The Adventures of Pinocchio · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi.
Chapter 1
The Piece of Wood That Laughed and Cried Like a Child
Master Cherry, an old carpenter, discovers a piece of wood that speaks and cries out when he tries to work it, leading to his terror and astonishment.
Chapter 2
II: Master Cherry Gives the Wood Away
Master Cherry gives the talking piece of wood to his neighbor Geppetto, who plans to carve it into a puppet that can dance, fence, and leap. After a quarrel over the name 'Pudding,' the two old men fight, reconcile, and Geppetto takes the wood home, limping after the wood strikes his shins.
Chapter 3
III: Geppetto Names His Puppet Pinocchio
Geppetto finishes carving his puppet, names him Pinocchio, and is immediately met with mischief as the puppet steals his wig, kicks him, and escapes into the street. A soldier catches Pinocchio and returns him to Geppetto, but a crowd sympathizes with the puppet, leading to Geppetto being taken to prison instead.
Chapter 4
IV: The Talking Cricket Scolds Pinocchio
Pinocchio returns home after Geppetto is taken to prison. He is confronted by the Talking Cricket, who warns him about the consequences of disobedience and laziness. Enraged by the Cricket's advice, Pinocchio throws a hammer and kills him.
Chapter 5
The Flying Egg
Pinocchio, starving after a day without food, searches desperately for something to eat in Geppetto's house. He finds an egg, but when he tries to cook it, a chick hatches and flies away, leaving him hungry and regretful of his earlier disobedience.
Chapter 6
VI: Pinocchio’s Feet Burn to Cinders
On a stormy night, Pinocchio, driven by hunger, ventures into a dark and deserted village to find food. He rings a house bell, but an old man pours a basin of water on him instead of giving bread. Soaked and exhausted, he returns home and falls asleep with his wooden feet on a brazier, causing them to burn to cinders. He wakes to Geppetto knocking at the door.
Chapter 7
VII: Geppetto Gives His Own Breakfast to Pinocchio
Pinocchio, still sleepy, discovers his feet have been burned off and laments to Geppetto, who initially scolds him but then shows compassion upon seeing the injury. Geppetto gives Pinocchio his own breakfast of three pears, and after a fuss about peeling, Pinocchio eats them along with the rinds and cores, learning a lesson about not being too picky.
Chapter 8
Geppetto Makes Pinocchio New Feet
After satisfying his hunger, Pinocchio cries for new feet. Geppetto initially refuses to punish him, but eventually relents and makes him new feet. Pinocchio promises to be good, go to school, and learn a trade. Geppetto sells his own coat to buy Pinocchio a spelling book, and Pinocchio embraces him in gratitude.
Chapter 9
IX: Pinocchio Goes to See a Puppet Show
On his way to school, Pinocchio is distracted by the sound of fifes and drums leading to a puppet show. He sells his new spelling book to a hawker for a dime to buy a ticket, forgetting his father Geppetto's sacrifice.
Chapter 10
X: The Puppets Recognize Their Brother Pinocchio
Pinocchio enters a puppet theater and is joyfully recognized by the puppets, who stop the play to celebrate him. The showman, a terrifying figure, interrupts and later threatens to burn Pinocchio as fuel for his supper, causing Pinocchio to cry out for his father.
Chapter 11
XI: Fire-Eater Sneezes and Pardons Pinocchio
Pinocchio is brought before the fearsome showman Fire-Eater, who initially intends to burn him as fuel for roasting mutton. However, Fire-Eater's sneezes reveal his hidden compassion. When Fire-Eater orders Harlequin to be burned instead, Pinocchio heroically volunteers to die in his friend's place. Moved by Pinocchio's bravery, Fire-Eater pardons both puppets, and the puppets celebrate with dancing until dawn.
Chapter 12
XII: Pinocchio Receives a Present of Five Gold Pieces
Fire-Eater gives Pinocchio five gold pieces to take to his father Geppetto. On his way home, Pinocchio meets a lame Fox and a blind Cat, who trick him into believing they can multiply his money by burying it in the Field of Miracles. Despite a warning from a Blackbird (whom the Cat eats), Pinocchio is persuaded by greed and decides to follow them, abandoning his good intentions.
Chapter 13
The Inn of the Red Crawfish
Pinocchio, the Fox, and the Cat stop at the Inn of the Red Crawfish to rest before continuing to the Field of Miracles. After a meal where the Fox and Cat eat heartily while Pinocchio eats little, the Fox and Cat sneak away during the night, leaving Pinocchio to pay for all their meals. Pinocchio then encounters the ghost of the Talking Cricket, who warns him against trusting those who promise quick riches, but Pinocchio ignores the advice and continues on his journey.
Chapter 14
XIV: Pinocchio Falls Amongst Assassins
Pinocchio, dismissing the Talking Cricket's warnings about assassins, continues his journey and is attacked by two assassins disguised in charcoal sacks. They demand his money, but he hides the gold coins in his mouth. After a struggle, Pinocchio bites off one assassin's hand, which turns out to be a cat's paw, and escapes. He climbs a pine tree, but the assassins set it on fire, forcing him to jump and flee across fields. He leaps over a ditch, and the assassins fall in but continue the chase.
Chapter 15
XV: The Assassins Hang Pinocchio to the Big Oak
Pinocchio, pursued by assassins, desperately seeks refuge at a small white house where a beautiful blue-haired Child claims all inside are dead. Unable to gain entry, he is captured by the assassins, who attempt to stab him but break their knives on his hard wooden body. They then hang him from the Big Oak, leaving him to die. As a storm rages, Pinocchio swings helplessly, thinking of his father Geppetto, before losing consciousness.
Chapter 16
XVI: The Beautiful Child Rescues the Puppet
The Fairy with blue hair sees Pinocchio hanging from the Big Oak and sends a Falcon to cut him down. She then dispatches a Poodle in a luxurious carriage to bring the puppet to her house. Doctors (a Crow, an Owl, and the Talking Cricket) are summoned to determine if Pinocchio is alive or dead. The Cricket recognizes Pinocchio and scolds him as a rogue, causing Pinocchio to cry, which the doctors interpret as a sign of recovery.
Chapter 17
XVII: Pinocchio Will Not Take His Medicine
Pinocchio, suffering from a fever, refuses to take bitter medicine despite the Fairy's gentle persuasion. After a series of excuses and demands for sugar, he finally drinks it when four black rabbits arrive with a bier, warning him of imminent death. Cured, he recounts his misadventures with the Fox and Cat, but lies about losing his gold coins, causing his nose to grow uncontrollably as the Fairy exposes his deceit.
Chapter 18
XVIII: Pinocchio Again Meets the Fox and the Cat
After the Fairy reduces Pinocchio's nose to normal size, she tells him Geppetto will arrive that night. Pinocchio goes to meet him but encounters the Fox and the Cat, who trick him into believing he can multiply his gold coins by burying them in the Field of Miracles. Despite his initial hesitation, Pinocchio follows them to the town 'Trap for Blockheads' and buries his coins, watering the ground as instructed, then waits for the promised money tree.
Chapter 19
XIX: Pinocchio Is Robbed of His Money
Pinocchio returns to the Field of Miracles expecting to find a tree laden with gold coins, but finds nothing. A Parrot reveals that the Fox and the Cat have stolen his buried money. Desperate, Pinocchio reports the theft to a judge, who instead of helping him, orders him imprisoned for four months. He is only released when a general amnesty is declared by the young Emperor.
Chapter 20
XX: Pinocchio Starts Back to the Fairy’s House
Pinocchio, freed from his troubles, joyfully sets out to return to the Fairy's house, determined to reform his disobedient ways. Along the muddy road, he encounters a terrifying serpent that blocks his path; after a tense standoff, the serpent dies from laughter at Pinocchio's clumsy fall. Continuing his journey, Pinocchio is overcome by hunger and attempts to steal grapes from a vineyard, only to be caught in a trap set for polecats.
Chapter 21
Pinocchio Acts as Watch Dog
Pinocchio, caught in a trap while stealing grapes, is discovered by the peasant owner. Despite his pleas and promises to reform, the peasant forces him to take the place of the dead watchdog, fitting him with a collar and chain. Left alone in the kennel, Pinocchio reflects on his misdeeds and laments his fate.
Chapter 22
XXII: Pinocchio Discovers the Robbers
Pinocchio, acting as a watchdog, is approached by four polecats who propose a deal to let them steal chickens in exchange for a plucked chicken for himself. He pretends to agree, but instead traps them in the poultry yard and barks to alert the peasant. The peasant captures the polecats and, impressed by Pinocchio's honesty, frees him from his watchdog duty.
Chapter 23
XXIII: Pinocchio Flies to the Seashore
Pinocchio, freed from the dog-collar, runs to the Fairy's house only to find a tombstone indicating she died of sorrow for abandoning him. Overcome with grief, he cries all night. A large Pigeon arrives and tells him Geppetto is building a boat to cross the ocean in search of him. Pinocchio rides the Pigeon to the seashore, where he sees Geppetto's boat struggling in a storm. After a wave capsizes the boat, Pinocchio jumps into the sea to save his father.
Chapter 24
Pinocchio Finds the Fairy Again
Pinocchio swims through a terrible storm to reach an island, where he learns from a polite Dolphin that his father's boat likely sank and Geppetto may have been swallowed by the giant Dogfish. He arrives at the Village of the Industrious Bees, where everyone works. Hungry and ashamed to beg, he refuses offers of food in exchange for labor until a kind little woman tempts him with bread, cauliflower, and a syrup bonbon. After eating ravenously, he recognizes her as the Fairy with blue hair and embraces her, weeping.
Chapter 25
XXV: Pinocchio Promises the Fairy to Be Good
The Fairy reveals herself to Pinocchio, who promises to become a good boy, study, and work in order to become a real boy.
Chapter 26
XXVI: The Terrible Dog Fish
Pinocchio goes to school and gains the respect of his classmates after standing up to bullies, but he begins to associate with mischievous boys. Despite warnings from the master and the Fairy, he is persuaded by his friends to skip school and go see a giant Dogfish that has appeared near the shore, leading him toward disaster.
Chapter 27
XXVII: Pinocchio Is Arrested by the Gendarmes
Pinocchio discovers his companions tricked him about the Dogfish to make him skip school. A fight breaks out when he refuses to abandon his studies, and during the brawl a heavy arithmetic book accidentally strikes a boy named Eugene, who collapses. The other boys flee, but Pinocchio stays to help. Soldiers arrive, arrest Pinocchio despite his protests of innocence, and march him toward the village. He escapes by retrieving his cap and running toward the seashore, chased by a mastiff.
Chapter 28
XXVIII: Pinocchio Escapes Being Fried Like a Fish
Pinocchio narrowly escapes being caught by the mastiff Alidoro by leaping into the sea, but then rescues the drowning dog. After swimming to safety, he is caught in a fisherman's net and nearly fried alive, but his pleas and identity as a puppet cause the fisherman to hesitate.
Chapter 29
XXIX: He Returns to the Fairy’s House
Pinocchio is saved from being fried by the dog Alidoro, whom he had previously helped. He then learns that the boy Eugene is alive and not dead as he feared, but lies about knowing Pinocchio and his nose grows. He returns to the Fairy's house in the rain, but the Snail delays opening the door for hours. When he kicks the door in frustration, his foot gets stuck. The Snail eventually brings him fake food, and he faints. The Fairy forgives him once more, and he promises to behave. He studies hard, becomes first in school, and the Fairy promises to turn him into a real boy the next day.
Chapter 30
XXX: The “Land of Boobies”
Pinocchio, with the Fairy's permission, goes to invite his friends to breakfast but is tempted by Candlewick to join him in the Land of Boobies, a place with no schools or work. Despite his promise to the Fairy, Pinocchio hesitates and eventually decides to wait for the coach to the Land of Boobies.
Chapter 31
XXXI: Pinocchio Enjoys Five Months of Happiness
Pinocchio and Candlewick arrive in the Land of Boobies, a country populated entirely by boys who play all day without school or books. Pinocchio initially hesitates but is persuaded by Candlewick and the coachman to join them. He enjoys five months of uninterrupted play and amusement, ignoring warnings from a crying donkey. The chapter ends with Pinocchio reflecting on his happiness, though hints of future regret emerge.
Chapter 32
XXXII: Pinocchio Turns Into a Donkey
Pinocchio wakes to find his ears have grown into donkey ears, and a Marmot diagnoses him with 'donkey fever,' predicting he will soon become a donkey. He seeks out Candlewick, who has the same affliction, and together they transform into donkeys, braying in shame as the coachman who brought them to the Land of Boobies arrives.
Chapter 33
XXXIII: Pinocchio Is Trained for the Circus
Pinocchio and Candlewick are discovered by the little man who turned them into donkeys. He sells them: Candlewick to a peasant, Pinocchio to a circus director. Pinocchio is forced to learn tricks and perform, enduring harsh treatment. After his performance, he is sold again to a man who plans to drown him and make a drum from his skin.
Chapter 34
XXXIV: Pinocchio Is Swallowed by the Dog Fish
After being thrown into the sea as a donkey, Pinocchio is transformed back into a puppet by fish eating his donkey skin. He escapes his buyer, swims toward a rock where a blue-haired goat (the Fairy) beckons, but is swallowed by the giant Dogfish. Inside the monster's stomach, he meets a Tunny and sees a distant light, which he decides to investigate.
Chapter 35
XXXV: A Happy Surprise for Pinocchio
Pinocchio, inside the Dogfish, finds his father Geppetto alive, living on supplies from a sunken ship. They reunite joyfully, and Pinocchio devises an escape plan by swimming out of the monster's mouth with Geppetto on his shoulders. They successfully escape into the calm, moonlit sea.
Chapter 36
XXXVI: Pinocchio at Last Ceases to Be a Puppet and Becomes a Boy
Pinocchio and Geppetto are rescued from the sea by the Tunny. They encounter the Fox and the Cat, now destitute, but Pinocchio rebuffs them. Pinocchio learns of Candlewick's death as a donkey. He works hard to care for his father, earning milk and making baskets. He gives his savings to the Snail for the ailing Fairy. In a dream, the Fairy forgives him. He awakens as a real boy, with a new home and clothes, and Geppetto is healthy again. Pinocchio reflects on his former puppet self with joy.
