The Outsiders Dialectical Journal Essay

The Outsiders Dialectical Journal
In chapter one we are introduced to our narrator, Ponyboy. Ponyboy is raised by his two older brothers Darry and Soda. They’re all apart of a gang called the “greasers” which is joined by Dally, Johnny, Two-bit, and Steve. There is another group called “ socs” which stands for socials, and everyone in that group is very wealthy. One day Ponyboy got jumped by a socs group, but luckily Darry was there to help before anything too serious happened. The first element of literature is characterization. Ponyboy is a keen observer, trying to make sense of the complexities of those around him. At the beginning of the story, he stops and spends several pages giving us brief character description on Steve, Two-Bit, Dally, and Johnny. This is also known as direct characterization. He tells us that Steve is "cocky and smart" ( Hinton 9). Two-Bit can 't stop joking around and goes to school for "kicks" (Hinton 10) rather than to learn. Dallas, he says, is "tougher, colder, meaner" ( Hinton 10) than the rest of them.
In chapter two Ponyboy and Johnny go with Dally to the drive in movies where they meet two socs girls. One of the girl’s name is Cherry Valance the other is Marica. When Dally started trying to talk and embarrass them Cherry told Dally,”It’s a shame you can’t ride bull half as good as you can talk.” But Dally ignored that remark and went to get some coke. When he was gone Cherry and Ponyboy started to talk and they realized that they both aren 't that bad. Then Two-Bit comes back to annouce that Dally has slashed Tim Shepard’s tires and says there is going to be a fight. Some time passes and Cherry decides she wants to get popcorn and Ponyboy goes with her, Ponyboy telling Cherry the story of wh...

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...bed or in another house. Randy came by and told him that Johnny killed Bob. The best literary element for this chapter is plot. The major plot in this chapter is when Randy told Ponyboy that Johnny killed Bob. “ Listen to me, Pony. You didn’t do anything. It was your friend Johnny that had the knife…” (Hinton 165)
In chapter twelve Ponyboy’s english teacher told him that since he is failing english, he has to do an extra credit essay to bring up his grade. Ponyboy and darry also get into a fight causing Soda to leave. Then the trial confirmed that Ponyboy and Soda can stay with Darry. Then Ponyboy wrote his paper on his experience, basically the whole story. The best literary element for this chapter is the plot. The plot is when Ponyboy and Soda find out they get to stay with Darry. “ Then he said I was acquitted and he whole case was closed.” (Hinton 168)