The Wizard of Oz

The Journey:
1. Hero ___________________
2. Everyday World ___________________
3. Call ___________________
4. 1st Threshold ___________________
5. Other World ___________________
6. Tests ___________________

7.
8.
9.
10.
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12.

Helpers ___________________
Supreme Challenge ___________________
Return ___________________
2nd Threshold ___________________
Reemergence ___________________
The Boon ___________________

Questions for discussion:

1. What kind of hero is Dorothy? How do you feel about her?
2. Describe Dorothys life in Kansas. What is it like? How does she feel? Discuss the
song, Somewhere Over the Rainbow.
3. What pushes Dorothy to go on her journey? How does she go: by being lured, by
being carried away or by voluntarily proceed[ing]?
4. Joseph Campbell spoke of something called the Refusal of the Call, where the hero
chooses not to go. Did you notice that in this movie?
5. How does Dorothy cross the first threshold? Did she encounter any threshold
guardians? Did you see her defeat anyone, or make peace with anyone? Or did she
die in the crossing?
6. Describe the other world that Dorothy enters. What strange but familiar forces
are there? How are these forces familiar?
7. Describe the tests Dorothy faces.
8. Describe Dorothys helpers.
9. What tests do her helpers face?
10. What task does the Wizard assign to Dorothy? What category is this: sacred
marriage, recognition by the father, being made a god, or theft?
11. What rewards do Dorothy and her friends receive? In what ways do these show how
their consciousness and being are expanded?
12. Does Dorothy return safely and easily, or must she flee?
13. In what way does she leave the powers behind?
14. How does Dorothy reemerge? What is the significance of this?
15. What boon does Dorothy bring to the world? (And who represents the world?)
16. What role does Toto play in the story? Is he important?
17. Which of the Oz characters have counterparts in the Everyday World?
18. Describe and discuss each of the key characters: Uncle Henry, Auntie Em, Miss
Gulch, Professor Marvel, Glinda, The Munchkins, The Wicked Witch, The
Scarecrow, The Tin Man, The Cowardly Lion, The Wizard. Talk about their
personalities, and their importance to Dorothys quest.
19. Describe the atmosphere of: the farm, Professor Marvels wagon, Munchkinland, the
Emerald City, the Witchs castle.
20. Was this story just a dream? What does it say about Dorothy and her life?