Holes Power Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #1

During the summer the daytime temperature hovers around ninety-five degrees in the shade – if you can find any shade. There's not much shade in a big dry lake.

The only trees are two old oaks to the eastern edge of the "lake." A hammock is stretched between the two trees, and a log cabin stands behind that.

The campers are forbidden to lie in the hammock. It belongs to the Warden. The Warden owns the shade. (1.3-5)

Dun dun dun…the Warden. We know nothing about the Warden yet, except that he or she is clearly a very powerful person. And we can tell from the tone of this passage that the Warden sure doesn't use his or her power for good. This one definitely isn't going to end well.

Quote #2

Back at school, a bully named Derrick Dunne used to torment Stanley. The teachers never took Stanley's complaints seriously, because Derrick was so much smaller than Stanley. Some teachers even seemed to find it amusing that a little kid like Derrick could pick on someone as big as Stanley. (6.22)

Stanley may be physically powerful (or at least big), but this doesn't keep him from being bullied by other kids at school. Why do you think Derrick is able to push Stanley around?

Quote #3

Stanley looked around the room. This was the one place in camp where the boys could enjoy themselves, and what'd they do? They wrecked it. The glass on the TV was smashed, as if someone had put his foot through it. Every table and chair seemed to be missing at least one leg. Everything leaned. (9.42)

Food fight! Well, kind of – this is a bit more violent. Why do you think the boys at Camp Green Lake ruined the one place where they can relax? Does it make them feel more powerful? Do they have power or control over anything else in their lives?