The OutsidersBy S.E. Hinton

Objectives:1.

2.

3.

Author information

1960s information

Themes and basics of the book

S.E. Hinton• Published The Outsiders in 1967 at the age of 17 (Began writing it at 15).

• The story was inspired by a real-life event at Hinton’s high school in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

• The Outsiders is widely considered the first realistic young-adult novel.

• Other Hinton books include Rumble Fish, Tex, and That Was Then, This is Now.

Susan Eloise Hinton

Music and FilmHere are some images of popular artists and movies.

Elvis Presley

Paul NewmanThe Beach Boys

Beach movies

The Beatles

Fashion

During the time period of the novel, Soc “types” would wear madras shirts and khakis. You can see an example of typical clothing below.

James Dean embodied the cultivated Greaser image. Leather jacket, jeans, white t-shirt and boots were typical of boys who emulated the free and uncontrolled lifestyle Dean seemed to live.

Madras Shirts

Hair Grease

CarsHere are two cars that are mentioned in The Outsiders. The Covair is the first car mentioned in the book.

Chevy Corvair

1965 Ford Mustang

Drive-in RestaurantsThese restaurants were a typical place to take a date. They were also where gangs hung out.

The American DreamHappiness for the characters of The Outsiders was a girl, a car, some money, a strong group of friends, and probably an ice-cold bottle of soda. How much has changed?

Major topics developed in The Outsiders

The f ight between r ich and poor. 1.

2. T he power o f f r iendship.

3. W hat does i t mean to be a hero?

4. T he jour ney f rom youth to adu l thood.

Look for these topics to develop as we read the book!

General Setting⌖ The Outsiders

presumably takes place in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where S.E. Hinton grew up. ⌖ We mostly see the

east side of the city, from the perspective of the Greasers.

The two major groups of characters in The Outsiders

Greasers Socs (Pronounced “soshes”)

madras – clothes with a plaid design

jeans, leather jackets, t-shirts

Symbols

The switchblade represents strength and power. The Greasers felt safer when carrying this to protect themselves.

The cigarette is a symbol commonly seen in the book as well. Many of the Greasers started smoking at an early age. It made them feel older and helped them fit into their group. Later it became a way of passing time and keeping calm.

Socs

The blue Mustang represents the upper class Socs. It stands for money, power and authority.

The rings are a symbol of wealth.

Do you know...

your 1960s...

slang?

fuzz heater

broad rank

Watch out, the fuzz is after us! When did you start carrying a heater?

That Kim is one knock-out broad!

That band you like is rank!

tuff hood

cancer stick

A 1967 Mustang is one tuff car. The hoods cause trouble at night.

Pass me a cancer stick, Johnny.

jumped hacked off

rumblepickled

He got really pickled!

(under the influence)

He got jumped by three guys.

There was a big rumble at the park.

I was hacked off at my parents.

make tracks the cooler

JD weed

Hurry, we gotta make tracks.

The JD got five months in jail. I could really use a weed right now.

When did you get out of the cooler?