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The Hero's Journey In 'The Wizard Of Oz'

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The Wizard of Oz Compare and Contrast Essay Follow the yellow brick road is one of the most famous songs in The Wizard of Oz. In The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, Dorothy has an adventure in Oz after being bored with her life in Kansas. On this journey, she is constantly searching for a way home, encountering both friends and enemies along the way. By the end, she realizes there truly is no place like home. Although the book and movie versions share the hero’s journey and the same basic plot and characters, there are also several differences between the two. Three stages of the hero’s journey that can be compared and contrasted in both the novel and movie are Tests, Ordeal, and Award. The sixth stage of the Hero’s journey is Tests, and the book and movie complete this step differently. In the book, it states that “Now it is well known that when there are many of these flowers together their odor is so powerful that anyone who breathes it falls asleep, and if the sleeper is not carried away from the scent of the flowers he sleeps on and on forever.” (Baum, 8). Tests mean these are what Dorothy has to get past on her journey to Oz and what happens along the way. Similarly, in the movie Dorothy, Toto, and the Lion …show more content…

In the book, it states that “I thought Oz was a great Head.” said Dorothy. “And I thought Oz was a lovely Lady.” said the Scarecrow. “And I thought Oz was a terrible Beast.” said the Tin Woodman. “And I thought Oz was a Ball of Fire.” exclaimed the Lion.” (Baum 15). They all saw Oz as something different and got what they went for all along. Award means this is what Dorothy and the group got from Oz after killing the Witch of the West. Differently, in the movie all of them see Oz at the same time right away. When they see Oz he is a huge head with fire around it and he wants them to get the Witch's broomstick for their

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