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Questions and Answers
What is Matilda's special power?
What is Matilda's special power?
Why does Matilda spend her days at the library?
Why does Matilda spend her days at the library?
What is Miss Trunchbull's role in the novel?
What is Miss Trunchbull's role in the novel?
What is Matilda's relationship like with her parents?
What is Matilda's relationship like with her parents?
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What is Matilda's ultimate goal by the end of the novel?
What is Matilda's ultimate goal by the end of the novel?
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What is a characteristic of Mr. Wormwood's business practices?
What is a characteristic of Mr. Wormwood's business practices?
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Why does Miss Honey fear her aunt, Miss Trunchbull?
Why does Miss Honey fear her aunt, Miss Trunchbull?
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What does Matilda use her powers to achieve?
What does Matilda use her powers to achieve?
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How does Mrs. Wormwood describe her priorities?
How does Mrs. Wormwood describe her priorities?
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What is a characteristic of Miss Trunchbull?
What is a characteristic of Miss Trunchbull?
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What is a notable physical characteristic of Lavender?
What is a notable physical characteristic of Lavender?
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What motivates Lavender to prank Miss Trunchbull?
What motivates Lavender to prank Miss Trunchbull?
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What does Miss Trunchbull's reaction to the prank lead to?
What does Miss Trunchbull's reaction to the prank lead to?
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How does Michael Wormwood feel towards Matilda?
How does Michael Wormwood feel towards Matilda?
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What does Michael Wormwood take on as he gets older?
What does Michael Wormwood take on as he gets older?
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Study Notes
Matilda by Roald Dahl
- Published in 1988, the novel tells the story of a young English girl named Matilda Wormwood, who shows signs of remarkable intelligence from an early age.
- Matilda lives in an emotionally abusive household with her parents and brother, and attends a school with an authoritarian headmistress named Miss Trunchbull.
Main Characters
Matilda Wormwood
- Protagonist of the novel, Matilda is a precocious and intelligent young girl who loves to read and escape her family's terrible treatment.
- She is small, sneaky, and smart, but remains humble and kind despite her exceptional abilities.
- Matilda develops the magical power of telekinesis, which she uses to overthrow Miss Trunchbull and help Miss Honey.
- By the end of the novel, Matilda loses her telekinetic powers after finding a happy and supportive home with Miss Honey.
Mr. Harry Wormwood
- Matilda's father, a dishonest car salesman who cheats his customers and treats Matilda with extreme unkindness.
- Described as a "small ratty-looking man" with a thin mustache, Mr. Wormwood favors his son Michael and hopes he will emulate his shady tactics.
- His business practices eventually force the family to flee at the end of the novel.
Mrs. Zinnia Wormwood
- Matilda's mother, who looks down on her daughter's intelligence and dedication to reading, believing looks and money are more important.
- Described as a large woman with dyed blonde hair, Mrs. Wormwood spends most of her time watching TV, wearing excessive makeup, and bragging about her husband's income.
Miss Agatha Trunchbull
- The cruel and mean headmistress at Matilda's school, who hates children and is a former Olympian athlete.
- Described as a very large and imposing figure, Miss Trunchbull is always angry and scowling, regularly speaking by shouting and punishing students for no reason.
- Later revealed to be Miss Honey's abusive aunt.
Miss Honey
- Matilda's kind and gentle teacher, who recognizes and nurtures her remarkable intelligence.
- Described as a "mild and quiet person" who welcomes nervous newcomers with open arms, Miss Honey is the only kind adult in the novel.
- She is Miss Trunchbull's niece, who stole her inheritance and forced her to live a poor life, but is eventually freed by Matilda's determination.
Lavender
- Matilda's best friend at school, who is exceptionally small for her age and has dark hair and deep-brown eyes.
- Lavender is gutsy and adventurous, and is inspired by Matilda's pranks on her parents to prank Miss Trunchbull by putting a newt in her drinking water.
Michael Wormwood
- Matilda's older brother, who is described as a "perfectly normal boy" but takes on his father's love for scamming people out of money as he gets older.
- Michael waves goodbye to Matilda when the family leaves at the end of the novel, showing he is not as negatively towards her as their parents.
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Description
Take this quiz to test your knowledge of Roald Dahl's classic novel, Matilda, and its beloved characters, including Matilda Wormwood, Miss Trunchbull, and Miss Honey. Explore themes of childhood, intelligence, and magic.
