The Outsiders By S E Hinton S E

The Outsiders By S. E Hinton

S. E. Hinton • Susan Eloise Hinton (Born in 1950) • Tulsa, Oklahoma • Began writing The Outsiders at 15; most work done at 16 • Saw the clash between socs and greasers • Researched and explored the greasers’ world firsthand • Inspired by the beating of one of her greaser friends

Tulsa, Oklahoma— 1965 what similarities to your life do you notice?

Socs rich kids “stuck up”; “preppy” lived on the West Side always getting drunk and looking for fights with greasers • drove Corvettes and wore madras (shirt in photo ) • got everything they wanted • Drank, smoked, and did drugs • •

Greasers • poorer than the socs (lowmiddle and lower class) • “wild”; “dirty troublemaker” • Hard family lives; created sub -culture of gangs to re-create family longing • wore leather jackets and jeans • slicked their hair back to make it greasy and darker— fighting tactic and embrace of “the Other” • had little or no respect for authority • societal “underdogs” • drank, smoked, and did drugs

Intro. Discussion Q 1: What comes to mind when you hear the word “gang”?

A gang can also refer to a “social club, ” formed because people with the same interests like to get together and do the things they enjoy doing with others.

Intro. Discussion Q 2: Why might people join gangs?

Why might people join gangs? • • • Requirement of geographic area Protection Commit criminal acts Reflection of style preferences Ethnic background or religious belief Other reasons?

Intro. Discussion Q 3&4 What are positive aspects of gangs? What is negative about gangs?

Intro. Discussion Q 5: Do you think the term “gang” has changed since the 1960 s?