Chapter 13 · Holes

Copywork

He dug his shovel into the dirt. His skin had gotten tougher. It didn’t hurt so much to hold the shovel.

Read the passage aloud. What does the first short sentence do, and why might the author repeat it through the chapter?

Narration Tell back what happens in the chapter, in order, from the day Stanley loses track of the holes to the place he ends up in the water line.

The line “He dug his shovel into the dirt” returns several times in the opening. Why might the author repeat it? Author's choice
Stanley decides it isn't worth climbing out of his hole to check what he saw glisten, then does it anyway. What changed his mind? Character
Stanley says the tube is “prob’ly just a piece of junk” and does not mention the engraved design. Why might he hide it? Inference
Stanley says it would be better for X-Ray to wait until tomorrow to show the tube. Why might he give that advice? Moral reasoning
Stanley moves up one place in line at the end. Why might the author end the chapter on such a small change? Plot structure

Make a Connection Tell about a time you were tempted to keep something you had promised to share. What did you do?

tougher: His skin had gotten tougher. Harder and stronger.
shovel: He dug his shovel into the dirt. A tool with a flat blade for digging.
condition: he’d be either in great physical condition, or else dead The state of someone's health or strength.
occasionally: Occasionally it got close, but it was just teasing them. Now and then.
glisten: he thought he saw something glisten as it fell onto the dirt pile To shine with a soft, wet light.
curiosity: His curiosity had gotten the better of him. A strong wish to find out about something.
engraved: the design engraved into the flat bottom of the tube Cut into a hard surface.
secretly: Stanley wondered about trying to secretly take the tube directly to the Warden. In a hidden way, so no one knows.
suspect: so X-Ray wouldn’t suspect To think something wrong may be going on.

Stanley thinks about taking the tube straight to the Warden and decides against it. Using two pieces of evidence, explain why.
The cloud that Stanley and the boys watch all day only teases them. Using two pieces of evidence, explain what the cloud shows about how the boys feel.
Stanley imagines the Warden making up an excuse so X-Ray won't suspect. Using two pieces of evidence, explain what that plan shows about Stanley.