Purpose for Reading Questions

While reading, think about the following questions:

Chapter 1: The Reader of the Books

1. Matilda is told to watch television by herself while her mother plays bingo out of the house.  Think about what Matilda does instead.  How do the books and the library make Matilda feel?

2. Matilda is allowed to borrow books from the library.  How does this change things for her at home? 

Chapter 2: Mr. Wormwood, The Great Car Dealer

1. Why does Matilda feel that Mr. Wormwood is being dishonest? 

2. How do Matilda's parents treat her? How does this make her feel? 

Chapter 3: The Hat and the Superglue

1. What specific event or comment from Mr. Wormwood finally pushed Matilda to decide he needed to be "punished"? 

2. How does Matilda's mother react to her husband's predicament? 

Chapter 4: The Ghost

1. Matilda uses a neighbor's pet to pull off her prank. What kind of bird is it, what is its name, and what special 'talent' does it have that makes the plan work? 

2. Compare 'The Ghost' prank to 'The Superglue' prank. Which one required more planning? Which one was more effective at 'punishing' Mr. Wormwood?

Chapter 5: Arithmetic

1. Why do you think Mr. Wormwood is so intent on Michael's learning the business but becomes angry when Matilda shows talent for it? 

2. Why does Mr. Wormwood feel the need to call Matilda a 'liar' when she is evidently correct? 

Chapter 6: The Platinum-Blond Man

1. Describe the mother's reaction when she sees the father's hair.

2. How did Matilda feel after seeing her family's reaction to the father's hair? 

Chapter 7: Miss. Honey

1. How is Miss Honey different from other adults in Matilda's life?

2. How does Miss Honey react to Matilda's abilities? 

Chapter 8: The Trunchbull

1.  How does Miss. Trunchbull act as a headmistress?

2.  How does Miss. Honey's reaction to meeting the Trunchbull differ from the way the students react? 

Chapter 9: The Parents

1. Why does Miss Honey visit Matilda's parents? 

2. How do Matilda's parents react to Miss Honey? 

Chapter 10: Throwing the Hammer

1. During the "hammer throw" incident with Amanda Thripp, what does Miss. Trunchbull's reaction to the pigtails reveal about her views on individuality and school rules?

2. How does Roald Dahl use exaggeration (hyperbole) to describe the moment Amanda is thrown across the playing field? How does this style of writing change the tone of the scene from "scary" to "ridiculous"? 

Chapter 11: Bruce Bogtrotter and the Cake

1. What was Bruce Bogtrotter's crime that led to his punishment by Miss. Trunchbull? 

2. How does the atmosphere in the Assembly Hall shift from the beginning of the assembly to the moment Bruce finishes the final slice?

Chapter 12: Lavender

1. Lavender is described as being just as "gutsy" as Matilda. What specific actions in this chapter prove that she is brave and independent?

2. Why do you think Roald Dahl  spends so much time describing specific details of Lavender catching the newt and bringing it to school? How does this build "suspense" for the reader?

Chapter 13: The Weekly Test

1. How does this chapter show that Miss. Trunchbull is the villain of the story? 

2. How does Nigel telling Miss Trunchbull to test anyone on a spelling word show how he feels about Miss Honey and her teaching? 

Chapter 14: The First Miracle

1. Why do you think this chapter is called, "The First Miracle"? How is the author hinting to the reader what might happen?

2. Why did Matilda not tell Miss Trunchbull that Lavender put the newt in the water? What does this show about what type of person Matilda is? 

Chapter 15: The Second Miracle

1. How does Matilda describe the physical feeling of using her power in this chapter? 

2. Why does Matilda decide to show Miss Honey her power instead of telling her father or the Headmistress? What does this reveal about the relationship between Matilda and Miss. Honey? 

Chapter 16: Miss. Honey's Cottage

1. What does the cottage reveal about Miss. Honey's lifestyle?

2. Why is Matilda surprised by how Miss. Honey lives? 

Chapter 17: Miss. Honey's Story

1. How do the specific details of the cottage illustrate the theme of Miss Honey's struggle? 

2. Why didn't Miss. Honey move away when she turned 18? 

Chapter 18: The Names

1. How does Matilda's discovery of the specific names change her understanding of Miss Honey's past? 

2. How does this chapter serve as the "missing piece" Matilda needs to form her final plan? 

 Chapter 19: The Practice

1. What object does Matilda take from her father's drawer to practice with?

2. Why does Matilda need to practice her powers? 

Chapter 20: The Third Miracle

1. What "third miracle" does Matilda perform, and how does it affect Miss. Trunchbull? 

2. How do Matilda and Miss Honey work together in this chapter? 

Chapter 21: A New Home

1. Throughout the story, Matilda uses her intelligence and her powers to help others rather than herself. How does this "selflessness" contribute to the ending? 

2. At the beginning of the book, Matilda feels small and powerless in a world of "big" adults like Mr. Wormwood and Miss. Trunchbull. By the end, how has her definition of "power" changed, and how does this affect the way she treats people?