Chapter Summaries and

Study Questions
Readers will find this Matilda chapter summary to be most beneficial if consulted
prior to reading each chapter. The information is meant only as a brief

introduction to each chapter, and since many details are not included it should
not be used in lieu of reading the entire book on your own. Chapters are named,
not numbered, and we will address them in order of appearance according to the
book. This Matilda chapter summary may be used alone, or in conjunction with
other articles from the study guide series which explore the author, plot, setting
and characters.

Chapter Summaries
The Reader of Books
In this first chapter, we are reminded that some parents over-estimate the abilities of
their children while others "show no interest at all" in theirs. (p. 10) It is here that we
learn Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood are parents of the latter type. They are parents who were
"so wrapped up in their silly little lives that they failed to notice anything unusual about
their daughter." (p.10) It is then that we are introduced to little Matilda, and see just what
the parents are missing. The narrator first and foremost describes Matilda as sensitive
and brilliant - but above all, brilliant. Her abilities are wasting away in a home that values
TV more than literature, and Matilda does not truly begin to thrive until she befriends the
local librarian. Mrs. Phelps introduces Matilda to classical literature meant for readers
far beyond her 4 1/2 years of age. The books transport Matilda "into new worlds and
introduced her to amazing people who lived exciting lives." (p. 21) Perhaps it is this
awakening which serves as the catalyst for a series of pranks Matilda plays on her
family in the coming chapters.

What 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 Dealer

In 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 Superglue

Matilda 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 Ghost
Matilda 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?

Arithmetic
Here 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 Man

Matilda 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 Honey
Matilda 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 Truchbull to Miss Honey.

The Parents
Having 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 Hammer

In this chapter, Matilda and her new friend Lavender meet a girl named Hortense, 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 Cake

Miss Trunchbull strikes again! This time, the victim is 11-year old Bruch Bogtrotter. His
crime? Eating some of Miss Trunchbull's special cake. This time, however, the student
comes out on top!

Why is Bruce's victory an important turn of events in the story?

Lavender
The 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 Test

Miss 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 Miracle

After 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 psycho kinesis.

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 Miracle

Matilda 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 Cottage

In 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 pities 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?"

Make some predictions. What do you think the great mystery is?

Miss Honey's Story

In 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 Names
Matilda 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 Practice
Matilda 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 Miracle

Miss Trunchbull is back teaching in the classroom. This time, the class tries to be wellprepared - 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 Home
Miss 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?

Notes

Notes