Humanities › Literature 'The Outsiders' Quiz Share Flipboard Email The Outsiders Study Guide Introduction Overview Summary Characters Themes and Symbols Key Quotes Quiz By Angelica Frey Angelica Frey Classics Expert M.A., Classics, Catholic University of Milan M.A., Journalism, New York University. B.A., Classics, Catholic University of Milan Angelica Frey holds an M.A. in Classics from the Catholic University of Milan, where she studied Greek, Old Norse, and Old English. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on January 30, 2020 1. Where does the “Stay gold, Ponyboy” valediction come from? Johnny is citing “Nothing gold can stay” by Robert Frost It refers to never letting go of feelings of summer Johnny is encouraging Ponyboy to rock his bleached hair It’s about a lucky hand at some gambling game Correct Wrong Johnny and Ponyboy read the poem “Nothing gold can stay” while they were hiding together in the church, and its meaning stuck with both of them. 2. How does Ponyboy’s and Darry’s relationship evolve? Ponyboy manages to put his brother in his place Darry kicks Ponyboy out for unruly behavior Darry has to surrender Ponyboy to a group home They eventually come to a mutual understanding of where they come from Correct Wrong They eventually make up, as Ponyboy understands that Darry has a huge sense of responsibility, while Darry sees how he’s been too hard on his kid brother. 3. Why are Cherry and Randy important? They set the final rumble in motion Their illicit union is the town’s scandal and a cautionary tale for other youths Even though they belong to the Socs, they show humanity and compassion beyond their social group They make a good case for keeping the social divide and the rumbles going Correct Wrong They show humanity and depth: Cherry explains to Ponyboy that even Socs have it hard, while Randy refuses to participate in the final rumble because he sees the pointlessness of it. 4. What is the role of literature in 'The Outsiders'? It represents the drudgery of schoolwork, which the characters neglect It helps Ponyboy make sense of the world It is a way for Ponyboy to impose his superiority in knowledge among his physically imposing peers It represents elitism, which excludes the greasers Correct Wrong Ponyboy makes sense of the world thanks to literature: he sees himself as Pip, and finds solace in the poem “Nothing gold can stay.” 5. What’s peculiar about the introductory sentence “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.”? The mention of Paul Newman It indicates Ponyboy’s penchant for escapism by mentioning his fondness for movie theatres It is also the last sentence of the book It hints at the book’s homoerotic undertones Correct Wrong “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” is the way Ponyboy begins his make-up assignment to avoid failing his English class. He decides to recount the events that led to the final rumble and Johnny’s death. 'The Outsiders' Quiz You got: % Correct. Good job! Your knowledge of The Outsiders is pretty solid. Share Your Results Share Flipboard Email 'The Outsiders' Quiz You got: % Correct. Nice try! Freshen up your knowledge of The Outsiders with these resources: The Outsiders Summary The Outsiders Characters Themes, Literary Devices, and Symbols in The Outsiders Share Your Results Share Flipboard Email