What is the setting of the novel the outsiders?

"The Outsiders" is set in the 1960s in the fictional town of Tulsa, Oklahoma. The novel primarily takes place in the East Side of town, a rough and working-class neighborhood where the Greasers, a gang of disadvantaged teenagers, live. The story also takes the characters to the wealthier West Side of town, where the Socs, short for Socials, reside.

The town is divided by socioeconomic class and the tension between the Greasers and the Socs is a central theme in the novel. The settings in the book, such as the abandoned church where the Greasers hide out, the drive-in movie theater where the characters hang out, and various night spots where fights break out, reflect this divide and the struggles faced by the characters.

The novel also brings in elements of the rural setting outside of the town, where the characters escape to at times, offering a sense of peace and relief from the ongoing conflict between the Greasers and the Socs. The setting serves to highlight the social and economic disparities present in society and the challenges faced by the characters as they navigate their place in the world.