Matilda

This week I re-visited the text Matilda written by Roald Dahl. Dahl has written this book in an extremely simple way which allows for an easy and interesting read for young children.

Dahl has incorporated several different themes which children can relate to and therefore enjoy to read. One of the main themes that is evident throughout the novel includes adults versus children. Throughout Matilda, it is generally parents and teachers (except Miss Honey) against the students/children, which is usually what they all believe anyway.

Dahl has incorporated lots of humour into this book which also allows the reader to be engaged and enjoy the novel. What is generally considered "normal behaviour" for the reader ends up turning into something completely outrageous and abnormal. For example, Matilda's father insists she watches lots of television instead of reading books which are good for her education, whereas in "real life" this situation would be completely opposite. Dahl's humour is also enhanced with the use of descriptive language and alliteration. The alliteration allows the words to flow which is a good aspect of writing for younger children that this book is aimed at. The descriptive language leads to imagery and allows children to build images in their heads about the situations and understand the novel in their own different ways.

Dahl's writing is also supported by Quentin Blake's quirky illustrations. The illustrations are generally no bigger than half a page and are in black and white. They provide the readers with a general idea of what they character may look like and allows them to continue to build upon these images themselves to create the "bigger picture."

I believe this book would be good for use in the classroom because the themes would definitely relate to and interest the students for it's humour etc. I also believe that this book can teach children what is really important in life, being family, education etc.