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Joseph Hilaire Pierre René Belloc was a prolific 20th century Anglo-French writer and historian known for his satire and poetry. The poem "Matilda Told Such Dreadful Lies" tells the story of a young girl named Matilda who lies so often that when she cries for help during a real house fire, no one believes her. Despite her aunt's efforts, Matilda's lying habit could not be corrected. When a real fire breaks out while her aunt is away, Matilda perishes in the flames as the neighbors ignore her shouts, believing she is lying again.

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105 views3 pages

Name: - GR 4 Sec: - Date

Joseph Hilaire Pierre René Belloc was a prolific 20th century Anglo-French writer and historian known for his satire and poetry. The poem "Matilda Told Such Dreadful Lies" tells the story of a young girl named Matilda who lies so often that when she cries for help during a real house fire, no one believes her. Despite her aunt's efforts, Matilda's lying habit could not be corrected. When a real fire breaks out while her aunt is away, Matilda perishes in the flames as the neighbors ignore her shouts, believing she is lying again.

Uploaded by

Irfan Hussain
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Name: ______________Gr 4 Sec:_______ Date: ________

LITERATURE

About the poet: Joseph Hilaire Pierre René Belloc (27 July 1870 – 16 July
1953) was an Anglo-French writer and historian. He was one of the most
prolific writers in England during the early twentieth century. He was known
as a writer, orator, poet, sailor, satirist, man of letters, soldier and political
activist.

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.

Hilaire Belloc

Vocabulary words:

1. infirmity- physical or mental weakness.


2. gallant- (of a person or their behaviour) brave; heroic.
3. bawl- weep or cry noisily.
4. attempted- make an effort to achieve or complete (something difficult)
5. summoned- order (someone) to be present.
6. frenzied- wildly excited or uncontrolled.
7. peculiar- different to what is normal or expected; strange.
8. souse- soak in or drench with liquid.

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