Teaching Companion · Chapter 2 · The Adventures of Pinocchio

This chapter's big question

The two old men go from words to blows twice, and twice swear to be friends for life. Does their friendship count for less because they fight, or for more because they keep making up?

The tension Mastro Antonio and Geppetto are quick to blame, to shout and to hit, and just as quick to hand back a wig, shake hands and promise friendship.

Today's focus

Notice how quickly the two old men turn from fighting to friendship, and how plainly the chapter tells both.

Two core ideas

A small thing can start a big quarrel: one name set off two fights.
The author tells the fights as comedy, with wigs swapped, buttons lost and hands shaken.

The shape at a glance

Mastro Antonio sits on the floor when Geppetto knocks and asks for a piece of wood to make a Marionette. A tiny voice calls Geppetto "Polendina," and the two old men fight, trade their wigs back, and swear to be friends. Then the wood slips, hits Geppetto's legs, and they fight again over the name. They shake hands once more, and Geppetto takes the wood and limps home.

A way in

Start with the name Polendina: ask what happens each time someone says it.

Lesson plan

Retell The student tells the chapter back in order: the knock, Geppetto's plan, the first fight, the wood that slips, the second fight, and the walk home.

Imitate the author After copying the sentence, the student writes one sentence in the same pattern: what two people finished, then what they did next together.

Debate Take sides: do the fights make their friendship count for less, or for more? Each side uses one quote from the chapter.

Purpose Close by asking why a story might open with two old friends who fight and make up.

Easier Read the first fight aloud together and talk through discussion questions 1 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 to explain what the two men would have to do differently for the fights not to happen.

Discussion

Geppetto hears “Polendina” and says, “Yet I KNOW it was you.” Why might he be so sure it was Mastro Antonio?Inference
What it asks It asks why Geppetto blames his friend so fast, when the voice came from no one knew where.
One reading

Mastro Antonio is the only person he can see, so he blames the man in front of him.
- cried the same tiny voice which came from no one knew where
- facing the carpenter, said to him angrily
Another reading

His temper is quick: the name makes him wild, and he does not stop to look for another answer.
- Geppetto had a very bad temper.
- turned the color of a red pepper
Listen for
- Remembers that the voice came from no one knew where.
- Uses what Geppetto does, not only what he says.
If stuck
- Who says “Polendina”? Can anyone tell where the voice comes from?
- What does the chapter tell us about Geppetto's temper?
- Who is Geppetto facing when he asks, “Why do you insult me?”
A strong answer The voice came from no one knew where, so Geppetto had no one to blame but the man in the room. The chapter also says Geppetto has a very bad temper and goes wild at that name. A strong answer can say he was sure because he saw only Mastro Antonio, or because his anger spoke before his thinking, and can notice that both could be true.
After Geppetto says “Idiot,” “Donkey” and “Ugly monkey,” Mastro Antonio answers “Polendina!” each time. Who is being less fair? What makes you think so?Moral reasoning
What it asks It asks whether name-calling from one side excuses name-calling from the other, and who has more reason to be angry.
One reading

Mastro Antonio is less fair: he knows the name drives Geppetto wild and says it anyway.
- Geppetto, do not insult me or I shall call you Polendina.
- On hearing himself called Polendina for the third time, Geppetto lost his head with rage
Another reading

Geppetto is less fair: he started with worse names and was the one who blamed his friend.
- Liar!
- Ugly monkey!
Listen for
- Names what each man says, not only who is angrier.
- Gives a reason for fair or unfair from the words in the chapter.
If stuck
- What does Geppetto call Mastro Antonio?
- What does Mastro Antonio answer each time?
- What happens to Geppetto the third time he hears the name?
A strong answer Geppetto calls his friend a liar, an idiot, a donkey and an ugly monkey, and Mastro Antonio answers every one with the name that makes Geppetto wild. Mastro Antonio even warns him first, so he knows what will happen. A strong answer weighs names that insult against a name that is only a nickname, and says which one seems less fair and why.
Mastro Antonio is “very glad indeed” to give away the wood that frightened him. Is that a kind gift, or just getting rid of it?Character
What it asks It asks why Mastro Antonio is glad to hand the wood over, and whether his gladness is for his friend or for himself.
One reading

It is a kind gift: he says he is at Geppetto's service and gives him what he asked for.
- Here I am, at your service
- Will you give it to me?
Another reading

He is mostly getting rid of it: the wood frightened him, and he is glad to see it go.
- went immediately to his bench to get the piece of wood which had frightened him so much
Listen for
- Remembers that the wood frightened him in the last chapter.
- Says what his gladness is about, with a reason.
If stuck
- What does Geppetto ask Mastro Antonio for?
- How does the chapter say Mastro Antonio feels when he goes to get the wood?
- What did the wood do to him earlier?
A strong answer Mastro Antonio hurries to fetch the wood, and the chapter says it frightened him so much. That makes it hard to call the gift only kind. But he also says he is at his friend's service and gives the wood after a fight he wanted to end. A strong answer can call it kindness, or relief, or a bit of both, and gives the reason.
The author has Mastro Antonio and Geppetto fight twice in one short chapter. Why might the author tell it twice?Author's choice
What it asks It asks why the author repeats nearly the same scene, and what the second fight shows that the first did not.
One reading

The repeat is for fun: the second fight is the same joke with worse names.
- “Polendina!”
- Then and there they gave each other a sound thrashing.
Another reading

The repeat shows the two men are the same each time: they fight and then make up.
- shook hands and swore to be good friends for the rest of their lives
- they shook hands and swore to be good friends for the rest of their lives
Listen for
- Notices that the first fight and the second end in the same way.
- Says what repeating does to the reader, such as making it funnier or making the men easier to know.
If stuck
- How does each fight begin, and how does each end?
- What is the same about the two fights? What is different?
A strong answer Both fights start with an insult, grow louder, turn to blows, and end with a handshake and a promise. The second repeats the first, which can make it funnier and can show how these two men always behave. A strong answer says what changes between the two fights, such as the worse names and the buttons and scratches, and what the repeating helps us see.
The first fight ends with a wig in someone's mouth. Is the fighting funny or serious? What makes you think so?Tone
What it asks It asks how the author wants us to take the fighting, and which details lean funny and which lean hurtful.
One reading

It is funny: the wigs are swapped and the men end with buttons missing and scratched noses.
- Geppetto found the carpenter’s curly wig in his mouth.
- Mastro Antonio had two more scratches on his nose, and Geppetto had two buttons missing from his coat
Another reading

It is serious: they really scratch, bite and slap, and Geppetto is hurt.
- began to scratch and bite and slap each other
- You have made me almost lame!
Listen for
- Points to a detail from the fight, not only a feeling.
- Notices that the story can be funny and hurtful at once.
If stuck
- Where does Geppetto's wig end up?
- What do the men really do to each other?
- What does Geppetto say about his legs?
A strong answer The details are comic: a wig in a mouth, two buttons missing, two more scratches on a nose. But the men really scratch and bite and slap, and Geppetto says he is almost lame. A strong answer picks funny or serious, or both, and shows which details made it feel that way.

Critical thinking

Before the fights begin, Geppetto and Mastro Antonio joke with each other. Using two things from the chapter, tell how they seem to get along.
What it asks It asks what the friendly opening shows about the two men before any quarrel starts.
One reading

They get along well: they tease each other and Geppetto asks a favor easily.
- I am teaching the ants their A B C’s.
- Here I am, at your service
Another reading

They get along only so far: Geppetto's temper is a sore spot, and one name changes everything.
- Woe to the one who called him Polendina!
- Geppetto turned the color of a red pepper
Listen for
- Two different pieces of evidence, not one told twice.
- A reason that explains the choice.
If stuck
- What does Geppetto ask when he sees Mastro Antonio on the floor?
- What does Mastro Antonio answer?
- What does Mastro Antonio say when Geppetto asks for a favor?
A strong answer At the start they tease each other: Geppetto asks what Mastro Antonio is doing on the floor, and he answers that he is teaching the ants their A B C's. Mastro Antonio says he is at Geppetto's service. A strong answer uses two things the men say, and explains what they show about how the two get along before the name Polendina comes up.
Geppetto says why he wants a Marionette. Using two things from the chapter, tell what Geppetto hopes the Marionette will do.
What it asks It asks what Geppetto wants from the Marionette, a way to earn a living or something more wonderful.
One reading

He wants it for his living: it will earn him bread and wine.
- to earn my crust of bread and cup of wine
Another reading

He wants something wonderful and a way to see the world.
- It must be wonderful, one that will be able to dance, fence, and turn somersaults.
- With it I intend to go around the world
Listen for
- Quotes or retells what Geppetto says, in his own words.
- Says whether the plan sounds more like work or more like wonder.
If stuck
- What does Geppetto want the Marionette to be able to do?
- Where does he plan to take it?
- What does he hope to earn?
A strong answer Geppetto wants a beautiful Marionette that can dance, fence and turn somersaults, and he plans to go around the world with it to earn his crust of bread and cup of wine. That is a plan for earning a living and also a plan for something wonderful. A strong answer uses two things he says, and decides which hope seems stronger.
Geppetto thanks Mastro Antonio and limps away with the wood. Was the visit a good one for Geppetto? Use two things from the chapter.
What it asks It asks whether Geppetto leaves better off, with what he came for, or worse off, with a sore leg and missing buttons.
One reading

Yes: he got the wood he came for and made up with his friend.
- Then Geppetto took the fine piece of wood, thanked Mastro Antonio, and limped away toward home.
- they shook hands and swore to be good friends for the rest of their lives
Another reading

Not really: he left hurt, with a hit on the legs and two buttons gone.
- hit against poor Geppetto’s thin legs
- Geppetto had two buttons missing from his coat
Listen for
- Weighs what Geppetto got against what it cost him.
- Two separate pieces of evidence, with a reason.
If stuck
- What does Geppetto come to ask for, and does he get it?
- What happens to his legs and his coat?
- How does he leave the shop?
A strong answer Geppetto came for a piece of wood, and he takes it, thanks his friend and swears friendship again. But the wood hit his thin legs, he lost two buttons, and he limps away. A strong answer weighs getting the wood against the hurt it cost him, using two things from the chapter.