Rationale Paper on 'The Outsiders' by S. E. Hinton - Essay Example

1. Rationale Paper on 'The Outsiders' by S. E. Hinton Audience and Rationale This novel is suitable across a wide range of grades, from 7 and 8 in middle school, right through all high school grades. Described as Young Adult Literature and aimed at ages from 12 years to 17plus, it contains many elements which would immediately engage students. Some educators have suggested that less academically minded students would relate easily to the book, and in so doing, may be motivated to pursue further literary examples.(Wilder and Teasley, 1998) It has enough material to encourage discussion, study, report writing and to work well as a whole class study. By involving themselves in these processes, students would at the same time be learning what makes a novel or a good piece of literature; the themes, plot, characterization, symbols and motifs in this book would ensure that this learning takes place. It is the reality of the experiences portrayed by the protagonists which will help bring this about; here are groups of young people whose life experiences can be easily understood and related to by adolescent readers. Their feelings, concerns, issues and needs as adolescents are expressed in a way that allows young people to recognize their own situations and think more deeply about what it all means. An example of this shows when Ponyboy says lie to myself all the time.(Hinton, p. 8). With themes such as rich/poor, loyalty, loss, rebellion and honor, violence, teenage pregnancy, death and change, not only does it provide a huge range of topics for discussion, but more importantly, gives the reader an opportunity to explore their own feelings on them. Discussions in whole class study will allow individuals to express themselves through the characters, and possibly help to make sense of where they are in life, while developing an understanding of others. Not only is it a marvellous teaching aid for English, humanities, social 2. studies, but it touches on all those areas which affect the adolescent with strength and simplicity of language. Summary of the Work Written by a young girl of 16, back in 1967 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the book has universal themes, applicable to all young people everywhere, in any period of history, helping to make sense of life, using difficult and starkly realistic situations. It is based on the rivalry which exists between two gangs of teenagers, rich and poor, their differences expressed by material wealth or its lack, values, behaviours and status in late 1960s society. Ponyboy Curtis, an orphaned boy of 14, with two older brother, acts as narrator and is a member of the Greasers gang who are poor, rebellious and often violent, yet with standards of honor, chivalry and loyalty. After being beaten up by one of the rich boys, Bob, a Socs (short for socialite) war is declared, matters made worse by the fact that Ponyboy and his fellow Greaser Johnny, befriend two Socs girls, Cherry and Marcia. Things move from fights, bullying, to murder, running away to avoid the police, to the death of a beloved gang member, killed by the police, and the loss of Johnny, dying as a result of a fire and injuries sustained in it. Family too, is an important theme, as Ponyboy and his brothers are close to being separated. That they manage to stay together in the end is a light in the darkness. In all of this, the narrator expresses the feelings of connection and isolation, his love of literature, his values of loyalty, loss and redemption. In the final analysis, Ponyboy's experiences, traumatic and potentially self-destructive, lead him to a depth of understanding and a desire to reaffirm his individuality. The message would seem to be that there has to be a better way a message of hope in the darkness of the realities portrayed in this novel. This is what all young people, trying to find their own identity in the face of so many pressures, can relate to. The reckless disregard for authority, the specific use of language owned by the gangs and the charismatic qualities of some of the characters contribute to the meaningful impact of the story for this target audience. The fact that Ponyboy is writing his autobiography for an assignment is yet another aspect to engage the reader fully; if he can live through all this, and come out a wiser person, then so can I. 3. Impact of the Literary Work This novel has been cited by many young readers as 'a life changing experience' (or words to that effect). It teaches how appearances are deceptive, that others who are different or excluded from our own group for whatever reasons, may be more like us than we know. (The Socs are just guyssays Ponyboy) It helps with the realization that it is OK to feel sad, lonely or isolated, that honoring and loving your friends does not mean a loss of gender identity, and that family love is a strong support to be depended upon. It also serves to illustrate the consequences of our actions, sometimes in a horrific way, as in the deaths of Dally and Johnny. Johnny: wouldn't mind if there ain's to many things I ain't done yet- So many things I ain't seen.(Hinton p. ) Furthermore, while it is good to feel a sense of belonging and protection by identifying with others of similar beliefs, status and life experience, it is even more important to be your own person. It shows too, that in the process of becoming that person, there could be a need to leave old ways and values behind, to move on, but that the courage to do so exists in everyone. The idea that changing might result in the loss of old friends is frightening, but alongside this, is the recognition that if this happens, how much of a friend were they really It teaches too, that each one of us has the right to make our own choices, not to be forced into what others believe to be right. Study of the book will allow young people to look at themselves and their circumstances, their individual potential. It will help them to look behind the facade of others and to recognize the qualities that 'front' might be hiding, as well as the similarities between us all. It is a vehicle for addressing many of the fears and insecurities experienced by adolescents, in an interesting, involving and positive fashion. The major messages are that you are not alone, it is OK to feel and be different from your friends, we have more in common with others than we realize, good books with help you make sense of your world, and finally, find and hold onto your integrity; that way, you will be taying gold A further important point is made when Darry tells Ponyboy "You don't just stop living because you lose someone(Hinton, p173) 4. Potential Problems with the Work The first difficulty may be the perception that because the book was written nearly 40 years earlier, it has no relevance to adolescents today. Teachers would need to highlight the universal truths in the themes to show how these are still pertinent, that the experiences can be linked to life today. Another problem may be the special slang used, and some of the language in general, which could be considered old fashioned, a sort of language barrier. Because language changes so quickly and meanings alter, this will need to be explained as a part of the youth culture, with current examples to clarify the point. People might want to know what a 'heater' is, or what is the meaning of 'fly' The geographical context too, where Tulsa, Oklahoma might seem light years away from any inner city middle or high school, would need to be overcome. Once Ponyboy and the action begins to grip the reader, this should happen, so universally will they 'strike a chord.' There are gender issues too, as adolescent girls might find it difficult to relate to a story centering on gangs of boys and where the girls, Marcia and Cherry, appear to drive the violence forward. The violence itself, knives, guns and antisocial activities may shock, as these are in total opposition to the learned moral values and behaviors. As at the beginning of the book, when Bob and his friends get Ponyboy and beat him up. eed a haircut, greaser [...] A blade was held against my throatwhich is only the beginning in terms of many scenes of violence. It is possible to overcome these issues with well directed discussions, close examination of the themes and language, ensuring that meanings are extracted and fully understood. The main learning outcomes will then show that any piece of literature of value should contain universal truths or concepts which any reader anywhere can recognise and connect with. Students will be able to do this with no problem, as 'The Outsiders' calls to them, no matter how many differences in time and place etc. there are. It is for them and about them. As the first and last line of the book put it, with the imagery of hope: hen I stepped out into the bright sunlight from the darkness... Works Cited Hinton, S. E. 1967 The Outsiders. Published by Penguin Classics Paperbacks, June 2006 Penguin Group, London UK Simmons, John S. 2000. Middle Schoolers and the Right to Read ALAN Volume 27, Number 3 5 November 2006 at http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/ALAN/spring00/simmons.html Smith, Dinita 2005. An Interview with S. E. Hinton: An Outsider, Out of the Shadows. The New York Times, with related link to Review by Thomas Fleming, May 1967 5 November 2006 at http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/07/MoviesFeatures/07hint.html Wilder, A and Teasley, A. B. 1998 Young Adult Literature in the High School ALAN Volume 26 Number 1. 5 November 2006 at http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/ALAN/fall98/wilder. html. Read More