Discussion Topic
Ponyboy's misunderstanding of his teacher's references in The Outsiders
Summary:
Ponyboy's misunderstanding of his teacher's references in The Outsiders stems from his emotional turmoil and preoccupation with recent traumatic events. Distracted by his struggles with the loss of friends and ongoing gang conflicts, Ponyboy finds it challenging to focus on academic subjects, leading to a disconnect with his teacher's lessons and references.
How does Ponyboy misunderstand his teacher's references in Chapter 12 of The Outsiders?
Ponyboy completely misunderstands his English teacher’s concern. When his teacher tells him he could get a C if he wrote a good theme, he assumes his teacher thinks he has messed up because of the trouble he is in, when in actuality his English teacher understands that life has been difficult for him lately and is trying to help him out.
When Ponyboy’s English teacher keeps him after class, Ponyboy knows he is failing. He says he could do well in English if he tried. The teacher tells him that there is not much they can do about his scores.
You're failing this class right now, but taking into consideration the circumstances, if you come up with a good semester theme, I'll pass you with a C grade." (ch 12, p. 170)
Ponyboy assumes that the teacher means that he was “goofing up because [he'd] been in a lot of...
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trouble” and he is miserable. He does not realize that the teacher knows that the incident withJohnny was difficult for Ponyboy, and he is just trying to help him out. He sees Ponyboy’s potential, and is trying to help him get past the events.
Ponyboy cannot decide what to write about, but then he realizes that people do not understand him or the other Greasers. He decides he wants to help them.
Someone should tell their side of the story, and maybe people would understand then and wouldn't be so quick to judge a boy by the amount of hair oil he wore. (ch 12, p. 93)
Ponyboy decides to write about his experiences, so other people can understand what it is really like to be a Greaser. He sits down and begins writing what eventually becomes the book The Outsiders.
In The Outsiders, what circumstances does Ponyboy's teacher refer to and what does Ponyboy think they are?
Ponyboy's teacher, Mr. Syme, is referring to the events that have taken place in Ponyboy's life during the semester, beginning with the Soc's stabbing and ending with both Johnny and Dally being killed, as well as Ponyboy's subsequent emotional withdrawal. Ponyboy at first reacts defensively, saying, "brother, was that ever a way to tell me he knew I was goofing up because I'd been in a lot of trouble" (Chapter 12). He thinks his teacher is assuming that he has been in trouble because he is a greaser, but it appears that in reality, Mr. Syme might have had a better understanding of how deeply the trauma had affected Ponyboy, and that he was truly concerned about his well-being. Mr. Syme would have known that Ponyboy had always been a good student, especially in his class, English, and he most likely perceived that Ponyboy's sudden disinterest and poor performance in school was the result of his shutting down emotionally after all he had been through. Because of these "circumstances", he offers Ponyboy a chance to redeem his grade by doing well on his final writing assignment, which incidentally may have had potential therapeutic value by its very nature. He even responds supportively when Ponyboy decides to take him up on the offer and calls late at night to clarify the assignment.
I believe that Ponyboy and his English teacher are both on the same page when they discuss his "circumstances" in Chapter 12 of the Susan E. Hinton novel, The Outsiders. Because Pony has always exhibited writing skills and an interest in the class, his teacher is willing to give him a "C" (Pony is failing) if he can come up with a suitable semester theme. The teacher undoubtedly is aware of Pony's troubles--the murder in the park; the rescue of the kids from the church fire; and Johnny's and Dally's deaths--since all of these incidents have likely been reported in the newspaper. Pony knows best that he is also "goofing up," but he is now a minor celebrity due to the publicity, so it is no secret to the teacher either.
The circumstances Ponyboy’s teacher refers to are the fight and Johnny’s death.
Ponyboy tries to return to school after Johnny’s death. He has missed a lot of school, and had a variety of emotional reactions to the events. He is a mess. His teacher knows that things have been hard for him, but Ponyboy does not take it as sympathy.
You're failing this class right now, but taking into consideration the circumstances, if you come up with a good semester theme, I'll pass you with a C grade." (ch 12)
As we know, Ponyboy does not like pity. He does not like being the center of attention. His reaction to the teacher’s word “circumstances” is “brother, was that ever a way to tell me he knew I was goofing up because I'd been in a lot of trouble.” (ch 12)
Ponyboy’s English teacher feels bad about the fight and Johnny’s death, but Ponyboy interprets it as saying he is in trouble. He has a long way to go in managing and confronting his emotions. His theme, the story we read as The Outsiders, is his way of coming to terms with what happened to him.
The English teacher is trying to show Ponyboy that he is not all alone. There are some people on his side. With everything that happened, people understand him and what he has been through, and sympathize, more than he thinks.