The Wizard of Oz Summary

On the Kansas prairies, a young girl named Dorothy lives on a farm with her Aunt Em, her Uncle Henry, and her little black dog, Toto. While her surroundings are dull and gray, Dorothy still finds joy in playing with Toto. One day, a raging cyclone suddenly rolls through the prairie. Before Dorothy can join her relatives in the storm shelter, the force of the storm knocks her to the floor and picks up the entire farmhouse. Eventually, the house lands surprisingly softly, and Dorothy finds herself in a strange and beautiful country full of trees, rivers, and colorful flowers. Small people called Munchkins approach her, accompanied by an older woman: the Good Witch of the North. The Witch explains to Dorothy that she is now in the Land of Oz, and thanks her for killing the Wicked Witch of the East. Surprised at this remark, Dorothy notices that the farmhouse has indeed landed on someone wearing silver slippers. The Good Witch goes on to explain that the enchanted slippers belong to Dorothy now, and that the only remaining wicked witch in Oz is the Wicked Witch of the West. Dorothy expresses that she wants to go back home to Kansas right away, but the Good Witch of the North regretfully tells her that a vast, uncrossable desert surrounds Oz on all sides, and so Dorothy has no choice but to stay in Oz forever.

Dorothy is distressed at this news, as she’s sure that Aunt Em must be worried about her. Upon reflection, the Good Witch of the North tells Dorothy to travel to the Emerald City and see the great and powerful Wizard of Oz, who can surely send Dorothy back home. The Witch kisses Dorothy’s forehead, which leaves a glowing mark. With this mark on her head, the Witch explains, no one would dare to harm Dorothy. After putting on the silver slippers and preparing for the journey, Dorothy sets off with Toto down the yellow brick road, which leads to the Emerald City. Along the way, she meets three strange new companions: the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion. The Scarecrow has a head full of straw, and he dearly wishes he had a brain. The Tin Woodman is a hollow man made of tin who wants a heart more than anything. The Cowardly Lion is a great beast who nonetheless seems to be afraid of everyone and everything, and he therefore desires courage. All three of them agree to accompany Dorothy on her quest in the hopes that the Wizard of Oz can grant them what they want as well as sending Dorothy home. The group encounters many perils on their way to the Emerald City, and each of Dorothy’s new friends seems to display the quality they believe they lack, without even noticing. The Scarecrow comes up with clever plans, the Tin Woodman shows deep compassion for every innocent creature, and the Cowardly Lion displays a surprising amount of bravery.

After many trials and tribulations, the four friends and Toto finally arrive at the gates of the Emerald City. The reclusive Wizard of Oz agrees to speak with each of them one at a time, and he assumes a different fearsome form during each meeting. One by one, he agrees to grant each of the travelers’ requests, but only if they destroy the Wicked Witch of the West first. Disappointed and frightened by this idea, Dorothy and her friends set out for the west, hoping they can somehow accomplish what the Wizard has tasked them with. Using her magic eye, the Wicked Witch sees the travelers arrive in her country from afar. Furious, she uses her enchanted Golden Cap to send an army of winged monkeys after Dorothy and her friends. They destroy the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman, and capture the Lion and Dorothy, whom the Wicked Witch decides to enslave. Eventually, after the Wicked Witch steals one of Dorothy’s silver slippers to claim its power for herself, Dorothy furiously throws a bucket of water at the Witch, inadvertently melting her. A race of people called the Winkies, whom the Wicked Witch had enslaved, thank Dorothy for freeing them and agree to reassemble the ruined Scarecrow and Tin Woodman. With the group of friends reunited, Dorothy uses the Golden Cap to have the winged monkeys carry them all the way back to the Emerald City.

After much waiting, the Wizard finally agrees to speak with Dorothy and her friends again. They tell him that they’ve killed the Wicked Witch, but he still orders them to return tomorrow. Just then, Toto accidentally knocks over a screen nearby, revealing the Wizard to be nothing but a small old man who’s only been pretending to be a Wizard for years. The man tries to console Dorothy’s friends by giving them what they desire, in his own “humbug” way. He gives the Scarecrow a brain of sorts, the Tin Man a silk heart, and he offers the Lion a drink that the Wizard insists is courage. The three of them are satisfied, as they now believe they have what they asked for. As for Dorothy, however, the Wizard has no choice but to fly her back to Kansas in a hot air balloon. The Wizard explains that he once lived in Omaha as a circus performer, and now longs to return anyway. On the day of the departure, the balloon takes off, but the Wizard accidentally leaves Dorothy behind, as she’s busy trying to catch Toto in the watching crowd. The Wizard has no way of bringing the balloon back down, and Dorothy is stranded in Oz once again. As he leaves, the Wizard puts the wise Scarecrow in charge of the Emerald City.

Dorothy’s friends are still determined to see her get back home, so they decide to travel south and ask Glinda, the Good Witch of the South, for help. The group sets off on one last adventure, during which the Lion displays his bravery once again, killing an enormous spider and becoming the king of the beasts. At last, they arrive at Glinda’s palace, where the Good Witch generously offers to help them. She explains to Dorothy that the silver slippers have the power to take the wearer anywhere they wish to go in an instant, so Dorothy could have gone home the entire time. Dorothy’s friends remind Dorothy that they’re all much better off for having known her, and they exchange heartfelt goodbyes as she prepares to leave Oz at last. Glinda promises to deliver the Scarecrow back to the Emerald City to rule there, the Tin Man to the west to rule over the Winkies, and the Lion back to the forest to live as king of the beasts. After one last goodbye, Dorothy activates the magic charm of the slippers and finally returns to Kansas, where Aunt Em and Uncle Henry have built a new house on the prairie. She runs into her aunt’s arms, and Aunt Em is relieved to see Dorothy safe and sound. After her long journey, Dorothy is overjoyed to be home again.