The Adventures of Pinocchio
Chapter 4 — 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 throws the hammer with all his strength, yet the story says perhaps he did not think he would strike the Cricket. How much is he to blame for what happens?
The tension The Cricket speaks calmly and says he means it for Pinocchio's own good, while Pinocchio answers with a hammer and a result the story says he may not have planned.
Today's focus
Notice what each of them has to use: the Cricket has only words, and Pinocchio has a hammer.
Two core ideas
- A calm warning can still make someone angry: the Cricket speaks gently, and Pinocchio hears the sting at the end.
- An act can have a result no one planned: the story says perhaps Pinocchio did not think he would strike the Cricket.
The shape at a glance
Pinocchio runs home across fields and slips into Geppetto's house, glad to be free. A Talking Cricket tells him he will be sorry for running away and hating school. Pinocchio argues and says he wants only to play and wander. When the Cricket calls him a Marionette with a wooden head, Pinocchio throws a hammer, and the Cricket falls from the wall, dead.
A way in
Start with the hammer: ask what Pinocchio had heard in the last minute before he threw it.
Lesson plan
Retell The student tells the chapter back in order: the run home, the voice, the Cricket's warning, Pinocchio's answers, the wooden head, and the hammer.
Imitate the author After copying the sentence, the student writes one sentence in the same pattern: three quick things a person did in a row.
Debate Take sides on the big question: how much is Pinocchio to blame for what happens to the Cricket? Each side uses one quote from the chapter.
Purpose Close by asking why a story might end a chapter with the wise creature hurt and the rash one still standing.
Easier Read the Cricket's talk with Pinocchio aloud together in two voices and talk through discussion questions 1 and 3 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 say what the Cricket could have said differently, and whether it would have changed what Pinocchio did.
Discussion
- Pinocchio says he hates to study and would rather chase butterflies, climb trees and steal birds’ nests. What does that tell us about what he wants?Inference
What it asks It asks what Pinocchio wants most: fun and freedom, or simply not being told what to do.
One reading
He wants fun and freedom: he picks play and open air over school.
It’s much more fun, I think, to chase after butterflies, climb trees, and steal birds’ nests.
tomorrow, at dawn, I leave this place forever
Another reading
He wants to avoid being made to do things he does not like.
They are sent to school, and whether they want to or not, they must study.
I hate to study!
Listen for
- Uses Pinocchio's own words about school and about play.
- Says what he wants, not only what he does not.
If stuck
- What does Pinocchio say he hates?
- What does he say is much more fun?
- When does he say he will leave?
A strong answer Pinocchio says he hates to study and that chasing butterflies, climbing trees and stealing birds' nests is much more fun. So he wants play and freedom. But he also complains that boys and girls are sent to school whether they want to or not, so part of what he wants is not to be made to do things. A strong answer picks what seems to matter most to him and uses his own words.
- The Cricket keeps talking even after Pinocchio calls him ugly. Why might the Cricket stay calm and keep going?Character
What it asks It asks why the Cricket does not leave or lose his temper, and what he wants from Pinocchio.
One reading
He cares what happens to Pinocchio and wants to help him.
Let me tell you, for your own good, Pinocchio
Poor Pinocchio, I am sorry for you.
Another reading
He is sure he knows better, and he will not be moved from the room or from his lesson.
I refuse to leave this spot,” answered the Cricket, “until I have told you a great truth.
I have been living in this room for more than one hundred years.
Listen for
- Points to something the Cricket says or how he says it.
- Gives a reason for his calm.
If stuck
- What does the Cricket say he will not do?
- What does the chapter call the Cricket?
- What does he say to Pinocchio near the end, and how does he say it?
A strong answer The Cricket says he will not leave until he has told Pinocchio a great truth, and the story calls him a wise old philosopher who is not offended by Pinocchio's rudeness. He says "for your own good" and "I am sorry for you," which sounds like caring. He also says he has lived in the room for more than a hundred years, which sounds like a creature who is sure he knows best. A strong answer can use either, or both.
- The Cricket tells Pinocchio he has a wooden head. Was that a fair thing to say? What makes you think so?Moral reasoning
What it asks It asks whether the Cricket's last words were a fair answer to Pinocchio's question, or a sting.
One reading
It was fair: Pinocchio asked why, and the Cricket told him plainly.
Why?
Because you are a Marionette and, what is much worse, you have a wooden head.
Another reading
It was not fair: it was an insult, and Pinocchio answered it in a fury.
At these last words, Pinocchio jumped up in a fury
Listen for
- Remembers that Pinocchio asked why.
- Says what makes it fair or unfair, from the words and what follows.
If stuck
- What does Pinocchio ask just before the Cricket says it?
- What does the Cricket say first, before the wooden head?
- What does Pinocchio do right after?
A strong answer Pinocchio asks the Cricket why he is sorry for him, and the Cricket answers that he is a Marionette with a wooden head. A fair answer to a real question is one reading. But the words can sound like an insult, and Pinocchio jumps up in a fury at them. A strong answer weighs the plain answer against the sting, and says what makes it fair or unfair.
- Before telling us the hammer hit the Cricket, the author says “sad to relate.” What does that tell us about how the author feels?Author's choice
What it asks It asks what two little words let us know about the author, and whose side the author seems to be on.
One reading
The author is sorry for the Cricket, and disapproves of what Pinocchio did.
he did hit the Cricket, straight on its head
the poor Cricket fell from the wall, dead!
Another reading
The author is sorry about the whole thing, even for Pinocchio, who may not have meant it.
Perhaps he did not think he would strike it.
Listen for
- Notices that the author steps in to say what he feels.
- Gives a reason from the words just before or after.
If stuck
- What happens right after “sad to relate”?
- What does the author call the Cricket at the end?
- What does the author say just before about what Pinocchio thought?
A strong answer The author stops the story to say it is sad to tell. He calls the Cricket poor and says Pinocchio did hit it, straight on its head. That sounds like sorrow for the Cricket. But just before, he says perhaps Pinocchio did not think he would strike it, which sounds like sorrow for everyone. A strong answer says what the author seems to feel and which words show it.
- Pinocchio is happy at his escape, and the Cricket says boys who run away will never be happy. Who seems right so far? Why?Theme
What it asks It asks whether the Cricket's warning has come true yet, or whether Pinocchio's happiness is real.
One reading
The Cricket seems right: Pinocchio's happiness does not last.
But his happiness lasted only a short time, for just then he heard someone saying
Another reading
Pinocchio seems right so far: he is free and safe until the Cricket comes along, and the Cricket's warning is about later.
threw himself on the floor, happy at his escape
They will never be happy in this world, and when they are older they will be very sorry for it.
Listen for
- Notices what ends Pinocchio's happiness.
- Notices that the Cricket speaks about later, not today.
If stuck
- How does Pinocchio feel when he reaches home?
- What interrupts that feeling?
- When does the Cricket say they will be sorry?
A strong answer Pinocchio is happy at his escape, but the happiness lasts only a short time, because the Cricket speaks. That fits the warning. But the Cricket says boys will be sorry when they are older, and so far nothing bad has come from Pinocchio's running except the talk itself. A strong answer says who seems right so far, and why.
Critical thinking
- Pinocchio runs home like a goat or a hare chased by hounds, and then is happy at his escape. Using two things from the chapter, tell how he feels.
What it asks It asks whether Pinocchio's run is joy or fear, and whether he is as carefree as he seems.
One reading
He feels free and glad: he runs for home and throws himself on the floor, happy.
He slipped into the room, locked the door, and threw himself on the floor, happy at his escape.
Another reading
He is still scared underneath: he runs like something chased, and a voice frightens him.
as if he were a goat or a hare chased by hounds
Who is calling me?” asked Pinocchio, greatly frightened.
Listen for
- Two different pieces of evidence, not one told twice.
- A reason that explains the choice.
If stuck
- What does the author say Pinocchio is like as he runs?
- What does he do when he gets home?
- How does he feel when he hears “Cri-cri-cri”?
A strong answer He runs wildly across fields, over brambles and bushes, and the author says it is as if he were a goat or a hare chased by hounds. At home he locks the door and is happy at his escape. But when the Cricket speaks he is greatly frightened. A strong answer picks glad or scared, or both, and uses two things the chapter says.
- The Cricket says people who only play and wander end up in the hospital or in prison. Using two things from the chapter, tell whether Pinocchio is listening.
What it asks It asks the student to find out whether Pinocchio hears the warning, or only waits for the Cricket to stop.
One reading
He is not listening: he brushes the Cricket off and tells him to be quiet.
Sing on, Cricket mine, as you please.
Keep still, you ugly Cricket!
Another reading
He is listening a little: he asks questions and answers back to every point.
Of all the trades in the world, there is only one that really suits me.
Why?
Listen for
- Uses what Pinocchio says, not only what the Cricket says.
- Says what his questions or answers show.
If stuck
- What does Pinocchio say when the Cricket tells him the great truth?
- What does Pinocchio ask after the Cricket says he is sorry for him?
- What does he say when the Cricket warns him about the hospital?
A strong answer When the Cricket tells his great truth, Pinocchio says sing on as you please, and he tells the Cricket to keep still. That sounds like not listening. But he answers back about a trade, "there is only one that really suits me," and he asks "Why?", and a person who answers and asks is at least hearing something. A strong answer picks one and says what the evidence shows.
- Is Pinocchio's anger slow to build, or does it flash up all at once? Use two things from the chapter.
What it asks It asks the student to trace how Pinocchio's temper rises across the talk, and where it breaks.
One reading
It builds slowly: he loses patience, then warns the Cricket, then throws.
who was beginning to lose patience
Careful, ugly Cricket! If you make me angry, you’ll be sorry!
Another reading
It flashes up all at once: the hammer comes the moment the last words are said.
At these last words, Pinocchio jumped up in a fury, took a hammer from the bench
Listen for
- Two different pieces of evidence, not one told twice.
- Notices the order of what Pinocchio says and does.
If stuck
- What does the chapter say about Pinocchio's patience before the hammer?
- What does Pinocchio tell the Cricket will happen if he is made angry?
- What does Pinocchio do right after the last words?
A strong answer Pinocchio is beginning to lose patience, and he warns the Cricket that he will be sorry if Pinocchio is made angry. That shows anger rising in steps. But the hammer comes at once, right after the last words, as he jumps up in a fury. A strong answer picks slow or sudden, or says it was both, and uses two things the chapter shows.