Holes
Chapter 47 — Teaching Companion
Louis Sachar · Trailblazers 4th–6th
Coaching, not a script — and not an answer key: every question here has more than one defensible answer.
This chapter's big question
The Warden lies about the suitcase, Stanley blurts out the truth, and his lawyer tells him to say nothing. When someone lies about you, is it wiser to answer at once or to hold your tongue?
The tension Stanley wants to answer the lie the moment he hears it, while his lawyer wants him to wait until they can talk in private, and the chapter ends with a few plain words from someone else.
Today's focus
Notice who speaks, who stays silent, and what each choice does.
Two core ideas
- The Warden tells a story about the suitcase, and Stanley says right away that it is not true.
- Stanley's lawyer tells him to say nothing, and it is Zero, with a few plain words, who finally answers the lie.
The shape at a glance
In the morning Stanley and Zero are still among the lizards, and the Warden and Mr. Sir argue over who will take the suitcase. A tarantula is eaten, and two strangers arrive with Mr. Pendanski. A woman who says she is Stanley's attorney argues with the Warden, who says the boys stole her suitcase. Stanley says that is not true and is told to say nothing. He climbs out, Zero shows the name on the suitcase, and the Warden cannot finish her sentence.
A way in
Start with Stanley's "That’s not true!" and the lawyer's answer. Ask what each of them wants Stanley to do.
Lesson plan
Retell The student tells the chapter back in order: the morning, the tarantula, the arrival, the lies, the climb out, the suitcase and the name.
Imitate the author After copying the passage, the student writes one sentence in the same pattern: a piece of advice with a title, and a condition for following it.
Debate Take sides: when someone lies about you, is it wiser to answer at once or to hold your tongue? Each side uses at least one quote from the chapter.
Purpose Close by asking why the author lets Zero, not Stanley, answer the lie.
Easier Read the lawyer's lines aloud together and talk through discussion questions 3 and 5 only.
On level Talk through all five discussion questions, then have the student write one critical-thinking answer with two pieces of evidence from the chapter.
Harder Ask the student to find one more place where someone says something to protect themselves, and to add it to a critical-thinking answer.
Discussion
- The Warden hugs Zero and says, “Thank God, you’re alive,” while trying to take the suitcase. What do you think she is really doing?Inference
What it asks It asks the student to look at what a hug and a warm word are for, when the hands are also reaching for something.
One reading
She is putting on a show for the two strangers, so they will see her as caring.
“Yes, it is,” the Warden agreed, with just a trace of disappointment in her voice.
“Thank God!” exclaimed the Warden. She started toward him, then stopped.
Another reading
She is using the hug as cover: what she wants is the suitcase.
She hugged Zero. “Thank God, you’re alive,” she said, as she tried to take the suitcase from him.
He jerked it free.
Listen for
- Uses what the Warden does with her hands, not only what she says.
- Notices who is watching her.
If stuck
- Who has just arrived to see this scene?
- What does the narrator tell us about the Warden's voice earlier?
- What does she try to take while she hugs?
A strong answer The Warden has earlier agreed with just a trace of disappointment in her voice, and now she hugs Zero and says Thank God while reaching for the suitcase. A strong answer picks a reading, a show for the visitors or a cover for the grab, and uses one line about what she says and one about what she does.
- In the hole, Zero asks if Stanley's last name is his first name backward. What does it tell us about Zero that he asks this now?Character
What it asks It asks what a boy's mind is doing when it turns to a word puzzle in the middle of danger.
One reading
He is calm and clever: even among lizards, his mind keeps working.
Stanley stared at him in amazement. Had he been working on that all night?
“Is your last name your first name backward?” Zero asked.
Another reading
He is holding himself together: the puzzle gives him something to hold on to, as the spelling did before.
“My legs are numb,” said Zero.
Stanley looked at him, unsure if Zero had even spoken or if he’d just imagined it.
Listen for
- Says what the puzzle does for Zero.
- Notices Stanley's amazement.
If stuck
- How does Stanley react when he hears the question?
- What does Zero say about his legs?
- What have the boys done with words before?
A strong answer Zero asks his question after a night among lizards, and Stanley is amazed and wonders if he has been working on it all night. That shows a calm and clever mind. It may also be a way of keeping himself steady, since his legs are numb. A strong answer says which it is, or both, and uses one line.
- The Warden says she needed more proof before she could release Stanley. Is it fair to ask for more proof of a court order?Moral reasoning
What it asks It asks the student to weigh a careful rule against what the paper actually was.
One reading
It is fair: she cannot know that a paper is real just because someone hands it over.
How do I know it’s legitimate?
She didn’t have proper authorization
Another reading
It is not fair: the paper was a court order, signed by the judge who sentenced him.
I had a court order!
Authenticated? It was signed by the judge who sentenced him.
Listen for
- Weighs both sides, not only the one the student likes.
- Says what proof ought to be enough.
If stuck
- What does the Warden say she needed?
- What does the lawyer say the paper was?
- Who signed it, according to the lawyer?
A strong answer The Warden says she needed authentication and asks how she can know the paper is legitimate, which is a reasonable-sounding rule. But the lawyer says it was a court order signed by the judge who sentenced Stanley. A strong answer takes a side, says what makes proof enough, and says what the other side gets right.
- A lizard pounces on a tarantula, and Mr. Sir says, “Not hungry, huh?” Why might the author put that moment in?Author's choice
What it asks It asks what a small scene of one animal eating another adds to a long wait.
One reading
It raises the danger: the lizards can still kill, and the boys are among them.
The last Stanley saw of it was one hairy leg sticking out of the lizard’s mouth.
Stanley suddenly felt a sharp sting on the side of his neck.
Another reading
It shows the adults were wrong: the Warden said the lizards were not hungry.
“The lizards obviously aren’t hungry,” said the Warden.
“Not hungry, huh?” said Mr. Sir.
Listen for
- Names what the moment adds, danger or the adults' mistake.
- Notices what Stanley feels at the same time.
If stuck
- What did the Warden say about the lizards a little earlier?
- What does Stanley feel on his neck?
- What does Mr. Sir say afterward?
A strong answer The Warden has just said the lizards obviously are not hungry, and then one leaps off Stanley's neck and eats a tarantula. The moment raises the danger, and it also shows the adults were wrong. A strong answer says what the author gains by putting it here, and which gain is stronger.
- The Warden's story gets weaker until she cannot finish her sentence. What does the most damage to it?Plot structure
What it asks It asks the student to follow how a lie comes apart, and what finally breaks it.
One reading
The strangers' questions do the damage: each one makes her explain herself again.
“Why didn’t you release him when she came to you yesterday?” the tall man asked.
“You say he stole it from your cabin?”
Another reading
The name on the suitcase does the damage: she has no answer to it.
There, in big black letters, was STANLEY YELNATS.
She couldn’t even say it.
Listen for
- Puts the steps in order, from the questions to the name.
- Says what the Warden can answer and what she cannot.
If stuck
- What does the tall man ask before the suitcase is shown?
- What does Zero show the lawyer?
- What happens to the Warden's words at the end?
A strong answer The tall man and the lawyer keep asking, and each question makes the Warden defend herself again. But when Zero shows the name on the suitcase, she has no reply and cannot even finish a word. A strong answer puts the steps in order and says which one does the most damage.
Critical thinking
- The Warden tells the strangers why the boys are in the hole. Using two pieces of evidence, explain how her story makes Stanley look.
What it asks It asks the student to name the picture of Stanley the Warden is painting, and how she builds it.
One reading
She makes him a thief: the boys snuck into her cabin and stole from her.
They snuck into my cabin while I was asleep, and stole my suitcase.
It wouldn’t have happened if he wasn’t a thief
Another reading
She makes him unreliable: he was ill and cannot be believed.
He’s been delirious for the last week.
He’s been suffering from hallucinations and delirium. Ranting and raving.
Listen for
- Two different pieces of evidence, not one told twice.
- Says how the two parts of the story help each other.
If stuck
- What does the Warden say the boys did in her cabin?
- What does she say about Stanley's health?
A strong answer The Warden says the boys snuck into her cabin and stole her suitcase, and that Stanley would not be in this trouble if he were not a thief. She also says he has been delirious for a week, ranting and raving, so nothing he says can be trusted. A strong answer shows how the two parts work together, with two pieces of evidence.
- Stanley's lawyer speaks up for him in front of the Warden. Using two pieces of evidence, explain how she tries to protect him.
What it asks It asks the student to gather what the lawyer says and does for Stanley, and whether she uses threats or advice.
One reading
She protects him with a warning: harm to him will cost the Warden and the state.
I’m telling you right now, if any harm comes to him, we will be filing charges
they better come out of this alive
Another reading
She protects him with advice: she tells him to wait for a private talk.
We’ll get you out of there, Stanley
until you and I have had a chance to talk in private
Listen for
- Two different pieces of evidence, not one told twice.
- Notices the difference between speaking to the Warden and speaking to Stanley.
If stuck
- What does she say will happen if harm comes to Stanley?
- What does she tell Stanley to do?
A strong answer To the Warden the lawyer promises charges if any harm comes to Stanley, and warns that they better come out alive. To Stanley she says they will get him out and asks him to wait for a private talk. A strong answer uses one piece of evidence for each and says how her voice differs with each listener.
- Stanley climbs out of the hole with the lizards still around him. Using two pieces of evidence, explain how he manages it.
What it asks It asks the student to name what makes Stanley's escape possible: his care, the sun, or both.
One reading
He is careful: he uses his arms and moves slowly so as not to disturb the lizards.
Stanley tried to climb out of his hole, using mostly his arms so as not to disturb the lizards too much.
He swung his legs up and over, and the last of the lizards hopped off.
Another reading
The sun helps him: the lizards move away from it as he climbs.
As he pulled himself upward, the lizards moved downward, keeping out of the sun’s direct rays.
As the sun rose, the lizards moved lower in the hole
Listen for
- Two different pieces of evidence, not one told twice.
- Says whether Stanley's care or the sun matters more.
If stuck
- How does Stanley use his arms and legs?
- What do the lizards do as the sun gets higher?
A strong answer Stanley climbs mostly with his arms so as not to disturb the lizards, and swings his legs up and over at the end. The lizards, keeping out of the sun, move downward as he climbs. A strong answer says whether his care or the sun does more, and uses two pieces of evidence.