The Adventures of Pinocchio
Chapter 35 — 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
Geppetto calls the escape a dream, yet follows his son into the dark. What lets Pinocchio lead: his plan, or his promise to stay together?
The tension Geppetto says a Marionette a yard high cannot carry him, while Pinocchio, who has just told of all his misfortunes, answers "Try it and see!" and goes first with the candle.
Today's focus
Notice who leads and who follows in this chapter: Pinocchio goes first with the candle, and Geppetto follows him through the Shark.
Two core ideas
- Joy and trouble arrive together: Pinocchio finds his father at last, but the candle is almost gone and the way out is through the Shark's mouth.
- Doubt meets trust: Geppetto calls the plan dreams, yet he follows, and Pinocchio says, “Follow me and have no fear.”
The shape at a glance
Pinocchio follows a faint light and finds his father by a candle in the Shark. He tells his whole story, and Geppetto tells how he was swallowed and how he has lived on a ship's food for two years. Geppetto cannot swim, but Pinocchio will carry him, and they climb up the Shark's throat to its open mouth. A sneeze throws them back and the candle goes out, but Pinocchio tries again, and the chapter ends as he dives into the calm sea with his father on his shoulders.
A way in
Start with the candle. Ask what Pinocchio does the moment he sees his father.
Lesson plan
Retell The student tells the chapter back in order: the light, the father, the long story, the two years, the plan, the sneeze and the dive.
Imitate the author After copying the sentence, the student says one sentence of their own in the same pattern: what someone says, then what their face shows.
Debate Take sides on the big question: what lets Pinocchio lead, his plan or his promise to stay together? Each side uses one line from the chapter.
Purpose Close by asking why the author lets Pinocchio say “Follow me” to his father after so many chapters of Pinocchio being led.
Easier Read the scene where Geppetto says “Dreams, my boy!” aloud together and talk through discussion questions 2 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 find one more place in the chapter where Geppetto and Pinocchio see the same moment differently.
Discussion
- Pinocchio pours out all his troubles to his father in one long speech. Why might he tell him everything?Inference
What it asks It asks the student to work out what Pinocchio wants from the long telling: to be forgiven, or to let out everything he has held in.
One reading
He wants to be forgiven, so he asks for it right away.
And you have forgiven me, haven’t you?
Oh, my dear Father, how good you are!
Another reading
He is so full of joy and relief that it all spills out at once.
He wanted to laugh, he wanted to cry, he wanted to say a thousand and one things
Have I found you at last?
Listen for
- Uses Pinocchio's own words to his father.
- Says what Pinocchio feels, not only what he says.
If stuck
- What does Pinocchio ask his father before he starts the long telling?
- What does the chapter say he wanted to do when he first saw his father?
A strong answer Pinocchio asks if his father has forgiven him before he begins, so part of the telling is a way to ask for that. But the chapter also says he wanted to laugh, to cry and to say a thousand and one things, so the telling may just be joy and relief spilling over. A strong answer picks a reason and uses one thing Pinocchio says or feels.
- Pinocchio says, “Try it and see!” about carrying his father on his back. Is that brave, foolish, or both? What makes you think so?Moral reasoning
What it asks It asks whether trying a risky plan is brave when you cannot be sure it will work, and where the student draws the line.
One reading
Brave: he knows he is a fine swimmer, and he will not leave his father.
You can climb on my shoulders and I, who am a fine swimmer, will carry you safely to the shore.
if it is written that we must die, we shall at least die together
Another reading
Foolish: he is a yard high, and his father cannot swim at all.
Do you think it possible for a Marionette, a yard high, to have the strength to carry me on his shoulders and swim?
You speak well, but I cannot swim, my dear Pinocchio.
Listen for
- Names what Pinocchio risks, and what he offers.
- Gives a reason for brave, foolish or both.
If stuck
- What does Pinocchio say he is good at?
- What does Geppetto say Pinocchio cannot do?
A strong answer It can be both. Pinocchio is a fine swimmer and says that if they must die they will die together, which sounds brave. But he is a yard high and his father cannot swim, so Geppetto has good reason to call it dreams. A strong answer says which side counts more and uses one thing Pinocchio or Geppetto says.
- Just as they are about to dive, the Shark sneezes and throws them back. Why might the author add that?Author's choice
What it asks It asks why the author stops the escape at the last moment, and what that does for the reader and for the story.
One reading
It builds suspense: the escape looked close, and now it is harder.
The two fugitives were just about to dive into the sea when the Shark sneezed very suddenly
To make matters worse, the candle went out and father and son were left in the dark.
Another reading
It gives Pinocchio a chance to try again, so it matters that he does.
We must try again. Come with me and don’t be afraid.
they climbed up the monster’s throat for a second time
Listen for
- Notices that the sneeze comes just before the dive.
- Says what the reader feels because of it.
If stuck
- Where are Pinocchio and Geppetto when the Shark sneezes?
- What does Pinocchio say right after they are thrown back?
A strong answer The sneeze comes at the very last moment, when they were just about to dive, so the reader feels how close they were. It also puts them back in the dark and puts out the candle. One reading is that it builds suspense. Another is that it lets us see what Pinocchio does after a setback, since he says they must try again. A strong answer picks a reading and says what the reader feels.
- The candle goes out, and Geppetto says, “Now we are lost.” Why might he give up so fast when Pinocchio does not?Character
What it asks It asks the student to work out what is behind Geppetto's quick giving up, using what the chapter tells us about his two years in the dark.
One reading
He is worn out by two years in the dark, with almost nothing left.
From that day to this, two long weary years
now I am at the very last crumbs
Another reading
He sees the danger more clearly: he cannot swim and Pinocchio is small.
You speak well, but I cannot swim, my dear Pinocchio.
Dreams, my boy!
Listen for
- Uses what Geppetto says about his two years.
- Says how Pinocchio answers him.
If stuck
- How long has Geppetto been inside the Shark?
- What does Pinocchio answer when his father says they are lost?
A strong answer Geppetto has lived two long weary years inside the Shark and is down to his last candle, so he may simply be worn out. He also knows he cannot swim and that Pinocchio is only a yard high, so he may see the danger more plainly. Pinocchio answers, “Why lost?” and takes his father's hand. A strong answer picks a reason and uses one thing Geppetto says.
Critical thinking
- When Pinocchio sees his father by the candle, he almost drops in a faint. Using two details, tell what he feels.
What it asks It asks the student to name what Pinocchio feels at the sight of his father, using what he does and what the author says.
One reading
Joy: he is so happy he can hardly stand.
At this sight, the poor Marionette was filled with such great and sudden happiness that he almost dropped in a faint.
he was able to let out a scream of joy
Another reading
Too many feelings at once: he cannot even speak.
He wanted to laugh, he wanted to cry, he wanted to say a thousand and one things
stuttering and stammering brokenly
Listen for
- Two different details, not one told twice.
- Names the feeling, not only what Pinocchio does.
If stuck
- What does the author say filled Pinocchio when he saw his father?
- What does Pinocchio do with his arms in the end?
A strong answer Pinocchio feels joy, so great and sudden that he almost drops in a faint, and in the end he lets out a scream of joy. But he also feels too many things at once: he wants to laugh, to cry and to say a thousand and one things, and he can only stutter and stammer. A strong answer names the feeling and uses two different details.
- Geppetto says he has lived “happily” for two years, but the cupboard is bare. Using two details, tell whether his words sound happy or sad.
What it asks It asks the student to weigh the happy word Geppetto uses against the sad things he also says.
One reading
Happy, in a way: he thanks his luck and says he lived happily.
With all these blessings, I have been able to live happily on for two whole years
To my own good luck, that ship was loaded with meat, preserved foods, crackers, bread
Another reading
Sad: the years felt long and the last candle is almost gone.
two long weary years--two years, my Pinocchio, which have been like two centuries
this candle you see here is the last one I have
Listen for
- Two different details, not one told twice.
- Says whether the words sound more happy or more sad.
If stuck
- What does Geppetto say about the ship and his luck?
- What does he say the two years were like?
A strong answer His words pull both ways. He says he has been able to live happily for two whole years and thanks his good luck about the ship's food. But he also calls them two long weary years that felt like two centuries, and says the candle is the last he has. A strong answer says whether happy or sad is stronger and uses two different details.
- Pinocchio tells his father, “Climb on my back and hold on tightly to my neck.” Using two details, tell what makes him ready to carry him.
What it asks It asks the student to say what makes Pinocchio ready to carry his father: how sure he is, or how calm the night is.
One reading
How sure he is: he knows what he means to do.
Pinocchio, very sure of what he was doing, dived into the water and started to swim.
I’ll take care of everything else.
Another reading
The calm sea and the sleeping Shark make the moment right.
The Shark is fast asleep. The sea is calm and the night is as bright as day.
the Shark continued to sleep so soundly that not even a cannon shot would have awakened him
Listen for
- Two different details, not one told twice.
- Says what makes Pinocchio ready, in the student's words.
If stuck
- How does the chapter say Pinocchio feels as he dives?
- What is the Shark doing, and what is the sea like?
A strong answer The chapter gives two reasons. Pinocchio is very sure of what he is doing, and he tells his father that he will take care of everything else. The moment is also right: the Shark is fast asleep and the sea is as calm as oil. A strong answer picks what matters more and uses two different details, without saying what happens after the dive.