALLY"
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    Mastrangelo, G. (n.d.). Dally Winston in the outsiders. Study.com
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    Shmoop. (2008). Dallas Winston in The Outsiders character analysis. https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/the-outsiders/dallas-winston.html
    DARRYL CURTIS "DARRY"
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    Shmoop. (2008). Darrel Curtis in The Outsiders character analysis. https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/the-outsiders/darrel-curtis.html
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    Watson, K. (n.d.). Darry in the outsiders. Study.com
    JOHNNY CADE
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    Shmoop. (2008). Johnny Cade in The Outsiders character analysis.  https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/the-outsiders/johnny-cade.html
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    Tomczyk, W. (n.d.). Johnny Cade in The Outsiders. Study.com
    PONYBOY CURTIS 
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    Shmoop. (2008). Ponyboy Curtis in The Outsiders character analysis. https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/the-outsiders/ponyboy-curtis.html
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    Tomczyk, W. (n.d.). Ponyboy in The Outsiders. Study.com
    SHERRI "CHERRY" VALANCE
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    Rogers, E. (n.d.). Marcia and Cherry in The Outsiders. Study.com
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    Shmoop. (2008). Sherri Valance in The Outsiders character analysis. https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/the-outsiders/sherri-valance.html
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    Tomczyk, W. (n.d.). Cherry Valance in the outsiders by Hinton. Study.com
    THE SOCS
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    Perdue, N. (n.d.). Socs in The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. Study.com
    SODAPOP CURTIS 
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    McNeill, E. (n.d.). Sodapop in The Outsiders. Study.com
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    Shmoop. (2008). Sodapop Curtis in The Outsiders character analysis. https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/the-outsiders/sodapop-curtis.html
    TWO-BIT MATTHEWS
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    eNotes. (n.d.). What are Two-bit's personality traits and physical characteristics in The Outsiders?  https://www.enotes.com/topics/outsiders/questions/what-personality-traits-physical-apperance-two-bit-129945
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    McNeill, E. (n.d.). Two-Bit in The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. Study.com
  • WHAT ARE LITERARY DEVICES?

    ​Literary devices are techniques and structures used by writers to
    • convey a message
    • create an effect
    • evoke emotions in the reader 
    ​​
    These devices can be used to add emphasis to a literary work, make it more interesting, or convey a deeper meaning. The use of literary devices can turn a simple piece of writing into a masterpiece, and can make the reader engage with the text on a deeper level.​
    Literary Devices.com
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    Gray, K., & Clayton, J. (2017). Literary devices in the outsiders. Study.com
    Figurative language
    When words mean something other than their literal meaning.
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    Gray, K. (2017). Personification in The Outsiders. Study.com
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    Gray, K. (2021). Metaphors in The Outsiders. Study.com
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    Shinaberry, A. (n.d.). Figurative language in The Outsiders. Study.com
    Foreshadowing
    Foreshadowing is a literary technique used by an author to provide clues or hints of what might happen later in the story. It often predicts terrible or dangerous circumstances to come, but not always. Foreshadowing usually heightens suspense and excitement in the story.​
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    Gray, K. (2017). Foreshadowing in The Outsiders. Study.com
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    SparkNotes. (2005). The Outsiders: Foreshadowing. https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/outsiders/foreshadowing/
    Symbolism
    Symbolism is when an idea, feeling, emotion or other concept is used to represent something else.
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    Borrowman Tolley, K. (2016). What does Gone with the Wind symbolize in The Outsiders? https://www.enotes.com/topics/outsiders/questions/what-story-gone-wind-symbolize-outsiders-647619.
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    Course Hero. (2017). The Outsiders symbols. https://www.coursehero.com/lit/The-Outsiders/
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    Course Hero. (2020, March 15). The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton - Symbols [Video]. YouTube. ​​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpUsJKymygw
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    eNotes. (n.d.). What does Pepsi symbolize in The Outsiders? https://www.enotes.com/topics/outsiders/questions/what-pepsi-symbolize-outsiders-769453​
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    Mantooth, K. (n.d.). The burning church in The Outsiders. Study.com
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    SparkNotes. (2005). The Outsiders: Symbols. https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/outsiders/foreshadowing/
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    Shmoop. (2008). The Outsiders symbolism, imagery, allegory. https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/the-outsiders/symbolism-imagery.html
  • WHAT IS A THEME?
    Theme is an underlying message or the big idea of a story. This message could tell more about human nature or life in general. Many stories have more than one theme.
    There are several ways a reader can piece together the story's theme. The reader can ask himself or herself these questions:
    • Do the characters learn anything throughout the story?
    • Do the characters change at all?
    • Do the characters have any beliefs about life or people in general?
    • Why do the characters act the way they do?

    ​The theme of a story is never directly told to the reader. It needs to be figured out by making an inference. An inference is putting together puzzle pieces to determine a larger picture.
    Study.com
    THEMES
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    Course Hero. (2020, March 15). The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton - Themes [Video]. YouTube. ​​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0S-hsrIE1Ew
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    Course Hero. (n.d.). The Outsiders themes. https://www.coursehero.com/lit/The-Outsiders/themes/
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    eNotes. (n.d.). The Outsiders themes. https://www.enotes.com/topics/outsiders/themes
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    Gunner, J. (2021). What is the main theme of The Outsiders? https://www.yourdictionary.com/articles/outsiders-theme
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    McNeill, E. (n.d.). The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton: Themes, analysis & symbols. Study.com
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    Shmoop. (2008). The Outsiders Themes. https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/the-outsiders/themes.html
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    SparkNotes. (2005). The Outsiders: Themes. https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/outsiders/themes/
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    Frey, A. (2020). The Outsiders themes. https://www.thoughtco.com/the-outsiders-themes-4691824