The Adventures of Pinocchio
Chapter 36 — 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 gives away all fifty pennies, then tells his father he could not find a suit that fit. Was that kind, untrue, or both?
The tension Pinocchio hands every penny to the Snail for the sick Fairy, while to his father he says only that he could not find a suit to fit him.
Today's focus
Notice what Pinocchio does for others in this chapter, and how quietly he does some of it.
Two core ideas
- Work and love go together: Pinocchio draws water, makes baskets, builds a chair for his father and gives away his fifty pennies.
- What Pinocchio says and what he does do not always match: he tells his father he could not find a suit, and the pennies are with the Snail.
The shape at a glance
Pinocchio carries Geppetto through the sea until the Tunny rescues them, and they reach the shore. They meet the Fox and the Cat, find a hut with the Talking Cricket, and Pinocchio works for Farmer John, where he sees Lamp-Wick die. For more than five months he works and studies. He gives his fifty pennies to the Snail for the sick Fairy and tells his father he could not find a suit. After a dream of the Fairy, he wakes as a real boy in a new room, finds a purse of gold coins, and sees the old wooden Marionette limp against a chair.
A way in
Start with the Snail scene. Ask what Pinocchio does with the fifty pennies, and what he tells his father afterward.
Lesson plan
Retell The student tells the chapter back in order: the sea and the Tunny, the Fox and the Cat, the hut, Farmer John, the work, the Snail, the dream and the waking.
Imitate the author After copying the two sentences, the student says two short sentences in the same pattern: one about where someone went, and one about what they hardly knew when they got there.
Debate Take sides on the big question: was Pinocchio's answer about the suit kind, untrue, or both? Each side uses one line from the chapter.
Purpose Close by asking why the author lets Pinocchio give the pennies away quietly before the surprise of the morning.
Easier Read the Fox and the Cat scene aloud together and talk through discussion questions 1 and 2 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 Pinocchio says one thing and does another, and to say why.
Discussion
- Pinocchio answers the Fox and the Cat with old sayings and “Addio, false friends.” Was that fair, or hard-hearted? What makes you think so?Moral reasoning
What it asks It asks the student to weigh being careful about people who cheated you against showing mercy to people who are suffering.
One reading
Fair: they cheated him once, and he will not be caught again.
You cheated me once, but you will never catch me again.
If you are poor; you deserve it!
Another reading
Hard-hearted: they are old, sick and starving, and he walks away.
It was the Fox and the Cat, but one could hardly recognize them, they looked so miserable.
Believe us! Today we are truly poor and starving.
Listen for
- Uses what the Fox and the Cat say and what Pinocchio answers.
- Gives a reason, not only fair or hard-hearted.
If stuck
- What does Pinocchio say the Fox and the Cat did to him once?
- How does the chapter say the Fox and the Cat look now?
A strong answer Pinocchio has a reason: he says they cheated him once, and he does not want to be caught again. But the Fox and the Cat look miserable, they are old, tired and sick, and they beg for mercy. A strong answer takes a side on whether being careful or being merciful matters more here, and uses what the Fox and the Cat say or how they look.
- Farmer John laughs when Pinocchio weeps over a dying donkey. Is he unkind, or does he just not understand? What makes you think so?Character
What it asks It asks whether the Farmer's laughing comes from not seeing what Lamp-Wick was to Pinocchio, or from not caring.
One reading
Unkind: he laughs at Pinocchio's grief and Pinocchio is hurt.
What! You had donkeys in your school? How you must have studied!
The Marionette, ashamed and hurt by those words, did not answer
Another reading
He does not understand: to him the donkey is only an animal he paid for.
Do you feel so sorry for a little donkey that has cost you nothing?
What should I do--I, who have paid my good money for him?
Listen for
- Uses the Farmer's own words and what Pinocchio does.
- Says what the Farmer knows and does not know.
If stuck
- What does the Farmer say about the money he paid?
- What does Pinocchio say the donkey was to him?
A strong answer The Farmer's words hurt: he bursts out laughing, and Pinocchio is ashamed and hurt. But the Farmer talks about a donkey that cost him good money, and he does not seem to know that the donkey was once a boy and Pinocchio's classmate. A strong answer says whether the Farmer is unkind or simply does not understand, and uses his words.
- Pinocchio kisses the Tunny, who weeps and swims away embarrassed. Why might a kind kiss make the Tunny cry?Inference
What it asks It asks the student to work out what the Tunny feels when he is thanked so warmly, and why he hurries away.
One reading
He is moved: he is not used to being treated so tenderly.
At this warm greeting, the poor Tunny, who was not used to such tenderness, wept
Another reading
He is shy: all the thanks make him feel he must hide.
He felt so embarrassed and ashamed that he turned quickly, plunged into the sea, and disappeared.
I have not enough words with which to thank you!
Listen for
- Uses what the chapter says about the Tunny's feelings.
- Says what Pinocchio did that made the Tunny cry.
If stuck
- What does Pinocchio say to the Tunny before he kisses him?
- What does the Tunny do after he cries?
A strong answer The chapter says the Tunny was not used to such tenderness, so one reading is that he is moved. Another is that he is shy, since Pinocchio has just said he has not enough words to thank him and the Tunny turns quickly and disappears. A strong answer picks a reading and uses what the chapter says about how the Tunny feels.
- Pinocchio looks at the old wooden Marionette and calls himself ridiculous. Why might the author end the chapter this way?Author's choice
What it asks It asks why the author closes on the limp wooden Marionette and Pinocchio's words about him, and what that leaves the reader thinking.
One reading
It shows how far he has come, and how glad he is to be a real boy.
How ridiculous I was as a Marionette! And how happy I am, now that I have become a real boy!
Another reading
It shows the old Pinocchio left behind, a limp puppet that is no longer him.
a large Marionette leaning against a chair, head turned to one side, arms hanging limp, and legs twisted under him
Listen for
- Notices the picture of the wooden Marionette.
- Says what the reader feels at the end.
If stuck
- Where is the Marionette, and what does it look like?
- What does Pinocchio say when he sees it?
A strong answer The chapter ends with Pinocchio's own words and the picture of the old Marionette, limp against a chair. One reading is that the words show how glad he is to be a real boy. Another is that the picture makes the old Pinocchio feel left behind. A strong answer picks a reading and says what the reader feels at the end.
Critical thinking
- Pinocchio tells his father, “I see the shore,” while his strength is leaving him. Using two details, tell why he says it.
What it asks It asks the student to set what Pinocchio says out loud beside what the author tells us he feels, and to say why he speaks as he does.
One reading
To comfort his father, who seems frightened.
But Pinocchio, thinking his father was frightened, tried to comfort him by saying:
Courage, Father! In a few moments we shall be safe on land.
Another reading
To keep his own spirits up when he is growing weak.
Poor Pinocchio pretended to be peaceful and contented, but he was far from that.
He was beginning to feel discouraged, his strength was leaving him
Listen for
- Two different details, not one told twice.
- Says what Pinocchio feels and what he says, and how they differ.
If stuck
- Why does the chapter say Pinocchio tries to comfort his father?
- What does the author say Pinocchio is really feeling?
A strong answer The chapter gives two reasons close together. Pinocchio thinks his father is frightened, so he tries to comfort him with “Courage, Father!” But the author also says Pinocchio pretended to be peaceful and contented while he was discouraged and his strength was leaving him, so the brave words may help him too. A strong answer picks a reason and uses two different details.
- Pinocchio gives the Snail all fifty pennies meant for a new suit. Using two details, tell what shows how much he cares about the Fairy.
What it asks It asks the student to find two places in the Snail scene that show how much the Fairy matters to Pinocchio.
One reading
What he gives up: the pennies, and even the clothes he is wearing.
Here, take them, little Snail, and give them to my good Fairy.
What does that matter? I should like to sell these rags I have on to help her more.
Another reading
What he asks and wishes: his questions tumble out, and he wishes he had a million.
Has she forgiven me? Does she remember me? Does she still love me?
If I had a million I should run to her with it!
Listen for
- Two different details, not one told twice.
- Says what each detail shows about how he feels.
If stuck
- What does Pinocchio say he will do with the rags he is wearing?
- What does he ask the Snail about the Fairy?
A strong answer Pinocchio shows he cares in two ways. He gives up all fifty pennies meant for his suit and says he would even sell the rags he has on to help her more. His questions also tumble out, whether she has forgiven him and still loves him, and he wishes he had a million to run to her with. A strong answer picks the detail that shows the most and uses two different ones.
- Geppetto says the change in their house is “all your doing.” Using two details, tell what Pinocchio did that could change a house.
What it asks It asks the student to pick out what Pinocchio did for his father that could make a house new: hard work, or care.
One reading
Hard work: he draws water every morning and makes baskets to sell.
for more than five months, Pinocchio got up every morning just as dawn was breaking and went to the farm to draw water
He learned to make baskets of reeds and sold them.
Another reading
Care: he makes a bed for his father and builds him a chair.
he made a bed of straw for old Geppetto
he built a rolling chair, strong and comfortable, to take his old father out for an airing on bright, sunny days
Listen for
- Two different details, not one told twice.
- Says how each detail could change a house.
If stuck
- What does Pinocchio do every morning at dawn?
- What does he build for his father?
A strong answer Pinocchio does both. He draws water every morning for more than five months and learns to make baskets, which keeps them from starving. He also makes a bed of straw for his father and builds a rolling chair to take him out into the sun. Geppetto himself says that when bad boys become good and kind they have the power of making their homes gay and new. A strong answer picks work or care and uses two different details.