The wonderful wizard of oz character analysis course hero. While the novel was originally created to teach that anything is possible with hard work and is a straightforward childrens book, the film tacks on many unintended morals. The wonderful wizard of oz 1910 adaptations of the wizard of oz were among some of the first films ever made. Frank baum claims that the book is simply an innocent childrens story. Frank baum, ends in very much the same way that the movie starring judy garland ends. A modern fairy tale with a distinctly american setting. Quentin taylor, for example, claimed that many of the events and characters of the book resemble the actual political personalities, events and ideas of the 1890s. The wonderful wizard of oz summary dorothy lived with her hardworking but dour uncle henry and aunt em on the bleak kansas prairie. The wonderful wizard of oz study guide contains a biography of l.
Baums sequel to the wonderful wizard of oz is a blatant satire of certain strands of the womens suffrage movement huebel 35. Political interpretations of the wonderful wizard of oz include treatments of the modern fairy tale written by l. In his introduction to the wonderful wizard of oz, l. Today it is more commonly known under the shortened title, the wizard of oz. Fred erisman offers his take on the novels relationship with progressivism in his influential 1968 article. The wonderful wizard of oz summary and analysis of chapters xviix. The wonderful wizard of oz chapter 1 summary course hero. The movie that was created after the book lost the true intentions of the author by taking out important details and flipping the books meaning. What is the analysis of the wonderful wizard of oz answers.
Frank baum this study guide consists of approximately 39 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the wonderful wizard of oz. Jun 19, 2016 this is the wonderful wizard of oz summary. She was an energetic and joyful little girl who delighted in her small dog, toto. Denslow, and the 100th anniverary edition pictured here replicates that one. The people of oz gathered around when they heard the news. The wonderful wizard of oz essay topics pick one of the following and write a 5paragraph compare or contrast essay. They were playing outside one day when the wind began to blow.
Political interpretations of the wonderful wizard of oz include treatments of the modern fairy. Nearly twenty years later, i picked up the wonderful wizard of oz again and found a subtle depth. Specifically, an analysis is an act of breaking something into its. The wonderful wizard of oz, childrens book written by l. Political interpretations of the wonderful wizard of oz wikipedia. Scholars have examined four quite different versions of oz.
The book was very popular and spawned a broadway musical, the 1939 movie, and thirteen sequels. Introduction, rising action, climax, falling action and conclusion make up the analysis of the wonderful wizard of oz. The wonderful wizard of oz summary dorothy gale is a farm girl whos living a quiet life in kansas with her uncle henry and aunt em, her miserable, but loving, relatives. It aspires to being a modernized fairy tale, in which the. The political and economic symbols hidden inside the wizard of oz. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of the wonderful wizard of oz by l. On that image alone we could rest our case that the wonderful wizard of oz is a fanciful book. The wonderful wizard of oz is a beautiful story and the author himself defined it as a modern fairytale.
Similarities and differences between the wizard of oz book. What is the deeper meaning of the wonderful wizard of oz by. A modern fairy tale with a distinctly american setting, a delightfully levelheaded and assertive heroine, and engaging fantasy characters, the story was enormously popular and became a classic of childrens literature. As well as being a wonderful and exciting adventure for children, the. Find a summary of this and each chapter of the wonderful wizard of oz. The book version of the wonderful wizard of oz, which was written by l. In baums novel, the golden yellow brick road leads to the fraudulent wizard, whereas the silver shoes possess immense power. Following the yellow brick road back to the origins of oz. Her adventure begins when she accidently kills a wicked witch and the mutchkins celebrate her death and praise dorothy.
Or at least she was, until her house is swept up in a cyclone and sent hurtling through the air. Long ago, there was a little girl named dorothy, who lived with her aunt and uncle. As times change, symbols and overall messages are interpreted. Sackett examines ozs value system and detail and sees there respect for individual freedom and nonconformity, the absence of militarism, equality of the sexes, etc. The wonderful wizard of oz is an epic due to its characteristics, conventions, archetypes, and the way it follows the stereotypical heros journey. Toto may be only a dog, but he sets the whole book in. The wonderful wizard of oz summary bedtimeshortstories. The sky got very dark, thunder rolled, lightning flashed and the wind. An epic characteristic seen in the book is how broad the setting is. The wonderful wizard of oz is often read as an allegory for 1900s american economic policy, which upheld the gold standard, a policy linking the value of. He proves himself brave and daring many times before oz consents to provide him with courage. Frank baum and the wizard of oz movie produced by vincent fleming serve as a good example of a distorted transition from text to film.
Friedman risa kishner october 8, 2014 l frank baum shows in his work, the wizard of oz, the problems in society during the 1980s by using metaphors. Banks of gorgeous flowers the wonderful wizard of oz 21. It was adapted in 1939 into an iconic film starring judy garland. But some scholars have found hidden criticisms of late. Apr 16, 2019 baum wrote about his intentions in the book s introduction. Frank baums novel the wonderful wizard of oz is no doubt filled with many symbols and allegories that continue to excite readers. The wonderful wizard of oz university of south florida. The wonderful wizard of oz is too long to be a parable and not quite didactic enough to be an allegory. We have to keep in mind that even though it has been more than hundred years since this book was published it still carries the name of a modern fairytale. Npr s backseat book club is going back to where the yellow brick road began with the original book that started it all, the wonderful wizard of oz. The wizard of oz is more than just a childrens story. The wonderful wizard of oz chapters xviix summary and analysis. In his book the wonderful wizard of oz in american popular culture, neil earle.
It has since seen several reprints, most often under the title the wizard of oz. Published in 1900, the wonderful wizard of oz is a beloved childrens classic by l. Old posters from the broadway extravaganza and denslow variations on the main characters and so much more. After a brief introduction, we will go over a summary of the plot and a list of the characters.
Political interpretations of the wonderful wizard of oz. The cyclone had set the house down very gentlyfor a cyclonein the midst of a country of marvelous beauty. There were lovely patches of greensward all about, with stately trees bearing rich and luscious fruits. The wonderful wizard of oz was written solely to pleasure children today. Still, the main characters dorothy, the scarecrow, the tin woodman, and the lion embody traditional american values. The main characters in the wonderful wizard of oz are dorothy gale, the wicked witches of the east and west, the cowardly lion, the tin woodman, the. It has since seen several reprints, most often under the title the wizard of oz, which is the title of the popular 1902 broadway musical. The wonderful wizard of oz is a childrens book about a girl named dorothy who befriends a scarecrow, a tin woodsman, and a cowardly lion while traveling through the land of oz. The book was a huge hit as soon as it was published in 1900 and was followed by more than a dozen sequels. Frank baums life, the origins of oz documentary, and the film, the wizard of oz, it was often noted that baums life shared major similarities between the book and film. There are many editions available of the wonderful wizard of oz, but the original was very much a team effort of author baum and illustator w. I read every oz book that i could find at the public library.
Epic characteristics, conventions, and hero characteristics are what make up the epic, the wizard of oz. Baum wrote about his intentions in the book s introduction. Frank baums the wonderful wizard of oz was a smash hit of a childrens book published in 1900. Frank baum and first published in 1900 as an allegory or metaphor for the political, economic, and social events of america in the 1890s. Frank baum, literature essays, a complete etext, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Frank baums childrens book, the wonderful wizard of oz. Frank baums famous childrens novel the wonderful wizard of oz was first published on may 17, 1900. What is the conflict in the wonderful wizard of oz. The wonderful wizard of oz chapters xviix summary and. Frank baum wrote the childrens fantasy book the wonderful wizard of oz in 1900. The guardian at the gate was surprised to see the returning travelers and especially stunned to hear that the wicked witch of the west was dead. The text of the baums oz is a reproduction of the original and therefore lovely to look at. The wonderful wizard of oz summary and analysis of.
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