The Wonderful Wizard of Oz · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum.
Chapter 1
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Dorothy, a young girl from Kansas, is carried by a cyclone to the magical Land of Oz. Her house lands on and kills the Wicked Witch of the East, freeing the Munchkins. She is thanked by the good Witch of the North and given the Witch's silver shoes. To return home, she is advised to travel to the Emerald City to seek help from the great Wizard of Oz. Along the way, she befriends the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion, who each seek brains, a heart, and courage respectively. They face dangers such as a dark forest, a wide ditch, and a river, but work together to overcome them. Upon reaching the Emerald City, the Wizard demands they kill the Wicked Witch of the West before he will grant their wishes. They journey to the Witch's land, where she uses her power to enslave them. Dorothy is captured, but in a confrontation, she accidentally melts the Witch with a bucket of water. They return to the Emerald City to discover the Wizard is a humbug, but he still fulfills his promises symbolically. Dorothy and her friends then travel to Glinda the Good Witch, who reveals the silver shoes can take Dorothy home. Dorothy clicks her heels and returns to Kansas, reunited with Aunt Em and Uncle Henry.
Chapter 2
The Cyclone
Dorothy lives on the gray Kansas prairie with Uncle Henry and Aunt Em. When a cyclone approaches, she is unable to reach the cellar in time and is carried away in the house, along with her dog Toto. After an initial fright, she calms herself and falls asleep as the house is swept through the sky.
Chapter 3
The Council with the Munchkins
Dorothy awakens in the Land of Oz after her house lands on and kills the Wicked Witch of the East. She meets the Munchkins and the Witch of the North, who explains the nature of witches in Oz and gives Dorothy the silver shoes. Dorothy expresses her desire to return to Kansas, and the Witch of the North advises her to seek help from the Great Wizard Oz in the Emerald City. The Witch gives Dorothy a protective kiss and directs her to follow the yellow brick road.
Chapter 4
III: How Dorothy Saved the Scarecrow
Dorothy prepares for her journey to the Emerald City, puts on the silver shoes of the Wicked Witch of the East, and sets off along the yellow brick road. She is welcomed by the Munchkins and stays with Boq. The next day, she meets a living Scarecrow who asks to accompany her to Oz in hopes of getting brains.
Chapter 5
The Road Through the Forest
Dorothy and the Scarecrow continue their journey along the yellow brick road, which becomes increasingly rough and difficult. They rest by a brook where the Scarecrow shares his origin story—how he was created by a farmer and placed in a cornfield to scare crows, only to be deemed a failure by an old crow who advised him to seek brains. The Scarecrow expresses his desire to obtain brains from the Great Oz. As evening falls, they enter a dark forest and find a small cottage where Dorothy sleeps while the Scarecrow stands guard.
Chapter 6
The Rescue of the Tin Woodman
Dorothy awakens and, after finding water, hears groans from a rusted Tin Woodman in the forest. She oils his joints with the help of the Scarecrow, freeing him. The Tin Woodman joins their quest to the Emerald City to ask Oz for a heart, sharing his tragic backstory of losing his body parts to an enchanted axe and ultimately his heart. The group continues their journey, with the Tin Woodman clearing a blocked path, while Dorothy worries about their dwindling food supply.
Chapter 7
VI: The Cowardly Lion
Dorothy and her companions continue their journey through the thick woods. They encounter a great Lion who attacks them, but Dorothy bravely slaps him on the nose. The Lion confesses he is a coward, and after learning about their quests to see Oz, he asks to join them in hopes of obtaining courage. The group accepts him, and they continue on, with the Tin Woodman later accidentally stepping on a beetle and crying, which rusts his jaws until the Scarecrow oils them.
Chapter 8
VII: The Journey to the Great Oz
Dorothy and her companions camp in the forest, face two dangerous gulfs and the Kalidahs, and begin building a raft to cross a river, all while journeying toward the Emerald City.
Chapter 9
VIII: The Deadly Poppy Field
The travelers cross a river on a raft, but the Scarecrow is left stranded on a pole in the middle. They continue along the riverbank and encounter a vast field of deadly poppies that puts Dorothy, Toto, and the Cowardly Lion to sleep. The Tin Woodman and Scarecrow carry Dorothy to safety, but the Lion is left behind. A Stork rescues the Scarecrow, and the group reunites, continuing their journey toward the Emerald City.
Chapter 10
The Queen of the Field Mice
The Tin Woodman saves the Queen of the Field Mice from a Wildcat, and in gratitude, the mice help rescue the Cowardly Lion from the deadly poppy field by building a truck and pulling him to safety.
Chapter 11
X: The Guardian of the Gate
Dorothy and her companions arrive at the Emerald City, meet the Guardian of the Gate, and are fitted with green spectacles before being led to the Palace to seek an audience with the Great Oz.
Chapter 12
XI: The Wonderful City of Oz
Dorothy and her friends arrive at the Emerald City and are dazzled by its green splendor. They are granted separate audiences with the Great Oz, who appears to each in a different form—a giant Head to Dorothy, a lovely Lady to the Scarecrow, a terrible Beast to the Tin Woodman—and sets each the same task: kill the Wicked Witch of the West before their wishes can be granted.
Chapter 13
The Search for the Wicked Witch
Dorothy and her companions are captured by the Winged Monkeys under the Wicked Witch's command. The Scarecrow and Tin Woodman are destroyed, the Lion is imprisoned, but Dorothy is spared due to the Good Witch's kiss. In the Witch's castle, Dorothy is forced into servitude, secretly feeding the Lion. The Witch tricks Dorothy out of one Silver Shoe, but Dorothy inadvertently melts her with a bucket of water, freeing herself and the Lion.
Chapter 14
The Rescue
Dorothy frees the Cowardly Lion and the Winkies from the Wicked Witch's tyranny. With the Winkies' help, she rescues and repairs the Tin Woodman and restores the Scarecrow. Reunited, the friends prepare to return to the Emerald City to claim Oz's promises, receiving gifts from the grateful Winkies.
Chapter 15
The Winged Monkeys
Lost in the fields, Dorothy uses the Golden Cap to summon the Winged Monkeys, who carry the group to the Emerald City. The Monkey King recounts the story of how the Monkeys became bound to serve the owner of the Golden Cap, a tale involving the sorceress Gayelette and her beloved Quelala.
Chapter 16
XV: The Discovery of Oz, the Terrible
Dorothy and her friends return to the Emerald City after destroying the Wicked Witch of the West. They demand that Oz fulfill his promises, but when they confront him, they discover he is not a powerful wizard but a common, ordinary man—a humbug who has been deceiving everyone with tricks and illusions. Despite his confession, Oz agrees to give the Scarecrow brains, the Tin Woodman a heart, and the Cowardly Lion courage the next day, and promises to think of a way to send Dorothy back to Kansas.
Chapter 17
The Magic Art of the Great Humbug
Oz grants the Scarecrow a brain made of bran and pins, the Tin Woodman a silk heart stuffed with sawdust, and the Cowardly Lion a potion he believes is courage. Dorothy remains unchanged, and Oz privately admits he is a humbug, unsure how to send her back to Kansas.
Chapter 18
How the Balloon Was Launched
Oz devises a plan to build a hot air balloon to carry Dorothy and himself across the desert, but when the balloon is ready and he ascends, Dorothy is left behind because she cannot find Toto in time. Oz appoints the Scarecrow as ruler of the Emerald City and departs alone, leaving the people to mourn his loss.
Chapter 19
Away to the South
Dorothy weeps over her lost chance to return to Kansas via Oz's balloon but is glad she didn't go. The Scarecrow becomes ruler of the Emerald City, and the companions discuss Dorothy's desire to go home. The Winged Monkeys cannot help her cross the desert, but a soldier suggests seeking Glinda the Good Witch of the South. Despite dangers, the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and Cowardly Lion all vow to accompany Dorothy on the journey south.
Chapter 20
XIX: Attacked by the Fighting Trees
Dorothy and her companions leave the Emerald City and begin their journey south. They encounter a forest whose trees attack them, but the Tin Woodman chops through the branches, allowing them to pass. They then come to a high white china wall.
Chapter 21
XX: The Dainty China Country
Dorothy and her companions climb over a wall and discover a country made entirely of china, with tiny houses, animals, and people. They accidentally cause damage to a china milkmaid's cow and a church, and Dorothy considers taking a beautiful china Princess back to Kansas but decides against it when the Princess explains she would be unhappy. The travelers carefully cross the land and continue their journey.
Chapter 22
The Lion Becomes the King of Beasts
After leaving the china wall, Dorothy and her companions traverse a marshy, wild forest. The Lion expresses his love for the forest, and they encounter a gathering of animals threatened by a giant spider-like monster. The Lion defeats the monster and is crowned King of the Beasts, promising to return to rule after Dorothy reaches Kansas.
Chapter 23
The Country of the Quadlings
Dorothy and her companions cross a hill guarded by armless Hammer-Heads, who repel them with their shooting heads. Using the Golden Cap, Dorothy summons the Winged Monkeys for the final time to carry them over the hill into the prosperous Quadling country. They are welcomed by a farmer's wife and learn that Glinda's castle is nearby.
Chapter 24
Glinda the Good Witch Grants Dorothy's Wish
Dorothy and her companions present themselves to Glinda, who reveals the power of the Silver Shoes to return Dorothy to Kansas. Glinda uses the Golden Cap to grant the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and Cowardly Lion their wishes to rule their respective lands, then Dorothy bids farewell and uses the shoes to return home, losing them in the desert.
Chapter 25
Home Again
Dorothy returns to her Kansas home and is joyfully reunited with Aunt Em, expressing her happiness at being back.
