CONFLICTED

EXAMINING CONFLICTS IN HOLES

Objectives:
To understand literary conflict
To identify key literary conflicts in Holes

Conflict is a problem or struggle in a story that triggers

action. There are six basic types of conflict:
Person vs. Person: One
character has a problem with
one or more of the other
characters.

bitter cold, or any other

element of nature.
Person vs. Fate: A character
has to battle what seems to
be an uncontrollable
problem. Whenever the
problem seems to be a
strange or unbelievable
coincidence, fate can be
considered the cause of the
conflict.

Person vs. Society: A

character has a problem with
some element of society: the
school, the law, the accepted
way of doing things, etc.
Person vs. Self: A character
has a problem deciding what
to do in a particular situation.

Person vs. Machine: A

character has to confront
technology or other elements
of human creation
(as opposed to natural or
divine creation).

Person vs. Nature: A character

has a problem with some
natural occurrence: a
snowstorm, an avalanche, the
The storm
moved off farther west, along with any hope of
rain. But the image of the fist and thumb remained in
Stanley's head. Although, instead of lightning flashing behind
the thumb, in Stanley's mind, the lightning was coming out of
the thumb, as if it were the thumb of God. (29.24)

This is a pretty deep moment. For Stanley, the land itself is like the
source of God's judgment. Do we see this attitude reflected anywhere
else in the book?

TASK 1: Complete the following table

Type of Conflict
Person vs.
Person

Person vs.
Society

Person vs. Self

Person vs.
Nature

Person vs. Fate

Person vs.
Machine

Example from Holes

Zero vs Zigzag, causes Zero to
strangle him and eventually lead to
both Zero and Stanley running away.

Stanley vs the law. The law deems Stanley

guilty, leading to him going to Camp Green
Lake, breaking the gypsy's curse and nding
a fortune. Time at Camp Green Lake gives
him self condence.

Stanley vs his obesity. The obesity lowers

Stanley's self-esteem and condence, and
makes him unable to speak up for himself.
Also leads to him getting bullied by Derek
Dunne. He loses weight at Camp Green
Lake.

Zero vs the desert. Hector runs away from CGL to

the desert and causes Stanley to chase after him.
After the experience, Zero decides to never dig a
hole again.
Stanley vs curse. Stanley's family is cursed,
giving them bad luck. Stanley accepts this and
so never takes responsibility if something goes
wrong.

TASK 2: Write a TEEQALL paragraph discussing one of the kinds of

conflict identified in the table.
Topic sentence:
Conflict comes in many forms, but one specific kind of conflict
that we see in (title), (name the kind of conflict), impacts
significantly on (character).
Explain:
Describe/define the kind of conflict you have chosen and explain
the conflict that exists. Eg. If you were doing Nature vs. Person, you
would describe the setting and your chosen struggles.
Example(s):
We see how the environment can be challenging for
_____________ when___________________ (give two or three
examples)
Quote:
Integrate a quote into your point. Eg. Stanley comes into direct
conflict with his environment when he tries to dig his first hole and
the blade banged against the ground and bounced off without
making a dent.
Analysis:
Here you should try to explain the significance of this quote. You
may choose to select and important work or short phrase. Eg. The
idea that Stanleys shovel banged against the ground suggests
that nature is against him and unwilling to cooperate as it
bounced against him.
Link:
Link back to your topic sentence. Eg. This suggests that Stanleys
time at camp will be difficult because of having to interact with
such a hostile environment.