The Outsiders Chapter 11 and 12

Summary

In these chapters, Ponyboy has to stay in bed a whole week. To pass the time, he goes through Soda’s yearbooks, where he comes across a picture of Bob. He remembers that he will soon have a hearing about Bob’s death. Randy also comes to see him and talks about the hearing. Feeling he has let down his father by getting mixed up in gang rivalry, Randy has promised to speak the truth at the hearing. He tells Pony not to worry, for Johnny was the one who had the knife and killed Bob. Pony, however, in his confused state, insists that he had the knife, that he killed Bob, and that Johnny is not dead. Hearing that Pony is upset, Darry comes in and asks Randy to leave. When they are outside, Pony hears Darry telling Randy not to speak to Pony about Johnny, as he is still mentally and emotionally unstable. When Darry returns to the room, he scolds Pony for smoking in bed. He also tells him to clean his room, for it is a mess. While talking, Darry refers to Ponyboy as "little buddy." Pony is happy that Darry now seems to care about him. Ponyboy does not have to speak much at the hearing, since his doctor has spoken to the judge about Ponyboy’s condition. The judge asks Ponyboy a few gentle questions about his home life and then allows him to return home with his brothers. After the hearing, Ponyboy becomes depressed. His grades go down, he loses his coordination, memory, and appetite, and he resumes fighting with Darry. Ponyboy’s English teacher, Mr. Syme, says that although Ponyboy is failing, he can raise his grade to a C by writing an outstanding autobiographical theme. The next day at lunch, Ponyboy goes to the grocery store with Steve and Two-Bit for candy bars and Cokes. When a group of Socs approach him, he threatens them with a broken bottle. Ponyboy’s "show" alarms Steve and Two-Bit, and they warn Ponyboy not to grow hard like Dally was. They are relieved when Ponyboy bends down to pick up the broken glass, not wanting anyone to get a flat tire. That night as Ponyboy and Darry fight about Ponyboy’s grades, Sodapop runs out of the house, upset that Sandy has returned a letter he wrote her unopened. Darry explains that Sodapop is not the father of Sandy’s child and acts puzzled that Sodapop never told Ponyboy. Ponyboy reflects that he probably acted uninterested when Sodapop tried to talk about his problems. Darry and Ponyboy go find Sodapop. He tells them their constant fighting is tearing him apart. While crying, Sodapop asks them to try to understand each other and stop fighting. They promise to try. Ponyboy thinks that Sodapop keep them together. The boys run back home. Ponyboy looks at Johnny’s copy of Gone with the Wind. He finds a handwritten note from Johnny urging him to stay gold and saying that the children’s lives were worth his own. Ponyboy realizes that he wants to tell the story of his friends so that other gangsters will not show their anger at the world and ignore the beauty in it. He begins to work on his English theme, starting with the words that begin The Outsiders: “When I stepped out into the bright sunlight from the darkness of the movie house, I had only two things on my mind: Paul Newman and a ride home.”

Reaction

I think these chapters tied up the book perfectly. There were many surprising twists that happened. Overall, these chapters were great and exciting. It was a very good way to tell the story.

Prompt Answer

I think somebody can stay "gold" forever, but it would be a very hard task. I believe somebody would stop being "gold" if they have to deal with a lot of stress and pressure.

Higher Order Thinking Questions

Chapter 11: Hypothesize why Darry was so controlling to Ponyboy when he is confused.

Chapter 12: Compare and Contrast the Socs from the beginning of the book to now.

The Outsiders Chapters 9 and 10

Summary

In these chapters, Ponyboy is feeling sick before the rumble, so he takes five aspirin. The boys take showers and make themselves look tough before leaving for the rumble. Ponyboy feels a sinking feeling when he sees the other Greasers. Twenty-two Socs arrive to fight the twenty greasers. Darry steps forward to start the fight, and Paul Holden, Darry’s high school friend and football teammate, steps up to challenge him. As Paul and Darry circle each other, Dally joins the group. As Dally arrives, the fight breaks out. After a long fight, the Greasers win. When the rumble ends, Dally and Ponyboy go to the hospital to see Johnny. A policeman stops them, but Ponyboy fakes an injury, and the officer let them get to the hospital. Ponyboy and Dally find Johnny dying. Johnny moans that fighting is useless, tells Ponyboy to stay gold, and then dies. Dally is filled with grief, and runs from the room. After Johnny’s death, Ponyboy walks alone for hours until a man offers him a ride.  Ponyboy feels confused. At home, he finds the Greasers gathered in the living room and tells them that Johnny is dead and that Dally has broken down. Dally calls and says he just robbed a grocery store and is running from the police. The gang rushes out and sees police officers chasing him. Dally pulls out his unloaded gun, and the police shoot him. Dally collapses to the ground, dead. Ponyboy dreamt that Dally wanted to die. Feeling dizzy and overwhelmed, Ponyboy passes out. When Ponyboy wakes up, Darry is right beside him. Ponyboy learns that he got a concussion when a Soc kicked him in the head during the rumble, and that he has been confused in bed for three days.

Reaction

These chapter was very exciting. It was fast-paced and included a lot of action. There were many tragic events that happened, but that just made it better. These chapters were probably my favorite of the whole book, so far.

Prompt Answer

I think Dally reacted the way he did to Johnny's death because Johnny was almost like a brother to him. Johnny was the only one able to stand up to Dally, therefore Dally felt overwhelmed and ran off. I think this was a justified response because it's like having a family member of yours killed or about to die.

Higher Order Thinking Questions

Chapter 9: If you were a part of the Socs or Greasers, would you take part in the rumble?

Chapter 10: If you were one of the police officers chasing Dally, would you shoot him?

The Outsiders Chapters 7 and 8

Summary

In these chapters, reporters and police interview Ponyboy, Sodapop, and Darry in the hospital waiting room. Sodapop jokes with the reporters and hospital staff. The doctors finally come out and say that Dally will be fine, however Johnny’s back was broken when the roof dropped. The doctors say even if Johnny survives he will be permanently crippled. The next morning, Ponyboy is making breakfast when Steve Randle, Sodapop’s best friend, and Two-Bit come in with the morning papers. The papers show Ponyboy, Johnny, and Dally as heroes for rescuing the children. They also mention Ponyboy’s excellent performance on the track team and in school. The paper mentions that the state will charge Johnny with manslaughter and send both Ponyboy and Johnny to court, from which Ponyboy might be sent to a home. The other boys reassure Ponyboy that his family will stay together. Ponyboy tells them he had his nightmare, which first occurred on the night of his parents’ funeral, the previous night. He never remembers the dream, but it makes him wake up in intense panic. Ponyboy asks Sodapop about Sandy, Soda's girlfriend, and learns that she got pregnant and moved to Florida. Her parents refused to let her marry Sodapop because of his age, so Sandy left to live with her grandmother. Sodapop and Darry go to work, and Two-Bit and Ponyboy go to get Cokes. A blue Mustang pulls up to the restaurant, and in it they see the group of Socs that jumped Ponyboy and Johnny in the park. Ponyboy feels an immediate and intense hatred for them.One of the So, Randy, comes over to Ponyboy. Two-Bit reminds him that no fighting is allowed before the rumble, but Randy says he only wants to talk. He asks Ponyboy why he saved those children and says he would never have thought a Greaser could do such a thing. Ponyboy says that it didn’t have anything to do with his being a Greaser. Randy explains that Bob was his best friend, a good guy with a bad temper and overly easy-going parents. Ponyboy feels reassured by his talk with Randy and realizes that Socs are human too. Two-Bit and Ponyboy go to see Johnny and Dally in the hospital. Johnny is weak and pale, he whispers that he would like Ponyboy to finish reading Gone with the Wind to him. As Ponyboy and Two-Bit leave, Johnny's mother blames them for Johnny’s condition, and Two-Bit insults her. Dally is recovering well in the hospital, and for the first time ever Ponyboy feels good about Dally. Dally says that Tim Shepard, the leader of another gang of Greasers, came in to talk about the rumble. Dally asks for Two-Bit’s switchblade, and Two-Bit hands it over without even asking why Dally needs it. On the way home, Ponyboy and Two-Bit see Cherry. She says that the Socs have agreed to fight with no weapons. Ponyboy asks her to go see Johnny, but she says she can't because Johnny killed Bob. She says that Bob had a sweet side and was only violent when drunk. Ponyboy calls her a traitor, but he quickly forgives her. He asks her if she can see the sunset on the West Side, and when she says she can, he tells her to remember that he can see it on the East Side too.

Reaction

My reaction to this chapter was bored. Nothing exciting really happened; and as I was reaching towards the end of chapter 8, I was happy that it was over. However, I was surprised when it said in the newspapers that Ponyboy and Johnny were still going to court after they risked their lives to save the children.

Prompt Answer

One thing that constitutes a hero is doing something heroic. For example, if somebody saves a person from a burning house, they would be considered a hero. Or, if somebody helped a drowning person, they could be considered a hero, too. I think it is possible to be considered a hero after somebody does a bad thing, however I don't think it would be very easy.

Higher Order Thinking Questions

Chapter 7: Hypothesize why Ponyboy was in the paper for his track performance.

Chapter 8: Compare Cherry from the beginning of the book to now.

The Outsiders Chapters 5 and 6

Summary

In these chapters, Ponyboy wakes up in a church realizing that Johnny really did kill Bob. Johnny went to go get supplies and returned with food, cigarettes, soap, peroxide, a deck of playing cards, and the book Gone with the Wind. Trying to blend in, Johnny cuts and bleaches Ponyboy's hair, and then Ponyboy in cuts Johnny's hair. Following Dally's orders, they stay inside the church and pass the time playing poker and reading aloud from Gone with the Wind. This routine continues for five days until Dally shows up and shows them out to the world outside. Dally brings news, and a letter for Ponyboy from Sodapop. Soda had discovered Pony's sweatshirt at Buck's and realized that Dally knew where Pony was hiding. Soda's letter expresses how worried both he and Darry are and how much they miss Pony. Dally had been picked up and questioned about the murder, and had let it slip that the boys might be heading for Texas. Dally tells Johnny and Ponyboy that it is safe to go out for a drive and get some food. They stop at a Dairy Queen and both boys eat nonstop. While Johnny and Ponyboy eat, Dally gives them a quick news of the events back home. Because of the killing, the Socs and the Greasers are engaged in all-out warfare. But, the Greasers have a secret weapon; Cherry is working as a spy. Cherry acting as a spy for the Greasers shocks Ponyboy and Johnny, but then they learn that Bob had been her boyfriend. Dally tells them that Cherry has said that she is willing to say that the Socs were drunk that night and that Johnny acted only in self-defense. Cherry's stance gives Johnny the hope he needs, and he announces that they are going to turn themselves in to the police. Dally becomes shocked, but Johnny says that he doesn't want to live in a church for the rest of his life.

Johnny keeps asking Dally whether his parents have been worried. Dally avoids his question for as long as possible, but finally tells Johnny that his parents have not been worried or asked about him. Johnny doesn't say anything, but looks devastated. Driving back from Dairy Queen, they spot the church on fire. A group of people stand around the church, and Ponyboy and Johnny jump out of the car to find out what's happening. As they arrive, one of the women shouts that some of the children are missing. Both Ponyboy and Johnny leap through a window in search of the kids. An older man, Jerry Wood, follows them, but he is unable to get through the small window. The boys quickly find the kids and hand them out through the window to safety. Dally is now at the scene and warns the Ponyboy and Johnny to get out because the roof is starting to cave in. After dropping the last kid out the window, Johnny shoves Pony out the window, and the roof collapses. Pony blacks out, but Dally goes back inside for Johnny. When Ponyboy regains consciousness, he hears sirens. He assumes that he is in a police car until Jerry Wood tells him that they are in an ambulance, and Johnny and Dally are in the ambulance behind them. Dally has a badly burned arm, but Johnny is in far worse condition. They are all considered heroes for saving the children. Ponyboy is in the waiting room, worried about Johnny and Dally, when Darry and Soda arrive. Soda gives Pony a hug, and Darry stands back with his hands dug into his pockets. When Pony looks at Darry he sees that he is crying. In that split second, Ponyboy realizes that Darry does care for him, that he was just trying too hard. After losing his parents, Darry fears losing another loved one.

Reaction

My reaction to these chapter was happy. This is because Ponyboy and Johnny were now considered heroes. This means they have more of a chance of getting away from jail. Also, Cherry is now a spy and is she is willing to testify that Bob and Dillan were drunk when they approached Johnny and Ponyboy.

Answer to Prompt Question

I believe the poem is about that nothing good can stay. For example it says "Nature's first green is gold." I believe this means that when nature is first made, it is calm and relaxing. Then, in the poem it says "Nothing gold can stay." I think this means that wherever it is calm somewhere it will eventually get destroyed. I think gold means peace.

Higher Order Thinking Questions

Chapter 5: Compare Johnny and Ponyboy's reaction to Cherry being a spy for them.

Chapter 6: Hypothsize why Ponyboy and Johnny were so quick to react to the church on fire.