73 pages 2 hours read

Roald Dahl

The Witches

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1983

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Chapters 19-22Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 19 Summary: “Mr. Jenkins and His Son“

Bruno’s dad moseys up to Grandmamma and curtly asks about the boy. He thinks the boy and Bruno are up to no good, and that maybe the grandma is involved too. Grandmamma says nothing is amiss. The mouse is Bruno. Mr. Jenkins yells at Grandmamma, and the people at the nearby table stare. Bruno appears and confirms he’s a mouse. His father is in shock, but Bruno is happy—no more school or homework; he can live in the kitchen cupboard and eat honey and raisins.

Grandmamma tries to calm Mr. Jenkins. She says they should probably get rid of their cat Topsy, even though Bruno’s mom adores the cat. The grandma then points to the Grand High Witch and says she’s responsible for Bruno’s change. Mr. Jenkins vows to sue her, and Grandmamma says he might want to think twice. The witch could turn him into a cockroach.

Chapter 20 Summary: “The Triumph“

The Grand High Witch stands on her chair and screams. The other witches yell and jump around. Suddenly, they hush and quickly shrink due to the high dosage of potion the boy gave them. People in the dining room gaze at the altering witches. When they turn into mice, the adult diners lose their composure, but the children laugh and cheer.