Matilda's Unusual Childhood

Matilda

This character-destiny flow traces Matilda Wormwood’s development from an astonishingly precocious toddler into a pupil whose gifts receive proper recognition.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

Speech Before Two Speech Before Two from "Matilda". Language Arrives Early Matilda speaks clearly and uses more words than many adults expect from a toddler.

Speech Before Two from "Matilda". Language Arrives Early Matilda speaks clearly and uses more words than many adults expect from a toddler.

Language Arrives Early Matilda speaks clearly and uses more words than many adults expect from a toddler. Family Response Her parents call her noisy instead of celebrating the achievement. Consequence Her abilities appear before she has any supportive adult to nurture them.

Reading by Herself Reading by Herself from "Matilda". Print Becomes Accessible Matilda teaches herself to read by studying newspapers and magazines left around the house.

Reading by Herself from "Matilda". Print Becomes Accessible Matilda teaches herself to read by studying newspapers and magazines left around the house.

Print Becomes Accessible Matilda teaches herself to read by studying newspapers and magazines left around the house. Persistence She turns available material into an education without instruction. Consequence Independent learning becomes a defining pattern of her childhood.

Adult Novels at Four Adult Novels at Four from "Matilda". An Unusually Wide Imagination After exhausting the children’s shelves, Matilda reads major works for adults through the village library.

Adult Novels at Four from "Matilda". An Unusually Wide Imagination After exhausting the children’s shelves, Matilda reads major works for adults through the village library.

An Unusually Wide Imagination After exhausting the children’s shelves, Matilda reads major works for adults through the village library. Comprehension She sometimes misses meanings but follows the stories and language with pleasure. Consequence Her intellectual world grows far beyond the one her family offers.

Talent Seen at School Talent Seen at School from "Matilda". Ability Made Visible Matilda answers difficult multiplication questions and reads aloud during her first classroom day.

Talent Seen at School from "Matilda". Ability Made Visible Matilda answers difficult multiplication questions and reads aloud during her first classroom day.

Ability Made Visible Matilda answers difficult multiplication questions and reads aloud during her first classroom day. Recognition Miss Honey sees a gifted pupil where her parents saw a nuisance. Consequence School offers the first credible prospect of an education suited to her mind.

A Suitable Class at Last A Suitable Class at Last from "Matilda". Growth Through Challenge Matilda moves into the highest class and must work alongside much older pupils.

A Suitable Class at Last from "Matilda". Growth Through Challenge Matilda moves into the highest class and must work alongside much older pupils.

Growth Through Challenge Matilda moves into the highest class and must work alongside much older pupils. Change Her mind now has demanding tasks instead of unused energy. Consequence Her telekinetic ability fades, but she gains the ordinary intellectual challenge she had lacked.

At eighteen months

At age three

At age four

At age five and a half

After Miss Trunchbull's disappearance