Chapter 45 · Holes

Copywork

The light also illuminated Stanley’s hole. He glanced downward and had to force himself to suppress a scream.

Read the passage aloud. What do the words "force himself" tell you about Stanley?

Narration Tell back what happens in this chapter, from the flashlight beam on Zero to Stanley counting his heartbeats.

Mr. Pendanski says, “At least we’ll have a body to give that woman.” What does that line tell us about how the adults see the boys? Inference
The Warden begins to thank the boys, then stops and slowly backs away. What does that moment show about her? Character
The Warden says, “We wait.” Is she choosing not to help, or is waiting all anyone can do? Moral reasoning
The Warden says she had to dig holes as a girl, even on Christmas. Why might the author give her that memory now? Author's choice
The chapter ends as Stanley hears his heart beat. How does the author make the waiting feel so long? Tone

Make a Connection Tell about a time you had to stay very still and wait. What did waiting feel like?

illuminated: The light also illuminated Stanley’s hole. Lit up.
suppress: force himself to suppress a scream To hold back; to keep from showing.
commotion: he didn’t want to cause any commotion Noisy, excited fuss.
scramble: try to scramble out of the hole To climb quickly and awkwardly.
helpless: He felt helpless in the hole. Not able to do anything for yourself.
statue: Zero sat as still as a statue. A figure of stone or metal that does not move.
nest: He was standing in a lizard nest. A place where animals lay eggs and live.
glowed: Its big red eyes glowed Shone with a soft light.

Stanley wonders whether to scramble out of the hole, then stays. Using two pieces of evidence, explain why he stays still.
Stanley works out where the lizards came from. Using two pieces of evidence, explain what he figures out and what he cannot be sure of.
Stanley notices how each adult is dressed. Using two pieces of evidence, explain what he can and cannot tell from it.