The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

L. Frank Baum’s children’s novel of Dorothy, a Kansas girl carried off by a cyclone to the Land of Oz, who follows the road of yellow brick to the Emerald City with the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman and the Cowardly Lion to ask the Wizard to send her home.

Start reading26 chapters, about 39,000 words

Famous quotes

• Folklore, legends, myths and fairy tales have followed childhood through the ages, for every healthy youngster has a wholesome and instinctive love for stories fantastic, marvelous and manifestly unreal.

  IntroductionIn context

  • Children

• Dorothy lived in the midst of the great Kansas prairies, with Uncle Henry, who was a farmer, and Aunt Em, who was the farmer’s wife.

  Chapter IIn context

  • Family

• There is no place like home.

  Chapter IVIn context

  • Family

• “It must be inconvenient to be made of flesh,” said the Scarecrow, thoughtfully; “for you must sleep, and eat and drink. However, you have brains, and it is worth a lot of bother to be able to think properly.”

  Chapter VIn context

  • Intelligence

• “All the same,” said the Scarecrow, “I shall ask for brains instead of a heart; for a fool would not know what to do with a heart if he had one.”
  “I shall take the heart,” returned the Tin Woodman; “for brains do not make one happy, and happiness is the best thing in the world.”

  Chapter VIn context

  • Happiness
  • Intelligence
  • Love

• The Tin Woodman knew very well he had no heart, and therefore he took great care never to be cruel or unkind to anything.

  In context

  • Morality

• “Oh, no, my dear; I’m really a very good man; but I’m a very bad Wizard, I must admit.”

  Chapter XVIn context

  • Character
  • Comedy

• There is no living thing that is not afraid when it faces danger. True courage is in facing danger when you are afraid, and that kind of courage you have in plenty.

  Chapter XVIn context

  • Courage
  • Fear

Contents

1. Introduction
2. Dedication
3. Chapter IThe Cyclone
4. Chapter IIThe Council with the Munchkins
5. Chapter IIIHow Dorothy Saved the Scarecrow
6. Chapter IVThe Road Through the Forest
7. Chapter VThe Rescue of the Tin Woodman
8. Chapter VIThe Cowardly Lion
9. Chapter VIIThe Journey to the Great Oz
10. Chapter VIIIThe Deadly Poppy Field
11. Chapter IXThe Queen of the Field Mice
12. Chapter XThe Guardian of the Gate
13. Chapter XIThe Wonderful Emerald City of Oz
14. Chapter XIIThe Search for the Wicked Witch
15. Chapter XIIIThe Rescue
16. Chapter XIVThe Winged Monkeys
17. Chapter XVThe Discovery of Oz, the Terrible
18. Chapter XVIThe Magic Art of the Great Humbug
19. Chapter XVIIHow the Balloon Was Launched
20. Chapter XVIIIAway to the South
21. Chapter XIXAttacked by the Fighting Trees
22. Chapter XXThe Dainty China Country
23. Chapter XXIThe Lion Becomes the King of Beasts
24. Chapter XXIIThe Country of the Quadlings
25. Chapter XXIIIThe Good Witch Grants Dorothy’s Wish
26. Chapter XXIVHome Again