Who are classical heroes? Who are superheroes? How can I tell them apart? Teaching students this literary device and asking them to think deeply about the hero's attributes, and how they affect the work as a whole, will instill a deeper understanding of many literary works.
Take a trip back to the 1950s to hitch a ride with Ponyboy Curtis and his brothers. After losing their parents in a tragic automobile accident, the trio are thrown into a life on the streets and caught up in a gang war. Dealing with young adult life is hard enough, but when violence and survival are added to the mix, Ponyboy and his brothers must fight just to get by.