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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who does Trunchbull call a real pillar of our society?

2. Why does Miss Trunchbull believe Matilda is a difficult child?

3. What is the first thing Miss Honey hands out to the children?

4. What kind of pet does Matilda put up the chimney?

5. What does Matilda tell her father that the bits of leather stuck to his forehead look like?

Short Essay Questions

1. How are Matilda's parents different to most parents?

2. How does Matilda react to the librarian claims that Matilda is not an ordinary child?

3. Describe Mr. Wormwood.

4. In what way is Matilda head and shoulders above the rest of the class?

5. How does Mr. Wormwood react at work when he realizes he can't remove his hat?

6. How does Matilda avenge her father in this section?

7. Describe Mrs. Wormwood.

8. How does Mr. Wormwood upset Matilda in this chapter?

9. Describe the chokey.

10. What reasons are there for Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood's dislike of his daughter?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose one of the following adult characters and write about what their life was like as a child. How did their upbringing contribute to who they were as an adult.

1. Mr. Wormwood.

2. Mrs. Wormwood.

3. Miss Trunchball.

4. Miss Honey.

Essay Topic 2

Apart from the main character, examine the way the author uses the other characters in the book. When does he introduce and take them away from the story? What effect does it have on the story?

Essay Topic 3

What are the differences in structure between a children's book and an adult's book? In what way could the themes of "Matilda" be adapted to an adult's novel?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 790 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample