Holes by Louis Sacher: Chapters 4 and 5

 On Friday, we read the next two chapters of Holes. We are learning to recognise how information about characters can be given in a story to build our knowledge of them: from what they say and how they say it, and from their actions and reactions. Here's what we have learnt about the characters by the end of Chapter 5 (note: we inferred some of this. See previous Holes post):

Stanley –  is Stanley Yelnats IV,  is named after his ancestors,  his last name is Stanley spelt backwards, he is in the wrong place wrong time, he has been found guilty of a crime  

Father – is an inventor,  he perseveres, he is trying to invent a way to recycle old sneakers, he doesn’t eat when he is working hard on new idea, he sang the song If only  to Stanley

Guard – sleeps on the job, wears sun glasses, carries rifle, 

Bus driver

 

Judge – gave Stanely a choice jail or Camp Greenlake 

Mother – is optimistic and positive – looks at how lucky they are whenever they seem to strike bad luck

Warden – is selfish – “owns the shade” and the hammock, makes them dig holes 

Kissin' Kate Barlow –  (Character from the past), famous outlaw, kisses people after she killed them; she didn't kiss Stanley's great-great grandfather

Great-Great Grandfather : (Character from the past) Stanley's father's 'dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-grandfather, he made a fortune on the stock market,  he was robbed by Kissin Kate Barlow and left stranded in the desert - but she never killed him; he stole a pig from a one-legged gypsy who put a curse on him

Mr Sir – quit smoking, eats sunflower seeds instead, irritable, not fond of campers, has a tattoo of rattle snake, looks tough – wears a cowboy hat, is  strict – like Horrible Hanley in PP? Makes sure everyone knows the rules and boundaries, is  sarcastic – cruel? 

Mr Pendanski – Stanley’s counsellor, seems to be nice – not as scary as Mr Sir, nose badly sun burnt,  called Mom by the boys, acts like  most American parents (evidence from Conor) 

Rex - nicknamed X  Ray, wears glasses

Alan –  white kid – nicknamed Squid 

Barf Bag – Lewis – in hospital (Did he get bitten by a scorpion, rattlesnake - or yellow-spotted lizard - on  purpose?) 

Jose - nicknamed  Magnet

Theodore - nicknamed  Armpit, spits, is rough with Stanley - pushes him over 

Ricky  - nicknamed Zig Zag 

Zero  - has no real name

 Things we want to know:

- Are nick names based on their personalities? 

- How did Zero get his name? Is it because he doesn't talk? Does he have zero personality?

- What will Stanley's nick name be?

Here's some vocabulary to research for Chapter 6:
scarcity          prospect          testify          collapse          torment          mere          destiny          coincidence           humiliating          auction          schedule           despicable          souvenir

Chapter 7:
shaft          impression     defective          scooped     lukewarm      assigned     pried     unearthed        perimeter           forlorn       shallow       runt          doomed       eternity      horizon          deftly     excavated         compacted       preposterous       summoned        dawdle     pier      clod     grimaced