...Wonderful Wizard of Oz A fairy tale is a kind of folklore or fable that has magical elements within the story, exhibited through the characters or the sequence of events. Fairytales contain magical elements that could include wizards, monsters, talking animals, or even magical helpers. Not only do fairytales contain character archetypes, but they also include situational archetypes such as quests, impossible tasks, or the triumphs of the poor. Although all fairytales have different plots, they are all extremely similar to each other due to the common motifs and archetypes that are present in all fairytale stories. To determine whether a story is a fairytale or not is incredibly easy because one can easily discover numbers of motifs and archetypes that are exhibited throughout the story. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum is a story about a girl named Dorothy who is sent to fulfill arduous tasks and lengthy quests in order to find her way back home. As she tries to find her return home, she has many rough encounters with evil but is assisted by various characters and eventually returns home safely. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz would be considered a fairytale because of the common motifs and archetypes that are present and consistent throughout the story. The motifs and archetypes in the story are the hero, the trickster, the talking animals or objects, the glorified human strength of kindness, and the guardian. The hero archetype in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz proves that...
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...Something Deeper Jada McGinnis 10/10/14 4th Hour Mr.Koch Film, Lit. and the Media “Just a childrens story or something deeper?” is the question that’s on the minds of many when discussing the classic novel, “The Wonderful Wizard of OZ”. The heart of the book involves a “Brainless” Scarecrow, a “Heartless” Tinman, a “Cowardly” Lion, a “Bad” Witch, a “Good” Witch, a wizard deemed as The Great Oz and a little girl named Dorothy who just wanted to get back home. All aspects that would make you believe it to be just a children’s story and nothing more right? Wrong! When author, L. Frank Baum created The Wizard of OZ maybe he had something else up his sleeve; a deeper meaning. The Wonderful Wizard of OZ was written in the 1900’s during the collapse of the populist movement. Making it to believe that, The Wonderful Wizard of OZ is nothing but a Political Allegory. It was reported that author Frank L. Baum was a political activist in the 1890’s who showed a great deal of interest in the question of “gold and silver”. The question of Gold and Silver being whether or not both silver and gold should be used as currency ( Bryan’s side) or the economic account being based on a fixed quantity of gold (the Republicans side). To put the controversy in a simpler form; you had two sides, “free silver” (Bryan) and “sound money” (Republicans). In Baums’, The Wonderful Wizard Of OZ, the “Yellow Brick Road” would represent the Gold standard and the silver slippers; most commonly known as ruby...
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...The Wizard of Oz The Wizard of Oz is a classic American film interpreted from L. Frank Baum’s book published in 1900. We have all seen the film as a child and enjoy it equally as adults. It is a film we watch repeatedly to experience the wonders of our imaginations. There are many key elements that have made this film a notorious childhood memory as well as an American classic that we have treasured for generations. How could we forget the magical characters, the music, and the outstanding cinematography? The theme of the film can be summed up simply from one of the many notable phrases, “there’s no place like home”. Dorothy, a Kansas farm girl dreams of a better place and life. During a tornado she is struck in the head and there begins her journey to Oz. There she meets magical characters, many of which travel on with her also in search of better things. Who can forget the Munchkins, the first of the strange but charming characters Dorothy encounters? Dorothy and her dog Toto also come across the wicked witch the of the west and Glenda the good witch, introducing the good vs. evil of the fairy tale. She sets out on her quest to find a way home when she stumbles upon the Scarecrow who is in search for a brain, the Tinman in search of a heart and the Lion in search of courage. There are parallels to the characters she meets in relation to her family and neighbors back in Kansas, therefore reinforcing her homesickness and the determination to return...
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...The Wizard of Oz- A Film Analysis ENG:225 Introduction to Film Professor Daniel Burrello April 20, 2015 The Wizard of Oz - A Film Analysis The 1920's and 30's marked the beginning of a new world for movie directors and audiences alike, prompting directors to challenge traditional American values and push the filming process to new boundaries. The early part of the 20th century was tainted with the Great Depression and the beginning of World War II, millions of Americans were losing their jobs, and security became a big concern for the people of the States. Although citizens struggled during these times, they remained hopeful as cinema became the drug of choice through the expensive use of color and sound to transfer audiences from reality to a fairy tale place. Director Victor Fleming's classic film, The Wizard of Oz (1939), gave the audience an 'identity', touching on social attitude and the way people play a powerful role in their own lives through escapism and symbolism throughout the film. In 1939, MGM director Victor Fleming, in collaboration with Harold Rosson as cinematographer, released the classic blockbuster fantasy film The Wizard of Oz, starring Judy Garland as young and innocent Dorothy Gale, a young girl from Kansas who is swept away during a tornado along with her dog Toto. During her adventure in the land of Oz she kills The Wicked Witch of the West played by Margaret Hamilton, and embarks on a journey to find the almighty and powerful Wizard played by...
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...singing “Have you heard of the wonderful wizard, The wonderful Wizard of Oz..” it was a song that was spread from Australia to England. The song reflected a classic 1939 Hollywood production of the story, which not only introduced millions to the land of Oz, but also to a talented young lady named Judy Garland. Published in 1900, Lyman Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was immensely popular- providing a base for a profitable musical comedy, three movies,and plays. The tale that Baum has created has been seen by interested scholars, such as Russel B. Nye. being neither critically acclaimed nor critically examined. In the Oz book, Professor Nye finds a “strain of moralism” as well as “ a well-developed sense of satire”, however in Baum’s stories, he often includes parodies of the contradictions in human nature. In 1900, Baum was surrounded by an astonishing degree of political reality. While Baum was living in South Dakota, not only was the frontier and actual thing of the past, and with the stark reality of the dry, open plains served to crush Romantic Idealism. In Chicago, Baum saw the results of the depression which had closed down upon the nation in 1893. Baum took part in the pivotal election of 1896, marching in “torch-light parades got William Jennings Bryan” With Baum’s allegiance to the cause of Democratic Populism, it must balance against the fact that he was not a political activist. I always like the story of Wizard of Oz, though I never understood the symbols...
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...machinery behind enchantment as it celebrates power to enchant...while fantasy allows for an escape, the fucntion of that escape is to allow a return to a repressive reality." The Wizard's fakery is exposed but nevertheless can enchant; Dorothy's friends believe in the gifts the Wizard bestows upon them. Oz is a breathtaking world, yet Dorothy yearns to return to the bleakness of Kansas; Baum celebrates both opposing environments. There are good witches and bad witches, North and South and East and West, the first chapter mirrors the last chapter, Dorothy is disappointed by the Wizard twice. There is also a very repetitive cast to the writing. Each of the characters explains their wish to the Wizard in the same way, one after the other. Each of them is told the same thing by the Wizard. When Dorothy talks to her friends they often answer her one after the other. The Wicked Witch sends her minions out one after the other. The Wizard meets with the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and Lion one after the other, their experiences and conversations proceeding in the exact same fashion. Baum's use of repetition provides structure and order to a fantastical book. It keeps the text sane and establishes the irrefutable reality of Oz and the events transpiring there. Page 15 / Simile – “It was Toto that made Dorothy laugh, and saved her from growing as gray as her other surroundings.” Importance – This simile is important because it sums up how important Toto is in Dorothy’s life. Everything surrounding...
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...Populism in the Oz Mythology: One is Silver and the Other’s Gold Populism is a political idea that bloomed in Kansas in the late nineteenth century, and blossomed into a political movement well into the twentieth century. The idea represents a vast amount of people who want the best, but may not have their voices heard. Populism is the act of average men and women, farmers, etc., who want more than their political structure is offering, and demand change. Those who classify themselves as populists strive for more than what is offered by current politics, and strive for the best results in their community. Farmers during the late nineteenth century were great proponents for a silver standard, a compliment to the gold standard, as an accessible way for many in the middle class to increase their personal wealth. The creation of wealth for the lower-middle and middle-class would create a greater infrastructure economically, as these land owners could create more agricultural jobs by having to hire more people to harvest their new land. Countless works within the Oz Mythology include ideas chained to populism, the most prominent at the time being the proposition for a “Silver Standard” in addition to the current Gold Standard (Hansen). Having a silver standard within the novel would have radically changed the dynamics of the Gulch family in the original novel, which would then lead on to shape the economic setting of the following works within the Oz Mythology. During a time...
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...Culture Event – Wicked, The Untold Stories of the Wizard of Oz Tami M. Linton Professor James Allen HUM 112 March 11, 2012 Cultural Event – Wicked, The Untold Stories of the Wizard of Oz The cultural event I participated in, was Wicked, The Untold Stories of the Wizard of Oz. I saw this Broadway musical production on Sunday, March 11 at Chrysler Hall in Norfolk, at 6:30 pm, attending with me, was my mother and two sister-in-laws. I love plays and musicals, however I wasn’t sure what to expect when we arrived that evening, as this was my first encounter of a professional level performance. The excitement in the highly attended diverse crowd could be felt even before the show started. As soon as the lights dimmed and the show started, I was engaged, and was taken through to the end. Wizard of Oz is a well known story; however there is more to the lives of the two witches of Oz than the story tells. Wicked is based on the relationship of Glenda the Good Witch and Elsaba the Wicked Witch of the West, whom were childhood friends, and through a series of events became viewed more as enemies. Glenda was the popular, pretty and ambitious girl, while Elsaba was the smart, serious, misunderstood, ugly girl with emerald green skin. A main turning point in their friendship came when both girls fell in love with a handsome man. Smitten by both girls, the handsome man fell for the pretty Glenda. Infuriated by betrayal and rage that her looks had been the reason for his decision...
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...Epic Hero Essay Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz is not an epic hero for many reasons. One of these reasons would be that she gets scared multiple times in the story. An epic hero should be fearless and not cowardly. An epic hero should be able to accomplish tasks on his or her own without others which she doesn’t do. When she faces big obstacles, she relies on others’ assistance. Dorothy is also a very static character. Epic heroes are usually dynamic and would change of a period of time in the story. Based on this, you can infer that Dorothy is not an epic hero in the Wizard of Oz. Most epic heroes are charged with a quest that they have to complete in order for them to return from their voyage. Dorothy’s quest is to follow a yellow brick...
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...Weather often goes overlooked in literature just like in real life. In day to day life, when it is snowy, rainy, or sunny outside we do not put much thought into it. The weather is a natural occurrence that varies. It happens all the time. However, in terms of literature, the weather is a crucial aspect of a novel or movie. It reveals deeper details about a story. For instance, in a novel or movie, if the weather is sunny the characters are happy. The sunny weather reflects the mood of the characters. Clouds do the same thing. Clouds in a novel or book can foreshadow a storm or something bad is about to happen. Weather is simply not just weather. In the Wizard of Oz, the tornado wrecks havoc to everything in its path and causes upset...
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...The Wizard of Oz-Expository #4 Throughout The Wizard of Oz written by L. Frank Baum Dorothy is looking for a way to get back to Kansas but she doesn’t realize that she’s had the power to all along. At first the characters are confused as to why Glinda didn’t just tell Dorothy that she was capable of getting back all on her own. Glinda makes the comment “She had to learn it for herself.” What she meant was that Dorothy had to learn that there truly is no place like home and that she has everything that she could ever want in her very own backyard before she had to the power to return to Kansas. At the beginning Dorothy sings a song where she's wishing for beyond. She wants to find “somewhere over the rainbow.” But all those dreams, hopes, and...
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...this article, Quentin P.Taylor believes that “The Wizard of Oz” was simply a story to entertain and not teach. She believes that the story is not a pro-populist fable or an anti-populist fable, instead she thinks that the story is a way to mock the populist movement and the politics. L. Frank Baum wrote that Oz was written just for the pleasure of the children of today's world,but no one really seems to believe that, for one fourth of a century no one seemed to think the story had a different meaning until a high school teacher wrote and published an essay saying that he believed that Oz was a figuration of the populist revolt. Littlefield (high school teacher)said that Baum(author of The Wizard of Oz)had written about current events and politics around the 1800s and 1890s during which the formation of the...
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...Week 2 Assignment Instructor: Catherine Cousar ENG225: Introduction to Film One of the most beloved fantasy movies of all times that holds a special place within many people’s hearts is the famous “Wizard of Oz”. This movie is a musical that was created and directed by Victor Fleming in 1939 with the help of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Malcolm Brown, William A. Horning and Jack Martin Smith as the production designers (that were never credited) and Cedric Gibbons as the art director. (IMDb, n.d) This movie is about a young, girl from Kansas named Dorothy Gale played by Judy Garland who dreams of another life. Dorothy lives on her auntie Emily (Clara Blandick) and uncle Henry’s (Charley Grapewin) farm, and has friends named “Hunk (Ray Bolger), Zeke (Bert Lahr) and Hickory (Jack Haley). All of the mentioned friends play a vital roles as The Scarecrow (Ray Bolger), The Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr) and The Tin Man (Jack Haley)” in the film. (IMDb, n.d). At one point, Dorothy decides to run away and find a new life with her dog Toto. During a storm and trying to get back home, Dorothy finds herself in a strange place, The Land of Oz. The scene I have chosen to analyze is “The Cowardly Lion” staring Dorothy, Toto, the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and the Lion. The importance of each character in the scene is the Lion tries to seem brave, while the Tin Man and the Scare Crow are scared of him. Toto runs away from him and Dorothy saves Toto. She teaches the Lion a lesson on picking on people...
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...The Wonderful Wizard of Oz In the Wizard of the Oz L. Frank Baum uses colors throughout the novel to represent the regions. Yellow symbolized the color of the Winkies Country. The color blue defined the Country of the Munchkins. However, the color red displayed the Country of the Quadlings. In the Story of The Wizard of Oz, blue is represented for the munchkins. The munchkins are the eastern region of the Land of Oz being ruled by the wicked witch of the east. The munchkins Country is imposed by the color blue, which is worn by most the munchkins Also blue is the Munchkins' favorite color. The Eastern Part of the munchkins Country is described as rich, beautiful, fertile, pleasant, and inhabited by friendly people. Baum applies...
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...Magical creatures in magical lands offer a story like no other. The epic poem The Odyssey by Homer and the film The Wizard of Oz by Victor Fleming, both focus on a heroic main character struggling to get home. The Wizard of Oz presents Dorothy Gale as the savior for her new friends and local residents of Oz. The Odyssey does the same, illustrating Odysseus as the savior for his crew, as well as his family in Ithaca. Dorothy and Odysseus share many different character traits that depict heroism, however, they have many different approaches to achieving their goal of going home. Dorothy and Odysseus share some similarities of heroism. For example, they both are depicted as brave, loyal, and determined. Dorothy is brave because she stands up...
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