Holes

Answer Key Novel Study Guide

Louis Sachar

Answer all questions in sentence form.

Part One--You Are Entering Camp Green Lake

Chapters One & Two

1. Explain the irony in the name Camp Green Lake.

Camp Green Lake is a dried up lake and as well it is a juvenile correctional facility rather than a real camp.  Furthermore, the name is a complete misnomer as hardly anything is green.

2. Why will campers sometimes permit themselves to be bitten by a rattlesnake or a scorpion?

The campers (prisoners) know the bites are usually not fatal so they will sometimes allow themselves to be bitten so that they can spend time recuperating in their tents and not be forced to dig holes in the sweltering heat.

3. What is the significance of the phrase, "The Warden owns the shade"?

It suggests that the Warden is omnipotent controlling everything in the camp and that she doesn't willingly share them with the inmates.

4. Why does the narrator suggest that if someone is bitten by a yellow-spotted lizard they might as well lie in the hammock.

The lizard possesses a fatal venom and so even if the person bitten lies in the hammock, there is very little the Warden can do to punish the victim further.

5. Why did Camp Green Lake always manage to find campers despite the appalling conditions?

Camp Green Lake wasn't a real camp, it was a camp for bad boys.

6. What choices did the judge give Stanley?

He informed Stanley that he could go to jail or to Camp Green Lake.

Vocabulary:  wasteland, shriveled, hammock, warden, recovering

Enrichment:  Design a title page for your novel.

Write a short biography on the author and examine some of his other novels.

 

Chapters Three & Four

1. Why did Stanley have a box of stationery?

Stanley's mother had given him the stationery so that he could write her a letter once a week.

2. How do we know that Stanley was very unhappy at home?

Stanley has no friends and his classmates tease him incessantly about his size.

3. How did Mrs. Bell inadvertently embarrass Stanley?

Mrs. Bell embarrassed Stanley by using his size as an example for teaching ratios in math class.

4. Briefly explain the curse of the one-legged Gypsy.

Stanley's great-great-grandfather had allegedly stolen a pig from the Gypsy who in turn placed a curse on Stanley's grandfather and all his descendants.

5. Why did Stanley's apartment smell of burning rubber and foot odor?

The apartment had the strange odor because Stanley's father was trying to invent a way to recycle old sneakers.

6. What did everyone in the family like about Stanley Yelnat's name?

Everyone enjoyed the fact that it was a palindrome--the name when spelled in its entirety was the same frontwards or backwards.  There are many examples of palindromes that have been created including: "a man, a plan, a canal, Panama!"  Some of the students will use them every day.  These include mom, dad, and wow.

7. Explain the abundance of sunflower seeds on the floor by the desk.

The man at the desk had quit smoking and was chewing on sunflower seeds instead.

8. How did the guard wish to be addressed by Stanley?

He insisted that Stanley was to call him Mr. Sir.

9. Explain how the laundry was done.

Each inmate was given two sets of clothes.  One set was used for working and the other for leisure until the third day.  On the third day the leisure clothes became the work clothes so that the other set of clothes could be washed.

10. What instructions did the guard give to Stanley concerning digging?

Mr. Sir, the counselor (guard), told Stanley that he was to be up at 4:30am for breakfast and that he was to dig a hole every day of the week including Saturday and Sunday.  The hole was to measure five feet in every direction including down (depth). He was to use the shovel to measure and furthermore, if he discovered anything interesting he was to report it to one of the counselors.

11. According to Mr. Sir why did none of the campers attempt to escape despite the fact that there were no fences or guard towers?

Mr. Sir told Stanley that there was no water for a hundred miles and that anyone attempting to escape would become buzzard food.

Vocabulary:  stationery, obstacle, ratios, convicted, gypsy, curse, descendants, perseverance, neglected, barren, desolate, violation, premises

Enrichment:  What is a palindrome?  Try and find some palindromes on the internet.  With a group of your classmates try and create some of your own.  Some students may even wish to work on this project with their parents at home.  Be careful!  It can be addictive.  See who can create the longest palindrome.

 

Chapters Five & Six

1. Why was Mr. Sir in such a bad mood?

He had been in a bad mood since quitting smoking.

2. According to Counselor Pendanski, what one rule should Stanley always remember?

The one rule to remember at Camp Green Lake was, "Don't upset the Warden."

3. Why was Stanley reluctant to tell Mr. Pendanski that he was innocent?

Stanley realized that his counselor probably wouldn't believe him and furthermore that he would think Stanley had a bad attitude.

4. What nickname did the boys in Stanley's tent use for Mr. Pendanski?

They often referred to him as "Mom".  Students may wish to discuss the significance of this and other nicknames mentioned in the chapter.  For example, "Mom" suggests someone caring and maternal.  Later the reader will see another and darker side of Pendanski's character.  Students might also suggest some alternate nicknames for Stanley.

5. Why was Stanley surprised that Theodore insisted on being called Armpit?

He couldn't imagine anybody wanting to be called such a name.

6. For what crime was Stanley sent to Camp Green Lake?

He was accused of stealing a used pair of sneakers formerly owned by a famous baseball player named Clyde (Sweet Feet) Livingston.  The sneakers were to be auctioned off to raise money for the homeless.

7. Briefly describe Stanley's version of the theft.

According to Stanley the sneakers fell from the sky although they actually fell from an overpass.  Stanley's father was working on an invention to recycle old sneakers and Stanley viewed this as divine intervention.

8. What did the judge think?

The judge did not believe Stanley and sentenced him to eighteen months for what he called a despicable crime.

Vocabulary:  spigot, scarcity, prospect, donated, torment, coincidence, mere, humiliating, auctioned, destiny, despicable, vacancies

Enrichment:Draw a cartoon strip representing some aspect of the story.

Pretend you are the judge in Stanley's case.  Write out a short sentencing report (maximum two paragraphs) explaining the reasons behind your judgement in the case.  Some students may wish to conduct a mock trial.

 

Chapter Seven & Eight

1. How do we know that Stanley is not accustomed to hard physical work?

His hands are soft and fleshy rather than calloused as one might expect.

2. Why might X-Ray have preferred a shorter shovel?

If in fact his shovel was shorter, which Stanley doubted, it would mean that his hole would not have to be as large since their shovels were used to measure.

3. How did Stanley's weight help him for once in his life?

It helped him dig because when he jumped onto the back of the shovel blade with both feet, it sank a few inches into the earth.

4. Why did the digging get easier for Stanley as the hole got deeper?

The surface of the ground was the hardest having been baked by the hot sun.

5. Who was Elya Yelnats?

He was Stanley's great-great-grandfather who had been born in Latvia.  Some students may wish to locate Latvia on an atlas.

6. Describe Madame Zeroni.

She was an old Egytian woman (often considered the origin of the word Gypsy) who loved dispensing advice and telling stories to anyone who would listen.  She used a homemade wheelchair as she had no left foot.

7. What advice did Madame Zeroni offer Elya about Myra Menke?

She told Elya that he should forget about Myra as she was a poor choice for a wife.  Instead he should go to America where his future lay.

8. Why did Madame Zeroni give Elya a piglet?

It was to help Elya win Myra's hand in marriage.  Each day he was to carry the pig to the top of the mountain allowing it to drink from a special stream that ran uphill.  As the piglet grew in size so would Elya's strength.  On Myra's fifteenth birthday Stanley was to present the pig to Myra's father.  Madame Zeroni assured Stanley that it would be larger than Igor's.

9. Explain Madame Zeroni's curse.

Madame Zeroni explained to Elya that he must, as with the piglet, carry her to the top of the mountain stream and sing to her.  If not his descendants would be cursed for an eternity.

10. Why did Elya refuse to choose a number in order to win Myra's hand in marriage?

Elya finally realized that Myra was in fact an empty-headed girl and quite unsuited as a potential bride.  Instead he simply gave her the pig as a wedding gift.

11. How might the counsellors have punished Stanley if he had refused to finish digging the hole?

Students will have fun discussing a variety of punishments in small groups and then sharing with classmates.  Students may suggest anything from digging extra holes (a contradiction really) to spending an extra month or two at the camp.

12. What warning did Magnet give Stanley as he headed off to select a bathroom?

Magnet warned Stanley that whatever hole he chose to use as a latrine should be checked first for anything that might be living in it.

13. What did Elya remember as his ship was clearing the harbor?

Elya recalled his promise to carry Madame Zeroni up the side of the mountain.  Although he felt badly that he had forgotten to fulfil his promise to her he didn't appear to worried about her curse as he believed it to be nonsense.

14. What did Zero do after he had finished digging his hole?

He climbed out, spat back into the hole and headed back to the camp compound.

15. How was Sarah Miller different from Myra Menke?

She was in fact a complete contrast but most importantly she could think for herself.

16. What does Stanley discover upon completing his first hole?

He realizes that he doesn't have the strength to climb out of the hole.

17. What would probably happen if you were ever close enough to see the yellow dots on a yellow-spotted lizard?

You would probably die.

Vocabulary:  dent, defective, Latvia, confessed, shallow, forlorn, sow, litter, runt, suckle, piglet, assured, descendants, doomed, eternity, deftly, raw, convince, compacted, preposterous, expelling, dawdle, gesture, expanse, staggered, foul, grimaced, footholds

Enrichment:  How much is a stone in pounds?  Which country still uses this form for measuring a person's weight?  Describe the advantages and disadvantages of using this type of measurement system.

The author begins to use a new structure in this chapter.  What is this new structure and why might the author have decided to utilize it in his novel?

The author has begun to incorporate another parallel story into the novel--the story of Stanley's grandfather.

 

Chapter Nine & Ten

1. Explain why the sign on the rec room said wreck room.

Everything in the room looked wrecked including their bodies.

2. Why in X-Ray's opinion was the second hole the hardest to dig?

X-Ray told Stanley that you were tired and worn out before you even started the second hole.

3. Why is Stanley's letter home so comical?

Stanley's letter is comical because he describes everything through rose colored glasses pretending that it is a real honest to goodness summer camp.  He even tells his mother that he hopes to go water skiing after he passes the swimming test.

4. Give proof that Stanley has learned from his previous day of digging.

Stanley realizes he must dump the dirt farther from the hole when he begins digging and save the area of ground around the hole for when he digs deeper thus making his task easier.

5. Why did Stanley refer to the fossil as his miracle?

Stanley believed that the fish fossil would be of interest to the Warden and that as a reward he would be given the rest of the day off, just the respite he was looking for from his arduous task.

Vocabulary:  sprawled, sofas, dude, radiated, scowled, intensity, vinyl, awesome, arced, bulge

Enrichment:  Pretend that you are Stanley and keep a journal making an entry at the end of each chapter.

 

Chapter Eleven & Twelve

1. What did X-Ray ask Stanley to do the next time he found something interesting?

X-Ray asked Stanley to give him the next interesting thing he found claiming that he was too blind to find anything himself and that it was only fair that he get a day off before Stanley as he had been there much longer.

2. How did X-Ray get his nickname?

He informed Stanley that X-Ray was simply pig latin for his real name which was Rex.

3. Why was Stanley surprised that X-Ray was the leader of the group?

Stanley was rather surprised as X-Ray was one of the smallest in the group and Stanley obviously equated leadership with physical size and strength.  (Conduct a discussion as to the qualities we might look for in a leader.)

4. Why was Stanley glad to be called Caveman?

Stanley was glad because he believed that by calling him Caveman the other boys were accepting him as part of their group.

5. What was Mr. Pendanski doing when Stanley finally dragged himself back to the compound?

Mr. Pendanski was conducting a group session asking each of the boys what they hoped to do with their lives.

6. What caused the smile to disappear from Zero's face?

Mr. Pendanski offended Zero by telling him that he wasn't completely useless thus implying that he had little respect or hope for Zero.  Pendanski is beginning to show his true colors.

Vocabulary:  fossil, smug, compound, society, veterinarian, accomplish, appropriate, glared

Enrichment:  Find out how pig latin works by searching the library or the internet.  What would your name be in pig latin?  Practise communicating with your friends in pig latin.  Ask your parents and grandparents if they ever used pig latin to communicate with their friends.

  Discuss in a group some things that adults have told you that you have felt offended by.  Outline some of the rules you think adults should follow when talking to young people.  Should there be a different set of rules when young people talk to adults?

 

Chapter Thirteen & Fourteen

1. Why was Stanley reluctant at first to retrieve the glistening object from the pile of dirt?

It took a lot of effort for him to climb out of the hole and he wasn't sure if he had actually seen anything.  Furthermore, even if it was something, he had already promised it to X-Ray.

2. Describe the object that Stanley had found.

It was a metallic gold tube about the size of his finger, open on one end and closed on the other.  He also noticed the letters K B etched inside the outline of a heart.

3. How did Stanley respond when ZigZag asked to examine the gold tube?

Instead of showing it to ZigZag he took the tube to X-Ray.

4. What advice did Stanley offer X-Ray about showing the tube to the Warden?

He advised X-Ray to wait until early the next day and then pretend he had just discovered the tube.  That way X-Ray would be given an entire day's rest from digging.

5. What occurs when the water truck arrives that indicates Stanley's status in the group of boys is improving?

The boys always stand in line in a certain (hierarchical) order when waiting to have their canteens refilled.  X-Ray instructs Stanley to move ahead of Zero in the line thus improving his status.

6. Describe the Warden.

The Warden was a tall woman with red hair and dark red fingernail polish and she wore a black cowboy hat and black cowboy boots.  Her sleeves were rolled up and her arms and face were covered with freckles.

7. Why was Stanley surprised when the Warden addressed him as Caveman?

Stanley was surprised that she knew his nickname as they had never met before.

8. What instructions did the Warden give to Mr. Pendanski?

She insisted that Pendanski refill the canteens.

9. X-Ray had waited until the next day to reveal the discovery of the gold tube.  Why is this time lag significant?

It's significant as the readers suspect that the Warden is looking for something to be uncovered in a particular spot of the dried up lake bed.  By waiting 24 hours to reveal the discovery, X-Ray inadvertently causes the Warden to think that the tube was found at another location.  Thus if there was anything else buried along with the gold tube it will be in the other hole where Stanley initially uncovered it.

Vocabulary:  glisten, sifted, metallic, precious, engraved, etched, entire, piercing, swish, authority

Enrichment:  In a small group make a list of all the things that K.B. could possibly represent.  Don't just use names.

Pretend you are Louis Sachar and that you have just completed writing Holes. Write a letter to a publisher describing the book and attempting to persuade them that it is worth their while to publish it.

 

Chapter Fifteen & Sixteen

1. Why was the Warden treating the campers so well?

She was anxious to find whatever it was she was looking for so she made sure the boys received plenty of water and allowed them to work in pairs so they wouldn't tire themselves out.

2. Why was Stanley so sure he wouldn't find anything despite his careful search through the dirt dug up by Zero?

He knew that they were searching in the wrong hole and that anything that the Warden was looking for would likely be in the same spot where Stanley had originally found the gold tube.

3. According to ZigZag how did the Warden know all their names?

ZigZag believed that the Warden had hidden microphones and cameras everywhere including their tents, the Wreck room and even the shower.

4. Why did Stanley decide against digging at night?

He was too tired after digging all day and furthermore, the shovels were always locked up at night.

5. Why did Zero not get the joke about the old lady who lived in a shoe?

Zero had never heard the nursery rhyme about the old lady and the shoe.

Vocabulary:  site, excavated, paranoid, couch, tended, presumably, reciting

Enrichment:  Assume the role of the author, Louis Sachar, and allow your classmates to interview you.  Make sure to do some research first and then have a practice interview session with one or two of your classmates.  Some students may prefer to assume the role of one of the characters from the book such as Stanley, X-Ray, or Zero or even one of the counsellors.

Chapter Seventeen & Eighteen

1. What indications are there that the Warden is growing impatient?

She arrives later in the morning and leaves earlier in the afternoon and she begins to complain about the slow pace of their digging.  At one point she even jabs at Armpit with a pitchfork leaving holes in his shirt and drawing blood.

2. Explain Stanley's sudden collapse.

ZigZag had accidentally struck Stanley in the side of his head with the shovel causing him to collapse in the hole.

3. Why was Stanley relieved when the boys returned to their regular spot to dig?

He knew exactly how much he would be expected to dig each day and he no longer had to worry about other shovels swinging past his face.

4. Why did Stanley not have to worry about Zero reading over his shoulder?

Zero confesses to Stanley that he doesn't know how to read or write.

5. How do we know that more than just Stanley's hands had become callused during his stay at the camp?

Stanley is unwilling to teach Zero to read and write.  Like many of the other boys, Stanley's heart had hardened in order to help him survive his ordeal at Green Lake.

Vocabulary:  pitchfork, gash, throbbed, callused, penetrating, moisture, seal

Enrichment:  Act out a short scene from the novel.  It will help if you write up a short script first.  Do you think this novel would make a good movie?  Explain your answer.  Try and record one or two scenes from the novel on video and show the finished product to the class.

 

Chapter Nineteen & Twenty

1. Why was Stanley having difficulty sleeping?

Stanley heard a strange noise and thought at first it was an animal.  He soon realized it was Squid crying in the cot next to him.  Embarassed by the situation the next morning, Squid claimed that it was just his allergies that were causing him problems.

2. Describe the racial makeup of Stanley's work crew.

X-Ray, Armpit, and Zero were black, Stanley, Squid and ZigZag were white while Magnet was Hispanic.

3. How did Magnet get his nickname?

Magnet claimed that he couldn't help taking things because his fingers were like magnets.

4. Why did Stanley get blamed for stealing from Mr. Sir?

The other boys decided to share the sunflower seeds that Magnet had stolen from Mr. Sir.  When Mr. Sir noticed his sunflower seeds missing he returned to the boys only to discover that Stanley had the seeds or in the words of the author, he (Stanley)was in the wrong place at the wrong time

5. Predict the consequences for Stanley's misdeed.

Answers will vary.

6. What is the secret ingredient of the Warden's nail polish?

According to the Warden the secret ingredient is rattlesnake venom which is only toxic when it's wet.

7. Explain the unusual turn of events in the Warden's cabin.

The Warden slapped Mr. Sir across the face leaving three long red marks across the side of his face.  After a few moments Mr. Sir collapsed to the floor writhing in pain.

Vocabulary:  allergies, exhaust, fumes, muttered, gaze, remote, latch, venom, toxic, hearth, recede, shrill, writhed, agony

Enrichment:  In chapter 19 the author describes the racial makeup of the young boys.  Why might he have waited so long to do this and what is the advantage of reading this story as opposed to watching it on television? Perhaps the author wanted the young readers to develop opinions of the young boys before those opinions could be colored or tainted by any form of stereotype.

 

Chapter Twenty-One & Twenty-Two

1. What did the Warden mean when she said that unfortunately for Stanley, Mr. Sir would live?

The Warden meant that Mr. Sir would blame Stanley for his predicament and would find a way to punish him.

2. Why would the snakes be dangerous without a rattle?

They wouldn't be able to warn people of their presence.

3. Why was Stanley surprised when he returned to his hole?

Much to Stanley's surprise his hole was nearly finished.

4. How was Stanley able to determine who had helped him?

He noticed that Zero had continued to dig quietly when Stanley returned and also that Zero's hole was smaller indicating that he had been busy doing something else--helping to dig Stanley's hole in his absence.

5. Explain what Stanley meant by Zero having X-Ray vision.

He meant that Stanley was very intuitive despite the fact that he was illiterate.

6. What did Stanley offer to do for Zero?

Stanley offered to teach Zero to read.

7. What did Stanley discover as he attempted to teach Zero the alphabet?

Stanley realized that Zero was able to make some very quick calculations about the alphabet indicating that Zero's math skills might be much stronger than his reading skills.

8. What insight did Stanley suddenly have about the gold tube in the Warden's office?

Stanley realized it was half of a lipstick container and the same one he had seen in his mother's bathroom with the initials K.B.  He also wondered if the initials stood for Kate Barlow, the kissing outlaw.

Vocabulary:  haze, coiled, crates, expand, defiance, jolt

Enrichment:  Interview a primary teacher and discover their trade secrets as to how they teach the alphabet and the various sounds the letters make.  Try to teach a pre-schooler a particular letter and its accompanying sound.  Describe your research to your classmates.

Pretend you are the school librarian and give a book talk about Holes to your classmates.  Remember your job would be to entice the students to read the book without revealing the ending.

 Chapter Twenty-Three & Twenty-Four

1. Describe Green Lake as it was one hundred and ten years ago.

One hundred and ten years ago Green Lake was reputed to have been the largest lake in Texas.  It sparkled like a giant emerald in the sun and its shores were adorned with beautiful peach trees.

2. Who was Katherine Barlow?

Katherine Barlow was the town's only schoolteacher and her young students adored her.  In the evening she taught adult classes.However, she was renowned for her spiced peaches, a treat considered to be food for the angels.

3. Why was Charlie Walker called Trout Walker?

Everyone called him Trout because his feet smelled like dead fish--an odor caused by an incurable foot fungus.

4. Explain why Katherine Barlow may have refused Trout's offer to take her for a ride on his new boat.

While many of Katherine's adult students were unschooled, they were very anxious to learn.  Charlie Walker was an exception-- he took pride in his stupidity.  He was the type of person with whom Katherine Barlow would not want to be associated.  In short, she didn't like him!

5. Why did Stanley keep his eyes down as Mr. Sir ladled oatmeal into his bowl?

Stanley could see that the side of Mr. Sir's face was badly swollen and he didn't want to do anything that might remind him of the incident in the Warden's office as he surmised that Mr. Sir would probably blame Stanley for had happened.

6. How did Mr. Sir respond to the young boy's question about his swollen face?

Mr. Sir immediately began choking the young boy, holding his head against the oatmeal pot.  He then released the boy causing him to bang his head against the table as he fell to the floor.

7. How did Mr. Sir punish Stanley?

When it was time to refill the canteens, Mr. Sir allowed the water intended for Stanley's canteen to pour onto the ground.

Vocabulary:  emerald, blossoms, fungus, afflict, spewed, pace, grotesque, nozzle, splatter, absorbed

Enrichment:  If you were a teacher what would you do to encourage learning in the classroom.  List both the advantages and disadvantages of being a teacher.

 

Chapter Twenty-Five & Twenty-Six

1. According to Sam what could onions cure?

Sam told everyone they could cure just about anything from asthma to baldness.

2. Explain why Doc Hawthorn didn't resent Sam.

Although many of the people of Green Lake went to Sam looking for cures, Doc Hawthorn knew they did not take chances and that they would also go to him for regular medicine.

3. Why did Doc Hawthorn's head often smell like onions in the morning?

His wife must have rubbed one of Sam's onion concoctions on his head to cure his baldness.

4. Why wasn't Sam allowed to attend classes?

Sam was black.

5. What did Hattie Parker mean when she said, "God will punish you"?

Hattie Parker meant that according to her it was wrong for a white woman and a black man to fall in love and that she believed that God would punish them.

6. Why did the student not show up a school the next day?

Their parents were obviously upset that Miss Barlow had kissed Sam-- a black man.

7. Describe what happened to Sam.

Sam was chased and then shot by some of the townspeople.  Later they also shot his donkey, Mary Lou.

8. Explain how Katherine Barlow acquired the reputation as "Kissin' Kate Barlow".

Three days after Sam's death she shot the sheriff dead.  She then put on some lipstick and gave the sheriff the kiss he had asked for.

Vocabulary:  cart, ointments, asthma, remedy, arthritis, concoctions, paste, quivering, mob, storming, drawl, hitching, outlaws

Enrichment:  Discuss in a small group the question raised in this chapter, "Whom did God punish".  Give your opinion and then defend it.

With a group of your classmates construct a mural that depicts the story Holes and various themes found within the novel.

 

Chapter Twenty-Seven & Twenty-Eight

1. Explain what X-Ray meant when he told Armpit, "It's the same old story".

X-Ray meant that the black boys did all the work while the white boys sat around relaxing.

2. Explain why Stanley emptied his canteen onto the ground despite being extremely thirsty.

Stanley suspected that Mr. Sir had added something to his canteen other than water so he poured it onto the ground before he was tempted to drink it.

3. What is Zero's real name and why is it significant?

Zero informs Stanley that his real name is Hector Zeroni.  The reader knows from chapter seven that Madame Zeroni was the Egyptian (Gpysy) woman whose son went to America and also the same woman who tried to help Stanley's grandfather.  If there is a connection then Zero would be a distant relative of Madame Zeroni.

4. Who returned to Green Lake after a twenty year absence?

Kate Barlow returned to Green Lake after a twenty year absence.

5. What had happened to Trout Walker during this twenty year period?

Trout had married Linda Miller, a former student of Miss Barlow, but his wealth had dried up along with Green Lake.  Farming requires plenty of water and so all the fruit trees and livestock had perished as the drought continued.

6. Why were Linda and Trout terrorizing Katherine Barlow?

Linda and Trout Walker hoped to get their hands on the "loot" that Katherine (Kate) Barlow had stolen during her twenty year escapades robbing banks.  They wanted her to reveal where she had buried her "loot".

7. Explain how Kate died.

Kate died laughing after receiving a fatal bite from a venomous lizard.

Vocabulary:  canteen, sparingly, mocked, jagged, tattoo, vile, blurry, loot, blotchy, scraggly, desperate, livestock, drought, vast, jab, droplets

Enrichment:  Pretend that you have been asked to introduce the author, Mr. Louis Sachar, at a literary banquet.  Do some research on the author before writing the introduction.  Make a short oral presentation to your classmates.

 

Part Two--The Last Hole

Chapter Twenty-Nine & Thirty

1. What did Stanley believe he had seen for a split second during a flash of lightning?

Stanley thought he had seen an unusual rock formation that looked like a giant fist with a thumb sticking straight up into the air.

2. What had Stanley's great grandfather allegedly said after being robbed by Kate Barlow?

He had allegedly uttered the words, "I found refuge on God's thumb".  These words reminded Stanley of the unusual rock formation that he had caught a glimpse of during the storm because the lightning had been coming out of the thumb as if it were the thumb of God.

3. Why did Mr. Pendanski fire his pistol into the air?

He fired his pistol into the air when it appeared that the fighting amongst the boys was about to turn into a riot.

4. How did the Warden react when she discovered that Zero was digging Stanley's holes?

The Warden was not happy and told Stanley that as long as Zero did the digging, Stanley would not "learn his lesson".

5. How did Zero react when when Mr. Pendanski handed Zero the shovel and told him it was all he would ever be good for?

Wielding the shovel like a baseball bat, Zero struck Pendanski forcefully across the side of the face rendering him unconscious.

6. Explain what the Warden meant when she said it was almost time to paint her nails again.

She meant that it was time to punish someone-- Zero.

Vocabulary:  drenched, ark, frizzy, stranded, delirious, cot, aloud, adjusted, harsh, depriving, impressive, gagging, holstered, unconscious

Enrichment:  Explain how the author forces the reader to reassess their opinion of Mr. Pendanski.  Describe why and how your opinion of Mr. Pendanski has changed since the beginning of the novel.

 

Chapter Thirty-One & Thirty-Two

1. Where did Stanley think that Zero might have taken refuge?

Stanley thought that Zero might have taken refuge on the Big Thumb.

2. Why does the Warden repeatedly ask Mr. Pendanski if Zero (Hector Zeroni) had any family or social worker who might have taken an interest in him?

The Warden wants to destroy all Zero's records so no one will ever know that he was even at Green Lake but she's afraid someone may come around asking questions.

3. Why was the new boy given the nickname Twitch?

Brian, the new boy, was constantly fidgeting.

4. What was the new boy's claim to fame?

Brian told the other boys that he could break into a car and steal it in less than a minute.

5. Why did Stanley steal Mr. Sir's truck?

Stanley wanted to rescue Zero and when he noticed that Mr. Sir had left the keys in the ignition, he decided on impulse to steal the water truck.

6. Explain what happened when Stanley stole the truck?

Stanley obviously had never driven a vehicle before.  The new boy, Brian, had to tell him to put the truck in gear and even then Stanley only went a short distance before crashing into one of the holes.

Vocabulary:  refuge, slits, ward, hot-wire, twitch, shaft, pinkie, dangling, ignition, revved, lurched, accelerated, lopsided

Enrichment:  Car theft has become a serious problem in the major cities.  Create an advertisement for a new car theft alarm device that you are planning to introduce to the market.  Remember to use illustrations to market this device.

 

Chapter Thirty-Three & Thirty-Four

1. Why did Stanley think that he might have to return to the camp?

His canteen was empty and he didn't want to risk his life looking for the Big Thumb.

2. Why did Stanley's heart stop when he peered into the bottom of one of the holes?

He noticed a family of yellow-spotted lizards looking up at him with their large red eyes.

3. What did Stanley have for lunch?

Stanley had brought nothing with him for lunch so when he found a burlap bag with one sunflower seed stuck on the inside, he decided to have it for lunch.

4. Explain why the pool of water kept moving away from Stanley.

It was mirage caused by the shimmering heat rising off the ground.  Teachers may wish to discuss a common mirage which occurs when driving on a hot summer day making the highway ahead appear wet.

5. Describe what Stanley found while walking across the dry and barren wasteland.

Stanley found Sam's old and derelict boat turned upside-down with the peeled and faded red letters, Mary Lou.

Vocabulary:  cluster, systematic, frustration, random, lottery, mounds, encounter, burlap, mirage, shimmering, grimly

Enrichment:  Prepare a book talk on "Holes" and then make an oral presentation to your class or another grade.  See if you can persuade any other students in your school to read the book.

 

Chapter Thirty-Five & Thirty-Six

1. Who was under the boat?

Zero had been taking refuge from the hot sun under the boat.

2. Explain what you think the sploosh might be.

The sploosh is probably the spiced peaches that Kate Barlow had originally given to Sam.  Stanley alludes to this when he mentions that the sploosh may have been a type of fruit at one time-- perhaps peaches.  By now they may have even fermented.

3. What evidence is there that Barf Bag may have purposely stepped on a rattlesnake?

According to Zero, Barf Bag took off his shoe and sock before stepping on the venomous snake indicating that he wanted to be bitten by the snake.

4. Why did the boys make frequent stops as they walked across the lake?

They were forced to stop on a number of occasions as Zero kept having attacks which caused him to clutch his stomach and fall to the ground.

5. According to Zero how did the boat probably get its name?

Zero suggests that it must have been named after a very beautiful woman although the reader knows that the boat was actually named after Sam's donkey (mule).

6. What did the boys see when they finally reached the western edge of the lake?

The boys saw huge white stone cliffs rising steeply from the lake.

Vocabulary:  drooping, raspy, sheepishly, forearm, ventilation, bacteria, mushy, nectar, tangy, parched, resist, clutched, snapshot, crisscrossing, rut, frail, trembled, interwoven, protruding, slab, defy, fiery

Enrichment:  Look on the internet for a book review of the novel "Holes".  Next write a book review for your school library or even your community library based on Louis Sachar's book.  Ask the librarian if you can post it on the library bulletin board.

 

Chapter Thirty-Seven & Thirty-Eight

1. Why was Stanley reluctant to stop and rest?

Stanley was afraid that if he and Zero stopped they would never get started again.

2. What conclusion did Stanley make after seeing all the weeds and bugs?

Stanley eventually concluded that there must be water somewhere in the area as both weeds and bugs were indicators of water--something the two boys were in desperate need of if they were to survive.

3. How does Zero make it up the final portion of the climb to the top?

Zero passes out and Stanley has to gather all his strength to carry him on his shoulders up the steep incline.  Stanley is of course actually carrying Madame Zeroni's great grandson up the mountain and the author later suggests that this is what finally put and end to the curse on his family.

4. What two important discoveries does Stanley make after tumbling into the gully?

Stanley discovers the two things he needs most--food and water.  The food comes in the form of onions and the more perceptive readers may surmise that this is probably the same location where Sam grew his onions.

Vocabulary:  altitude, increments, gnats, hovered, swat, swarm, tangled, upright, precipice, despair, gully, soggy

Enrichment:  The active reader often derives more pleasure from reading than the passive reader.  One of the essential elements of the active reader is predicting.  Form a small group and write out some predictions as to what you think is going to happen in the story in the next few chapters.  (no peeking allowed)

 

Chapter Thirty-Nine & Forty

1. Why did the insides of Stanley's mouth and throat feel like they were coated with sand?

The night before Stanley had been drinking from the muddy water in the hole to quench his parched throat.

2. What does Zero say that causes Stanley to believe that his friend is delirious?

Zero confesses to stealing Clyde Livingston's shoes.

3. Explain why Mrs. Tennyson was wearing only a nightgown and a robe as she ran down the street after Sam.

Mrs. Tennyson is not dressed in her usual attire as she desperately wants to thank Sam for providing the onion tonic that she credits with breaking her daughter's fever and ultimately saving the young girl's life.

4. Why did Hattie Parker blush when Gladys Tennyson mentioned that her daughter, Becca, had almost died from eating some bad meat?

Hattie Parker's husband, Jim Parker, was the town butcher and it was obvious that Gladys Tennyson considered him responsible for her daughter's illness.

5. What surprised Stanley when he headed down the mountain looking for the shovel?

Stanley was surprised when he found the shovel so far down the mountain.  He couldn't believe that he had carried Zero so far.  This of course is another reminder from the author that Stanley has broken the curse by carrying Madame Zeroni's great grandson up the mountain.

Vocabulary:  streak, tan, lapped, comprehend, gratefully, meadow, proper, mule, leeches, tonic, snickered, flushed, contritely, charity, feebly, indentation

Enrichment:  Conduct a debate as to the function or purpose of boot camps.  For example, should they be used to punish boys like Stanley and Zero or should they be used to train them to adapt to society once they are released?  How would you hope to be treated if you were forced to spend time in a boot camp?

 

Chapter Forty-One & Forty-Two

1. Why was Stanley so surprised that he hadn't gotten sick despite the drinking the sploosh and dirty water or from living on onions?

Stanley was surprised because he had often been sick back at home.

2. Why did Zero avoid the homeless shelters?

The people at the homeless shelters asked a lot of questions and Zero was afraid they would make him a ward of the state if they had discovered that he didn't have a mother.

3. Why did Zero steal when he was young?

No one had ever told him that it was wrong to take things that didn't belong to you.  As a result whenever he needed something he would just take it.

4. What did Zero do with Clyde Livingston's shoes when everyone started making a fuss about them being stolen?

Wanting to avoid trouble Zero quickly left the shelter, ran around the corner, took off the shoes, and placed them on top of a parked car.

5. Why did Zero fill the bottom of the hole with rocks?

He hoped this would separate the water from the dirt.

6. Explain the bitter smell that Stanley had first detected upon reaching the top of the hill.

It was the smell of onions, growing, rotting, and sprouting.

7. Explain how the sneakers had managed to fall on Stanley's head at the beginning of the story (Chapter Six).

Unbeknownst to Stanley, the sneakers had actually fallen from the roof of the car where Zero had placed them.  The driver obviously hadn't noticed them and they ended up falling from the overpass-- one of them right onto Stanley's head.

8. What was Stanley alluding to when he asked Zero if he wanted to dig one more hole?

Stanley believed he could find the hole where Kate Barlow had buried her "loot" and that the two boys could use the money to live their lives as fugitives.

Vocabulary:  murky, contaminate, sundial, sprouting, fugitive, identity

Enrichment:  Divide the class into small groups and then locate recipes that use peaches as a main ingredient including jam, preserves, and pie.  Cook up some special concoctions at home and then bring them to school to share with the class. Research and discuss the nutritious aspects of peaches.  Make a list of everything that can be made from peaches.

Chapter Forty-Three & Forty-Four

1. Explain the significance of Zero mentioning that his mother had sung a lullaby similar to the one Stanley's mother had sung to him.

This begins to confirm the reader's suspicions that Zero is related to Madame Zeroni as she had taught the song to Stanley's grandfather.

2. Outline what the two boys had planned.

Stanley and Zero hoped to go back to the camp and then dig for the missing treasure that had belonged to Kate Barlow once everyone was asleep.

3. Where did Zero get breakfast?

Zero sneaked into the cabin to retrieve some food including cereal.

4. What did Stanley uncover in the hole?

Stanley had dug up an old suitcase.

Vocabulary:  evicted, recapture, inexplicable, crammed, styrofoam, eased, clinked, diagram, summoned, adjacent, sliver, exhaled, ultra-sweet, swig, texture, collapsed, exposed, precarious, portion

Enrichment:  Research a number of lullabies and then write one of your own.  Sing your lullaby to a small group of your classmates.  If you're feeling brave set it to music and sing it to the entire class.

 

Chapter Forty-Five & Forty-Six

1. Who was shining the bright light in Stanley's eyes?

Mr. Pendanski and the others must have overheard Zero sneaking around for food and came out to investigate.  Pendanski shone the light in Stanley's eyes just as he was emerging from the hole.

2. How do we know that the Warden and Mr. Sir were not expecting the two boys?

Both the Warden and Mr. Sir were in their bedclothes and Mr. Sir was also bare foot and bare chested indicating they were probably sleeping when the boys arrived at the camp.

3. What terrifying event begins to unfold almost immediately?

Horrified, Stanley realizes too late that he is standing in the midst of a lizard nest.  The lizards are everywhere--both on Zero and Stanley and even in the cereal box.

4. Explain the Warden's statement, "It won't be very long."

The Warden is convinced the lizards will bite both the boys causing them to die.

5. Why did Stanley start to think about his mother?

He wanted to die with pleasant images in his mind.

6. Why did the Warden ask the counsellors to relay the message that the "campers" would no longer have to dig any holes?

Certainly she didn't want any of the other boys to know that Stanley and Zero had returned so it was essential that they be detained inside.  Secondly it was no longer necessary to dig holes as the Warden had found what she had been looking for--Kate Barlow's "loot" (in the suitcase).

Vocabulary:  bobbing, commotion, illuminated, suppress, midair, scurried, flinch, initiate, severely, rigid, strenuous

Enrichment:  Research various snakes and lizards indigenous to the state of Texas and find out which species may be venomous enough to deliver a fatal bite.

Explain the difference between a protagonist and an antagonist.  Which characters in this book would you classify as protagonists?  Justify you opinion.  Which characters are antagonists?  Explain your choice(s).

Chapter Forty-Seven & Forty-Eight

1. What does Zero do to keep his mind off the lizards during the night?

He focuses on the spelling of Stanley's name eventually determining that Stanley's last name is his first name spelled backwards--Yelnats!

2. What small but important piece of information do we glean about the Warden in this chapter?

The reader discovers that the Warden's last name is Walker.  The more perceptive reader will realize that the Warden is related to Trout Walker and must have known about the Kate's buried "loot" from her relatives.

3. Whose name was on the suitcase and how can it be used to describe Zero's behavior during the night?  

Zero notices the name Stanley Yelnats written on the suitcase.  It's quite possible that he noticed it earlier and this might explain why Zero was focusing on Stanley's name during the night as well as why he was trying to pronounce it.  However, we never find out for sure.

4. What did Ms Morengo advise Stanley to do when the Warden ordered him to open the suitcase?

She advised Stanley not to open the suitcase?

5. Do you think she gave him good advice?  Explain your answer.

Students may disagree on this response;however, they should be prepared to defend their response from a legal perspective.

6. Why did Mr. Pendanski hesitate (stared at her) when the Warden ordered him to get Hector Zeroni's file?

Mr. Pendanski knew that the file no longer existed because the Warden had ordered the hard copy of it destroyed and the computer files tampered with.

Vocabulary:  exaggerated, stark, tarantula, numb, Hispanic, tarnation, authorization, authenticated, custody, hallucinations, ranting, raving, red-handed, enforcement, detainees, hysterical, jurisdiction, souvenir, pursurant, misplaced, outraged, access, cyberspace, incarcerated

Enrichment:   Make a list of all the nicknames in the novel including those of the boys and the adults.Discuss in a small group why people use nicknames.  Chose a nickname that you would like people to call you.  Explain how you chose the nickname.

Explain how this story is both different from and similar to other stories you have read.

 Chapter Forty-Nine

1. Why does the author relate the story of the rattlesnake hunters at the beginning of this chapter?

The author uses this story to impress upon the reader that just as the onion juice protected the rattlesnake hunters from the yellow-spotted lizards, the onions that Stanley and Zero had been eating for the past few days would have protected them as well from the lizards.

2. Ms Morengo advises Zero not to admit that he has stolen Clyde (Sweet Feet) Johnson's sneakers.  Do you agree with her advice?  Explain your answer.

Answers will vary.  Some students will struggle with the attorney's advice.This type of material lends itself well to ethical discussions in the classroom.  Some students may wish to ask lawyers about the ethics involved when defending their clients if they believe they are guilty and later make a brief presentation to their classmates.

3. Describe the new product that Stanley's father has just invented.

Although his father's original intention was to discover a way of recycling old sneakers, he instead invents a new product to eliminate foot odor--a product which smells suspiciously like peaches.  A product which he coincidentally discovered the day Stanley carried Zero up the mountain (perhaps breaking the curse).

4. What happens at Green Lake for the first time in over a hundred years?

A drop of rain fell into the lake.

Vocabulary:  bloodstream, BMW, patent, attorney, recycle

Enrichment:  Ms. Morengo explained to Stanley that she was a patent attorney working for his father.  Research what a patent attorney is and make a brief presentation to some of your classmates explaining their role.

Throughout the novel there is a parallel story about Stanley's grandfather.  Explain how this helps or hinders the story.

Part Three--Filling in the Holes

Chapter Fifty

1. Explain the curse and how it was resolved

Stanley carried Madame Zeroni's grandson, Hector, up the mountain and sang the lullaby to him as he was falling asleep.  In the original curse Madame Zeroni had told Elya that he must carry her up the mountain and sing the lullaby and that failing to do so would place a curse on his family for generations.

2. What did they find in the suitcase that proved to be very valuable?

Surprisingly, the stack of papers found in the suitcase turned out to be a lot more valuable than the jewels.  The papers consisted of stock certificates, deeds of trust, and promissory notes.

3. What was the new foot odor product called?

The new product was called Sploosh.  The students might want to discuss if there is any relationship between this new product and the Sploosh that Stanley and Zero had drunk to stay alive.

4. Describe the woman who is singing the lullaby to Hector (Zero) at the end of the story.

She is not very old yet has very weathered skin which is almost like leather.  Her appearance also suggested that she had lived a hard life.  Although the reader is not told who she is, she is obviously related to Zero and is probably his mother.

Vocabulary:  cure, generations, dedicated, tedious, subtle, promissory, fixings, amid, tingle, ingredients, neutralizes, caviar, weathered, weary

Enrichment:  There are many recurring themes in the novel.  One of these themes is the curse place on Stanley's great-great-great grandfather.  Describe how the author refers to this theme at various points in the novel.

Do you think the title of the book is appropriate?  Explain why.  Suggest another title that could have been used.

Copyright 2002

Created by: Brian Thornton, Capo Creations, Box 1411, Haileybury, Ontario, CANADA POJ 1KO

Not to be used or copied in any manner without specific written consent of the publisher All Rights Reserved