Chapter Seven

1. Explain what Pony means when he says Soda "reminds me of a colt" on p. 101.

When Pony says that Soda reminds him of a colt Pony meant that sometimes Soda can be so filled with excitement that its reminds him of a horse that is kicking around in excitement and has to get its nose into everything that is going on around him.

2. What condition is Johnny in after the fire?

After the fire, Johnny was in critical condition. Johnny’s back was broken after a big piece of timber fell on him. Johnny was crippled and burnt badly. Johnny was so burnt that he can even die. He was in shock and was suffering from third-degree burns.

3. Why would being crippled be worse for Johnny than someone else?

Being crippled would be worse for Johnny than someone else because Johnny just realizes all of the special things that he could do and Johnny was Ponyboy’s best friend and was the one who actually understands him other than Sodapop. Everyone in “the gang” now knows how tuff/tough Johnny can really be and knows what a hero he is now. But after all of this, Johnny gets crippled after all he did to save the children, he is now in a fatal condition. Even if Johnny did live, he would never be able to play football or help them in a rumble. He would have to always stay home where he hated and where he wasn’t wanted by anyone. Things would never be like they used to be.

4. "Maybe people are younger when they are asleep" (p.104). What do you think about this comment?

When I heard the comment “Maybe people are younger when they are asleep” I think that it means that when you are asleep you can make your dreams come true with no one stopping you, when your dreams come true it makes you happier just like a little kid, or when you were younger. I think that dreams keep you young because you can let your imagination run wild and be creative with whatever you’re thinking of. Dreams let you express yourself while being calm at the same time. Dreams can be a good way to express yourself emotionally and let you take your feeling out.

5. What is a juvenile delinquent (p. 107)? Find a definition on the internet, in a dictionary, or create your own based on your own knowledge.

(Found in Dictionary) A juvenile delinquent is a young person who breaks the law as a habit, especially somebody repeatedly charged with vandalism or other antisocial behaviour.

6. Why would Two-Bit think Johnny, Dally, and Pony were heroes all along; before they saved the kids?

Two-Bit would think Johnny, Dally, and Pony were heroes all along even before they saved the kids because he knew that Johnny and Pony were always good and could do something really brave if they tried.

7. What was Bob's ‘real’ problem, according to Randy (p.116)?

According to Randy, Bob’s ‘real’ problem was t hat no one could ever say the word “no” to him. People like his parents would always just feel that it’s their fault for making Bob turn out the way he is, and never let Bob receive the consequences that he should get. People were probably afraid of how Bob would react when what Bob really wanted was for people to just be able to say what they really feel and tell him. He wanted to see how other people lived and felt, in stead of everything always going his own way. At times he can like it but everything you want isn’t always the way it turns out to be, or the way you want it. Money can’t buy you happiness, but Bob’s parent were probably thinking the opposite, they thought that if they gave Bob what he wanted, then he would be happy with his life, when they didn’t even know what Bob really wanted in his life.


8. Why did Pony think it was better to see Socs as “just guys” on p. 118? What do you think he means by this?

Pony thought that I was better to see the Socs as “just guys” because now, after talking to Randy, he would just like to see the Socs as “one of them”, just another person, still human, having problems just like them but with a different life style and different money.
By this I think that Pony meant that the Socs are really just like ordinary people after all. Socs have problems just like the rest of them do problems with in their own families and problems outside on the streets. They might seem tougher and rougher and maybe a lot meaner than the rest of then but really they are just like them in many ways, if they were in the same class (rich or poor), they could probably make pretty good friends. Just if they get to know each other and know what goes on in their lives a little bit more, they could realize how similar they really are after all.