Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi    

Chapter 15: The Assassins Hang Pinocchio to the Big Oak

Performer: Librivox - Phil Chenevert


Note to Instructors: Although Pinocchio is a beloved classic children's tale with an overall positive moral message, like many original fairy tales, it does contain darker aspects. Instructors should take care with chapters 14, 15, and 33 in particular.

At this sight the puppet's courage failed him and he was on the point of throwing himself on the ground and giving himself over for lost. Turning, however, his eyes in every direction, he saw, at some distance, a small house as white as snow.

"If only I had breath to reach that house," he said to himself, "perhaps I should be saved."

And, without delaying an instant, he recommenced running for his life through the wood, and the assassins after him.

At last, after a desperate race of nearly two hours, he arrived quite breathless at the door of the house, and knocked.

No one answered.

He knocked again with great violence, for he heard the sound of steps approaching him and the heavy panting of his persecutors. The same silence.

Seeing that knocking was useless, he began in desperation to kick and pommel the door with all his might. The window then opened and a beautiful Child appeared at it. She had blue hair and a face as white as a waxen image; her eyes were closed and her hands were crossed on her breast. Without moving her lips in the least, she said, in a voice that seemed to come from the other world: "In this house there is no one. They are all dead."

"Then at least open the door for me yourself," shouted Pinocchio, crying and imploring.

"I am dead also."

"Dead? Then what are you doing at the window?"

"I am waiting for the bier to come to carry me away."

Having said this she immediately disappeared and the window was closed again without the slightest noise.

"Oh! beautiful Child with blue hair," cried Pinocchio, "open the door, for pity's sake! Have compassion on a poor boy pursued by assas—"

But before he could finish the word, he felt himself seized by the collar and the same two horrible voices said to him threateningly: "You shall not escape from us again!"

The puppet, seeing death staring him in the face, was taken with such a violent fit of trembling that the joints of his wooden legs began to creak, and the sovereigns hidden under his tongue to clink.

"Now, then," demanded the assassins, "will you open your mouth—yes or no? Ah! no answer? Leave it to us: this time we will force you to open it!"

And, drawing out two long, horrid knives as sharp as razors, clash!—they attempted to stab him twice.

But the puppet, luckily for him, was made of very hard wood; the knives therefore broke into a thousand pieces and the assassins were left with the handles in their hands, staring at each other.

"I see what we must do," said one of them. "He must be hung! let us hang him!"

"Let us hang him!" repeated the other.

Without loss of time they tied his arms behind him, passed a running noose round his throat, and hung him to the branch of a tree called the Big Oak.

They then sat down on the grass and waited for his last struggle. But at the end of three hours the puppet's eyes were still open, his mouth closed, and he was kicking more than ever.

Losing patience, they turned to Pinocchio and said in a bantering tone: "Goodbye till tomorrow. Let us hope that when we return you will be polite enough to allow yourself to be found quite dead, and with your mouth wide open."

And they walked off.

In the meantime a tempestuous northerly wind began to blow and roar angrily, and it beat the poor puppet from side to side, making him swing violently, like the clatter of a bell ringing for a wedding. And the swinging gave him atrocious spasms, and the running noose, becoming still tighter round his throat, took away his breath.

Little by little his eyes began to grow dim, but although he felt that death was near he continued to hope that some charitable person would come to his assistance before it was too late. But when, after waiting and waiting, he found that no one came, absolutely no one, then he remembered his poor father, and, thinking he was dying, he stammered out: "Oh, papa! if only you were here!"

His breath failed him and he could say no more. He shut his eyes, opened his mouth, stretched his legs, gave a long shudder, and hung stiff and insensible.

    Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi    

Chapter 15: The Assassins Hang Pinocchio to the Big Oak

Performer: Librivox - Phil Chenevert

Directions

Study the story for one week.

Over the week:

  • Read or listen to the story one or more times.
  • Review the synopsis.
  • Study the vocabulary words.
  • Complete the enrichment activities.
  • Discuss the review questions.

Synopsis

Pinocchio runs to a white house, where he meets a beautiful Child spirit who speaks without moving her lips. Pinocchio begs to be let in, but she does not or perhaps cannot let him inside. The assassins catch Pinocchio and try to stab him with a knife, but fail as Pinocchio is made of hard wood. The assassins hang Pinocchio from a tree. When Pinocchio remains alive, the assassins decide to return the next day to collect their gold coins. Pinocchio hopes someone will rescue him, but help does not come. A wild wind blows him about and tightens the noose. Eventually he closes his eyes and loses consciousness.

Vocabulary

Bier: A movable frame on which a coffin or a corpse is placed before burial or cremation or on which it is carried to the grave.
Noose: A loop with a running knot, tightening as the rope or wire is pulled and typically used to hang people or trap animals.
Banter: The playful and friendly exchange of teasing remarks.
Tempestuous: Characterized by strong and turbulent or conflicting emotion.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Recite the Book Information

  • Before and after reading or listening to the story, recite aloud the name of the author, the title of the book, and the title of the chapter.

Activity 2: Narrate the Story

  • After reading or listening to the story, narrate the events aloud in your own words.

Activity 3: Recite a Passage from the Chapter

Practice reciting aloud the following passage, with drama and feeling.

  • 'Oh! beautiful Child with blue hair,' cried Pinocchio, 'open the door, for pity's sake! Have compassion on a poor boy pursued by assas—'

Activity 4: Dictate a Sentence from the Chapter

  • Step 1: Instructors write the sentence, and children copy it.
  • Step 2: Instructors say the sentence aloud, and children write it.
  • Sentence: He found that no one came.

Review

Question 1

What building does Pinocchio run toward?
1 / 6

Answer 1

Pinocchio runs toward a white house.
1 / 6

Question 2

Who does Pinocchio meet at the house?
2 / 6

Answer 2

Pinocchio meets a beautiful spirit Child.
2 / 6

Question 3

Does the Child let Pinocchio inside?
3 / 6

Answer 3

No, the Child does not let Pinocchio inside, perhaps because she is a spirit and cannot.
3 / 6

Question 4

Do the assassins catch Pinocchio?
4 / 6

Answer 4

Yes, the assassins catch Pinocchio.
4 / 6

Question 5

Why do the assassins hang Pinocchio from the tree and decide to come back the next day?
5 / 6

Answer 5

The assassins want Pinocchio to open his mouth to get the four gold coins.
5 / 6

Question 6

Does anyone come to Pinocchio's rescue?
6 / 6

Answer 6

No, no one comes to Pinocchio's rescue.
6 / 6

  1. What building does Pinocchio run toward? Pinocchio runs toward a white house.
  2. Who does Pinocchio meet at the house? Pinocchio meets a beautiful spirit Child.
  3. Does the Child let Pinocchio inside? No, the Child does not let Pinocchio inside, perhaps because she is a spirit and cannot.
  4. Do the assassins catch Pinocchio? Yes, the assassins catch Pinocchio.
  5. Why do the assassins hang Pinocchio from the tree and decide to come back the next day? The assassins want Pinocchio to open his mouth to get the four gold coins.
  6. Does anyone come to Pinocchio's rescue? No, no one comes to Pinocchio's rescue.