Mrs. Paterna's Blog

Did your opinion of Dally change after he helped Johnny and Ponyboy run away? Why or why not?

Do you think Johnny and Ponyboy will get caught? Why or why not?

Do you think Johnny had to take such drastic measures with Bob? Did he have any other options? What were they?

Ponyboy says, “If it hadn’t been for the gang, Johnny would never have known what love and affection are.” Although you hear it said a great deal, I find it difficult to believe that a gang provides a person with what he or she might not get at home. What is your opinion?

When Ponyboy speaks about his tight-knit neighborhood, it reminds someone of the comment the rapper, Ice Cube, made about the South Central L.A. neighborhood where he grew up.  He said movies depict living there as a grim existence, but there were a lot of good times in the neighborhood. How would you rate your neighborhood?

Ponyboy states, “I could have gotten one of the gang to come along, one of the four boys that Darry, Soda, and I have grown up with and consider family.”  Explain how having close friends can feel like “family” and relate your explanation to your own experiences.

Ponyboy says Darry grew up too fast, Sodapop never grew up at all, and he doesn’t know which is best. What is your opinion?