The Wizard of Oz by Frank Baum

Introduction:

Plot Analysis – The Wizard of Oz Major Conflict (Problem) = A Tornado causes Dorothy to be swept into land of OZ, and now she needs to find her way back to Kansas. Dorothy thinks that life will be better someplace else (I.e. “over the rainbow), so she runs away from home, gets caught in the tornado, and ends up “over the rainbow” in another world, now desperate to find her way home. Crisis Events (Complicates the Crisis) = The Wicked Witch of West wants the Ruby Slippers Dorothy needs to get the witch’s broom in order to get help from the Wizard. Dorothy meets 3 friends who are searching for qualities they covet, but think they don’t possess. Dorothy is chased by the Wicked Witch who is trying to get the ruby slippers (things are not as great as she thought they would be someplace else)

Plot Analysis Cont. Climax (Turning point: Determines how the rest of the story will turn out) The Wicked Witch of West captures Dorothy and she will die when the sand in the hourglass runs out. Dorothy realizes that she is in over her head, realizes the consequences of her actions (Auntie Em is sick with worry), and realizes she may die. Conclusion (Resolution: The solution to the original conflict) Dorothy kills the witch, gets help from the Wizard, and returns home realizing home was always where her heart was. Dorothy realizes that…”If I ever go looking for my heart's desire again, I won't look any further than my own back yard. Because if it isn't there, I never really lost it to begin with! Tin Man, Lion, and Scarecrow realize that they always have possesses the qualities they were seeking.

Characterization Protagonist – (Central figure of the story; the advocate of a central movement or cause) Dorothy: The main focus of story is on her desire to “find her heart’s desire over the rainbow” and all other actions revolve around that problem. Antagonist -The person or force in the story that is causing the conflict (not all stories have an antagonist) The Wicked Witch: This person represents the force of opposition (problems) found in all situations even when one (Dorothy) thinks it ideal.

Characterization cont. Round Characters ( A fully developed character with both good and bad traits revealed and background is revealed; Usually are seen from various perspectives. ) Dorothy: The reader knows several sides of Dorothy. We know her as a teeneager who is frustrated by the injustices of the adult world, as a niece, as a friend, as a hero to the Munchkins, and as an opponent to the witch.

Characterization cont. Flat Characters (Only one or two traits given; usually only seen from one perspective; usually stereotypical) In the Wizard of Oz, all other characters are flat, (the Scarecrow, Tin Man, Lion, Wicked Witch of the West, Glinda, Wizard, and Dorothy’s family) because we only know how these people relate to or oppose Dorothy, and we really only know them by this relationship. Archetype (A generic, idealized model of a person, object or concept from which similar instances are derived, copied, patterned or emulated.) Good Witch vs. Bad Witch: Glinda and the Wicked Witch of the West represent the commonly personified forces of good versus evil.

Characterization cont. Dynamic Characters (A character who changes from the beginning of the story until the end. ) Dorothy: Dorothy realizes the her teenage naivety was just that, naivety, that there is no perfect place, and that all that she needs in life to be happy is already at her disposal. Tin Man, Lion, and Scarecrow: All three of these characters realize that they do not need to rely on somebody else to feel better about themselves and that all that they were looking for, they, too, already possessed. Lion: “You, my friend, are a victim of disorganized thinking. You are under the unfortunate impression that just because you run away you have no courage; you're confusing courage with wisdom.” Wizard Wizard: The Wizard realizes that he can not deceive people to feel powerful.

Characterization cont. Static characters – (A character who does not change from the beginning of the story until the end.) The Wicked Witch of the West: Even in the witch’s death, she still epitomizes the doctrines of evil. “Who ever thought a little girl like you could destroy my beautiful wickedness?”

Setting Setting & Its Significance: Kansas: Kansas is significant because it represents Dorothy’s reality and the place where she must face all of her problems and the injustices of the world. It also is the place where Dorothy eventually realizes was where her “heart’s desire” always was. Oz: Oz is significant to the setting because this is the land “somewhere over the rainbow” where Dorothy assumed there would be no problems, but soon discovers she is wrong – there are just as many problems to face there as there was in Kansas.

Tone and Mood: Tone: The author’s attitude toward his or her subject, characters, or audience. The tone of this story is Enlightening and contemplative because it gives one life lessons to consider; endearing because it invokes warm affection for the characters; lighthearted; and whimsical Mood: The atmosphere of the story. Despite some instances of the frightening and and threatening presence of the “wickedness” of the Wicked Witch of the West, overall the mood of this story remains enchanting, lighthearted, and optimistic (good does overcome evil).

Theme Statement Formula for Theme Statement: When <define protagonist> comes in conflict with <define antagonist/antagonistic force> in a situation in which <relevant circumstances, conditions, or events> the result may be <define outcome, changes, epiphanies, lessons learned, etc..> Adj. = race, age, marital status, job, geography, temperament, etc…(relevant to theme) Adj. & Name

Theme Statement cont. Example: When a young, naïve, frustrated girl who desires to find a place where there are no problems comes in conflict with opposition in this “ideal” place in the form of the Wicked Witch of the West, in a situation in which she is forced to overcome that opposition or possibly lose her her own life, the result may be that she realizes that there is no “perfect place”, that injustices and trials always exist, and, finally, that everything she needs to be happy was already at her disposal.