Podcast
Questions and Answers
Who is the author of Matilda?
Who is the author of Matilda?
Roald Dahl
What did the author say most people thought of their children?
What did the author say most people thought of their children?
They're wonderful
What did the author think he would enjoy writing for the stinkers in his class?
What did the author think he would enjoy writing for the stinkers in his class?
end-of-term reports
Who were Michael and Matilda's parents?
Who were Michael and Matilda's parents?
How old was Matilda when her speech was perfect and she knew as many words as most grown-ups?
How old was Matilda when her speech was perfect and she knew as many words as most grown-ups?
What did Matilda's parents call her when she was one and a half?
What did Matilda's parents call her when she was one and a half?
How old was Matilda when she taught herself to read?
How old was Matilda when she taught herself to read?
How old was Matilda when she could read well and wanted to read books?
How old was Matilda when she could read well and wanted to read books?
What was the first book Matilda read?
What was the first book Matilda read?
How much older than her was Matilda's brother, Michael?
How much older than her was Matilda's brother, Michael?
Where did Matilda's mother go every weekday afternoon?
Where did Matilda's mother go every weekday afternoon?
Where did Matilda walk to by herself when she was four years, three months?
Where did Matilda walk to by herself when she was four years, three months?
Who was Mrs. Phelps?
Who was Mrs. Phelps?
How long did it take for Matilda to walk from her home to the library?
How long did it take for Matilda to walk from her home to the library?
Which book was Matilda's favorite in the children's books?
Which book was Matilda's favorite in the children's books?
What was the first grown-up book Matilda read?
What was the first grown-up book Matilda read?
Who is the author of Great Expectations?
Who is the author of Great Expectations?
What street did Matilda walk on to get to the library?
What street did Matilda walk on to get to the library?
How many pages did the copy of Great Expectations that Matilda read have in it?
How many pages did the copy of Great Expectations that Matilda read have in it?
Who wrote Nicholas Nickleby?
Who wrote Nicholas Nickleby?
Who wrote Oliver Twist?
Who wrote Oliver Twist?
Who wrote Jane Eyre?
Who wrote Jane Eyre?
Who wrote Pride and Prejudice?
Who wrote Pride and Prejudice?
Who wrote Tess of the D'Urbervilles?
Who wrote Tess of the D'Urbervilles?
Who wrote Gone to Earth?
Who wrote Gone to Earth?
Who wrote Kim?
Who wrote Kim?
Who wrote The Invisible Man?
Who wrote The Invisible Man?
Who wrote The Old Man and the Sea?
Who wrote The Old Man and the Sea?
Who wrote The Sound and the Fury?
Who wrote The Sound and the Fury?
Who wrote The Grapes of Wrath?
Who wrote The Grapes of Wrath?
Who wrote The Good Companions?
Who wrote The Good Companions?
Who wrote Brighton Rock?
Who wrote Brighton Rock?
Who wrote Animal Farm?
Who wrote Animal Farm?
How long did Mrs. Phelps say Matilda could borrow a book?
How long did Mrs. Phelps say Matilda could borrow a book?
What did Matilda like to drink in her room while she read books?
What did Matilda like to drink in her room while she read books?
What did Matilda sometimes drink instead of hot chocolate?
What did Matilda sometimes drink instead of hot chocolate?
In what country did Matilda live?
In what country did Matilda live?
What did Matilda's dad do for a living?
What did Matilda's dad do for a living?
What did Matilda's dad put in the gear-box of old cars?
What did Matilda's dad put in the gear-box of old cars?
What did Mike expect to do for a living when he grew up?
What did Mike expect to do for a living when he grew up?
How far could a car get with its gearbox full of oil and sawdust before it started to rattle?
How far could a car get with its gearbox full of oil and sawdust before it started to rattle?
What did Matilda's father like to wear?
What did Matilda's father like to wear?
What electrical tool did Matilda's dad use to reverse the mileage on the odometers of the cars he sold?
What electrical tool did Matilda's dad use to reverse the mileage on the odometers of the cars he sold?
What mileage did Matilda's dad cut all cars to below before he put them out for sale?
What mileage did Matilda's dad cut all cars to below before he put them out for sale?
What did Matilda call the money her dad earned from cheating people?
What did Matilda call the money her dad earned from cheating people?
What was Matilda's dad's name?
What was Matilda's dad's name?
What did Matilda's mom like to watch on TV?
What did Matilda's mom like to watch on TV?
What kind of hat did Harry Wormwood wear?
What kind of hat did Harry Wormwood wear?
What did Matilda do to her dad's hat?
What did Matilda do to her dad's hat?
What was the worst thing about having a hat permanently on Harry Wormwood's head?
What was the worst thing about having a hat permanently on Harry Wormwood's head?
Who wrote The Red Pony?
Who wrote The Red Pony?
What did Harry Wormwood do to The Red Pony?
What did Harry Wormwood do to The Red Pony?
What did Napoleon say was the only sensible thing to do when you are attacked?
What did Napoleon say was the only sensible thing to do when you are attacked?
What did Fred have that Matilda borrowed?
What did Fred have that Matilda borrowed?
How old was Fred?
How old was Fred?
What color was Fred's parrot?
What color was Fred's parrot?
What was Fred's parrot's name?
What was Fred's parrot's name?
What did Matilda give to Fred in exchange for borrowing his parrot?
What did Matilda give to Fred in exchange for borrowing his parrot?
Where did Matilda stick the bird cage with Fred in it?
Where did Matilda stick the bird cage with Fred in it?
What did Matilda's father grab as a weapon when she thought there were people in the house?
What did Matilda's father grab as a weapon when she thought there were people in the house?
What did Matilda grab as a weapon when she pretended there were people in the house?
What did Matilda grab as a weapon when she pretended there were people in the house?
What did Matilda say was in the Wormwood's dining room?
What did Matilda say was in the Wormwood's dining room?
What did Harry Wormwood tell his son never to ask for when selling a car?
What did Harry Wormwood tell his son never to ask for when selling a car?
How long did it take Harry Wormwood to figure out the math problem he gave to his son?
How long did it take Harry Wormwood to figure out the math problem he gave to his son?
How much profit did Matilda tell her father he made?
How much profit did Matilda tell her father he made?
What could Matilda's mother not do because she was so exhausted after bingo?
What could Matilda's mother not do because she was so exhausted after bingo?
What color was Mrs. Wormwood's hair dyed?
What color was Mrs. Wormwood's hair dyed?
How often did Mrs. Wormwood go to the hairdresser's?
How often did Mrs. Wormwood go to the hairdresser's?
What did Mrs. Wormwood use every month to freshen up her hair color?
What did Mrs. Wormwood use every month to freshen up her hair color?
What color hair did Matilda's father have?
What color hair did Matilda's father have?
What did Matilda's father think good strong hair meant?
What did Matilda's father think good strong hair meant?
What bald author did Matilda say was 'brainy'?
What bald author did Matilda say was 'brainy'?
What did Matilda's father rub into his hair every morning?
What did Matilda's father rub into his hair every morning?
How much of the Oil of Violets Hair Tonic did Matilda pour down the drain?
How much of the Oil of Violets Hair Tonic did Matilda pour down the drain?
What did Mr. Wormwood always have for breakfast?
What did Mr. Wormwood always have for breakfast?
What face powder did Mr. Wormwood spill onto the floor?
What face powder did Mr. Wormwood spill onto the floor?
What did Matilda do for the first time when she was 5 1/2?
What did Matilda do for the first time when she was 5 1/2?
What was the name of Matilda's elementary school?
What was the name of Matilda's elementary school?
How many pupils attended Crunchem Hall Primary School?
How many pupils attended Crunchem Hall Primary School?
Who was the headmistress of Crunchem Hall Primary School?
Who was the headmistress of Crunchem Hall Primary School?
Who was the teacher of the bottom class at Crunchem Hall?
Who was the teacher of the bottom class at Crunchem Hall?
Miss Trunchbull never walked, she....what?
Miss Trunchbull never walked, she....what?
What did Miss Honey's students have to learn by heart by the end of the week?
What did Miss Honey's students have to learn by heart by the end of the week?
What did Miss Honey's students need to have memorized by the end of the year?
What did Miss Honey's students need to have memorized by the end of the year?
What does Matilda say a calculator is?
What does Matilda say a calculator is?
How old was Mozart when he started composing for the piano?
How old was Mozart when he started composing for the piano?
Which children in Miss Honey's class could spell the word 'cat'?
Which children in Miss Honey's class could spell the word 'cat'?
What is an epicure?
What is an epicure?
What kind of poem did Matilda make up about Miss Honey?
What kind of poem did Matilda make up about Miss Honey?
How did Matilda know Miss Honey's first name?
How did Matilda know Miss Honey's first name?
What book did Matilda tell Miss Honey she liked from the public library?
What book did Matilda tell Miss Honey she liked from the public library?
What did Matilda say was C.S. Lewis's and Tolkien's failing?
What did Matilda say was C.S. Lewis's and Tolkien's failing?
What does Matilda say is the difference between children and grownups?
What does Matilda say is the difference between children and grownups?
Which Charles Dickens book makes Matilda laugh the most?
Which Charles Dickens book makes Matilda laugh the most?
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Study Notes
Author and Themes
- Roald Dahl is the author of Matilda.
- Many parents perceive their children as wonderful, contrasting Matilda's bleak home life.
Matilda's Early Development
- Matilda demonstrated remarkable intelligence, speaking perfectly at one and a half years old.
- By the age of three, she taught herself to read, showcasing precociousness.
- At four years old, she could read complex stories and had a preference for books like The Secret Garden.
Family Dynamics
- Matilda’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood, display neglectful behavior and prioritize their own interests.
- Mr. Wormwood is involved in unscrupulous business practices, including reversing car odometers and selling second-hand cars filled with sawdust.
Social Environment
- A typical day for Matilda involves walking to the local library, highlighting her love for reading as an escape from home.
- Mrs. Phelps, the librarian, fosters Matilda's love of literature.
Television Influence
- Mrs. Wormwood, Matilda’s mother, is portrayed as obsessed with American soap operas, neglecting her responsibilities at home.
School Life
- Matilda begins school at Crunchem Hall Primary School, with Miss Trunchbull as the harsh headmistress.
- Miss Honey, the teacher of Matilda's class, encourages imagination and learning, contrasting with the strictness of Miss Trunchbull.
Matilda’s Resourcefulness
- Matilda uses her intelligence to bridge the gap between her family's ignorance and her own potential.
- She often invents clever solutions to her problems, including the prank involving her father’s hat.
Literary Influence
- Matilda reflects on classic literature, discussing authors like Charles Dickens and noting the absence of humor in some works by C.S. Lewis and Tolkien.
Psychological Insights
- Matilda contrasts the seriousness of adults with the light-hearted nature of children, emphasizing the value of laughter and creativity in youth.
Key Literary References
- Matilda reads notable works, including Great Expectations by Charles Dickens and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis.
- She expresses disdain for adult literature devoid of humor, indicating her unique perspective on storytelling.
Personal Characteristics
- Matilda enjoys drinking hot chocolate while reading, indicative of her comfort in solitude with books.
- Her ability to write a limerick demonstrates her creativity and literacy at a young age.
Social Commentary
- The narrative critiques parental neglect and societal expectations, showing how Matilda's gifts are overlooked by her family.
- Through Matilda's character, Dahl advocates for intelligence and independence as means of overcoming adversity.
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