We're Off to See the Wizard!
- from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
by L. Frank Baum (Roots)
Start Here
There is a terrible storm coming! You might have to stay indoors for a couple of days. If you could choose to take only one of these things indoors, which one would you choose and why? Share your answer with the class.
I want to choose the torch. There will be food and water inside. Candle would be of no use in storm. A torch will be handy in the dark and the time of power cut.
Comprehension
Read and answer
1. Arrange these sentences in the correct order.
a. Tin Man requests for some oil. [2]
b. Dorothy and Toto meet Scarecrow in a cornfield. [1]
c. They find out that Tin Man needs a heart. [3]
d. The five of them go to the Emerald City. [5]
e. Dorothy scolds Lion. [4]
2. There are incorrect facts in each of these statements. Underline the incorrect fact and write the correct detail in the space provided.
One has been done for you.
a. The four of them set off to meet the Witch in the Emerald City.
= The five of them set off to meet the Wizard in the Emerald City.
b. Tin Man had been carrying a rusted hammer for two years.
= Tin Man had been carrying a rusted axe for a year.
c. Scarecrow suggested that Dorothy and Toto stay with him.
= Tin Man suggested that Dorothy, Toto and Scarecrow stay with him.
d. Lion wanted some energy so that he did not feel so tired always.
= Lion wanted some courage so that he did not feel so cowardice always.
e. Dora and Toto met Scarecrow near the red brick road.
= Dorothy and Toto met Scarecrow next to the yellow brick road.
Reference to context
3. "I am very uncomfortable. I've been stuck on this pole for a while."
a. Who is speaking these lines?
= Scarecrow is speaking these lines.
b. Who is he/she talking to?
= He is talking to Dorothy.
c. What does the other person offer to do for the speaker?
= This person decides to help Scarecrow. She lifts Scarecrow off the pole and sets him on the ground.
4. "Hardly perfect. Here, knock on my chest."
a. Who says this and to whom?
= Tin Man says this to Dorothy.
b. Why does the speaker say 'knock on my chest'?
= The speaker says 'knock on my chest' to let them feel the echo as his chest is empty.
c. What does the speaker want from the Wizard of Oz?
= The speaker wants a heart from the Wizard of Oz.
5. "The Emerald City is far. What if it rains again?"
a. Who is speaking these lines? Why is the speaker scared of rain?
= The Tin Man is speaking these lines.
The speaker is scared of rain because if it rains again, he would get rusted. He would not be able to move his limbs again.
b. Who are planning to go to the Emerald City?
= Dorothy, Toto and Scarecrow are planning to go to the Emerald City.
c. Whom are they going to meet in Emerald City and why?
= They are going to meet the Oz in Emerald City.
Dorothy and Toto would ask him to send them home to Kansas.
Scarecrow would ask him to to give him a brain.
6. "That's not right. The king of beasts shouldn't be a coward."
a. Who is saying this and to whom?
= Scarecrow is saying this to Lion.
b. What happened before the speaker said this?
= The Lion had no courage. He did not have enough courage. He was born that way. On the other hand all the animals in the forest expect him to be brave. That made the Lion disappointed.
c. What happens after this?
= Dorothy said that she and Toto are going to ask the Oz to send them back home to Kansas. Scarecrow said that he is going to Emerald City to ask the Oz to give him a brain. The Tin Man informed that he is going to ask the Oz to give him a heart. Dorothy suggested the Lion to come with them to the Emerald City. The Oz would definitely give him courage. Then the Lion joined them.
Reflect and answer
7. When the characters met Lion for the first time, Dorothy thinks that he might bite Toto and scolds him. What does this tell you about Dorothy?
= When the characters met Lion for the first time, Dorothy thinks that he might bite Toto and scolds him. This tells us that Dorothy was very fond of Toto. She took great care for her dog. She is a brave girl to scold the Lion. She did not think that Lion is a wild animal it could attack them all.
8. Do you think the Wizard of Oz will be able to help them all? Give reasons for your answer.
= Yes, I think the Wizard of Oz will be able to help them all. The Oz is a Wizard. A wizard is a magician who can create magic. So he can solve all the problems with magic.
9. You are on the way to your class when you hear someone crying. A young boy has hurt himself. There is no one else around. What will you do to help him? Call out your suggestions in class and discuss with your teacher.
= If this happens on my way to class, I would definitely go to the boy and help him by giving him first aid. Then I would inform the class teacher the whole incident.
About the Author :
L. Frank Baum (1856-1919), born in the US, was an American author famous for his books on the imaginary Land of Oz. He did many things like running a store, raising animals on a farm and working for a newspaper before he started writing. He is also well-known for his novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Baum wrote nearly 60 other books, which were popular in their day.