Chapter 11 · Holes

Copywork

If he was going to survive at Camp Green Lake, it was far more important that X-Ray think he was a good guy than it was for him to get one day off.

Read the passage aloud. Which two things is Stanley comparing, and which one does the sentence save for last?

Narration Tell back what happens after Stanley returns to his hole: X-Ray's visit, what he asks for, and what Stanley thinks about while he digs.

X-Ray asks for anything Stanley finds, and says his own eyesight is bad. What do you make of how X-Ray asks? Character
Armpit is the biggest and Zigzag the tallest, yet they do what X-Ray asks. Why might they follow him? Inference
X-Ray says it would only be fair for him to get a day off before Stanley does. What would make that fair or unfair? Moral reasoning
Stanley is glad they call him Caveman, and would be glad even of Barf Bag. What do you hear in that? Tone
Stanley says only “I guess” to X-Ray, but the author tells us much more of what he thinks. Why might the author share his thoughts? Author's choice

Make a Connection Tell about a time you went along with something so a group would accept you. How did you feel afterward?

survive: If he was going to survive at Camp Green Lake, it was far more important that X-Ray think he was a good guy than it was for him to get one day off. To stay alive through danger or hardship.
important: it was far more important that X-Ray think he was a good guy than it was for him to get one day off Mattering a great deal.
clearly: X-Ray was clearly the leader of the group Without doubt; plainly.
obviously: since he obviously wasn’t the biggest or the toughest In a way anyone can see.
remarkable: It was really quite remarkable to him. Worth noticing; surprising.
accepted: It meant they accepted him as a member of the group. Welcomed as one of a group.
willing: seemed to be willing to do whatever X-Ray asked of them Ready to do something.
smug: as he slams his hands into Derrick Dunne’s smug face Pleased with oneself in an annoying way.
suffering: It helped him dig his hole and ease his own suffering. Pain or hardship.

Stanley tells himself he does not expect to find anything else. Using two pieces of evidence, explain how sure he can be.
Stanley imagines the boys beating up Derrick Dunne, and the daydream is written in the present tense. Using two pieces of evidence, explain what the daydream does for him.
The chapter opens with “It wasn’t fair” and ends with Stanley daydreaming. Using two pieces of evidence, explain whether his anger goes away.