“Out Symbols”
In the novel, The Outsiders by S.E.Hinton, a boy named Ponyboy lives through hard times as a Greaser. Ponyboy learns a lot about life through the symbolism that is throughout this story. The main points that are used for symbolism is Hair, ‘Gold’, and Sunrises.
First, the symbol of a Greaser’s hair is used. “It was my pride. It was long and silky, just like Soda's, only a little redder. Our hair was tuff--- we didn't have to use much grease on it. Our hair labeled us greasers, too- -- it was our trademark. The one thing we were proud of. Maybe we couldn't have Corvairs or madras shirts, but we could have hair” (61) and “Johnny flipped out the razor-edge of his switch, took hold of my hair, and started sawing on it. I shuddered”
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“The sky was lighter in the east, and the horizon was a thin golden line. The clouds changed from gray to pink, and the mist was touched with gold. There was a silent moment when everything held its breath, and then the sun rose. It was beautiful” (66) and “‘You know,’ Johnny said slowly, ‘I never noticed colors and clouds and stuff until you kept reminding me about them. It seems like they were never there before’” (67). Johnny and Ponyboy marvel in awe at the beauty of the sunrise. The two boys are living in a old, abandoned church in Windrixville. The sunrise symbolizes new life.
Third, the symbol of ‘Gold’. “‘Nature's first green is gold, Her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf’s a flower; But only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf. So Eden sank to grief, So dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay’” (67) and “‘Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold…’” (113). Ponyboy is reciting a poem by Robert Frost. The poem talks about that nothing gold, or good, can stay. Before he dies, Johnny tells Ponyboy to stay gold. He want Ponyboy to stay his good self.
In conclusion, The Outsiders novel has many symbols that can teach about life. Through hair, sunrises, and ‘gold’, we can learn about life. We should always know who we are, what are life is, and what we need to
In “Nothing Gold Can Stay” it states,” Nature’s first green is gold.” When someone hears this they might think of a nice place that has nice weather and is very peaceful. Also, in “Nothing Gold Can Stay” it is developing the idea of youth because you cannot be young forever. Eventually you will be old and not be be able to much and it won’t be as good and enjoyable as your younger days.
In The Outsiders, S. E. Hinton’s use of imagery highlights how Ponyboy feels about other characters. The author’s use of characters’ eyes and hair emphasizes Ponyboy’s relationship with them and his how comfortable he is with them. When Ponyboy describes his older brother Darry he describes his eyes as ice which shows how he is uncomfortable with him. Ponyboy says that “Darry’s eyes are his own” they’re like “two pieces of pale blue-green ice”.
This sets Ponyboy into not giving a care into the world and settling into a deep depression. That is untl he read the letter left for him by Johnny, telling him to stay gold because “[people] are gold when [they] are a kid, like green. When [people] are a kid everything’s new, dawn” (Hinton
“Nothing Gold Can Stay” I really savor reading old books because they remind me of my grandparent’s childhood stories. My grandparents always reminded me of how innocent they were back then, but how life had twisted throughout the years, and their innocence faded away. In the Outsiders, an old book written by S.E. Hinton, there is a quote that says: “Nothing gold can stay”. This shows that no matter who, what influence or how old you are, one day your innocence will adrift, as one day you will meet the authentic world.
Ponyboy and Johnny had ran away to Jay Mountain. There they found an old abandoned church to hide out in. The boys eat nothing but baloney and some bread for a whole week. Johnny and Ponyboy also have to cut their hair to disguise themselves. this was a very hard decision to make because their hair was their pride and joy but also their trademark as a greaser.
Ch 9 Pg 148 “Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold…” The quote is significant by connecting to an Essential question because in Johnny’s last words he refrences the same Robert Frost poem that Ponyboy repeated outloud when they were sitting on the back porch of the church.
(Nobody was around at two-thirty in the morning, and it was a good place to relax and cool of, Hinton 47). Everything seemed to be going smoothly for them at that moment, but "Nothing Gold can Stay". ("You could use a bath, greaser. And a good working over. And we 've got all night to do it.
Symbols have the important function of conveying a deeper meaning than the one that lies on the surface. The author uses imagery and selective word choice to draw the reader in and invites the reader to ponder the story to find the hidden meaning, to enrich the mind and heart of the reader, and often to cause the reader to view something differently than was initially felt before reading the story. Within Things Fall Apart and The Poisonwood Bible there are some very significant symbols that heavily enrich both stories and bring a much greater meaning upon the reader. First, we shall begin with the symbols found within Things Fall Apart, commencing with the symbol of folktales. Folktales are significant because they are an important way that many stories with the purpose of entertainment, but of much more significance, that important lessons are passed on.
Staying Gold “Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold,” are Johnny Cade’s final words to Ponyboy Curtis before he passes away. What did Johnny mean by this? Surely, he doesn’t literally mean stay gold. The Outsiders, written by S. E. Hinton has many themes, including this hidden one.
I had to, they were drowning you Pony”, he states the night Pony and him run away. Johnny thinks of others before himself. That is his loving and caring personality. ”Stay gold, Ponyboy, stay gold were the last words of his life. Johnny is loyal and cares about his friends deeply.
At the end of the novel, just before Johnny Cade dies he tells Ponyboy to “stay gold”, in saying this, he means that he should stay innocent and to not change who he is as a person. This is an important moment as, after Johnny dies, Ponyboy is very distraught and becomes more like the other Greasers. For example, he starts taking out his anger and sadness and hopelessness by fighting in the rumble, his school grades drop rapidly as he loses interest in school and he begins to fight with Darry a lot more. One evening while Ponyboy is in his bedroom looking for something to read, he notices the copy of “Gone With The Wind” that he and Johnny read in Windrixville. To his surprise enclosed is a
Perhaps the most recognized line in S.E Hinton’s coming of age novel The Outsiders, “Stay gold Ponyboy. Stay gold,” was muttered by Johnny Cade whilst on his deathbed to fellow Greaser gang member and main protagonist Ponyboy Curtis. This famous line was a reference to Robert Frost’s poem Nothing gold can stay that Ponyboy recites whilst the two boys were on the run after their deadly fight with a group of Socs, a rival gang. During the course of the novel, it becomes clear that the most important lesson Ponyboy Curtis must learn is to take Johnny’s advice and, “stay gold”.
Through her use of a changing narrative perspective, Margaret Laurence creates a contrast in character development. Laurence shows the reader the male protagonist of the story, Chris, through the eyes of a child first, then of an adolescent, and finally through an adult’s eyes. At the beginning of “Horses of the Night,” the narrator, Vanessa notices that Chris looks completely oblivious towards Vanessa’s Grandfather’s belligerence, as he is displaying “no sign of feeling anything.” This is the first sign Laurence provides about Chris escaping in order to cope with reality. Next, when Vanessa visits Shallow Creek she comes to a realization that most of the stories Chris has shared with her about the farm, only exists “in some other dimension.”
My theme for The Outsiders is “What's on the outside isn't the same on the inside”. I have three quotes to help support this theme. Towards the end of this book Ponyboy actually realizes that everyone is the same on the inside and the outside is just a book cover not literally but figuratively speaking. On page 35 Cherry and Ponyboy are talking and Cherry says, “‘Things are rough all over’” (Hinton 35).
In Anglo-Saxon culture, gold was one of the most valuable possessions a person could own. Gold and treasure was a sign of wealth, honor, respect and power. To the Anglo-Saxons, people lived their lives to become more honorable in the eyes of their peers. People valued others who had more treasure as it was a sign of their accomplishments. The role of wealth, treasure and gold in this poem is important to the power and the honor of the individual.