Matilda quietly remarks that she has read this book, which Miss Trunchbull does not believe. Wackford Squeers handled the children in his school using physical discipline.

She implores Miss Honey to read Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens to learn how headmaster Mr. She lowers him back when he spells it correctly, and tells Miss Honey that this is the only way to make sure children learn. She makes him spell the word 'what,' and when he spells it wrong she lifts him by his ears out of his seat. The children are astounded, and would think she were splendid entertainment if she were not so frightening.Īfter Miss Trunchbull says she hates small people, she gets angry at a boy named Eric Ink for saying that she, too, must have been small one day. She will not let him go until he says that two sevens are fourteen. Miss Trunchbull gets furiously angry, and lifts little Rupert into the air by his hair. She moves on to test their knowledge of multiplication tables, and a boy named Rupert answers two times seven incorrectly. Miss Trunchbull thinks it is ridiculous, and tells Miss Honey not to teach poetry while she is teaching spelling. While still standing on one foot, he sings a simple song, 'Mrs. She does, and Nigel shows Miss Trunchbull the method that Miss Honey has taught them to remember the spellings of long words.

Nigel spells 'write' correctly on the first try, and tells her that the entire class learned to spell a long word yesterday, 'difficulty.' Miss Trunchbull does not believe that is true, so she tests a random girl, Prudence, to see if she can spell it.

While he is there, she tests his spelling skills. She makes them turn over their hands so she can see if they are washed and clean, and picks on one boy, Nigel Hicks, whose hands are filthy.Īs punishment, she makes him go stand in the corner on one leg with his face to the wall. Miss Trunchbull walks in, formidable and threatening as always, and proceeds to insult the children immediately. At two o'clock, when Miss Trunchbull is due to arrive, everyone is ready, and Miss Honey is pleased to see that the jug of water and glass are on the desk where they are meant to be.

Matilda novel