Chapter 6 Summary
Ponyboy and Johnny are shocked to hear that Cherry is helping the greasers. Bob, the boy Johnny killed, was her boyfriend. However, she knows how ruthless Bob sometimes was, and she believes Johnny acted in self-defense. Dallas mentions that Cherry seems to hate him, but Ponyboy knows that Cherry is afraid of falling in love with Dallas.
Johnny announces that he wants to go home and turn himself in. He says it is not fair for him to make the others take care of him or to keep Ponyboy away from his brothers. A bit fearfully, Johnny adds, “I don’t guess my parents are worried about me or anything?” They are not, and Johnny is devastated. This makes Dallas angry. He cannot understand why Johnny bothers caring about his parents when his parents do not care about him.
The boys get in the car and head back to the church. Dallas drives fast. After brooding a while, he says he does not want Johnny to go to prison. “You get hardened in jail,” he says. “I don’t want that to happen to you. Like it happened to me.” Ponyboy is shocked to hear Dallas reveal his feelings because he is normally cold and cruel. For the first time, Ponyboy feels some empathy for Dallas instead of just awe and fear.
As the car approaches the church, the boys realize it is on fire. Ponyboy jumps out of the car and runs to see. He finds a group of people, a few adults with a bunch of little kids, watching the flames. He knows he and Johnny probably started the fire by accident with their cigarette butts. When Ponyboy finds out some kids are missing, stuck inside the burning church, he sets off to rescue them.
Ponyboy cannot get through the church door, so he smashes a window and climbs inside. Johnny follows. They make their way through smoke and falling timbers to the back of the building, where they think the kids must be. Ponyboy realizes, to his surprise, that he does not feel scared. Johnny does not seem scared either. In fact, he looks happy.
The two boys find the kids and begin handing them out through the windows. Outside, Dallas shouts to leave the kids and get out, but Ponyboy and Johnny refuse to obey. By the time Ponyboy saves the last child and climbs out the window, the roof is caving in. Johnny, who is still inside, is hit by a falling beam. Ponyboy tries to go back and rescue Johnny, but Dallas hits him, and Ponyboy passes out.
Ponyboy awakens to the sound of sirens. At first he thinks the police have come for him. In fact, he is in an ambulance. A stranger is sitting with him, mopping his face with a cloth. The stranger, amazed at the boys’ bravery, suggests that they are angels. Ponyboy explains that they are greasers. He admits that Johnny is wanted for murder and that Dallas has a long police record. The man hardly seems to believe this.
At the hospital, doctors check Ponyboy and pronounce him okay except for a few burns and bruises. Dallas, who went into the church to rescue Johnny, is all right except for a bad burn on his arm. Johnny, however, is in bad shape, pale and unconscious.
Jerry Wood, the man from the ambulance, stays with Ponyboy in the hospital waiting room. Ponyboy tells the whole story about the murder. The man keeps thanking Ponyboy for saving the kids. He promises to help the boys fight Johnny’s murder charge.
Soda and Darry arrive at the hospital, and Ponyboy hugs Soda while Darry stands in the doorway crying. Darry admits that he was terrified he had lost Ponyboy just as they lost their parents. Ponyboy accepts that Darry loves him after all.
Expert Q&A
In The Outsiders, how does Darry and Ponyboy's relationship change when Johnny turns himself in?
In The Outsiders, the relationship between Darry and Ponyboy improves once Johnny is taken to the hospital after the church fire. In the hospital, Pony witnesses Darry crying and recognizes that he genuinely cares about him. Pony has a newfound appreciation for his older brother when he realizes that Darry actually loves him. Once Pony leaves the hospital, Darry becomes more understanding and sympathetic toward him. While their relationship is far from perfect, Pony values and cherishes Darry.
What are key quotes from Chapter 6 of The Outsiders?
In Chapter 6, a key quote highlights Ponyboy's evolving understanding of social divisions: "No, it wasn't Cherry the Soc who was helping us, it was Cherry the dreamer who watched sunsets and couldn't stand fights." This reflects Ponyboy's realization that individuals transcend Soc and Greaser labels, a central theme in The Outsiders. He begins to see commonalities that bridge the gap between these groups, illustrating the story's exploration of shared human traits.
What does Pony mean in chapter 6 of The Outsiders when he says, "I had taken the long way around but I was finally home to stay"?
In chapter 6 of The Outsiders, Pony means that he has finally realized Darry loves him and cares deeply for him. Initially believing Darry was indifferent, Pony sees Darry cry at the hospital, understanding his brother's strictness was out of love. This revelation makes Pony feel truly at home and no longer considering running away.
When does Ponyboy realize that Darry truly cares for him?
Ponyboy realizes that Darry truly cares for him when he sees Darry crying at the hospital after the church fire. This moment reveals to Ponyboy that Darry's strict behavior stems from love and concern, not indifference. He understands that Darry's harshness is driven by a desire to ensure Ponyboy's success and safety, leading to a transformation in their relationship.
Why wasn't Johnny scared despite the danger in chapter 6 of The Outsiders?
Johnny wasn't scared in Chapter 6 because he prioritized the lives of others, especially Ponyboy and the children trapped in the church. His actions reflect his heroic nature, where he finds purpose in saving others, unlike the senseless violence from the Socs. The fire presented a clear right and wrong, and Johnny felt responsible for it, giving him the courage to face the danger and save the innocent children without fear.
What does Ponyboy think the siren noises mean when he wakes up in the ambulance in The Outsiders?
When Ponyboy hears sirens upon waking in the ambulance, he initially believes the police have found him and are taking him and Johnny to jail, as they are wanted for Bob Sheldon's murder. This fear stems from their status as "greasers" and fugitives. However, Jerry, accompanying them, clarifies that the ambulance is taking them to the hospital due to injuries sustained during their rescue efforts at the burning church, not to the police station.
What does Ponyboy tell Two-Bit about why Darry is harder on him than his parents were?
Ponyboy tells Two-Bit that Darry is harder on him because their parents had already raised two boys, while Darry is doing it for the first time. Ponyboy realizes that Darry's "tough love" is due to his inexperience and his efforts to keep the family together after their parents' death.
In The Outsiders, what does Ponyboy mean when he says it's not good to be a sensitive greaser?
Ponyboy reflects that being a sensitive greaser is not beneficial because it leaves one emotionally vulnerable in a harsh environment. He compares Johnny's sensitivity to Dally's toughness, noting that Dally can endure emotional pain by hardening himself, whereas Johnny's sensitivity makes him more susceptible to hurt. In the greaser lifestyle, emotional toughness is essential for survival, highlighting the challenges of maintaining sensitivity amidst constant adversity.
What is the theme of chapter 6 in S. E. Hinton's The Outsiders?
Chapter 6 of The Outsiders explores themes of responsibility and family. Johnny decides to return to Tulsa to take responsibility for his actions, believing it's unfair for Pony's brothers to worry. When a church fire occurs, Pony and Johnny acknowledge their role and act to save the children. The chapter also highlights family togetherness as Pony reunites with his brothers, realizing the impact of his absence and the depth of Darry's concern.
Why is Dally angry when Johnny's parents show no concern for his whereabouts?
Dally is angry when Johnny's parents show no concern for his whereabouts because he recognizes the negative impact of such indifference, having experienced it himself with his own abusive father. Dally fears that Johnny's decision to turn himself in will lead to him becoming hardened by jail, like Dally did. His anger is rooted in concern for Johnny's future rather than any sympathy for Johnny's parents, whom he views as worthless.
What aspect of Dally's character is revealed in chapter 6 of The Outsiders?
In chapter 6 of The Outsiders, a tender side of Dallas "Dally" Winston is revealed, contrasting with his usual tough persona. Dally shows care and concern for Johnny, respecting his decision to turn himself in and expressing protective anger over Johnny's interest in his neglectful parents. Dally pleads with Johnny to avoid jail, fearing it will harden him as it did Dally, highlighting his deep affection and desire for Johnny's well-being.
Why do Ponyboy and Johnny feel responsible for the fire in The Outsiders, chapter 6?
Ponyboy and Johnny feel responsible for the fire because they believe it was caused by a lit cigarette they accidentally dropped in the abandoned church where they were hiding. After returning to find the church ablaze, they learn children are trapped inside. This realization prompts them to act heroically, entering the burning building to rescue the children, but Johnny is severely injured in the process.
Kids inside the burning church and the boys' rescue in The Outsiders
In The Outsiders, Johnny and Ponyboy heroically rescue children trapped inside a burning church. They notice the fire during their hideout, and despite the danger, they rush in to save the kids. Their bravery leads to significant injuries, especially for Johnny, but the act significantly alters their lives and perceptions within their community.
How did Ponyboy scare Dally during the church fire in The Outsiders?
Ponyboy scared Dally during the church fire by staying inside the burning building to rescue trapped children. Despite Dally's warnings about the imminent collapse of the roof, Ponyboy and Johnny ignored the danger to save the kids. Dally's fear for their safety was so intense that he urged them to leave the children behind to escape safely, highlighting the perilous situation and Dally's concern for their lives.
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