The Cowardly Lion
by Lyman Frank Baum
Making Connections
Quick Answers
1. Character traits are words used to describe the characters in a story or a play. In each row circle the trait that fits the character. Then write the evidence from the story to illustrate your choice.
=
|
Character |
Trait |
Evidence |
|---|---|---|
|
a. Dorothy |
(courageous), unfriendly, meek |
Slaps the lion on the nose to protect Toto. |
|
b. Tin Woodman |
Mean, (sensitive), ferocious |
|
|
c. Scarecrow |
Strong, cheerful, (intelligent) |
|
|
d. Lion |
(Sorrowful), cruel, daring |
|
2. " 'It's a mystery,' replied the Lion. 'I suppose I was born that way.' "
a. What was 'a mystery' to the Lion?
= What made the Lion a coward was 'a mystery' to the Lion.
b. Which quality did the Lion possess since he was born?
= The Lion possessed the quality of cowardliness since he was born.
c. Did the Lion seem happy with the way he was born? Why?
= The Lion did not seem to be happy with the way he was born.
All the other animals in the forest expected him to be brave because he was thought to be the King of the Beasts everywhere. He had learned that if he roared very loudly, every animal would get frightened and move out of his way. If the elephants and the tigers and the bears had ever tried to fight with him, he would have run away himself. He considers him as a coward for all these reasons.
3. "This made the Tin Woodman very unhappy, for he was always careful not to hurt any living creature."
a. What made the Tin Woodman 'very unhappy'?
= Once, the Tin Woodman stepped upon a beetle that was crawling upon the road and killed the poor little thing. This made the Tin Woodman very unhappy, for he was always careful not to hurt any living creatures.
b. What happened when the Tin Woodman was unhappy?
= When the Tin Woodman was unhappy, he kept crying as he was walking. The tears ran down his face slowly and over the hinges of his jaw and there they rusted the hinges. When Dorothy asked him a question, he could not open him mouth, for his jaws were tightly clenched together because of the rust.
c. What lesson did the Tin Woodman learn from his mistake?
= The Tin Woodman learnt to look where he stepped. Unless, if he would kill another bug or beetle, he would surely cry again. Crying rusts his jaws and keeps him from speaking.
4. "During the rest of that day, there was no other adventure to mar the peace of their journey."
a. What 'journey' were Dorothy and the others making, and why were they making it?
= Dorothy and others were making 'journey' to the Emerald City where the Wizard of Oz lived.
Dorothy and Toto are going there to ask him to send them back home. The Lion was to ask him to give him some courage. The Scarecrow was to ask him to give him brains. The Tin Woodman was to ask him to give him a heart.
b. What was the adventure that Dorothy and her group had earlier?
= One day, a tornado carried Dorothy and her dog Toto from their farm to the magical land of Oz. The Good Witch told her that the Wizard of Oz could help her get home. On her journey to the Emerald City, where the Wizard lived, Dorothy made friends with a scarecrow with a scarecrow and a tin woodman.
They were walking through the thick woods. They suddenly met with a lion which hit the Tin Woodman and the Scarecrow and knocked them down on the road. He then tried to attack Toto and Dorothy stopped him and slapped him.
c. Explain the expression 'mar the peace of the journey'.
= The expression 'mar the peace of the journey' means to be disturbed by some unwanted incident or other danger during their journey.
Read, reflect and write
5. What were the ways in which the group was protected during the journey?
= The country where the wizard lived was beautiful though just a little scary. The Tin Woodman was not afraid as long as he had his oil can and nothing can hurt the Scarecrow. The Good Witch kissed Dorothy for protection. It would protect her from harm as long as she bore its marks upon her forehead. And they must protect Toto themselves if he was in danger.
6. What surprised the Lion when he hit the Tin Woodman?
= The Lion struck the Tin Woodman with his sharp claws but he could not make any impression on the tin although the Woodman fell down on the road and lay still. This surprised the Lion.
7. Did Dorothy want the Lion to join them in their journey? Why?
= Yes, Dorothy wanted the Lion to join them in their journey for he would help to keep away the other wild beasts. As it seemed to her that the other animals must be more cowardly than the Lion since they let him scare them so easily.
8. Based on the information provided in the text, describe Dorothy?
= Dorothy is a smart and brave girl. She did not give up after reaching the magical land of Oz. She managed to find a way out with the help of the Good Witch.
She is a friendly girl. She made friendship with the Tin Woodman and the Scarecrow.
She is all conscious about the safety of all the members of her group.
She is courageous. She slaps the lion on the nose to protect Toto.
9. What made the Lion think that he was a coward? Do you also think the same about him?
= The Lion thinks that he was born coward. All the other animals in the forest expect him to be brave, for he is thought to be the King of Beasts everywhere. He had learned that if he roared very loudly, every animal would get frightened and move out of of his way.
If the elephants and the tigers and the bears had ever tried to fight with him, he would have ran away himself. And that is the reason he called himself coward.
I think he is coward to the outer world. But he has no hesitation to analyse himself. He wants some courage from the Wizard of Oz. He is not a coward to do so. This makes him brave.
10. The group was going to the great Oz to ask for a heart, brains and courage. Do you think these are important to have? Give reasons for your answer.
= The group was going to the great Oz to ask for a heart, brain and courage. I think these are important in our life. We need heart to have the humane perspective of life. It helps us to be more calm and compassionate. We need brain to analyse everything rationally. We need courage to proceed forward facing all the pros and cons of life.
About the Author:
Lyman Frank Baum (1856-1919) was an American author, known for his book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. This book was made into a musical (movie) in 1939. This musical is as popular with children as the book. Baum also wrote a collection of stories based on children's rhymes, called Mother Goose in Prose.