What is the story of the Wizard of Oz?

The story chronicles the adventures of a young farm girl named Dorothy in the magical Land of Oz, after she and her pet dog Toto are swept away from their Kansas home by a cyclone. The book is one of the best-known stories in American literature and has been widely translated.

Hereof, what do the characters in the Wizard of Oz symbolize?

Personal Symbolism – The Cowardly Lion represents the inner child or self. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz characters: Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, Dorothy, Wizard, Toto, Cowardly Lion. WIZARD OF OZ: Political Symbolism – The Wizard represents political leaders, particularly any of the US presidents during the late 19th Century.

Furthermore, how does the Wizard of Oz start? When a tornado rips through Kansas, Dorothy and her dog, Toto, are whisked away in their house to the magical land of Oz. They follow the Yellow Brick Road toward the Emerald City to meet the Wizard, and en route they meet a Scarecrow that needs a brain, a Tin Man missing a heart, and a Cowardly Lion who wants courage.

In this way, what is the message of the Wizard of Oz?

The obvious message of the story is that there is no place like home. But The Wizard of Oz has been taken to another level. Individuals such as Henry Littlefield, John Beebe, Joey Green, and others have interpreted the story and have found many different theories to go along with it.

Is the Wizard of Oz a children's story?

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, children's book written by L. Frank Baum and first published in 1900. 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 children's literature.

38 Related Question Answers Found

What do the poppy fields represent in the Wizard of Oz?

According to some theories, the poppy scene was a sly reference to the use of opium to put people into a deep sleep. One which would take away their desire to do anything else. The Wicked Witch had planned to capture Dorothy asleep in the poppy fields before she ever reached the Emerald City.

What does the Wizard of Oz really mean?

'The Wizard of Oz' book, written by L. Frank Baum and originally published in 1900, may have been inspired by the real-life economic struggles during the Gold Standard. Many economists and historians insist that the book is a political allegory. The yellow brick road is the gold standard.

What do the munchkins represent?

Munchkins: Munchkins are short, dark hared people who talk funny and dress only in blue. They represent the Jewish, Italian, and darker immigrants. Winkies: The Winkies inhabit the land in the west and are slaves of the Wicked Witch of the West.

Does the Wizard of Oz have a hidden message?

And it turns out that the Wizard of Oz is full of hidden political symbolism, which sometimes seems barely hidden at all. But no one noticed the clear parallels to American politics in the 1890s until a historian named Henry Littlefield published an analysis of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in 1964.

What is the Wizard of Oz symbolism?

Frank Baum's book "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," upon which the movie is based, was a political allegory for American politics at the dawn of the 20th century. Dorothy, the Kansas innocent, represents the nobility of middle (and Midwestern) America; the Tin Man is industry, the Scarecrow is agriculture.

What does the yellow brick road symbolize in the Wizard of Oz?

The yellow brick road symbolizes what's known in Buddhism and Kabbalah as The Golden Path. The Golden Path represents the path of the Soul from Egoism to Enlightenment. The story of the Wizard of Oz has many occult meanings woven into the story.

What's the moral of the Wizard of Oz?

The Scarecrow wishes for a brain, the Tin Man wants a heart and the Cowardly Lion wants nothing more than to be brave, but these characters possess these very qualities from the start. If you look within yourself you may be able to pull out the strength, courage and intelligence you never knew you had.

What do the ruby slippers symbolize in the Wizard of Oz?

In the movie, the slippers represent the little guy's ability to triumph over powerful forces. As the item that she – a simple teenage farm girl from Kansas – steals from the dictatorial Wicked Witch and ultimately uses to liberate the oppressed people of Oz, they're nothing less than a symbol of revolution.

Who do the flying monkeys in Wizard of Oz represent?

Winged Monkeys. According to some writers, the Winged Monkeys of Oz represent Native Americans in the West in the late 1800s. Baum himself had clear attitudes toward American Indians and some of his earlier writings about Indians are very similar to his descriptions of the Winged Monkeys found in Oz.

What is the difference between the Wizard of Oz and The Wiz?

The Wizard of OZ film is also regarded as one of America's most beloved classic films. One that remains as beautiful and powerful as when it was originally released in 1939. The Wiz is a very stylized all black musical and dance version, which is loosely based upon the L. Frank Baum book.

Why was the Wizard of Oz banned?

In 1957, the director of Detroit's libraries banned The Wonderful Wizard of Oz for having "no value" for children of his day, for supporting "negativism", and for bringing children's minds to a "cowardly level".

How does the Wizard of Oz relate to the populist movement?

In 1964, Henry Littlefield published a thesis asserting that the story was an allegory for the politics of the 1890s, especially the debate over gold and silver coinage. His ideas have led to much speculation. The Wizard of Oz could have been used as populist propaganda.

What does the Wizard of Oz say to Dorothy?

Dorothy Gale: Oh, but anyway, Toto, we're home. Home! And this is my room and you're all here. And I'm not gonna leave here ever, ever again, because I love you all, and oh Auntie Em, there's no place like home!

What does the Scarecrow represent?

Scarecrow: represents western farmers. He complained about not having a brain but wound up as the most adept problem solver among the four travelers. Cowardly Lion: In the late 1800s William Jennings Bryan, a politician, was a supporter of the free silver movement.

What does the silver shoes represent in the Wizard of Oz?

In the book and the play the shoes are silver, not ruby as they were famously depicted in the 1939 film. In his reading of The Wizard of Oz, Littlefield believed that Dorothy was a stand-in for the average American, and that the magic silver shoes represented the late 1890s free silver movement.

What are the themes of the Wizard of Oz?

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Themes

Respect and Reputation. In Oz, who you are isn't always as important as who people think you are.
Perseverance. In The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, hard work is well rewarded.
Home.
Friendship.
Good vs.
Dreams, Hopes, and Plans.
Disappointment.
Power.

Why does Dorothy run away?

However, the real reason she ran away was to save Toto! Elvira Gulch was taking him to the sheriff to be destroyed because he bit her on the leg, but he escaped and Dorothy decided to run away before Mrs. Gulch returned for him.