Pinocchio Discovers the Robbers

Name: Pinocchio Discovers the Robbers
Author: Carlo Collodi

The narrative follows a puppet named Pinocchio, who is tasked with guarding a poultry yard. One night, he encounters a group of polecats, who attempt to persuade him to allow them to steal chickens in exchange for a share of their spoils. Pinocchio, however, refuses to comply with their dishonest proposal. Instead, he cleverly traps the polecats by shutting the gate behind them and barking like a watchdog to alert the peasant. The peasant, upon hearing the commotion, rushes to the poultry yard and captures the polecats, planning to hand them over to an innkeeper for punishment. He expresses gratitude to Pinocchio for his vigilance, contrasting it with the previous watchdog, Melampo, who had never detected the thieves. Pinocchio chooses not to speak ill of the deceased dog, believing it better to leave the past undisturbed. The peasant praises Pinocchio's integrity and, as a reward for his bravery, releases him from his duties, allowing him to return home. This encounter highlights themes of loyalty, integrity, and the consequences of dishonesty, showcasing Pinocchio's growth as a character who values honesty over self-interest.

By Carlo Collodi · First published 1881 · Genre: Children's Literature, Fantasy, Adventure · 1,084 words

First lines

He had been sleeping heavily for about two hours when, towards midnight, he was aroused by a whispering of strange voices that seemed to come from the courtyard. Putting the point of his nose out of the kennel, he saw four little beasts with dark fur, that looked like cats, standing consulting together. But they were not cats; they were polecats -- carnivorous little animals, especially greedy for eggs and young chickens. One of the polecats, leaving his companions, came to the opening of the kennel and said in a low voice:

"Good evening, Melampo."

What this Textopian page supports

Pinocchio Discovers the Robbers is listed on Textopian as a short story by Carlo Collodi, dated 1881 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Short story
Author: Carlo Collodi
Date: 1881 CE
Language: English
Genres: Children's Literature, Fantasy, Adventure, Fable, Comedy
Length: 1,084 words
Structure: 1 section, 40 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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Similar titles

Genres

Children's Literature — The story features a puppet protagonist and conveys moral lessons suitable for a young audience.
Fantasy — The narrative includes anthropomorphic characters and fantastical elements, such as talking animals.
Adventure — Pinocchio's encounter with the robbers involves action and conflict, typical of adventure stories.
Fable — The story imparts a moral lesson about honesty and integrity, characteristic of fables.