Matilda
Matilda told such Dreadful Lies,
It made one Gasp and Stretch one's Eyes;
Her Aunt, who, from her Earliest Youth,
Had kept a Strict Regard for Truth,
Attempted to Believe Matilda:
The effort very nearly killed her,
And would have done so, had not She
Discovered this Infirmity.
For once , towards the Close of Day,
Matilda, growing tired of play
And finding she was left alone,
Went tiptoe to the Telephone,
And summoned the Immediate Aid
Of London's Noble Fire-Brigade.
Within an hour the Gallant Band
Were pouring in on every hand,
From Putney,Hackney Downs, and Bow
With Courage high and Hearts a-glow
They galloped, roaring through the Town,
`Matilda's House is Burning Down!'
Inspired by British Cheers and Loud
Proceeding from the Frenzied Crowd,
They ran their ladders through a score
Of windows on the Ball Room Floor;
And took Peculiar Pains to Souse
The Pictures up and down the House,
Until Matilda's Aunt succeeded
In showing them they were not needed;
And even then she had to pay
To get the Men to go away!
It happened that a few Weeks later
Her Aunt was off to the Theatre
To see that Interesting Play
The Second Mrs Tanqueray.
She had refused to take her Niece
To hear this Entertaining Piece:
A Deprivation Just and Wise
To Punish her for Telling Lies.
That Night a Fire did break out You should have heard Matilda Shout!
You should have heard her Scream and Bawl,
And throw the window up and call
To People passing in the Street (The rapidly increasing Heat
Encouraging her to obtain
Their confidence) - but all in vain!
For every time She shouted `Fire!'
They only answered `Little Liar'!
And therefore when her Aunt returned,
Matilda, and the House, were Burned.
1. Listen to the poem being read. Why do you think the author has put
capital letters in places where you would not expect to find them?
2. Where is the poem set ? What area of the country ?
3. When do you think this poem is set ? ( say how long ago, or who was king or queen, or whether it
could have been when your mum or your grandma or your great grandma
were children.)
4. Do you think Matilda's aunt is rich or poor or neither ? Why ?
5. Can you think of a fable that could have inspired this poem ?
( what well known story does it remind you of ? ) _________________________
6. Do Matilda and her aunt live with anyone else ?
Give reasons for your answer _____________________________________________________
7. Why do you think Matilda lives with her aunt and not with her parents ?
Tasks (choose one )
a) Write an up to date story about someone who tells lies. Do not use any names of anyone you know !
b ) Write a newspaper story about the events in the poem.
c ) Imagine that you are Matilda's aunt, living in a very posh hotel while your house is rebuilt. Write a
letter to your friend, Margaret, telling her thatyou are living in a hotel and why.
Matilda Glossary
Infirmity : weakness
Gallant : brave
Putney, Hackney Downs, Bow : places in London
Proceeding : coming
Frenzied : mad with excitement
score : an old word meaning 20
Ball Room : a very large room used for posh parties with dancing
Peculiar pains : here means a lot of trouble
Souse : drench with water
Deprivation : taking something away that someone wants (a punishment)
Just : the right thing to do
Matilda : dictionary work
The poem uses some difficult words. Write down a word or words that is (are) easier to understand word,
to replace the words below. Use a dictionary to help you.
1. regard
2. infirmity
3. summoned
4. noble
5. gallant
6. inspired
7. frenzied
8. score
9. peculiar
10. souse
11. deprivation
12. just
13. rapidly
14. obtain
15. confidence
16. in vain
Matilda
Here are the events in the poem "Matilda". Put them into order and then copy the sentences out to make a
story.
1. She lived with her auntie in a posh house in London, about 100 years ago.
2. One day, Matilda got bored.
3. By the time they realised that she was telling the truth, it was too late!
4. Matilda always told lies.
5. They sprayed water all over the house, soaking everything and causing a lot of damage.
6. That night there was a real fire and Matilda was trapped.
7. The Fire Brigade arrived and set to work.
8. The neighbours couldn't see the fire because it was at the other side of the house, and they didn't
believe Matilda because she had lied about a fire before.
9. It took a long time for Matilda's aunt to convince them that there was no fire.
10. There was no fire, it was a hoax call.
11. A few weeks later, Matilda's aunt went out for the evening. Matilda was left at home because she
had been so naughty.
12. No-one else lived with them.
13. The fire was at the back of the house, but Matilda couldn't get out the front way, so she screamed for
help.
14. She had to pay them anyway.
15. She decided to call out the Fire Brigade.