Matilda Lesson Plan

Describe the Wormwood family. What are they like? How do the family members feel about each other?

Students should note that Matilda is very different from the other members of her family. Her parents, who seem to love each other (mostly), are disconnected from Matilda and uninterested in most of the things she cares about. They also don't really make much effort to care for her: her mother leaves her home alone for hours when she is only four years old, and her father calls her cruel names and dismisses her insights when he's teaching his son, Michael, how to cheat customers at the car dealership. Mrs Wormwood loves bingo, TV, and soap operas, and doesn't seem to think much...