Reading Notes: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Part D

The 17th chapter is called "How the Balloon was Launched." In this chapter, Dorothy finally goes to meet Oz again. He tells her his plan to get her back to Kansas; they will build a hot air balloon out of silk and fly over the desert. That will surely take them back to where they came from. So they constructed the balloon and brought it out in front of the palace to say goodbye to all of the people. Oz said he was going to visit his Great brother Wizard who lives in the clouds. Oz got into the basket, and Dorothy ran to get Toto but before she could get back to the basket, the ropes cracked and the balloon lifted off the ground without her. Nobody has seen Oz since.

The 18th chapter is called "Away to the South." The Scarecrow was now in charge of Emerald City. All of the friends are happy with the changes except Dorothy. She just wants to go back to Kansas. She uses the Golden Cap to call the Winged Monkeys, but they cannot leave the country so they can't take her back to Kansas. Then she asks the soldier with the green whiskers. He said that Glinda, the Good Witch of the South, lives on the edge of the desert in the castle, and she probably could help Dorothy cross it. So the four friends decide to take the dangerous journey south to find Glinda.

The 19th chapter is called "Attacked by the Fighting Trees." The friends begin their journey to the south. As they were walking, they came across a forest with huge trees. The Scarecrow tried to pass underneath it but the branches wrapped around him and tossed him away. Then the Tin Woodman tried, the branches wrapped around him, so he used his ax to cut the branches. After safely making it through, they determine that those branches were the policemen of the forest to keep intruders out. They walked along the forest until they came to a wall made out of china. The Tin Woodman began creating a ladder so they could climb it.

The 20th chapter is called "The Dainty China Country." After the Tin Woodman finished the ladder, the friends climbed to the other side of the wall only to notice something so magnificent. There was a town made entirely out of china: the people, the houses, the animals, everything. They made their way through the town, only breaking two things: a church and a cow's leg. Everything was so brittle and delicate and small. The people were shorter than Dorothy's knee. They continued south until they found the other side of the city where the china wall was. They climbed it and headed on their way to Glinda.

The 21st chapter is called "The Lion Becomes the King of Beasts." As the friends continued on their journey, they came across a frightening forest with terrible beasts. They heard a noise, and the Tiger approached the Lion. He said that there was a terrible beast, a spider-like creature, that was huge and killing many animals in their forest. He said if the Lion would kill it, they would worship him as the King of Beasts in the forest. So the lion went to find the spider. It was asleep, and the Lion swiped him head off with his paw. The Lion announced that he was dead, and he promised to come back to rule over the forest after Dorothy made it back to Kansas.

The 22nd chapter is called "The Country of the Quadlings." Their journey continues until they reach a large hill full of giant rocks. As they started up it, they were greeted by a short, fat man with a flat head and no arms. At first, he didn't seem threatening, but then he sprung his head out and hit the Scarecrow, sending him all the way down the hill. So Dorothy used the Golden Cap to call for the Winged Monkey's last wish. They carried the friends over the hill to a small town. The people were all friendly and dressed in red. The friends ate, and then continued to Glinda's. When they arrived to the beautiful castle, they were told that Glinda would see them immediately.

The 23rd chapter is called "The Good Witch Grants Dorothy's Wish." The friends were called to meet Glinda, where she was sitting upon a throne of rubies. She asked what the girl wanted, and Dorothy began to explain her long journey. Glinda understood, and asked if she could have the Golden Cap if she got Dorothy back to Kansas. Dorothy agreed, and Glinda asked the other three what they were going to do when she left. The Tin Woodman said he would rule the Winkies, the Scarecrow said he would rule Emerald City, and the Lion said he would rule the forest where all the beasts live. Glinda said she would use all three wishes of the Golden Cap to wish them to their destinations. Then she told Dorothy that she could go back to Kansas by clicking her silver slippers together three times. So Dorothy said goodbye to her friends, clicked her heels, and soon enough, she was back in the fields of Kansas. She greeted Aunt Em and Uncle Henry and was so glad to be home again.













Image information:

Dorothy, the Tin Woodman and the Scarecrow. Web Source.


Bibliography:

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum (1900).


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