Teaching Companion · Chapter 24 · The Adventures of Pinocchio

This chapter's big question

Everyone Pinocchio begs from answers with work instead of a penny. Is that hard on a hungry boy, or is it a kind of help?

The tension Pinocchio asks for a penny and gets offers of paid work and scolding, while the little woman gives him a drink freely before she names a price for her bread.

Today's focus

Notice how each person Pinocchio meets answers his hunger, and what each one asks him to do.

Two core ideas

Hunger meets work: Pinocchio asks for pennies and a drink, and almost every answer asks something of him.
The offers grow until he gives in: the little woman gives a drink freely, then names bread, cauliflower, cake and jam for carrying her jug.

The shape at a glance

Pinocchio swims all night through a storm and is thrown onto an island at dawn. A Dolphin tells him the little boat must have been swamped and a Terrible Shark may have swallowed his father. In the Land of the Busy Bees, every person he begs from tells him to work, until a little woman gives him a drink and then bargains for him to carry her jug. After he eats, he cries out that she looks like the Fairy.

A way in

Start with Pinocchio's penny. Ask what he hoped each person would say, and what each one said instead.

Lesson plan

Retell The student tells the chapter back in order: the night swim, the island, the Dolphin, the Land of the Busy Bees, the begging, the jug and the meal.

Imitate the author After copying the two sentences, the student makes up one sentence in the first pattern, a plain word swapped for a stronger one, and says it aloud.

Debate Take sides on the big question: is answering a hungry boy's request with work hard, or a kind of help? Each side uses one line from the chapter.

Purpose Close by asking why the author lets the little woman give a drink first and name her price after.

Easier Read the jug scene aloud together and talk through discussion questions 3 and 4 only.

On level Talk through all four discussion questions, then have the student give one critical-thinking answer aloud with two details from the chapter.

Harder Ask the student to compare how the Coal Man, the Bricklayer and the little woman each ask for work, and to say which asks most kindly.

Discussion

Pinocchio’s father taught him that only the sick or old should beg. Do you agree? What makes you think so?Moral reasoning
What it asks It asks the student to weigh the father's rule about who may beg against how hungry Pinocchio is right now.
One reading

Agree: a boy who can work should earn his bread.
- All others should work, and if they didn’t, and went hungry, so much the worse for them.
- Come with me and carry some plaster, and instead of one penny, I’ll give you five.
Another reading

Disagree: a boy who is faint with hunger needs food now, not a rule.
- Will you be so good as to give me a penny, for I am faint with hunger?
- for it was twenty-four hours since he had eaten
Listen for
- Uses what the father said and how hungry Pinocchio is.
- Gives a reason, not only yes or no.
If stuck
- Who does Pinocchio's father say should beg?
- How long has it been since Pinocchio ate?
A strong answer The father's rule has a fair part: people who can earn their bread with their own hands should work, and the Bricklayer offers five pennies for carrying plaster. But Pinocchio has not eaten in twenty-four hours and is faint with hunger, and “so much the worse for them” can sound hard. A strong answer takes a side and says whether a hungry person who can work should still be helped.
The Coal Man tells Pinocchio to “eat two slices of your pride.” Why might he say that to a hungry boy?Inference
What it asks It asks what the Coal Man means by pride, and whether he is making fun of Pinocchio or pointing at something real.
One reading

He is making fun of Pinocchio for being too proud to pull a wagon.
- I hope they don’t give you indigestion.
- I never have been a donkey, nor have I ever pulled a wagon.
Another reading

He is saying that pride is what stands between Pinocchio and four pennies.
- I’ll give you four if you will help me pull these two wagons.
- Then, my boy, if you are really faint with hunger
Listen for
- Uses the Coal Man's words and Pinocchio's answer.
- Says what pride is keeping Pinocchio from.
If stuck
- What does the Coal Man offer instead of one penny?
- How does Pinocchio answer him?
A strong answer The Coal Man has offered four pennies for help with the wagons, and Pinocchio answers that he has never been a donkey. So pride is what stands between a hungry boy and a meal, and the Coal Man says so with a joke about indigestion. A strong answer says whether the joke is only mocking or also true, and uses the Coal Man's words.
Twice Pinocchio looks at the jug and says “neither yes nor no.” Why might the author show him doing that twice?Author's choice
What it asks It asks what the two looks show about Pinocchio's mind, and why the author lets the offer grow before he answers.
One reading

It shows him slowly giving way as the offer grows.
- And with the bread, I’ll give you a nice dish of cauliflower with white sauce on it.
- At this last bribery, Pinocchio could no longer resist and said firmly
Another reading

It shows him torn between not wanting to work and being very hungry.
- this is no place for me! I was not born for work.
- for it was twenty-four hours since he had eaten
Listen for
- Notices the offer gets bigger each time.
- Says what Pinocchio is thinking while he says nothing.
If stuck
- What does the woman add after each look?
- What does Pinocchio finally say?
A strong answer Each time the woman adds something, first bread, then cauliflower, then cake and jam, and each time Pinocchio only looks at the jug. The author lets us watch the offer grow until he gives in. One reading is that he is giving way slowly. Another is that he is torn between not wanting to work and being very hungry. A strong answer picks a reading and says what the silence shows.
The Dolphin says the Shark could fit a whole train in its mouth. Pinocchio runs. Is that part funny, scary, or both? What makes you think so?Tone
What it asks It asks the student to name the mood of the Shark scene and to point to the words that make it that way.
One reading

Funny: Pinocchio flies down the path, looking back for a Shark with a train in its mouth.
- he took the path at so swift a gait that he seemed to fly
- he turned in fear to see whether the Terrible Shark, five stories high and with a train in his mouth, was following him
Another reading

Scary: the Shark may have swallowed his father, and Pinocchio is scared to death.
- By this time, he must have been swallowed by the Terrible Shark
- scared to death
Listen for
- Names a feeling and points to a word or action.
- Notices that the same scene can be both.
If stuck
- What does Pinocchio do after he hears about the Shark?
- What does the Dolphin say may have happened to his father?
A strong answer It can be both. It is funny to picture Pinocchio flying down the path and looking over his shoulder for a Shark five stories high with a train in its mouth. But the Dolphin has also said the Shark may have swallowed his father, and Pinocchio is scared to death. A strong answer names the mood or moods and points to one word or action for each.

Critical thinking

Pinocchio says, “I was not born for work.” Using two details, tell whether you think that is true.
What it asks It asks whether Pinocchio cannot work or will not, and how the chapter shows which.
One reading

True: he turns down the wagons and the plaster as too hard.
- I wish you to know that I never have been a donkey, nor have I ever pulled a wagon.
- But the plaster is heavy,” answered Pinocchio, “and the work too hard for me.
Another reading

Not true: he carries a heavy jug home on his head to get fed.
- The jug was very heavy, and the Marionette, not being strong enough to carry it with his hands, had to put it on his head.
- Very well. I’ll take the jug home for you.
Listen for
- Two different details, not one told twice.
- Says whether Pinocchio cannot work or will not.
If stuck
- What does Pinocchio say to the Bricklayer?
- How does Pinocchio carry the jug?
A strong answer The chapter shows two sides. Pinocchio turns down the wagons and the plaster, saying the plaster is heavy and the work too hard for him. But when the little woman offers bread, cauliflower, cake and jam, he carries a heavy jug home on his head. A strong answer says whether he cannot work or will not, and uses two different details.
Pinocchio stammers when he looks at the little woman. Using two details, tell why he thinks of the Fairy.
What it asks It asks the student to say what makes Pinocchio cry out: what he sees in her face, or how much he longs for the Fairy.
One reading

Her looks: she has the same voice, eyes and hair.
- the same voice, the same eyes, the same hair
- you also have the same azure hair she had
Another reading

His longing: he has cried so much that he wants it to be her.
- Tell me that it is you! Don’t make me cry any longer!
- I have cried so much, I have suffered so!
Listen for
- Two different details, not one told twice.
- Says whether the reason is in the woman or in Pinocchio.
If stuck
- What does Pinocchio say is the same?
- What does he beg the woman to tell him?
A strong answer Pinocchio gives the reasons himself: she has the same voice, the same eyes, the same hair, and the same azure hair the Fairy had. But he also begs her to tell him it is her and says he has cried so much, so he may want it to be true. The chapter does not say who she is, and a strong answer does not say it either. It uses two different details.
Pinocchio says, “Once more I have escaped with my life!” Using two details, tell how much of that is luck.
What it asks It asks the student to weigh luck against Pinocchio's own effort in reaching the island.
One reading

Mostly luck: the waves toss him about, and one throws him to the very spot he wanted.
- The waves played with him and tossed him about as if he were a twig or a bit of straw.
- At last, and luckily for him, a tremendous wave tossed him to the very spot where he wanted to be.
Another reading

Mostly effort: he swims all night and keeps trying.
- swam all night long
- Pinocchio tried his best to get there
Listen for
- Two different details, not one told twice.
- Says how much of the escape is luck and how much is Pinocchio.
If stuck
- How long does Pinocchio swim?
- What finally puts him on the island?
A strong answer Luck matters a lot: the waves toss him about like a twig, and at last, luckily for him, one tosses him to the very spot he wanted. But he also swam all night and tried his best, and nothing daunted, he jumped to his feet. A strong answer picks a share for luck and a share for effort, and uses two different details.