iAdventure

Paul Newman Ponyboy

GUIDE 3: Character Analysis
You will continue to fill out this worksheet as you study about Ponyboy. Turn the page over and record the data you collect for Ponyboy. This page must be completed before writing your article.

Congratualtions! You've made a great second choice. Continue on with your iAdventure by reading the story further. Then, research who Ponyboy is becoming. Last, choose the conclusion to finish your iAdventure.
You soon find out that Pony is the kid who slammed the screen door when you were unpacking. He doesn't really fit in with the other Greasers. He has a book, Gone with the Wind, crammed into his back pocket. His hair is short and gold. His face is hard and hurt. It's as though his thoughts are somewhere else all the time. Pony is just barely 14, and he is the youngest of the Greasers. Use the following links to help you get to know who Ponyboy is, and who he is becoming.
Ponyboy associates with Pip while he's reading Great Expectations for his "A" class. Find out how alike Pip and Ponyboy are. They each have one huge difference however. Read about Pip, and see if you can figure out what it is. Don't forget to click on "Pip (In-Depth Analysis)" for a complete character analysis of Pip.	Use the links below to help find more information about Great Expectations and help to answer your questions. Sparknotes Wikipedia Bellmore
Ponyboy has gold hair; Johnny dyed it while they had run away to the abondoned church in Windrixville, OK. He may never let his hair grow back. How is “Nothing Gold Can Stay,” the Robert Frost poem that Ponyboy recites to Johnny at the church, relevant to Ponyboy and Johnny’s story? Sparknotes may help you, if you get stuck. Wikipedia Youtube	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. -Robert Frost
Pony and the other Greasers think Elvis is cool, even though during their time, Elvis was not in his prime attractiveness. Read about Elvis and try to figure out why Pony and the other Greasers think he is so cool.	Go to the official Elvis website. 1950's Elvis History of Rock Youtube (Jailhouse Rock video)
Pony has acquired some bad habits: Pepsi, cigarettes, chocolate. Explain how these habits could contribute to Pony's "not thinking."	Child and Youth Health Youth Central
Pony isn't acting the same since he got back from Windrixville; study up about depression. Do you think Pony is depressed? What signs does he exibit?	TeensHealth Teen Depression
You've spent a week getting to know Pony. The papers have called him a hero for saving those kids from the fire, but he is sad, eyes deep and full of regret. He knows Johnny is dying, but he won't talk about it. Everything is bottling up inside of him, like a time bomb. He's been keeping to himself and has been difficult to get to know. Finally, the older Curtis brothers were at work, and Pony was itchin' to get outside. He knew, however, his brothers would have his skin if he went out alone. But your chance is finally here, Pony has asked you to go to the movies so he can clear his head. You of course leap at the opportunity. This could be your big chance for your article and get you back home. You made up some excuse about your Comet not running right and having Sodapop or Steve take a look at it later. You offer to walk along. At first, Pony doesn't talk too much, and then all of a sudden he blurts out, "I did it; I killed Bob. I had the switch." You're taken aback; how could this little kid have killed a boy of Bob's age and size. Something doesn't seem right, so you ask, "How did you do that?" Pony went on about how he had a fight with Darry and ran away to the lot where Johnny was still sleeping. Pony bumped into him and explained everything. Together they decided to walk to the park and then home, let Darry worry a bit. That's when the Mustang full of Socs pulled up. Pony went on to explain how he was nearly ready to give up under the water, how tired he was. Then someone pulled him out of the fountain. When his eyes cleared, a pool of blood spilled out around Bob, and Johnny's blade was covered. Pony said, "It's all my fault. I fought with Darry. I ran away. I suggested the park. I wanted Johnny with me, so I wasn't alone. I'm the reason Bob is dead and Johnny is dying. How will I live with this? It's all my fault." A single tear rolled down his cheek. Greasers don't cry in the open. We walked the rest of the way to the movies, watched Paul Newman on the screen, and walked home. Neither of us spoke a word. Pony crawled back inside his head. One thing is not clear; how did Johnny get the knife? Just before turning on your street, you ask Pony, "How did Bob get stabbed if you had the switch?" Pony looks up and now his eyes are completely filled with tears. They're streaking his cheeks. He says, "i wish I'd had it because I never could have used it. Then maybe we'd only gotten beaten up. It was Johnny's, and he'd been hit once too many times." You've got all of the details; you can write your article. The choice is yours on how to tell Pony's side of the story.

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