Pham Plot Comic

Exposition

Conflict

Rising Action

Climax

Falling Action

Resolution

When you open up the novel, you are introduced to the main character "Ponyboy" and his gang that he hangs out with. They face against their rival gang "The Socials". This story takes place in Tusla Oklahoma, where the Greasers stay on the East side while The Socs (Socials) stay on the opposite side, the West side. Together, Ponyboy and his gang face through many challenges and struggles against The Socs such as Bob Sheldon, Cherry Valance, and Randy Adderson. (You could count Paul too.)

The main and major conflict in The Outsiders is the inequality and unfairness that is faced for The Socs and The Greasers. They are both treated differently and are viewed differently too, and once you are labeled a Soc or a Greaser, your reputation changes entirely. Each side, however, face their own issues so much that they can't realize how the two sides aren't as different as Tusla says so.

3 major events occur during the beginning of the story. Ponyboy was walking back from the drive-in movies until a gang of Socs attempted to jump him. Luckily, Ponyboy's gang came to his rescue in time before it got serious. When Ponyboy was getting drowned by the group of Socs, Johnny was alarmed and pulled out his switchblade to which he stabbed one of the Socs, Bob Sheldon, in the back. Due to this murder, they are forced to come to Dally for some advice and Dally advised them to go to Windrixville and run away from the cops. When Dally returns a week later to check up on how they're doing after their dramatic escape from the police, He takes them to Dairy Queen. After they were done, they were driving up to the church until they noticed that it was burning down with kids inside. The sudden instinct suddenly makes Ponyboy launch himself to the church and break it down to save the children trapped inside, having Johnny accompany him from behind.

The climax happens during the moment where Ponboy, Dally, and Johnny witness the church at Windrixville burning down. As Ponyboy is stuck in his thoughts, he suddenly comes to the conclusion that the supplies Johnny and he had were the cause of the fire, hence making it Ponyboy and Johnny's fault that the kids are trapped in the burning church.

There are two major events that lead to the end of The Outsiders. When Ponyboy and Johnny successfully evacuated the children away from the church, Ponyboy manages to escape but that cannot be the same for Johnny. A wooden plank crashes onto his back which forces Dally to jump in and save him. After Dally gets out of the church with a heavily injured Johnny, he punches Ponyboy's back to take out the fire but ends up knocking him out. After the Rumble where Dally and Ponyboy recover, they rush over to check up on Johnny's harsh condition. When they get in the room, they see how he's on the verge of death. Dally breaks down and Ponyboy stands there before Johnny says his last words. When he's laying on the bed lifeless, Dally runs out of the hospital room as his harden act finally broke. He robbed a grocery store, called Darry and told him about it, attempted to run away from the police, and got killed because of him pulling out his heater as a bluff against the police. A few days later, the Curtis family gets acquitted from all charges and live together.

The main and major conflict is resolved from the quote that Cherry Valance recites. "It's rough all over." When she says that sentence, Ponyboy's view on The Socs change. His view on The Socs continue to change more throughout the story, as he starts to sympathize with them more. This can be seen when he talks with Randy or when he reveals that he wrote "The Outsiders".