"She had once been a famous athlete, and even now the muscles were still clearly in evidence. You could see them in the bull-neck, in the big shoulders, in the thick arms, in the sinewy wrists and in the powerful legs." Chapter 8, pg. 66
Roald Dahl's use of imagery is particularly strong when he describes the way Miss Trunchbull looks. With this description, readers can clearly picture Miss Trunchbull's large size and formidable presence. This passage also gives readers a clue into the Trunchbull's past as an athlete, which will figure into the punishments she deals to the children later on.
"[The newt] is about six inches long and very slimy, with a greenish-grey skin on top and an orange-coloured belly underneath." Chapter 12, pg. 11
Readers get a rich description of the newt that Lavender finds in her backyard pond. It makes it clear that while the newt itself is not dangerous, it looks like it could be, with its bold colors and its strange form and feel. This means that, if all goes well, the Trunchbull will indeed be afraid of it.
"She saw the child white in the face, as white as paper, trembling all over, the eyes glazed, staring straight ahead and seeing nothing. The whole face was transfigured, the eyes round and bright and she was sitting there speechless, quite beautiful in a blaze of silence." Chapter 15, pg. 144
Miss Honey stares closely at Matilda's face the first time she sees her use her powers to tip over the water glass. This description makes it clear that Matilda escapes to another world when she uses her mental power, and this otherworldly trance is visible on her face as well. Miss Honey is seeing something with her own eyes that she did not initially believe was possible, so she cannot stop watching Matilda.
"A brand new piece of chalk was hovering near the grey-black writing surface of the blackboard." Chapter 20, pg. 185
This description marks the beginning of Matilda's greatest trick of all time, the one that rids her, Miss Honey, and the other children of Miss Trunchbull forever. Providing a description of the chalk as it moves is important, since floating chalk is not something readers normally see. It adds an ominous tone to the setting, and creates the haunted air that Matilda is trying to use to scare Miss Trunchbull.
