Start a free trial of quizlet plus by thanksgiving lock in 50% off all year try it. Both versions tell the story of dorothy gale and her adorable dog toto getting stranded in a fantastical land by a tornado, and both include the iconic characters of the scarecrow. But there are loads of other imaginative touches, including a talking scarecrow, a man made of tin, armless men with projectile headsthe list goes on. People find various symbolic meanings and they can adapt the story to current events.
After explaining the connections between populism and the wizard of oz i will ask each group to link their assigned populist group to a character within the wizard. May 30, 2014 the real story of dorothy and the wizard of oz business insider. Many people are not aware that the wonderful wizard of oz is suspected to have referenced several political issues of the late 1800s. Introduction before dorothy came to oz, the beautiful country lived in fear that the wicked witches of the east and west would make them their slaves. Is the wizard of oz a musical fantasy or a parable on populism. After completion of the video, discuss with students the idealism of populism and symbolic representation. Hill company in chicago on may 17, 1900, and has since been reprinted countless times, most often under the name the wizard of oz, which is the name.
Parker as published ha the journal of the georgia association of historians, vol. Political interpretations of the wonderful wizard of oz include treatments of the modern fairy. For anyone looking for an oz gift, they might consider purchase either an individual book or a wizard of oz book series set. Unlike the childrens book, the movie was not an immediate sensation. What is the function of the wizard of ozs poppy scene. Wizard of oz populism allegory linkedin slideshare. What do the munchkins represent in the wizard of oz.
Unmasking the wizard of oz the wizard of oz has been used for years in many political cartoons. Aug 24, 2014 in the wizard of oz, the yellow brick road and dorothys slippers, which were silver in the book, referenced the eras debates over the gold standard and use of silver coin. Its easier to fool people than convince them they have been fooled. Populism and the world of oz national museum of american. In the popular childrens book, the wonderful wizard of oz, written by l. Frank baum in 1900 and many historians have tried to come up with arguments that compare the mystical story with the movement of populism. This production was such a hit that it had been turned into three movies and there were a number of plays on it. The political and economic symbols hidden inside the. Parable on populism when lyman frank baum first publicized the wonderful wizard of oz in 1900, it had been very popular from the start. In the rise and fall of the wonderful wizard of oz as a parable on populism, david parker recounted the curious interpretive history of the first oz book. A deadly flower might seem curious at first, but poppies, of course, are no ordinary bloom. Frank baums classic childrens novel the wonderful wizard of oz was published in 1900. In his book the wonderful wizard of oz in american popular culture, neil earle. Frank baums classic childrens novel as an allegory of the gilded age political economy and a comment on the gold standard.
A simple story using characters or events to represent ideas or principles, illustrating a moral or religious lesson. In a 1964 article, educator and historian henry littlefield outlined an allegory in the book of the. The winkies are good, friendly people who happen to prefer the color yellow in their surroundings, clothing and landscaping as yellow is the official. Henry littlefield argues that the wizard of oz is a story representing populism a philosophy that supports the rights of the people, and the 1896 presidential election between william jennings bryan and william mckinley. A fragmented dust jacket for a first edition of wonderful wizard of oz 1900 by l. Children like it because it is a good story, full of fun characters and exciting adventures. This theory corresponds better with the book, where oz is more about duplicity and illusion, than the movie. Turns out the book and movie may be an economic fairy tale about america in the late 1800s and gold. Turns out the book and movie may be an economic fairy tale about america in the late 1800s.
Frank baum wrote the childrens fantasy book the wonderful wizard of oz in 1900. Examples of populism in the wizard of oz 1292 words cram. The following is a compilation of several views of the monetary reform symbolism used by l. The wizard of oz parable on populism essay 1292 words. The historians wizard of oz synthesizes four decades of scholarly interpretations of l. Baums the wonderful wizard of oz is a classic tale about dorothys adventurous trip along the yellow brick road, finding her way back to her aunt em in kansas city. The occult roots of the wizard of oz the vigilant citizen. The first book in the series is also a satirical examination of the populist movement and some of.
In fact, it became clear after closer analysis that the wizard of oz had been basically skewering all of the interest groups and political ideologies that had been influential or popular at the time, including populism, and when the book was read from this perspective, the allegorical nature of the work became all but impossible to ignore. Apr 05, 2017 frank baums classic childrens novel the wonderful wizard of oz was published in 1900. Is there a hidden political allegory in the wizard of oz. So whats the real meaning of these wizard of oz characters. In general frank baum, oz books can be priced from ten to thousands of dollars and. In the article, littlefield made the bold claim that frank baums 1900 book conceals an unsuspected depth. It appeared that baum wrote an entire book as a metaphor relating to the populism of the 1890s. A parable on populism beacon learning center lesson plans. The symbolism of the wizard of oz came to light again recently after the famous filmmaker, bill still, produced a twohour documentary film, the secret of oz, in which he shakes up the existing economic paradigms and contends that the book contains a solution. Although bowing to the evidence, parker attempted to salvage the allegorical interpretation as a useful pedagogical. A monetary reformers brief symbol glossary by patrick s. Frank baum published his famous novel, the wonderful wizard of oz. This week, leslie pitched the wizard of oz as a great example of extended metaphor and symbolism in a story. Sharetweetemailwith its memorable story and its cast of colorful characters, the wizard of oz quickly became an american classic.
The heart of the book is an annotated version of the wizard of oz that highlights the possible political and monetary symbolism in the book by relating characters, settings, and. Both the book and the film the wizard of oz feature iconic scenes of dorothy, toto, and the cowardly lion the only flesh and blood members of the gang, lulled to sleep by a field of poisonous poppies. Oz populism theory page 1 of 7 the rise and fall of the wonderful wizard of oz as a parable on populism by david b. Nov 09, 2016 both the book and the film the wizard of oz feature iconic scenes of dorothy, toto, and the cowardly lion the only flesh and blood members of the gang, lulled to sleep by a field of poisonous poppies. The real story of dorothy and the wizard of oz youtube. The wizard of oz and political symbolism sophies tale. This 1939 perennial classic was primarily directed by victor fleming from a screenplay by noel langley, florence ryerson, and edgar allan woolf based on the wonderful wizard of oz by l. For the novice, collectors will be a good start to learn about the collectible wizard of oz book series by frank baum and oz books guide.
Oz is the wizard that dorothy and the others travel to see in the wonderful wizard of oz. Frank baum, populism can be seen more often than not. Still, the main characters dorothy, the scarecrow, the tin woodman, and the lion embody traditional american values. Both versions tell the story of dorothy gale and both include many iconic characters. In the book and the play the shoes are silver, not ruby as they were famously depicted in the 1939 film. In oz, the wizard was selected by the people, but commanded the obedience of the citys population by appearing in a powerful and fearsome form. The wizard of oz is filled with musical comedy and is a warm and touching production. Know that students understand populism and the symbolic representation. As published in the journal of the georgia association of historians, vol.
These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of the wizard of oz by victor fleming. The wonderful wizard of oz as a parable on populism. Frank baum wrote 14 wizard of oz books, including 1900s the wonderful wizard of oz, which mgm turned into a wonderful wizard of oz movie. The book was in the earliest binding state, but the presence.
Parable on populism, in the american quarterly during spring of 1964. Symbolism reflected populism in the wonderful wizard of oz dorothy lands in oz a. This production was such a hit that it had been turned into three. The bad wizard of oz is a childrens novel written by l. Mark twain there are numerous interpretations of the wizard of oz or is it oz as in ounce. In the book version of oz, dorothy treads the yellow brick road in silver shoes, not in ruby slippers. By the time the book entered the public domain in 1956, the wonderful wizard of oz had sold three million copies. The postmortem on the symbolic reading of baum soon followed. The wizard of oz essays are academic essays for citation. The the wizard of oz is a beloved childrens story written by l. The wonderful wizard of oz is too long to be a parable and not quite didactic enough to be an allegory.
The wizard of oz parable on populism 1293 words 6 pages. The wizard of oz and political symbolism book and media. Littlefield explained all of this in an article the wizard of allegory in the. More than a hundred years after the release of this book, kids everywhere are still enchanted by ozs world of wonder. Frank baum wrote 14 wizard of oz books, but his biggest home run was 1900s the wonderful wizard of oz, which mgm turned into a wonderful wizard of oz movie. Hill company in chicago on may 17, 1900, and has since been reprinted countless times, most often under the name the wizard of oz, which is the name of both the 1902 stage play and the extremely popular, highly acclaimed. The wonderful wizard of oz is one of americas favorite pieces of juvenile literature.
Hence the silver slippers were extremely important in the book, as silver coin was in reality. On that image alone we could rest our case that the wonderful wizard of oz is a fanciful book. While the trailer is playing i will write the names of certain characters from the book movie on the whiteboard. How did the wizard of oz symbolize populism answers. However, there seems to more to the story than just that. From the characters to the settings to the entire plot of this book, you can find almost nothing but symbolism. Each is symbolic to his everyday life, as well as to other common peoples lives that have had similar experiences, or can relate in any way to the author. Baum cleverly displays this through all of his characters. A parable on populism and american monetary policy. Author and oz series originator lyman frank baum may 15, 1856may 6, 1919 included his reason for writing the wizard of oz in the book s introduction. The wizard of oz parable on populism essay 1292 words cram. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The real story of dorothy and the wizard of oz business insider.
Littlefield claimed that the book was baums clever allegory on the populist movement of his day. Political interpretations of the wonderful wizard of oz wikipedia. Scholars have examined four quite different versions of oz. Dorothy and the wizards head from the book, the wonderful wizard of oz. Political interpretations of the wonderful wizard of oz include treatments of the modern fairy tale written by l. The wonderful wizard of oz, in 1900, and underneath the surface of the story, with all its whimsy and childish delights. Populism and the world of oz national museum of american history. This production was such a hit that it had been turned into three movies and there were a number of plays. The political and economic symbols hidden inside the wizard of oz. In the book, the tin man, scarecrow and dorothy all saw the wizard quite differently. The rise and fall of the wonderful wizard of oz as a. The classic work in the field of symbolism in western literature is henry.
Speculation of the parallels between the characters in the book and history of the united states began with a history teacher by the name of henry littlefield. It was a song they had brought with them from australia and would soon spread to england. In his reading of the wizard of oz, littlefield believed that dorothy was a standin for the average american, and that the magic silver shoes represented the late 1890s free silver movement. Frank baums book series the wonderful wizard of oz centers around the adventures of dorothy and her dog toto as the brave the strange land of oz and go on several adventures. This symbolizes the cynicism that exists in politics due to the fact that politicians tend to change face. Even though film critics of the day may have lauded it as such. Interesting fact related to rare oz dust jacket from appraising rare and collectible childrens book.
It was adapted into a broadway musical by baum in 1902, and then into its first. Although bowing to the evidence, parker attempted to salvage the allegorical interpretation as a useful. Frank baum and first published in 1900 as an allegory or metaphor for the political, economic, and social events of america in the 1890s. Although bowing to the evidence, parker attempted to. The wizard of oz parable on populism 1293 words bartleby. Populism and the wizard of oz nicholas connollys teacher. In the wizard of oz, the yellow brick road and dorothys slippers, which were silver in the book, referenced the eras debates over the gold standard and use of silver coin. The wizard of oz symbols, allegory and motifs gradesaver. The rise and fall of the wonderful wizard of oz as a parable on populism. Professor nye finds a strain of moralism in the oz books, as well as. He wrote thirteen additional oz books, and the film adaptation staring judy garland was released in 1939.
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