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The Adventures of Pinocchio
Scouts · 1st–3rd
Pinocchio walks through a city of beggars and plucked animals and still buries his four gold pieces. Does he not see what the city shows, or does he not want to see it?
The tension The City of Simple Simons is full of animals who have lost their hair, wool, colors and feathers, yet Pinocchio, who had just remembered the Fairy, Geppetto and the Cricket, only asks where the Field of Wonders is.
Notice what Pinocchio sees in the City of Simple Simons, and what he asks about it.
Pinocchio mourns his long nose until the Fairy has woodpeckers peck it back to size. She tells him his father has been sent for, and he sets out to meet him. In the wood he meets the Fox and the Cat, tells them about the Assassins and his gold, and hears the Fox's story about the Cat's paw. He hesitates, then says Let us go, and they walk to the City of Simple Simons and a lonely field. He buries his four gold pieces, waters them with his shoe, and the Fox and the Cat say good-by.
Start in the city: ask what Pinocchio sees in the streets, and what he asks the Fox.
Retell The student tells the chapter back in order: the woodpeckers, the Fairy's offer, the Fox and the Cat, the paw, the hesitation, the city, the field and the good-by.
Imitate the author After copying the sentence, the student writes one sentence in the same pattern: someone paused, then gave a reason that ends with a list.
Debate Take sides on the big question: does Pinocchio not see what the city shows, or does he not want to see it? Each side uses one quote from the chapter.
Purpose Close by asking why a story might lead Pinocchio through a city of beggars before the field.
Easier Read the city streets aloud together and talk through discussion questions 3 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 Pinocchio would have had to see or hear in the city to stop, and what in the chapter makes them think so.
1. The Fox says the Cat bit off his own paw for a hungry wolf, and wipes away a tear. Does the story ring true? Why?Inference
What it asks It asks the student to weigh the Fox's tearful story against what the chapter lets us see, and to say how much is known.
It rings true: the Cat's paw is really in a sling, and Pinocchio is moved.
Pinocchio noticed that the Cat carried his right paw in a sling.
Pinocchio, almost in tears himself, whispered in the Cat’s ear
It sounds made up: the Cat cannot tell it himself, and the Fox does the telling.
The Cat tried to answer, but he became so terribly twisted in his speech that the Fox had to help him out.
My friend is too modest to answer. I’ll answer for him.
A strong answer The paw in a sling is real and Pinocchio is almost in tears, so the story is easy to believe. But the Cat becomes so twisted in his speech that the Fox has to answer for him, and the Fox wipes off a tear as he tells it. The chapter does not say whether the story is true. A strong answer weighs what makes it ring true against what makes it sound too neat, and does not claim more than the chapter says.
2. Pinocchio hesitates and remembers the Fairy, Geppetto and the Cricket. Then he shrugs and says “Let us go!” What do you think tips him over?Character
What it asks It asks what turns a boy who has just remembered three good reasons to stay into a boy who says Let us go.
The Fox's push does it: a big prize, and a warning that today is the last day.
you will gather your two thousand coins and return home rich
today is the last day that it will be open to the public
It is something in Pinocchio: he remembers what is good and shrugs it off.
he remembered the good Fairy, old Geppetto, and the advice of the Talking Cricket
He shrugged his shoulders and said to the Fox and the Cat
A strong answer The Fox promises two thousand coins in half an hour and says another day will be too late. That is a strong push. But Pinocchio also remembers the Fairy, Geppetto and the Cricket, and then shrugs his shoulders, so part of it is his own choice. A strong answer says what tips him over, the Fox's push or something in Pinocchio, and uses the words that show it.
3. Hairless dogs, sheared sheep, butterflies without colors: how does the City of Simple Simons feel to you? Which words help?Tone
What it asks It asks what feeling the author builds with the crowded streets, and which of the author's words build it.
It feels sad and pitiful: every animal has lost something and looks hungry or ashamed.
with hairless dogs, yawning from hunger
with tailless peacocks, ashamed to show themselves
It feels strange and a bit threatening, with a fine coach passing through the poor crowd.
a beautiful coach passed now and again
Within it sat either a Fox, a Hawk, or a Vulture.
A strong answer The author lists animal after animal, each one hungry, cold, begging or ashamed, and that makes the city feel sad and pitiful. Then a beautiful coach passes through the poor crowd with a Fox, a Hawk or a Vulture inside, which makes it feel strange and a bit threatening. A strong answer names a feeling and points to the words that make it.
4. The Fairy shows no pity at first to teach him a lesson, then sends woodpeckers to shrink his nose. Was it right to stop when she did?Moral reasoning
What it asks It asks whether a lesson should end when someone is frightened, or only when it has done its work.
It was right: Pinocchio was pale with fright and it was enough.
when she saw him, pale with fright and with his eyes half out of his head from terror, she began to feel sorry for him
Crying as if his heart would break, the Marionette mourned for hours
It was too soon: the lesson was about a very bad habit, and the nose was back in a few moments.
so that he would stop telling lies, the worst habit any boy may acquire
in a few moments, it was the same size as before
A strong answer The Fairy wanted him to stop lying, the worst habit any boy may acquire, so she showed no pity at first. But when she saw him pale with fright and his eyes half out of his head she began to feel sorry, and the woodpeckers made the nose its old size in a few moments. A strong answer weighs her pity against her lesson, and says whether stopping when she did was right.
5. The chapter ends with the Fox and the Cat wishing Pinocchio good luck and going on their way. Why might the author stop there?Author's choice
What it asks It asks what the ending does for the reader, and what the reader is left feeling as the two walk off.
It leaves the reader uneasy: the gold is buried, Pinocchio waits, and the two are gone.
Return here within twenty minutes and you will find the vine grown and the branches filled with gold pieces.
They said good-by to Pinocchio and, wishing him good luck, went on their way.
It shows how friendly and generous the two sound, so Pinocchio is left happy.
We don’t want any of your gifts
For this we are as happy as kings.
A strong answer The Fox and the Cat refuse any gift, say they are as happy as kings, wish Pinocchio good luck, and go. Pinocchio is beside himself with joy. That ending can leave the reader uneasy, since the gold is buried and the two have left. It can also show how friendly and generous they sound. A strong answer says what the ending leaves us feeling, and points to the words that do it.
1. The Fairy says, “I have thought of everything.” Using two things from the chapter, tell how she looks after Pinocchio.
What it asks It asks the student to find how the Fairy cares for Pinocchio, in what she offers him and in what she arranges.
She cares for his heart: she offers him a home and a sister's love.
if you wish to stay with me, you may be my little brother and I’ll be your good little sister
She cares for what he needs: she sends for his father and shows him the path.
Your father has been sent for and before night he will be here.
Take the wood path and you’ll surely meet him.
A strong answer The Fairy offers to be Pinocchio's good little sister if he wishes to stay, and she says his father has been sent for and will be there before night. Those are two ways of looking after him: giving him a home, and bringing his father to him. A strong answer says how she looks after him, using two things from the chapter.
2. Pinocchio tells the Fox and the Cat about the Assassins and his gold. Using two things from the chapter, tell whether he is careful about what he says.
What it asks It asks whether Pinocchio guards what he tells the Fox and the Cat, or hands it over freely.
He is careless: he tells them where his gold is and that he is alone.
I still have them in my pocket, except one which I spent at the Inn of the Red Lobster.
I am waiting for my father, who will be here at any moment now.
He is a little careful: he says not today and asks how far it is.
Today it is impossible. I’ll go with you some other time.
How far is this Field of Wonders?
A strong answer Pinocchio tells the Fox and the Cat that he still has the gold in his pocket, except one piece, and that he is waiting for his father. That is telling a lot. But he first says today it is impossible and asks how far the field is, which is a little careful. A strong answer says careful, careless or both, using two things from the chapter.
3. Pinocchio buries the gold and waters it with his shoe. Using two things from the chapter, tell how carefully he follows the Fox's directions.
What it asks It asks the student to look at how Pinocchio does what the Fox says, and where he does it his own way.
Very carefully: he does each step and covers the gold well.
covered them up very carefully
Pinocchio followed the directions closely
In his own way: he has no pail, so he uses his shoe.
as he had no pail, he pulled off his shoe, filled it with water, and sprinkled the earth which covered the gold
A strong answer Pinocchio digs the hole, puts in the four gold pieces, covers them very carefully, and follows the directions closely. When he has no pail he pulls off his shoe and uses it to water the spot, so he finds a way to do what he was told. A strong answer says how carefully he follows the Fox, using two things from the chapter.