Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi    

Chapter 6: Pinocchio's Feet Burn to Cinders

Performer: Librivox - Phil Chenevert


It was a wild and stormy night. The thunder was tremendous and the lightning so vivid that the sky seemed on fire.

Pinocchio had a great fear of thunder, but hunger was stronger than fear. He therefore closed the house door and made a rush for the village, which he reached in a hundred bounds, with his tongue hanging out and panting for breath like a dog after game.

But he found it all dark and deserted. The shops were closed, the windows shut, and there was not so much as a dog in the street. It seemed the land of the dead.

Pinocchio, urged by desperation and hunger, took hold of the bell of a house and began to ring it with all his might, saying to himself: "That will bring somebody."

And so it did. A little old man appeared at a window with a night-cap on his head and called to him angrily: "What do you want at such an hour?"

"Would you be kind enough to give me a little bread?"

"Wait there, I will be back directly," said the little old man, thinking it was one of those rascally boys who amuse themselves at night by ringing the house-bells to rouse respectable people who are sleeping quietly.

After half a minute the window was again opened and the voice of the same little old man shouted to Pinocchio: "Come underneath and hold out your cap."

Pinocchio pulled off his cap; but, just as he held it out, an enormous basin of water was poured down on him, soaking him from head to foot as if he had been a pot of dried-up geraniums.

He returned home like a wet chicken, quite exhausted with fatigue and hunger; and, having no longer strength to stand, he sat down and rested his damp and muddy feet on a brazier full of burning embers.

And then he fell asleep, and while he slept his feet, which were wooden, took fire, and little by little they burnt away and became cinders.

Pinocchio continued to sleep and to snore as if his feet belonged to someone else. At last about daybreak he awoke because someone was knocking at the door.

"Who is there?" he asked, yawning and rubbing his eyes.

"It is I!" answered a voice.

And Pinocchio recognized Geppetto's voice.

    Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi    

Chapter 6: Pinocchio's Feet Burn to Cinders

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 rings the bell of a little old man and asks for food. The man asks Pinocchio to step beneath a window and hold out his cap. When Pinocchio complies, rather than tossing him some bread, the man pours an enormous basin of water on him. Pinocchio returns home and falls asleep with his feet on a brazier full of burning embers. As he sleeps, his feet burn to cinders. He awakens to Geppetto knocking at the door.

Vocabulary

Rascally: Mischievously or cheekily, especially by a child or man.
Geranium: A herbaceous plant or small shrub with a long narrow fruit that is said to be shaped like the bill of a crane.
Brazier: A portable heater consisting of a pan or stand for holding lighted coals.
Ember: A small piece of burning or glowing coal or wood in a dying fire.

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.

  • 'What do you want at such an hour?'
  • 'Would you be kind enough to give me a little bread?'
  • 'Wait there, I will be back directly.'

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: His feet burned away.

Review

Question 1

Why does Pinocchio ring the little old man's bell?
1 / 5

Answer 1

Pinocchio wishes to ask for some bread.
1 / 5

Question 2

Does the little old man give Pinocchio bread?
2 / 5

Answer 2

No, the little old man dumps water on Pinocchio.
2 / 5

Question 3

Why do Pinocchio's feet burn into cinders?
3 / 5

Answer 3

Pinocchio falls asleep with his feet on a brazier full of burning embers.
3 / 5

Question 4

Why doesn't Pinocchio feel his feet burning and wake up?
4 / 5

Answer 4

Pinocchio doesn't feel his feet burning and wake up because his feet (and the rest of him) are made of wood.
4 / 5

Question 5

Who knocks at the door?
5 / 5

Answer 5

Geppetto knocks at the door.
5 / 5

  1. Why does Pinocchio ring the little old man's bell? Pinocchio wishes to ask for some bread.
  2. Does the little old man give Pinocchio bread? No, the little old man dumps water on Pinocchio.
  3. Why do Pinocchio's feet burn into cinders? Pinocchio falls asleep with his feet on a brazier full of burning embers.
  4. Why doesn't Pinocchio feel his feet burning and wake up? Pinocchio doesn't feel his feet burning and wake up because his feet (and the rest of him) are made of wood.
  5. Who knocks at the door? Geppetto knocks at the door.