The Outsiders

Ch. 3 & 4 Comprehension Questions

Chapter 3:
1. Why do you think Ponyboy and Cherry become good friends?
- Ponyboy and Cherry become good friends because they are honest with each other, they open
and can talk civilized and polite conversations about each other.

2. Do the characters in this book seam “real”? Why or why not? How does Hinton try to make
them believable?
- The characters in this book seem real and believable because the characters experience things
that people in real life could experience, like the loss of parents, or getting beat up. So it is
relatable. Hinton tries to make them believable because of the events and characters in the
story are relatable to real life.

3. Why did Cherry and Marcia leave their dates?

- Cherry and Marcia left their dates because their dates wanted to get drunk, and they were
worried about the amount of things that could happen when they were drunk and that it wasn't
fun. She also didn't want to get in trouble if a fight were to break out.

4. Why do you think Darry hit Ponyboy?

- Darry hit Ponyboy because Ponyboy was out late, even though he had a curfew, and he also
defends Sodapop and picks Soda's side, which infuriates Darry even more.

5. Why do you think Ponyboy and Cherry told each other things they had never told anyone
else before?
- They told each other things they had never told any else before because they trust each other
6. Do you agree with Johnny that having friends care for you is not the same as having your own
folks care about you? Why or why not?
- It's not the same because your parents and family are supposed to love you and are supposed
to support you throughout your whole life, while friends typically come and go, but the gang is
supporting Johnny more than his family.

7. What did Cherry say was the main difference between the Socs and the Greasers?
- Cherry said that the main difference between the Socs and the Greasers was that the Greasers
were more emotional, while the Socs were "sophisticated-cool to the point of not feeling
anything." (p. 35)

8. What was the name of Sodapop’s horse? What happened to Soda’s horse?
- The name of Sodapop's horse was Mickey Mouse. Soda's horse didn't belong to him, and was
sold for a high price one day, which made Soda upset because he loves horses and that he
didn't have enough money to own one.

9. Why did Ponyboy think that maybe his world and Cherry’s weren’t so different?
- Ponyboy thinks that maybe his world and Cherry’s might not be different because both go
through tough times and both watch the same sunset.

10. Why did Johnny stare at the rings on the Soc’s hand?
- He stared at the Soc because he assumed the rings on the Soc’s hand were the same rings that
the Soc used to beat him up and gave him the scar.

11. Why did Cherry and Marcia let their drunken boyfriends drive them home?
- They let their drunken boyfriends drive them home because they are avoiding a fight and
don’t want to get into trouble.

12. What was the last thing Cherry says to Ponyboy before she leaves in the car?
- Cherry says that she hopes she never sees Dally again, or else she might fall in love with him.
13. How long has it been since Ponyboy’s parents were killed?

- It has been 8 months since Ponyboy’s parents were killed

14. Why was Ponyboy late getting home?

- He fell asleep in a vacant lot with Johnny.

Chapter 4:
1. Who (Greasers or Socs) do you think was wrong in this situation in this chapter?
-Both are wrong because the Socs came in to the Greasers' territory and started the fight, while
the Greasers were wrong in the way the retaliated.

2. If you had been one of the Socs how would you have felt after Bob was stabbed? If you had
been one of the Greasers, how would you have felt after Bob was stabbed? What causes the
difference?
- If I were a Soc, I would've felt shocked, and left because I would believe that the kid had the
intent to kill, and might do it again. If I were a Greaser, I would still feel, shocked, but stayed
with Johnny, calm him down, and go back to the gang. The difference is the fact that a greaser
would stick together with their gang, while a soc would run away because they didn't know
him.

3. Why did Ponyboy turn to Dally for help?

- Ponyboy turned to Dally for help because Dally is older, wiser, and reliable when it comes to
escaping from the type of situation they were in.

4. What does Bob say a Greaser is?

- Bob said a Greaser was white trash with long hair.
5. What do the Socs do to Ponyboy?
- The Socs tried to drown Ponyboy in the fountain and almost killed him.

6. What does Ponyboy see when he recovers consciousness?

- When Ponyboy recovers and comes to his senses, he saw Johnny sitting next to him with a
switchblade, and Bob's body on the ground bleeding and unmoving

7. Why did Johnny attack Bob?

- Johnny attacked Bob because Bob was drowning and slowly killing Ponyboy, so he felt he
needed to defend him.

8. Where do Johnny and Ponyboy go when the leave the park?

- They go to Buck Merril's place to find Dally and ask help and advice from him.

9. What does Dally give Johnny and Ponyboy?

- Dally gave Johnny and Ponyboy money, a loaded gun, as well as a large shirt for Ponyboy.

10. Where does Dally tell them to go?

- He tells them to go to a church at Jay Mountain and stay there.

11. How do they get there?

- They go to the church by train.

12. How do they find the church?

- They asked a farmer where Jay Mountain is, and lied saying they were playing army.