The Adventures of Pinocchio
Chapter 11 — Teaching Companion
Carlo Collodi · Scouts 1st–3rd
Coaching, not a script — and not an answer key: every question here has more than one defensible answer.
This chapter's big question
Fire Eater sneezes with pity, yet orders Harlequin thrown on the fire so his lamb is well done. Which shows more of who he is: the pity or the order?
The tension Fire Eater is ugly, fearsome and set on his dinner, yet the chapter says his sneezing is a way of showing the kindness of his heart.
Today's focus
Notice two things Fire Eater does: how he shows pity, and what he orders when his dinner is in trouble.
Two core ideas
- A fearsome look can hide a soft heart: the chapter says Fire Eater was far from being as bad as he looked.
- A kind feeling and a cruel order can sit in the same person: Fire Eater sneezes with pity and still says there is no mercy here.
The shape at a glance
Fire Eater sees Pinocchio struggling and crying, begins to waver, and sneezes. Harlequin whispers that the sneeze means Pinocchio is saved. Fire Eater then orders Harlequin thrown on the fire to finish his lamb. Pinocchio begs for pity and offers to burn in Harlequin's place. Fire Eater softens, sneezes, and pardons Harlequin, and the Marionettes dance and sing until dawn.
A way in
Start with the sneezes: ask what Fire Eater does when he feels sorry, and then what he orders next.
Lesson plan
Retell The student tells the chapter back in order: the sneeze, the father, the order for Harlequin, Pinocchio's plea, the offer, and the pardon.
Imitate the author After copying the sentence, the student writes one sentence in the same pattern: how someone was at first, then "but", then how they changed little by little.
Debate Take sides on the big question: does the pity or the order show more of who Fire Eater is? Each side uses one quote from the chapter.
Purpose Close by asking why a story might give a frightening man a sneeze for his kindness.
Easier Read the sneezing scene aloud together and talk through discussion questions 2 and 5 only.
On level Talk through all five discussion questions, then have the student give one critical-thinking answer aloud with two things from the chapter.
Harder Ask the student what Fire Eater would have done if Pinocchio had not made his offer, and what in the chapter makes them think so.
Discussion
- After pitying Pinocchio's father, Fire Eater says he ought to be sorry for himself too, since his dinner is spoiled. What does that show about him?Inference
What it asks It asks what Fire Eater's complaint about his dinner shows, coming right after his pity for an old man.
One reading
He thinks of himself first: even while pitying someone, he is counting what he has lost.
I ought to be sorry for myself, too, just now. My good dinner is spoiled.
In your place I’ll burn some other Marionette.
Another reading
He is honest about all his feelings and does not pretend to be only soft.
Poor old man! I feel sorry for him!
Thanks! However, I ought to be sorry for myself, too, just now.
Listen for
- Uses Fire Eater's own words about the father and about the dinner.
- Gives a reason for what it shows, not only what he said.
If stuck
- Who does Fire Eater say he feels sorry for first?
- Who does he say he ought to be sorry for next?
- What does he say he will do instead?
A strong answer Fire Eater says poor old man, I feel sorry for him, and in the next breath that he ought to be sorry for himself, because his good dinner is spoiled and the lamb is half cooked. A strong answer can say this shows a man who thinks of himself first, or a man who says out loud everything he feels, and uses his words to show which.
- Pinocchio says it is not fair for Harlequin to die in his place. Is he being brave, or proud? What makes you think so?Moral reasoning
What it asks It asks whether Pinocchio's offer to take Harlequin's place is plain courage or something mixed with pride.
One reading
He is brave: he offers to be tied up and thrown on the flames for his friend.
Come, officers! Tie me up and throw me on those flames.
These brave words, said in a piercing voice, made all the other Marionettes cry.
Another reading
He is a little proud: the chapter says he speaks and stands proudly.
said Pinocchio proudly, as he stood up and flung away his cap of dough
my duty is clear
Listen for
- Remembers what Pinocchio offers to do.
- Says whether proud takes anything away from brave.
If stuck
- What does Pinocchio ask the officers to do to him?
- What does he say about Harlequin?
- How does the chapter say he stands up?
A strong answer Pinocchio offers to be tied up and thrown on the flames so that Harlequin, the best friend he has in the world, does not die in his place. That is brave. But the chapter also says he speaks proudly and flings away his cap of dough, so there may be pride in it too. A strong answer says brave, proud, or both, and whether being proud takes anything away from the act.
- Fire Eater says there are no signori and no sirs here, but at “your Excellency” he sits up straight. Why might that name work?Character
What it asks It asks what the last name does that the first two did not, and what that shows about Fire Eater.
One reading
Fire Eater is vain: he likes grand names, and it pleases him.
On hearing himself addressed as your Excellency, the Director of the Marionette Theater sat up very straight in his chair, stroked his long beard
smiled proudly
Another reading
It only changes his tone: he is still firm about the order.
There is no mercy here, Pinocchio. I have spared you.
Listen for
- Uses what Fire Eater does when he hears the name.
- Notices that he says no mercy right after.
If stuck
- What does Fire Eater say to signore and kind sir?
- What does he do when he hears your Excellency?
- What does he say a moment later about mercy?
A strong answer Fire Eater refuses signore and kind sir, but at your Excellency he sits up very straight, strokes his long beard, and smiles proudly. That sounds like a man who likes grand names. Yet right after he says there is no mercy here. A strong answer says why the name works, and whether it changes anything besides his mood.
- The sneezes are written out as “E--tchee!” and Pinocchio says “God bless you!” Is the scene funny or scary? What makes you think so?Tone
What it asks It asks how the author wants us to take a scene that mixes sneezes and good manners with a threat to burn someone.
One reading
It is funny: a huge man sneezes again and again, and the Marionette answers politely.
Two loud sneezes finished his speech.
God bless you!” said Pinocchio.
Another reading
It is scary: a life is at stake, and Harlequin falls to the floor in fear.
Take Harlequin, tie him, and throw him on the fire.
He was so scared that his legs doubled up under him and he fell to the floor.
Listen for
- Points to a funny detail and a scary one.
- Says how the two fit together, or which wins.
If stuck
- What does Pinocchio say each time Fire Eater sneezes?
- What does Fire Eater order the officers to do?
- What happens to Harlequin when he hears it?
A strong answer The sneezes written out as E--tchee, and Pinocchio's polite God bless you, are funny. But a man is being ordered onto a fire, and Harlequin is so scared his legs double up under him. A strong answer can say funny, scary, or both at once, and points to the words that show it.
- Fire Eater says “There is no mercy here,” and later says “Pardon is yours!” What changes his mind? What makes you think so?Plot structure
What it asks It asks what turns Fire Eater from a refusal into a pardon, and where in the chapter the turn happens.
One reading
Pinocchio's offer changes him: brave words move everyone, even the officers.
These brave words, said in a piercing voice, made all the other Marionettes cry.
You are a brave boy! Come to my arms and kiss me!
Another reading
He was softening all along: sneezing is how he shows feeling, and it begins again.
but then, little by little, he softened and began to sneeze
Fire Eater, on the other hand, had the strange habit of sneezing each time he felt unhappy.
Listen for
- Names a moment in the chapter when the turn happens.
- Gives a reason from what Pinocchio says or what Fire Eater does.
If stuck
- What does Pinocchio offer to do for Harlequin?
- What does Fire Eater begin to do after that?
- What does he say to Pinocchio just before the pardon?
A strong answer Fire Eater says there is no mercy, then Pinocchio offers to be thrown on the flames in Harlequin's place, and Fire Eater at first stays as hard and cold as ice. Little by little he softens, begins to sneeze, calls Pinocchio a brave boy, and pardons Harlequin. A strong answer says whether Pinocchio's offer changed him or whether he was softening all along, and points to the words.
Critical thinking
- Harlequin whispers that the sneeze means Fire Eater feels sorry and Pinocchio is saved. Using two things from the chapter, tell whether Harlequin was right.
What it asks It asks the student to check Harlequin's whisper against what happens next.
One reading
He was right: Fire Eater does spare Pinocchio.
There is no mercy here, Pinocchio. I have spared you.
Fire Eater has sneezed and this is a sign that he feels sorry for you.
Another reading
He was only partly right: the sneeze did not save Harlequin, who is ordered onto the fire.
Take Harlequin, tie him, and throw him on the fire.
Harlequin must burn in your place.
Listen for
- Two different pieces of evidence, not one told twice.
- A reason that says what the sneeze did and did not mean.
If stuck
- What does Harlequin say the sneeze means?
- What does Fire Eater say about Pinocchio afterward?
- What does he order for Harlequin?
A strong answer Harlequin says the sneeze means Fire Eater feels sorry and Pinocchio is saved, and Fire Eater does say he has spared him. But the sneeze did not save Harlequin, who is ordered onto the fire in Pinocchio's place. A strong answer says how right Harlequin was, using two things from the chapter.
- Fire Eater says Pinocchio's father would suffer terribly if he were used as firewood. Using two things from the chapter, tell what makes Fire Eater feel sorry for people.
What it asks It asks what stirs Fire Eater's pity: other people's pain, or something he feels himself.
One reading
Other people's pain: he pities Pinocchio's crying and the thought of an old man's grief.
he felt sorry for him and began first to waver and then to weaken
Your poor father would suffer terribly if I were to use you as firewood. Poor old man! I feel sorry for him!
Another reading
Something he feels in his own body: the crying gives him a funny feeling.
Your wails give me a funny feeling down here in my stomach
Fire Eater, on the other hand, had the strange habit of sneezing each time he felt unhappy.
Listen for
- Two different pieces of evidence, not one told twice.
- A reason that explains what moves him.
If stuck
- What does Fire Eater say Pinocchio's wails give him?
- Who does he say would suffer?
- What does he do each time he feels unhappy?
A strong answer Fire Eater says Pinocchio's wails give him a funny feeling in his stomach, and that Pinocchio's poor old father would suffer terribly. So he is moved by the crying he hears and by a thought of someone else's pain. A strong answer says what moves him, using two things he says.
- Fire Eater says “beware the next time, Marionettes,” and the Marionettes dance until dawn. Using two things from the chapter, tell how safe they are.
What it asks It asks the student to weigh the dancing against the warning, and to say how safe the Marionettes feel and how safe they are.
One reading
They are safe tonight: pardon is given and the lamb is only half cooked.
At the news that pardon had been given, the Marionettes ran to the stage and, turning on all the lights, they danced and sang till dawn.
Well, tonight I shall have to eat my lamb only half cooked
Another reading
They are not very safe: Fire Eater has warned them.
but beware the next time, Marionettes
Listen for
- Two different pieces of evidence, not one told twice.
- A reason that says how safe they are.
If stuck
- What do the Marionettes do when they hear that pardon is given?
- What does Fire Eater say he will have to do about his lamb?
- What does he say about the next time?
A strong answer The Marionettes have been pardoned, and they dance and sing until dawn. But Fire Eater says beware the next time. A strong answer says how safe they are, using the pardon and the warning.