Chapter 6 · Holes

Copywork

It was too much of a coincidence to be a mere accident. Stanley had felt like he was holding destiny’s shoes.

Read the passage aloud. What does the word mere tell you about how Stanley is thinking?

Narration Tell back what Stanley remembers on his cot, in order: the school day, the sneakers, the arrest, the trial and what the judge said.

Stanley told the judge the sneakers “fell from the sky.” The narrator says they hadn’t exactly. Why might the author let us see both versions? Author's choice
The teachers never took Stanley’s complaints about Derrick seriously because Derrick was smaller. Why might they have looked at it that way? Inference
The narrator says Stanley might have done better to lie a little. What would a lie have gained him, and what might it have cost? Moral reasoning
Stanley’s story comes back in pieces as he lies on his cot. Why might the author tell it that way instead of all at once? Plot structure
Stanley says the worst part was that his hero thought he was a thief. Why might that hurt more than the judge's words? Character

Make a Connection Tell about a time you told the truth and were not believed, or a time you did not believe someone who was telling the truth.

coincidence: It was too much of a coincidence to be a mere accident. Two things happening together by chance.
destiny: Stanley had felt like he was holding destiny’s shoes. The future seen as already decided; fate.
torment: Back at school, a bully named Derrick Dunne used to torment Stanley. To hurt or bother someone again and again.
prospect: with the prospect of having to copy the ruined pages Something that is expected to happen.
humiliating: his miserable and humiliating day at school Making someone feel ashamed or foolish.
evidence: was used as evidence of his guilt in the courtroom Proof used to show that something is true.
testified: Clyde Livingston testified that they were his sneakers Said in court what he knew or believed.
despicable: The judge called Stanley’s crime despicable. Deserving to be hated; very low.
discipline: the discipline of the camp might improve Stanley’s character Training that teaches self-control and order.

When Stanley says he stole the sneakers, the other boys do not believe him. Using two pieces of evidence, explain why they might doubt him.
Stanley ran when the shoe hit him, and now he is not sure why. Using two pieces of evidence, explain what might have been going through his mind.
The judge says Stanley stole the shoes “just so you could have a souvenir.” Using two pieces of evidence, explain why the judge might think that.