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Plot Diagram for The Outsiders                by              S. E. Hinton       

                                                  Title                                                                Author

Exposition:  (introduction)

Setting  The Outsiders takes place in the early 1960s in an unnamed Oklahoma town.  The story involves two distinct social groups present in this place at this time- the Greasers (leather jackets, hair cream, hoods) and the Socs (wealthy prep school types).  These two groups do not generally get along, and the story revolves around the conflict between them.

Characters/description  The Greasers:  Ponyboy, Sodapop, and Darry Curtis who could be considered above the other Greasers (in different circumstances they could even be Socs- their parents were killed in a car accident within the past year); Johnny Cade, the Greaser pet who is generally quiet and kind and longs for a better life; Dallas (Dally) Winston, the meanest, roughest Greaser who spent some wild time in New York City;  Two-Bit Matthews, a cut up and clown who steals everything not nailed down; and Steve Randle, Sodapop’s best friend.  The Socs:  Cherry Valence, a nice cheerleader at Ponyboy’s school; Bob Sheldon, Cherry’s boyfriend who is not so nice; and Randy Adderson, Bob’s friend who, like Johnny Cade, longs for a better situation.

Conflict  There are two major conflicts in The Outsiders.  The first involves the ongoing problem between the Greasers and the Socs, which is worsened when Johnny kills Bob because he fears for Ponyboy’s life.  This leads to Ponyboy’s and Johnny’s flight, and ultimately to a terrible accident critically injuring Johnny.  The second major conflict in The Outsiders involves the difficulties the Curtis brothers are having in getting along without their parents.

Rising Action:  Events leading to the climax

A.  Ponyboy, Johnny, Dally, and Two-Bit meet two Soc girls at the drive-in theater.  The girls, Cherry and her friend Marcia, have been arguing with their boyfriends, Bob and Randy.  As the Greasers walk the girls home, Bob and Randy drive up and to avoid a confrontation the girls reluctantly go with them.

B.  Later that night Bob and Randy and several other Socs catch Ponyboy and Johnny at a park and attack Pony because he had been talking to Cherry.  Johnny, fearing for Ponyboy’s life, stabs Bob.  Bob dies.

C.  With help from Dally, Ponyboy and Johnny flee north to an abandoned church in the country near Windrixville.

D.  When Dally visits after they have been hiding out for about a week, Johnny decides they should return and turn themselves in.

E.  After pigging out in Windrixville, Dally, Ponyboy, and Johnny return to gather their things at the church.  They find it on fire, probably from one of their discarded cigarettes, with a number of picnicking small children trapped inside.  Ponyboy and Johnny rush inside and save them.  However, Johnny is severely injured when part of the roof collapses on them.  Dally is mildly injured helping pull Pony and Johnny out.

Climax (turning point; point of highest interest)

The climax begins with the rumble between the Greasers and the Socs.  After the Greasers win, Dally and Ponyboy go to the hospital to see Johnny.  Johnny dies.  Dally can’t take it.  He runs off and soon afterward robs a grocery store.  Dally calls the gang for help, and they agree to meet him at the lot.  Sadly, they arrive at the lot just as Dallas points a pistol at the police and is killed in a hail of gunfire.

Falling Action:  Events which follow the climax/complications.

A.  After the climactic events of Johnny’s and Dally’s deaths, Ponyboy becomes very ill, worrying Soda and Darry. 

B.  A hearing is held at which Ponyboy is found to have no guilt in Bob’s death, and it is determined that the Curtis brothers may remain together.

C.  When Darry and Pony continue to fight and try to get Soda to take sides, he gets very upset and runs off to the lot.  Catching up to him, Darry and Pony listen as Soda emotionally complains about the constant arguing and tension.  He can’t stand to be in the middle anymore.  Darry and Pony both agree, for Soda’s sake and their own, to do better, to try to stop fighting.

D.  Ponyboy’s English teacher assigns him to write a theme paper at least five pages long about something important to him- his own ideas and experiences.  This becomes the novel The Outsiders.

Problem Resolution:  outcome/solution  At least some of the Socs (Cherry and Randy) and some of the Greasers (Ponyboy certainly) realize the stupidity of their conflict and this understanding will likely guide their future behavior at least to a degree.  The Curtis brothers, especially Ponyboy and Darry, make a commitment to each other to try harder to get along and to be more understanding of one another.  They will likely stumble.  Their will be setbacks.  But, if they are truly committed to the effort, their relationship will likely improve.

Theme:  Main idea/message.  Be positive.  There are plenty of bad things in life, but there are also many good.  Focus on the good.  Don’t let the bad in life change you.  Don’t let it harden you.  See the good.  “Stay Gold.”

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Plot Diagram for The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

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Exposition:  (introduction)

Setting  The Witch of Blackbird Pond takes place in the year 1687 in Connecticut Colony, primarily in the town of Wethersfield.

Characters/description  The main character is Katherine (Kit) Tyler.  She comes to Wethersfield from Barbados and often feels out of place.  She is not a Puritan.  Kit’s aunt, Rachel Wood, her husband Matthew, and their children, Mercy and Judith, are members of the Puritan community at Wethersfield.  The harsh New England life and the passage of years have deprived Rachel of the beauty Kit’s grandfather, Sir Francis Tyler, had often spoke of, although it is very evident in Judith, the youngest daughter.  Mercy, the oldest daughter, was left disabled by a high fever and relies on a crutch to get around.  She is unusually kind.  Matthew is stern and proud.  He is very much opposed to King James II’s plan to revoke the charter and appoint a Royal Governor for Connecticut Colony.  Nathaniel (Nat) Eaton is the son of the captain of the Dolphin, the ship Kit sailed to Connecticut on.  John Holbrook is a nice young Puritan Kit meets aboard ship who is studying with Reverend Bulkeley to become a minister.  William Ashby is the son of a prominent Wethersfield Puritan family.  The Cruff family consists of mean and cruel Goodwife Cruff, her cowered husband, Goodman Cruff, and their ill treated daughter, Prudence.  Last but not least, Hannah Tupper is an outsider, shunned by the community, who lives alone near Blackbird Pond.  Kit befriends this so-called “witch of Blackbird Pond.”   

Conflict  After the death of her grandfather and her necessary move to Connecticut, Kit struggles to find her way and begin a new life. 

Rising Action:  Events leading to the climax

A.  Katherine (Kit) Tyler arrives in Connecticut Colony from Barbados.  After the death of her grandfather and the selling of his plantation, slaves, and other assets to pay off his huge debts, she has come to begin a new life living with her aunt, Rachel Wood, and her family.

B.  Kit gets off to a bad start.  At Saybrook, she jumps in the river to retrieve Prudence Cruff’s doll.  Everyone is shocked.  Because of the cold climate, they are not used to people knowing how to swim.  She is immediately stamped as different, an outsider.  Prudence’s mean mother, Goodwife Cruff, is especially shocked and even angry.  She thinks Kit is a “witch” and tells Kit to stay away from Prudence.  At Wethersfield, Matthew becomes angry when Kit tries to kindly give her aunt and two cousins some of her nice clothes.  Putitan Matthew does not believe in fancy clothes.  His pride (he cannot provide these for his women himself) is probably hurt as well.  Also, Kit makes a mess when preparing dinner.  The work is constant and very difficult.  Nothing seems to go right.

C.  Things begin to improve.  Kit goes to Meeting (church service) where William Ashby, one of Wethersfield’s most desirable bachelors, is smitten with her.  He begins to court her.  Judith had thought William was interested in her but does not get upset.  She meets John Holbrook, Kit’s friend from the Dolphin, and decides she will marry him.  John begins visiting the Wood’s home regularly, just like William.  Things get even better.  Kit is asked to help Mercy teach the Dame School for pre-schoolers during the summer months.

D.  Kit enjoys teaching.  The children really like her.  She’s different, new, fresh.  She does things in a more fun way.  However, when she decides to have the children act out the Bible story of the Good Samaritan, Mr. Kimberley, the schoolmaster walks in just as the children become way too rowdy.  He is horrified and fires Kit.  She runs to the meadow in tears.

E.  At the meadow, as she is lying in the grass crying, Kit meets Hannah Tupper, the “witch of Blackbird Pond.” Kit finds that not only is Hannah not a witch,  she is an extremely kind and wise old woman whose only sin is that she is different.  She is a Quaker, which in Kit’s eyes is no sin at all.  Kit begins to visit Hannah regularly.  One time, while visiting Hannah, she happens upon Nat Eaton and discovers that he is Hannah’s “seafaring friend” she has spoken of often.  He has been visiting and looking after Hannah for years.  Later, Kit decides to bring Prudence Cruff to Hannah.  She knows this could be dangerous if Goodwife Cruff should find out, but she decides Prudence needs Hannah despite the risk.  In the comfort of Hannah’s home, Kit begins teaching Prudence to read and write.

F.  A terrible illness, characterized by a high fever, begins striking the younger folks in Wethersfield.  Kit contracts the illness, but has an extremely mild case.  Judith and Mercy get it much worse.  Judith, however, after a struggle, begins to recover.  Mercy does not.  She worsens and her life becomes in jeopardy. 

G.  A mob comes to the Wood home attempting to enlist Matthew’s help.  They are going for the “witch”, Hannah Tupper.  They believe she is causing the epidemic.  Matthew tells them they are crazy and to go away.  They leave without him, headed for Hannah’s place.

H.  Kit slips out and goes to warn Hannah.  She manages to get Hannah out just before the mob arrives and torches the place.  After a long night hiding out, Kit spies the Dolphin in the river and manages with Nat’s help to get Hannah safely aboard.  Nat tries to get Kit to leave as well, but she refuses.  She says she cannot leave not knowing how things will turn out with Mercy.

I.  Reverend/Doctor Gershom Bulkeley arrives and Matthew allows him to tend to Mercy.  By morning her fever breaks.  Kit, who has just returned from saving Hannah, is overjoyed.

J. At the urging of Goodwife Cruff, who had discovered the hornbook Kit was using to teach Prudence, and after Goodman Cruff  signs an official complaint, Kit is arrested, charged with being a “witch,” Hannah’s assistant and successor.  The constable takes Kit into custody.  She is to be tried for witchcraft.

Climax (turning point; point of highest interest)  The climax of The Witch of Blackbird Pond is Kit’s trial.  At first, things go well.  The evidence is lacking and ridiculous.  Then Goodman Cruff produces the copybook Kit was using to teach Prudence to write her name.  It contains Prudence’s name written over and over, which Goodman Cruff claims is a spell Kit cast on Prudence.  The crowd becomes excited.  There are cries to end the trial, she is guilty.  There are even calls to hang her.  Things look bleak.  Suddenly, Nat Eaton arrives with Prudence in tow.  Prudence testifies that her name is written over and over in the copybook because the first time was Kit and all the others were her copying Kit.  Prudence also says she can read and proves it by reading from the Bible.  Goodman Cruff changes.  He is overjoyed.  His wife always said Prudence was dumb and unable to learn.  He is very proud.  He stands up to Goodwife Cruff and withdraws the complaint.  The charges against Kit are dropped.  She is found innocent and freed.     

Falling Action:  Events which follow the climax/complications.

A.  John Holbrook, who had been captured by the Indians and was presumed dead, shows up and declares his love for Mercy.  They are married, as are Judith and William, whose match it turns out had merely been interrupted by Kit.

B.  Kit decides she will return to Barbados.  She is homesick.  However, when spring comes and the meadow fills with life, she realizes it is not always winter in Connecticut and she will miss it and her family if she goes away.  She will especially miss, she comes to understand, Nat.  In fact, she discovers that she loves him.  She begins to watch the river for the Dolphin’s approach.  It never comes.  Instead, one day Nat arrives at the Wethersfield dock with his own new ship named The Witch.  He asks Kit to marry him.  She consents happily.  She will spend summers in Saybrook with Hannah and Mistress Eaton and winters sailing to Barbados with Nat aboard The Witch.

Problem Resolution:  outcome/solution  Through all the troubles Kit faces during the first year of her new life in Connecticut, she perseveres (keeps trying) and remains true to herself and who she is.  All seems to work out in the end.  Kit finds her way and has a real chance at happiness.

Theme:  Main idea/message.  If you work hard to overcome difficulties while staying true to yourself, things will usually work out.