Mater Lakes Academy Middle / High



Matilda by Roald DahlStudy GuideThe Reader of BooksWhat evidence do we have that suggests Matilda might be a child-genius?Give several examples to support the idea that Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood "looked upon Matilda in particular as nothing more than a scab." (p. 10)Mr. Wormwood, the Great Car DealerIn this chapter, the reader is given additional insight about Matilda's parents and their character. Mr. Wormwood, though successful, is a dishonest salesman who regularly fills his customers' gear-boxes with sawdust and turns back the mileage. He is even quoted as saying, "No one ever got rich being honest. Customers are there to be diddled." (p.23) Mrs. Wormwood is depicted as a large woman with heavy makeup who prefers watching soap operas and playing Bingo to cooking or caring for her children. As a bit of foreshadowing, this chapter ends with the narrator revealing that Matilda had finally "decided that every time her father or her mother was beastly to her, she would get her own back in some way or another," and that "her father...was first on her list." (p. 29)Why is putting sawdust in a gear-box or turning back the mileage on a car considered dishonest?On p. 29, the narrator says that "all the reading she (Matilda) had done had given her a view of life that the (her parents) had never seen." What does the narrator mean by this statement?The Hat and the SuperglueMatilda plays her first prank on her family by squeezing superglue inside the rim of the hat her father wears. As a result, his hat becomes glued to his head and he is unable to remove it.Matilda believes it is "too much to hope that it had taught the father a permanent lesson." What does this mean, and do you agree with her?The GhostMatilda plays the second prank on her family. Using a friend's parrot she manages to convince her parents that there is a ghost in the house.What two events led to Matilda's decision to play the second prank?ArithmeticHere we see yet another example of just how brilliant little Matilda really is as she completes difficult computations in her head. In keeping with his character, Matilda's father accuses her of being "cheat and a liar," (p. 55) instead of being impressed by her cleverness.What does the narrator say is the only kind of power that Matilda has over her family? Why is this power important?The Platinum-Blond ManMatilda plays another practical joke on her father with the aid of her mother's hair-dye.Why did Matilda feel the need to retaliate this time?What does Matilda's mother say she will find out when she gets older? What does Roald Dahl mean by this comment?Miss HoneyMatilda enters school, and it is here that we are introduced to several other important figures in the story - Miss Trunchbull (the school's Headmistress), Miss Honey (Matilda's classroom teacher) and several of Matilda's classmates. We also learn more about Matilda's extraordinary intellect. She is so advanced, that Miss Honey takes it upon herself to lobby for Matilda's advancement into a more compatible grade. In this chapter, she is met with resistance by Miss Trunchbull who, like Matilda's parents, prefers to believe the worst about the little girl.Spend some time comparing and contrasting Miss Trunchbull to Miss Honey.The ParentsHaving not had any luck convincing Miss Trunchbull of Matilda's exceptional abilities and needs, she tries to approach Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood - but is met with similar disbelief and resistance.If you were a teacher, and had a student like Matilda, what would you do next?Throwing the HammerIn this chapter, Matilda and her new friend Lavender meet a girl named Hortensia, who is more than happy to relay the antics of their Headmistress. Then, they actually see her in action as she inflicts her own type of "discipline" on a student wearing pigtails.What is the "Chokey"?What does "throwing the hammer" mean? Why is Miss Trunchbull good at it?Why doesn't someone put a stop to Miss Trunchbull's discipline tactics?Bruce Bogtrotter and the CakeMiss Trunchbull strikes again! This time, the victim is 11-year old Bruch Bogtrotter. What is his crime- eating some of Miss Trunchbull's special chocolate cake. This time, however, the student comes out on top!Why is Bruce's victory an important turn of events in the story?LavenderThe students find out that Miss Trunchbull will be teaching in Miss Honey's classroom for the day and, after learning about Matilda's vengeance against her family, Lavender sees this as an opportunity to "become a heroine if only she could come up with a brilliant plot." (p. 136)What is Lavender's "brilliant plot?"Why doesn't she share her plans with anyone?The Weekly TestMiss Trunchbull discovers that Miss Honey has taught the students advanced spelling and math - which does not make Miss Trunchbull happy! As a result, Nigel, Rupert and Eric all suffer under the Headmistress.How were all of the children able to learn to spell an advanced work like "difficulty?" What does that say about Miss Honey?What method does Miss Trunchbull prefer?The First MiracleAfter Lavender's plot sends Miss Trunchbull into a rage against Matilda, we see the first indication that Matilda's powers go beyond just superior academic abilities! It appears that Matilda also has the power of psychokinesis (she can move objects with her mind).What is Miss Trunchbull's idea of the "perfect" school?What is a "miracle?" Why do you think Roald Dahl titled this chapter "The First Miracle?"The Second MiracleMatilda tries to convince Miss Honey that she was responsible for what happened when Miss Trunchbull was in the room. At first, Miss Honey does not believe her - so Matilda performs a second "miracle" to prove it.The narrator says that Miss Honey looked at Matilda as if she were "The Creation, The Beginning of The World, The First Morning." (p. 176) What does the narrator mean by this?Miss Honey's CottageIn this chapter, Miss Honey and Matilda talk of Matilda's new-found powers as they walk to the cottage where Miss Honey lives. During their visit inside the cottage, Matilda is surprised to see that her teacher lives such a simple life and pitys her a bit. The author provides a little foreshadowing near the end of the chapter, when he writes that Matilda felt, "There was something very strange going on around here," (p. 190) and then again when he writes, "There was a mystery here in this house, a great mystery, there was no doubt about that, and Matilda was longing to find out what it was." (p. 191)What is "foreshadowing?"Miss Honey's StoryIn this chapter, we learn more about Miss Honey, her background, why she lives the way she does and her unique relationship with Miss Trunchbull.Look at the prediction you made after the last chapter. Was it correct? Why or why not?The NamesMatilda pushes Miss Honey for more information about her aunt and her father. Then, Matilda reveals that she may have a plan to help Miss Honey.Miss Honey set out to help Matilda, and now it looks as though Matilda will be helping Miss Honey - instead. Now that you know the origin of the relationship between Miss Honey and Miss Trunchbull, make another prediction about how you think the Matilda book might end.The PracticeMatilda practices her powers to the point that she actually becomes quite good at controlling them.Think about what you might do if you suddenly discovered you had powers, like Matilda. How would you practice?The Third MiracleMiss Trunchbull is back teaching in the classroom. This time, the class tries to be well-prepared - but Miss Trunchbull tries to trick them. Just as Miss Trunchbull's anger begins to escalate, Matilda performs her third "miracle." What happens next is so frightening to Miss Trunchbull that she actually collapses.Do you think Matilda will be in hot-water for what she has done to Miss Trunchbull? What evidence do you have from the story to support your answer?A New HomeMiss Trunchbull disappears, and the will of Miss Honey's late father suddenly has resurfaced. We see that Miss Honey is not poor after all. As things change at the school for the better, Matilda finds that her powers have suddenly disappeared, and Miss Honey offers an explanation as to why. Mr. Wormwood is found out to be a crook, and the family prepares to leave the country - but Matilda and Miss Honey have other plans!This chapter could be called "The New Home" for several reasons. What are they? ................
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