
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' Summary
Dorothy is a young girl who lives with her Aunt Em, Uncle Henry, and dog, Toto, on a farm on the Kansas prairie. One day, she and Toto are caught up in a cyclone that deposits them and the farmhouse into Munchkin Country in the magical Land of Oz. The falling house has killed the Wicked Witch of the East, the evil ruler of the Munchkins. The Good Witch of the North arrives with three grateful Munchkins and gives Dorothy the magical silver shoes that once belonged to the Wicked Witch. The Good Witch tells Dorothy that the only way she can return home is to follow the yellow brick road to the Emerald City and ask the great and powerful Wizard of Oz to help her. As Dorothy embarks on her journey, the Good Witch of the North kisses her on the forehead, giving her magical protection from harm.
On her way down the yellow brick road, Dorothy attends a banquet held by a Munchkin named Boq. The next day, she frees a Scarecrow from the pole on which he is hanging, applies oil from a can to the rusted joints of a Tin Woodman, and meets a Cowardly Lion. The Scarecrow wants a brain, the Tin Woodman wants a heart, and the Lion wants courage, so Dorothy encourages them to journey with her and Toto to the Emerald City to ask for help from the Wizard. After several adventures, the travelers arrive at the Emerald City and meet the Guardian of the Gates, who asks them to wear green tinted spectacles to keep their eyes from being blinded by the city's brilliance. Each one is called to see the Wizard. He appears to Dorothy as a giant head, to the Scarecrow as a lovely lady, to the Tin Woodman as a terrible beast, and to the Lion as a ball of fire. He agrees to help them all if they kill the Wicked Witch of the West, who rules over Winkie Country. The Guardian warns them that no one has ever managed to defeat the witch.
The Wicked Witch of the West sees the travelers approaching with her one telescopic eye. She sends a pack of wolves to tear them to pieces, but the Tin Woodman kills them with his axe. She sends a flock of wild crows to peck their eyes out, but the Scarecrow kills them by twisting their necks. She summons a swarm of black bees to sting them, but they are killed while trying to sting the Tin Woodman while the Scarecrow's straw hides the others. She sends a dozen of her Winkie slaves to attack them, but the Lion stands firm to repel them. Finally, she uses the power of her Golden Cap to send the Winged Monkeys to capture Dorothy, Toto, and the Lion, unstuff the Scarecrow, and dent the Tin Woodman. Dorothy is forced to become the witch's personal slave, while the witch schemes to steal her silver shoes.
Book Details
Language
EnglishOriginal Language
EnglishPublished In
1900Genre/Category
Tags/Keywords
Authors

L. Frank Baum
United States
Lyman Frank Baum was an American author best known for his children's books, particularly The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and its sequels. He wrote 14 novels in the Oz series, plus 41 other novels (not inc...
Books by L. Frank BaumDownload eBooks
Listen/Download Audiobook
Related books

A Woman's Life by Guy de Maupassant
A Woman's Life is a captivating novel by Guy de Maupassant that chronicles the life of Jeanne, a young woman born into a wealthy Norman family. From h...

Hotel D'Angleterre And Other Stories by Mary Elizabeth Hawker
This collection of five short stories, written under the pseudonym Lanoe Falconer, showcases the poignant and insightful writing of Marie Elizabeth Ha...

Something Childish and Other Stories by Katherine Mansfield
This posthumous collection of stories and sketches by Katherine Mansfield, a pioneering modernist author from New Zealand, offers a glimpse into the c...

Fame and Fortune Weekly No. 20: A Barrel of Money by Frank Tousey
In the bustling streets of New York City, Bertie Ballister, a young messenger boy, toils tirelessly despite the weight of his family's hardships. Bert...

The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss
A beautiful story about survival, the Robinson family shows that one does not have to have the usual comforts of life in order to be comfortable and h...

Herb of Grace by Rosa Nouchette Carey
In Rosa Nouchette Carey's "Herb of Grace," Malcolm Herrick, a successful lawyer, finds himself longing for a life beyond his comfortable but confining...

Correio da Roça by Júlia Lopes de Almeida
In 'Correio da Roça', Maria, a recent widow, and her four daughters are forced to leave their luxurious life in Rio de Janeiro and relocate to a remot...

Charming Fellow by Frances Eleanor Trollope
Set in Victorian England, 'A Charming Fellow' delves into the complexities of marriage and the perils of social ambition. Through the lens of a dysfun...

Bible (ASV) 08: Ruth by American Standard Version
During the time of the Judges when there was a famine, an Israelite family from Bethlehem - Elimelech, his wife Naomi, and their sons Mahlon and Chili...

Broken Heart by John Ford
The Broken Heart is a tragic play set in ancient Sparta, where love, betrayal, and revenge intertwine in a tragic tapestry. The play revolves around t...
Reviews for The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
No reviews posted or approved, yet...