The Adventures of Pinocchio
Chapter 15 — 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
The maiden at the window says no one lives in the house and that she is dead too, and then the window closes. Is she unable to help Pinocchio, or unwilling?
The tension Pinocchio begs a lovely maiden at the one house in the forest to open the door, and she answers in a weak whisper that leaves the door shut and the reader unsure what she is.
Today's focus
Notice what the maiden at the window says, and what the chapter does and does not tell us about her.
Two core ideas
- Help can be hoped for and still not come: Pinocchio knocks and bangs and begs, and no one opens the door.
- The author can tell hard things plainly and still add a small relief: the knives break, and the Assassins look at each other in dismay.
The shape at a glance
Pinocchio runs through the woods and sees a white cottage. He knocks and bangs on the door, and a maiden with azure hair says no one lives there and that she is dead too, and the window closes. The Assassins catch him and break their knives on his wooden back. They hang him on an oak and leave him, and after a wild wind rises he says, "Oh, Father, dear Father! If you were only here!" and hangs there, as if he were dead.
A way in
Start at the window: ask what the maiden looks like, and what she says to a boy who is begging at her door.
Lesson plan
Retell The student tells the chapter back in order: the cottage, the knocking, the maiden, the Assassins, the knives, the oak, the wind and the last words.
Imitate the author After copying the passage, the student writes two short sentences in the same pattern: one about a person's face and one about how still they are.
Debate Take sides on the big question: is the maiden unable to help Pinocchio, or unwilling? Each side uses one quote from the chapter.
Purpose Close by asking why a story might put a maiden at the one window in the forest and have her say no one lives there.
Easier Read the window scene aloud together in two voices and talk through discussion questions 1 and 3 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 the maiden could have said or done if she wanted to help, and what in the chapter makes them think so.
Discussion
- The maiden has closed eyes, a weak voice, and a window that shuts without a sound. What feeling does that give you? Which words help?Tone
What it asks It asks what feeling the author builds around the maiden, and which of her words and looks make it.
One reading
It feels eerie and sad: she is pale, still and hardly there.
She had azure hair and a face white as wax.
With a voice so weak that it hardly could be heard, she whispered
Another reading
It feels quiet and gentle: she is a lovely maiden, and everything about her is soft and still.
a lovely maiden looked out
the window closed without a sound
Listen for
- Points to words the author uses, such as white as wax, weak or without a sound.
- Says what feeling they make, with a reason.
If stuck
- How does the author describe her face and her eyes?
- How does she speak?
- What happens to the window when she is done?
A strong answer The maiden has a face white as wax, closed eyes and crossed hands, and she whispers so weakly that she can hardly be heard. Then the window closes without a sound. That feels eerie and sad. She is also called lovely, and everything about her is quiet and soft. A strong answer names a feeling and points to the words that make it, without saying who she is.
- After three hours hanging, Pinocchio’s eyes are open, his mouth is shut, and his legs kick harder than ever. What does that show about him?Character
What it asks It asks what three hours of holding on show about Pinocchio, and what he seems to be holding on for.
One reading
He is brave and strong-willed: he will not give in, even now.
But after three hours the Marionette’s eyes were still open, his mouth still shut and his legs kicked harder than ever.
Pinocchio was made of very hard wood
Another reading
He is fighting to live: kicking harder is a sign he wants to stay alive.
his legs kicked harder than ever
Satisfied with their work, they sat on the grass waiting for Pinocchio to give his last gasp.
Listen for
- Names his open eyes, shut mouth or kicking legs.
- Says what it shows about him, with a reason.
If stuck
- What do the Assassins expect after the three hours?
- What does Pinocchio do instead?
- What does he keep shut?
A strong answer The Assassins sat down expecting him to give his last gasp, but after three hours his eyes are still open, his mouth still shut, and his legs kick harder than ever. That shows a stubborn, strong will, and it also shows a Marionette fighting to stay alive. A strong answer says what it shows about him and uses the words about his eyes, mouth or legs.
- The Assassins hang Pinocchio, then say, “Good-by till tomorrow.” Are they cruel, or only after the money? What makes you think so?Moral reasoning
What it asks It asks whether the Assassins are cruel for its own sake or only want what Pinocchio has, and what their words show.
One reading
They are cruel: they hang him and then make fun of him as they leave.
the Assassins called to him mockingly
we hope you’ll be polite enough to let us find you dead and gone and with your mouth wide open
Another reading
They are only after the money: everything they do is meant to make him open his mouth.
will you open your mouth now or not?
this time you shall open it
Listen for
- Uses what the Assassins say, not only what they do.
- Gives a reason for cruel or after the money.
If stuck
- What do the Assassins ask him before the knives?
- What do they say as they leave?
- How does the chapter say they speak as they go?
A strong answer Every threat is meant to make Pinocchio open his mouth, which sounds like greed. But when they leave him hanging they call out mockingly and hope to find him dead with his mouth wide open, which sounds cruel. A strong answer says cruel or only after the money, or both, and uses the Assassins' own words.
- The knives break on Pinocchio’s back, and the author says “Happily for him.” Why might the author tell it that way?Author's choice
What it asks It asks what the author does with the broken knives, and how the words happily for him change the moment.
One reading
The author lets the reader breathe: a frightening blow turns out harmless, and the Assassins look foolish.
Happily for him, Pinocchio was made of very hard wood and the knives broke into a thousand pieces.
The Assassins looked at each other in dismay, holding the handles of the knives in their hands.
Another reading
The author sets up what comes next: with the knives gone, the Assassins try something else.
there is nothing left to do now but to hang him
Listen for
- Notices the words happily for him and what the knives do.
- Says what the telling does for the reader.
If stuck
- What happens to the knives?
- What do the Assassins look like holding the handles?
- What do they decide to do next?
A strong answer The author says happily for him and lets the knives break into a thousand pieces, with the Assassins looking at each other in dismay. That lets the reader breathe for a moment and smile. But the Assassins at once decide to hang him, so the relief does not last. A strong answer says what the telling does and points to the words.
- Pinocchio’s last words are “Oh, Father, dear Father! If you were only here!” What do they tell us about him?Theme
What it asks It asks what Pinocchio wishes for at the very end, and what that wish shows about how he sees things now.
One reading
He wants his father: when it matters most, he thinks of home.
As he was about to die, he thought of his poor old father
Oh, Father, dear Father! If you were only here!
Another reading
He wants anyone who can save him, and his father is the one he names.
the Marionette still hoped for some good soul to come to his rescue, but no one appeared
hardly conscious of what he was saying
Listen for
- Uses the words he says and the words around them.
- Says what the wish shows, with a reason.
If stuck
- Who does he think of at the end?
- What does he hope for before that?
- How aware does the chapter say he is?
A strong answer At the very end Pinocchio thinks of his poor old father and wishes he were here. That can show he wants his father most when it matters. It can also show a boy who is nearly unconscious, hoping for anyone to save him, and his father is the one he names. A strong answer says what the wish shows, and uses the words around it.
Critical thinking
- Pinocchio sees a white cottage and thinks, “I may be saved.” Using two things from the chapter, tell what happens to his hope.
What it asks It asks the student to follow Pinocchio's hope from the cottage to the end of the chapter.
One reading
His hope falls: the door stays shut and the help he asks for does not come.
No one answered.
but no one appeared
Another reading
His hope shrinks but does not go out: even at the end he hopes for someone to come.
If I have enough breath left with which to reach that little house, I may be saved
the Marionette still hoped for some good soul to come to his rescue
Listen for
- Two different pieces of evidence, not one told twice.
- A reason that says what happens to his hope.
If stuck
- What does Pinocchio say when he sees the cottage?
- What answers him when he knocks?
- What does he hope for just before the end?
A strong answer When Pinocchio sees the cottage he says he may be saved, so his hope is high. But no one answers his knocking, the maiden says everyone is dead, and the Assassins catch him. Even at the end he still hopes for some good soul to come, though no one appears. A strong answer says what happens to his hope, using two things from the chapter.
- Pinocchio knocks, knocks harder, then kicks and bangs on the door. Using two things from the chapter, tell how his feelings change.
What it asks It asks the student to find how Pinocchio's feelings grow as the door stays shut.
One reading
He goes from hope to despair as nothing answers.
finally reached the door of the cottage and knocked
As knocking was of no use, Pinocchio, in despair, began to kick and bang against the door
Another reading
His fear grows louder all the way: the steps behind him come nearer.
behind him he heard the steps and the labored breathing of his persecutors
as if he wanted to break it
Listen for
- Two different pieces of evidence, not one told twice.
- A reason that says how his feelings change.
If stuck
- What does he do the first time, and the second time?
- What does he hear behind him?
- What does he do when knocking is of no use?
A strong answer Pinocchio first knocks, then knocks harder because he hears his persecutors behind him, and when knocking is of no use he kicks and bangs as if he wanted to break the door. His feelings go from hope to despair, and his fear grows as the steps come nearer. A strong answer says how his feelings change, using two things from the chapter.
- The Assassins ask, “Will you open your mouth now or not?” Using two things from the chapter, tell whether his closed mouth helps or hurts him.
What it asks It asks the student to weigh what Pinocchio's silence gains him and what it costs him at the oak.
One reading
It helps him: he keeps the coins, and the Assassins cannot get them from him.
trembled so hard that the joints of his legs rattled and the coins tinkled under his tongue
Ah! You do not answer?
Another reading
It hurts him: his silence makes the Assassins reach for knives and then a rope.
Taking out two long, sharp knives, they struck two heavy blows on the Marionette’s back.
there is nothing left to do now but to hang him
Listen for
- Two different pieces of evidence, not one told twice.
- A reason that says whether it helps or hurts.
If stuck
- What do the Assassins say after he does not answer?
- What do they take out?
- What do they decide to do when the knives break?
A strong answer Pinocchio keeps his mouth shut and the coins stay under his tongue, so the Assassins do not get what they want. But every time he stays silent they do something worse: first two sharp knives, then a rope. A strong answer says whether his closed mouth helps or hurts, using two things from the chapter.