When using the Wizard of Oz to reinforce the concepts of Populism using the following movie chapters
to show what people were aware of the plight of the average American in early 20th Century America.
Before you show the clips make sure you have gone over the metaphors of the movie. It works best if
you explain the answers after each segment. One class period about 50 minutes total time to do
activity.
Video Movie Chapters
Chapter 4: Over the Rainbow let the song play then pause
Chapter 11: Not in Kansas anymore stop after Glinda explains to Dorothy the situation go over Glinda
and the Wicked Witch of the East
Play the following 5 Chapters together:
Chapter 12: Come out, Come Out
Chapter 13: It Really Was No Miracle
Chapter 14: Ding Dong the Witch is Dead!
Chapter 15: The Lullaby League
Chapter 16: The Lollipop Guild pause after they finish singing and go over question 4,5, and 6
Chapter 17: Who killed my sister? Pause after she disappears and explain who she represents
Chapter 19: Follow the Yellow Brick Road pause when Dorothy is in long shot explain questions 9 and 10
Chapter 22: If I only had a brain pause when the scarecrow falls to the ground, then explain question 11
Chapter 26: If I only Had a Heart. Pause after they all fall and explain question 12
Chapter 30-31: Meeting the Cowardly Lion pause after they explain why they are going to see the
wizard. Go over question 13
Chapter 35-36: Pause after they freshen up and go over question 14
Chapter 39: Meeting the Wizard. I would fast forward to the point where they are standing before OZ
the pause after the lion faints and then go over question 15
As you watch the Wizard of Oz identify the following on a separate sheet of paper. They
will relate to the Gilded Age, the labor movement, and especially Populist movement of the
late 19th Century.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Dorothy - Who does she represent?
Glinda the Good Witch of the North - Who does she represent?
The Wicked Witch of the East - Who does she represent?
The Munchkins – Whom do they represent?
The Lullaby League – Whom do they represent?
The Lollipop Guild – Whom do they represent?
The Wicked Witch of the West - Who does she represent?
Ruby Shoes (silver in the book) – What do they represent?
The Yellow Brick Road (2 different meanings)
What is “Oz” short for?
Scarecrow – Whom does he represent?
Tinman – Whom does he represent?
Cowardly Lion – Whom does he represent?
The Emerald City – What city is this supposed to be?
The Wizard of Oz – Whom does he represent?
In a short essay, 2 – 3 paragraphs, answer the following questions.
1. How does the song Somewhere over the Rainbow represent the Populist movement of
the late 19th Century?
2. Is the theory that the Wizard of Oz is a statement for the Populist movement
correct? Support your answer in detail.
Possible Answers
1. Dorothy - Who does she represent? Immigrants (Historical)/In literature she is
the “everyman” the person the reader or view can relate to in the story
2. Glinda the Good Witch of the North - Who does she represent? She represents
the Populist movement, reformers tend to come from the north
3. The Wicked Witch of the East - Who does she represent? She represents industry
and the perceived evils of big business
4. The Munchkins – Whom do they represent? Represent the all people or all workers
5. The Lullaby League – Whom do they represent? Can represent the Knights of Labor
an inclusive labor union
6. The Lollipop Guild – Whom do they represent? Can represent the national labor
Union an exclusive labor union
7. The Wicked Witch of the West - Who does she represent? She represents the
railroads
8. Ruby Shoes (silver in the book) – What do they represent? Explain that in the book
the shoes are silver and represent the silver standard for money. The movie used
ruby shoes because it looks better on screen
9. The Yellow Brick Road (2 different meanings) Yellow represents the gold standard
or the idea the streets are paved with gold.
10. What is “Oz” short for? Abbreviation for the standard measurement of gold, the
ounce
11. Scarecrow – Whom does he represent? Perception of farmers
12. Tin man – Whom does he represent? Perception of industry workers
13. Cowardly Lion – Whom does he represent? Perception of William Jennings Bryan
14. The Emerald City – What city is this supposed to be? Washington DC
15. The Wizard of Oz – Whom does he represent? President or Government – knows
what is going on but does not do anything at first