Chapter 9 and 10: Quote analysis

1. Quote: 

“I’m a greaser, same as Dally. He’s my buddy”

Context: 

Ponyboy said that to Cherry at the movies when she said something bad about Dallas.

Paraphrase: 

Ponyboy said that to protect Dally and stickup for him. He wants to say that all Greasers all the same and that Dallas is his friend.

Inference: 

It tells us that Ponyboy is a very good friend to all his gang members and sticks up for them no matter what.

2. Quote: 

“All Socs aren't like that… That’s like saying all you greasers are like Dallas Winston”.

Context:   

Cherry said that to Ponyboy when they were sitting together at the movies after Ponyboy told Cherry that Johnny got beaten up by the Socs.

Paraphrase:

I think that Cherry meant that just because the Socs have a reputation for jumping people and most of them are mean that not all of them are like that. When she said "That’s like saying all you greasers are like Dallas Winston” she meant the same: that just because the Greasers have a reputation for robbing stores and most of them do that, it doesn't mean all the Greasers are like that.

Inference:

This quote tells us that Cherry is different than the other Socs and she actually has a heart and doesn't want to harm anyone. She also understands that not all Greasers jump people. 

3. Quote: 

“Darry and the Soc walked slowly in a circle. Even I could feel their hatred. . They used to be buddies, I thought, they used to be friends, and now they hate each other because one has to work for a living and the other comes from the West side”.

Context: 

This is what Ponyboy was thinking whilst he was watching Darry and Paul walking in a circle glaring at each other before starting the rumble.

Paraphrase: 

With this thought, I think Ponyboy meant that he could feel how much they hated each other just because one has to work for a living and the other is from the West side. I think Ponyboy just feels astonished that they used to be friends and are now sworn enemies.

Inference:

This quote tells us that Ponyboy feels surprised that difference of living styles can make friends split apart. He can feel their hatred because its so strong.

Chapter 7 and 8: Character metaphors

Metaphors about Dallas

 

My three metaphors are:

1.  A sheep in wolf’s clothing                                                      2.  As tough as old boots

 

 

                                            3.  As bold as brass                                             

Here is the poster I made using one of the above metaphors:

Chapter 5 and 6: Poem analysis

Nature's first green is gold,

Her hardest hue to hold.

Her early leaf's a flower;

But only so an hour.

Then leaf subsides to leaf,

So Eden sank to grief,

So dawn goes down to day

Nothing gold can stay.

This poem that was written by Robert Frost has a personal meanings for Johnny and Ponyboy. I think this poem has a deep story behind it. I think each sentence has its own meaning. The poem starts of by saying "Nature's first green is gold" which means that all the boys had a pretty good life and were mostly innocent. The poem then continues and in the book the boys grow up. "Her hardest hue to hold" means that it was hard to stay innocent seeing the situations they were in. "Her early leaf's a flower" means that they were all sweet and nice and then "But only so an hour" meant they wouldn't stay innocent long and they would soon do something that they would regret. So I think that "So Eden sank to grief" means that the boys regret what they did. "So dawn goes down to day" means that the beauty disappears. Then to finish it of: "Nothing gold can stay" in the book means that nothing good stays the way it is. 

In the chapter, Ponyboy recites the poem from memory. Ponyboy and Johnny were looking at the sunrise and there was a gold and silver mist. Johnny said that it was too bad it couldnt stay like that because it was so beautiful. That's why Ponyboy started reciting the poem. The line "Dawn goes down to day" refers to how the sunrise of dawn would disappear into day time and "Nothing gold can stay" refers to how the gold mist couldn't stay. 

To the Greasers the poem is all about innocence. The boys start off normally and then they all do something they regret, beginning their reputation of becoming naughty. Then the poem progresses. It starts off all beautiful and innocent and then the beauty and innocence disappears. So for them "Nothing gold can stay" means that something that is good or someone innocent never stay the same for long. 

Chapter 3 and 4: Point of view piece

In Johnny's point of view:

Ponyboy came out of the house and he told me that we were going to run away. I didn't question him as I knew he would probably change his mind anyway. We went running for a couple of blocks until we were out of breath. But then Ponyboy tells me that we should walk to the park and then back so that he can cool off enough to then go back home. So we walk to the park. Of course there is no one here at 2:30 AM so it is a good place to relax. I snap up my jeans and flip up my collar because it is so cold. 

I then suddenly got shocked and swear under my breath because I got frightened from the sudden blast of a car horn. I look over and notice that it is the Socs blue Mustang.



 I start to really panic inside thinking back to what they did to me. I don't want that to happen again. Ponyboy asks me what they want and why they are here and I tell him that it’s probably because we picked up THEIR girls. I started to mentally prepare myself for what would happen. It wasn’t looking very good. Five Socs are walking straight toward us and I'm petrified. I then remember I have my switchblade with me. I slowly place my hand on my back pocket and feel that its in there. Ponyboy and I start to back away towards the fountain and the Socs start surrounding us. One of the Socs starts to threaten us and I'm just shocked but I stay quiet. Ponyboy talks back and spit at them. I knew that was a bad move. Bob, one of the Socs grabs onto Ponyboy and shoves him into the fountain.  

                                                                            Bob
I was scared for Ponyboy, he could die. Without thinking I grab my switchblade, run up to Bob and stick the blade in him. 

Bob falls down and Ponyboy coughs up water and gasps for air. I sit down next to Ponyboy and stare ahead of me thinking about what I just did. Ponyboy looks at me and I say “I killed him, I killed that boy”. I'm probably just as shocked as Ponyboy is, hearing me say that. Ponyboy is suddenly very scared and freaks out when he realised what might happen.  I tell him everything will be ok. We decide to leave the crime scene before the police arrive. 

 

Chapter 1 and 2: Questions

1. Ponyboy is part of the social group called the Greasers. It is the name used to class all the boys on the East side. They are a lot poorer than the Socs. Ponyboy is like the other boys because he dresses the same way and has the same hairstyle. Also, they all have the same hatred for the Socs which really helps to make them all close friends. I also think that Ponyboy is different from the others because he has different interests. I think that Ponyboy would seem like the person that would try to avoid hurting someone if he can.

2. . His parents died in a car crash so his only family members left are his 2 brothers; Sodapop and Darry. Darry is the eldest and is very overprotective about Ponyboy. Darry is six foot two, broad shouldered and muscular. He has dark brown hair and blue-green eyes. He is very tough on Ponyboy and acts like a father. Sodapop however is different, he understands Ponyboy. Sodapop is movie star kind of handsome. He has a finely drawn sensitive face with dark gold hair that is combed back. He is very nice, caring and treats Ponyboy normally. Soda is always happy and grinning while Darry is more hard, tough and rarely smiling. Soda stands up for Ponyboy. So Ponyboy's relationship with his brothers is good but sometimes he just doesn't like Darry.

                            Darry                             Ponyboy                     Sodapop

3. The other members of Ponyboy's social group include: Two bit, Steve, Dallas and Johnny. 
Johnny is the youngest after Ponyboy. He is very timid and shy. In the book he is described as a lost puppy that has been kicked around too many times. Johnny was always abused by his dad. He had a slight build but he is smaller than the rest. He has a tanned face with big black eyes and jet black hair that is heavily greased and combed to the side. His eyes should nervousness and suspicion which probably came from all the beatings.

Two Bit is the eldest of the gang and the wisest of the group. He is six feet tall, stocky in build with rusty coloured side burns. He has gray eyes and a wide grin. He constantly makes funny remarks because life is one big joke to Two bit. He is famous for shoplifting and is always smarting off to the cops. 

Dallas is the real character of the gang according to Ponyboy. He has an elfish face, high cheekbones, a pointed chin, small sharp teeth and ears like a lynx. He has hair that is really blondethat falls over his forehead and curls behind his ears. His eyes were blue like blazing ice, cold and with a hatred for the world in them. Dally was tougher, colder and meaner than the rest of the Greasers. 

Steve is tall and lean with thick greasy hair that is combed in curls. He is cocky, smart and Sodas best friend since grade school. Steve and Soda work at the same gas station. Steve is really good with cars which is the main reasons why the gas station is so successful.

4. I think when Cherry said "things are rough all over" she meant that everyone has it rough and not just the Greasers because of their problems with the Socs. She meant that everyone has their own problems even the rich kids no matter what situation you're in. 

Part 1: First impressions

The Outsiders

This blog is all about the book "The Outsiders", which 
is written by Susan Eloise Hinton

My first impressions of the book are very good. The story sounds interesting and eventful. The characters all have their own personality and attitude. 
The setting seems to be in a kind of dangerous neighborhood with lots of teens that may not have parents. It seems like a neighborhood that has a bad reputation for things such as fights, robberies and people getting jumped. But the characters seem to stick up for each other. Especially since most of them don't have parents.

I can’t really predict the ending as anything can happen, however thinking about how they occasionally get beat up and that almost everyone has a knife there could be a possibility someone dies. The factors that indicate the time and setting of the movie is that they talk with old shortened words and American expressions. This indicates it is most likely somewhere in New York. The clothing the characters wear also gives away that it was somewhere around the 1950s or 1960s. They all wear jackets and boots and have their hair long and slicked back. Because that was the style the wore around that time period. They also are classified into the East and West side with their own gangs. They have their 'gangs' rated on how rich or popular you are. The book so far sounds good with the events happening really slowly.