THE ANNOTATED
WIZARD OF OZ
L. Frank Baum
Edited with an Introduction and Notes by
Michael Patrick Hearn
SUMMARY- CHAPTERS 12 TO
CONCLUSION
 The search of the Wicked
Witch
 The Rescue
 The Winged Monkey
 The discovery of Oz
 Magic Art of Humbug
 Ballon Launched
 South
 Fighting Trees
 China Country
 Lion Becomes King
 Quadlings
 Dorothy’s wish
THE SEARCH OF THE
WICKED WITCH
 “Dorothy still wore the pretty silk dress she had put on the palace,
but now, to her surprise, she found it was no longer green, but pure
white” (Baum 204).
• Was the city really Emerald or was it an illusion created by the
goggles?
THE SEARCH OF THE
WICKED WITCH
 “There were forty wolves, and forty times a wolf was killed; so that
at last they all laid dead in a heap before the Woodman” (Baum 207)
• What does this expose from of the Tin Woodman’s character?
 “There forty crows, and forty times the Scarecrow twisted a neck,
until at last all were laying dead beside him” (Baum 208).
• What does this expose from the Scarecrow character?
THE SEARCH OF THE
WICKED WITCH
 “The witch was too much afraid of the dark…” (Baum 223).
• Why would the witch be so much afraid of the dark?
• What does this reveal about her weaknesses of power?
THE DEATH OF THE WITCH
 “This made Dorothy so very angry that she picked up the bucket
of water…and dashed it over the Witch…the Witch fell down in a
brown, melted, shapeless mass and began to spread…” (Baum 225)
• How did you feel with this quick ending of the Witch?
THE WINGED MONKEYS
 Winged monkeys share the story of their past while bringing back
Dorothy and her comrades to Emerald city
 The witch of the North was the one who cursed them to do the
biddings of the wearer of the Golden cap
• Is the past good witch of the north really good after cursing these
Winged monkeys?
THE DISCOVERY OF OZ
THE TERRIBLE
 “One of my greatest fears was the witches…I lived in deadly fear
of them for many years…[but] you must keep my secret and tell no
one I am a humbug” (Baum 268, 274).
• What do you think of the Oz?
• Is he evil? Where he uses people for his power?
• Who are the good people and the evil?
Difference between them.
THE MAGIC ART OF THE
GREAT HUMBUG
 In getting there wishes of the Scarecrow getting his brains, the Tin
Woodman getting his heart, and the Lion getting his courage…
• Looking closely, in how easily the believed their were either wise,
loving, and courageous after the “Oz” granted their wish…
• What does this show about these three character’s confidence in
themselves?
 Connection to self-esteem.
CHARACTER ANALYSIS
 The Scarecrow yearns for a brain, but he's actually the most
intelligent and logical person in the group.
• Is this irony present elsewhere in the story? What purpose does it
serve?
 Why does the Wizard behave the way he does? Is his behavior
excusable or not? He describes himself as a good man but a bad
wizard - do you agree?
CHARACTER ANALYSIS
CONT.
 What is the significance of the delicate people in the Dainty China
Country? What is Baum saying about beauty and/or about sensitivity
in this chapter?
AUDIENCE
 Is this story relate to a modern audience? Do you think it will
continue to appeal to children in future generations?
 The Wizard of Oz was first published in 1900 and met huge
success. It continues to be a favorite to the stage and film. What do
you think makes this tale so likable, so timeless, and so easily adapted
to other media?
REAL WORLD
REPRESENTATION
 Do money and capitalism play any roles? What is valued in the land of Oz
compared to what is valued in the real world?
 From reading the preface, we learn that Baum's mother-in-law was a feminist.
Do you think the ideals of feminism influenced Baum's writing of Oz? In particular,
how would you view Dorothy and the witches in a feminist context?
 Why do you think Baum wrote this story when he did? Was there anything
going on in the world at that time that might have led him to want to write a pure
fairy tale?
IN DEPTH ANALYSIS
 The illustrations have been an essential part of this book since its
first publication and they anticipate the action in the text. What effect
do the illustrations have on your reading of the story?
D I F F E R F RO M A N E U RO P E A N
FA I RY TA L E S T O RY
 The Wizard of Oz has been called the first American fairy tale and
Baum's intentions were to differed from European ones. How is this
story different from other fairy tales you've read or are familiar with?
 Baum is said to have disliked the way traditional fairy tales taught
morals and values. Does Oz express any particular values or moral
lessons? And how are they communicated in the story?