The Adventures of Pinocchio
Chapter 20 — 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
Pinocchio vows to become a most obedient boy, then soon jumps into a field for grapes. How much is his promise worth?
The tension On the muddy road Pinocchio swears he will change and obey, but when hunger pulls at him he jumps into a field after grapes.
Today's focus
Notice what Pinocchio promises himself on the muddy road, and what he does when hunger and a field of grapes come along.
Two core ideas
- A promise made while sorry and tired is easy to say: Pinocchio's speech about becoming obedient comes just before the grapes.
- The author keeps changing the mood: a terrifying Serpent turns comic, and a hunger for a few grapes turns into a trap.
The shape at a glance
Free from prison, Pinocchio hurries along a muddy road toward the Fairy's house, promising himself he will be obedient. A huge Serpent blocks the road. He waits, speaks sweetly, thinks the Serpent is dead, and is tipped into the mud, and the Serpent laughs so hard that he dies. Hungry, Pinocchio jumps into a field after grapes and is caught in a trap set by a Farmer for Weasels.
A way in
Start with Pinocchio's speech to himself. Ask the student to say in their own words what he promises.
Lesson plan
Retell The student tells the chapter back in order: the muddy road, the speech, the Serpent, the hunger, the grapes and the trap.
Imitate the author After copying the passage, the student says a long sentence about a hard road, then a very short sentence about someone who keeps going.
Debate Take sides on the big question: how much is Pinocchio's promise worth? Each side uses one line from the chapter.
Purpose Close by asking why the author puts the promise and the grapes in the same chapter.
Easier Read Pinocchio's speech aloud together and talk through discussion questions 1 and 4 only.
On level Talk through all five discussion questions, then have the student give one critical-thinking answer aloud with two details from the chapter.
Harder Ask the student to find one more place in the chapter where what Pinocchio wants and what he does pull apart.
Discussion
- Pinocchio says, “I deserve everything, for I am certainly very stubborn and stupid.” Is he being fair to himself? What makes you think so?Character
What it asks It asks the student to judge how Pinocchio sees himself, and whether his words are honest or too harsh.
One reading
Fair: he names what he did wrong, and it is true.
I will always have my own way. I won’t listen to those who love me and who have more brains than I.
disobedient boys are certainly far from happy
Another reading
Too harsh: he calls himself the worst boy anywhere, and he is only being dramatic.
Can there be a worse or more heartless boy than I am anywhere?
Listen for
- Uses Pinocchio's own words about himself.
- Gives a reason for fair or too harsh.
If stuck
- What does Pinocchio say he never does when people who love him speak?
- Does he say anything good about himself in this speech?
A strong answer Part of it is fair. He says he always wants his own way and will not listen to people who love him and have more brains, and that is what he has done. But calling himself the most heartless boy anywhere is a big claim, and he also longs for his father's love, which a heartless boy would not. A strong answer says which words are fair, which are too much, and why.
- Pinocchio, “trying to feel very brave,” speaks to the Serpent in a sweet, soothing voice. Why might he choose a sweet voice?Inference
What it asks It asks the student to work out what Pinocchio hopes the sweet voice will do for him.
One reading
He is afraid, and he hopes being polite will keep the Serpent calm.
Pinocchio, trying to feel very brave, walked straight up to him
I beg your pardon, Mr. Serpent, would you be so kind as to step aside to let me pass?
Another reading
He wants to get home so badly that he will say whatever might work.
You must know, Mr. Serpent, that I am going home where my father is waiting for me.
Would you mind very much if I passed?
Listen for
- Says what Pinocchio is feeling and what he wants.
- Uses his actual words to the Serpent.
If stuck
- How long did Pinocchio wait before he spoke?
- What does he tell the Serpent about where he is going?
A strong answer The sweet voice fits a boy who is frightened and trying to look brave. He speaks politely and asks the Serpent to step aside, and when the Serpent does not move he tries again and tells him about his father. One reading is that he hopes good manners will calm a scary creature. Another is that he wants to get home so much that he will say anything. A strong answer picks a reason and uses his words to back it up.
- At first the Serpent is scary. Then Pinocchio lands with his legs in the air. Is the Serpent scene scary, funny, or both? What makes you think so?Tone
What it asks It asks the student to name the mood of the Serpent scene and point to the words that make it that way.
One reading
Funny: the scary Serpent ends up laughing at Pinocchio's wriggling legs.
At the sight of the Marionette kicking and squirming like a young whirlwind, the Serpent laughed so heartily and so long that at last he burst an artery and died on the spot.
Another reading
Still scary: the Serpent has burning eyes and smoke, and Pinocchio is terrified.
fiery eyes which glowed and burned, and a pointed tail that smoked like a chimney
How frightened was poor Pinocchio!
Listen for
- Names a feeling and points to a word or action.
- Notices the mood can change in the middle.
If stuck
- What does the Serpent look like when Pinocchio first sees him?
- What does the Serpent do when Pinocchio falls?
A strong answer It starts scary and turns funny. The Serpent has fiery eyes and a tail that smokes like a chimney, and Pinocchio is frozen with terror. Then the Serpent shoots up, Pinocchio lands head first in the mud, and the Serpent laughs so long that he dies. A strong answer names the mood or moods, and points to one word or action for each.
- Pinocchio is so hungry that he jumps into a field to pick a few grapes. Was that wrong, or understandable? What makes you think so?Moral reasoning
What it asks It asks whether being very hungry makes it all right to take grapes from a field, and where the student draws the line.
One reading
Understandable: he is very hungry, and he takes only a few grapes.
the pangs of hunger grew so strong that, unable to withstand them
he jumped into a field to pick a few grapes that tempted him
Another reading
Wrong: the field has a Farmer who guards it against thieves.
a trap set there by a Farmer for some Weasels which came every night to steal his chickens
Listen for
- Says why hunger matters, or why it is not enough.
- Notices there is a Farmer who guards the field.
If stuck
- What word does the author use for how the grapes pull at him?
- Who set a trap in the field, and why?
A strong answer He is very hungry and takes only a few grapes, so it is easy to understand why. But the field belongs to a Farmer who sets traps for thieves, so taking the grapes is still a risk, and the author says the grapes tempted him. A strong answer says whether being hungry is enough of a reason, and uses one detail from the chapter.
- Just before the trap snaps, the author says, “Woe to him!” Why might the author speak up there?Author's choice
What it asks It asks why the author steps in with his own voice at this moment, and what that does for the reader.
One reading
He warns the reader so they feel something bad is about to happen.
Woe to him!
No sooner had he reached the grapevine than--crack! went his legs.
Another reading
He is telling us what he thinks of Pinocchio's choice.
he jumped into a field to pick a few grapes that tempted him. Woe to him!
Listen for
- Notices the author speaking, not a character.
- Says what the reader feels because of the two words.
If stuck
- Who says “Woe to him!”, Pinocchio or the author?
- What happens in the very next sentence?
A strong answer The words come from the author, not from Pinocchio, and they come right before the crack of the trap. One reading is that they are a warning that builds suspense. Another is that the author is judging what Pinocchio just did. A strong answer picks a reason and says how the sentence after it, with the sudden crack, fits that reading.
Critical thinking
- Pinocchio sinks almost to his knees in mud, but “he kept on bravely.” Using two details, tell what keeps him going.
What it asks It asks what pulls Pinocchio along a muddy road: love for the people he is going to, or the joy of being free.
One reading
His wish to see his father and the Fairy keeps him going.
Tormented by the wish to see his father and his fairy sister with azure hair, he raced like a greyhound.
I am going home where my father is waiting for me
Another reading
The joy of being out of prison keeps him going.
Fancy the happiness of Pinocchio on finding himself free!
he fled from the city and set out on the road
Listen for
- Two different details, not one told twice.
- A reason that links each detail to why he keeps going.
If stuck
- Who is Pinocchio hoping to see at the end of the road?
- How does the chapter say he feels about being free?
A strong answer Pinocchio is pulled in two ways at once, and both help. He is tormented by the wish to see his father and the Fairy, so he races like a greyhound even when mud splashes up to his cap. He is also happy to be free, and he fled the city without saying yes or no. A strong answer picks the stronger pull and gives two different details for it.
- Pinocchio thinks the Serpent is dead and starts to step over him. Using two details, tell why he believes it so fast.
What it asks It asks the student to separate what the Serpent really did from what Pinocchio wanted to see.
One reading
The Serpent really looked dead, so Pinocchio's guess made sense.
became suddenly very quiet and still. His eyes closed and his tail stopped smoking.
He might as well have talked to a wall. The Serpent never moved.
Another reading
Pinocchio wants the road clear so much that he is quick to believe it.
“Is he dead, I wonder?” said Pinocchio, rubbing his hands together happily.
Without a moment’s hesitation, he started to step over him
Listen for
- One detail about the Serpent and one about Pinocchio.
- A reason that explains why he did not stop to check.
If stuck
- What changed about the Serpent's eyes and tail?
- What does Pinocchio do with his hands, and what does he do next?
A strong answer The Serpent really did look dead. His eyes closed, his tail stopped smoking, and he was quiet and still after three hours of blocking the road. But Pinocchio also wants the road clear, so he rubs his hands happily and starts to step over without a moment's hesitation. A strong answer uses one detail about the Serpent, one about Pinocchio, and says which counts for more.
- Pinocchio is “frozen with terror” when he first sees the Serpent. Using two details, tell what frightens him most.
What it asks It asks whether Pinocchio is most afraid of how the Serpent looks or of the Serpent blocking his way home.
One reading
The Serpent's frightening looks scare him most.
a Serpent with a bright green skin, fiery eyes which glowed and burned, and a pointed tail that smoked like a chimney
Another reading
The Serpent blocking the road scares him most, because it keeps him from home.
An immense Serpent lay stretched across the road
settled himself atop a heap of stones to wait for the Serpent to go on his way and leave the road clear for him
Listen for
- Two different details, not one told twice.
- Says whether the fear is about the Serpent's looks or the blocked road.
If stuck
- What does the chapter say the Serpent looks like?
- What does Pinocchio do after he runs back half a mile?
A strong answer The chapter gives two reasons to be afraid. The Serpent is immense, with fiery eyes and a tail that smokes like a chimney. He also lies stretched across the only road Pinocchio is on, so Pinocchio runs back wildly and then waits for hours for him to leave. A strong answer picks the stronger fear and backs it with two different details.