Lesson 4: Oz
Welcome back students!! Before we finish our course, I would like us to visit another magical world! Please be careful because this travel will require us to catch a cyclone! But fear not! I promise we will all be safe! Just prepare yourself for a long ride because today we will visit lots and lots of interesting places and creatures. Welcome to Oz!!!
The Land of Oz
Oz is a fantastic region and the main set in L. Frank Baum’s book collection The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, which contains 14 books.
Like every country, Oz has its own history. Everything happened when the Fairy Lurline enchanted Oz, so it became a fairy country. Unfortunately, magic has its bad side as well, and this new fairy country was soon invaded by four wicked witches. One of them, Mombi, captured the king and kept him prisoner.
One good day, a magician and illusionist named O.Z. Diggs (Oscar Zoroaster) landed in Oz riding a hot-air balloon. When he came, he never expected the things that would happen to him! Because of the initials that were in his balloon, he was thought to be a Wizard and the proper ruler of Oz. That is how Oscar became the Wizard of Oz, and assuming his responsibilities, he built the Emerald City and reunited the four kingdoms that conform Oz, however, he always feared the wicked witches.
After this episode in Oz’s history, it was time for another person to shine. This person is no other than sweet Dorothy Gale! This little girl from Kansas, was brought to Oz when a cyclone carried her house, killing the Wicked Witch of the East on the way. Trying to find her way back home, she was told by the Good Witch of the North that only the Wizard of Oz could help her, and gave her directions and the pair of magical Silver Shoes that the Wicked Witch was wearing. These shoes would allow the wearer to travel anywhere by knocking the heels together three times, however, Dorothy would not know this until Glinda, the Good Witch of the South, tells her so.
Following the famous Yellow Brick Road, Dorothy, accompanied by the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, the Cowardly Lion, and her dog Toto, arrives to Emerald City and finds the Wizard who sends her to defeat the Wicked Witch of the West. Dorothy does so by throwing a bucket of water on her. After that, she returns to Emerald City and with the help of her Silver Shoes she manages to return to Kansas, leaving Oz with the Scarecrow as the new King of the land.
Unfortunately, things didn’t work that well, and the Emerald City was conquered by Jinjur, a Munchkin girl, and Glinda began searching for Ozma¸ the rightful ruler of Oz. Glinda accomplished her goal and Jinjur was captured, but she was sent back to her mother because she promised good behavior.
With Ozma back to the throne, Dorothy returns to Oz several times. She became good friends with Ozma, and helps her to defeat the Nome King when he tried to invade Oz. After this, Glinda erected an invisible protective barrier around all the land of Oz, and Dorothy was made Princess.
Ozma, as the good leader she was, successfully wards off several attempts by various armies to overthrow her. To avoid more troubles, she outlaws the practice of magic in all of Oz, except for herself, the Wizard of Oz, and Glinda of course! Ozma remains the ruler of Oz for the entire series.
Like every country, Oz has its own history. Everything happened when the Fairy Lurline enchanted Oz, so it became a fairy country. Unfortunately, magic has its bad side as well, and this new fairy country was soon invaded by four wicked witches. One of them, Mombi, captured the king and kept him prisoner.
One good day, a magician and illusionist named O.Z. Diggs (Oscar Zoroaster) landed in Oz riding a hot-air balloon. When he came, he never expected the things that would happen to him! Because of the initials that were in his balloon, he was thought to be a Wizard and the proper ruler of Oz. That is how Oscar became the Wizard of Oz, and assuming his responsibilities, he built the Emerald City and reunited the four kingdoms that conform Oz, however, he always feared the wicked witches.
After this episode in Oz’s history, it was time for another person to shine. This person is no other than sweet Dorothy Gale! This little girl from Kansas, was brought to Oz when a cyclone carried her house, killing the Wicked Witch of the East on the way. Trying to find her way back home, she was told by the Good Witch of the North that only the Wizard of Oz could help her, and gave her directions and the pair of magical Silver Shoes that the Wicked Witch was wearing. These shoes would allow the wearer to travel anywhere by knocking the heels together three times, however, Dorothy would not know this until Glinda, the Good Witch of the South, tells her so.
Following the famous Yellow Brick Road, Dorothy, accompanied by the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, the Cowardly Lion, and her dog Toto, arrives to Emerald City and finds the Wizard who sends her to defeat the Wicked Witch of the West. Dorothy does so by throwing a bucket of water on her. After that, she returns to Emerald City and with the help of her Silver Shoes she manages to return to Kansas, leaving Oz with the Scarecrow as the new King of the land.
Unfortunately, things didn’t work that well, and the Emerald City was conquered by Jinjur, a Munchkin girl, and Glinda began searching for Ozma¸ the rightful ruler of Oz. Glinda accomplished her goal and Jinjur was captured, but she was sent back to her mother because she promised good behavior.
With Ozma back to the throne, Dorothy returns to Oz several times. She became good friends with Ozma, and helps her to defeat the Nome King when he tried to invade Oz. After this, Glinda erected an invisible protective barrier around all the land of Oz, and Dorothy was made Princess.
Ozma, as the good leader she was, successfully wards off several attempts by various armies to overthrow her. To avoid more troubles, she outlaws the practice of magic in all of Oz, except for herself, the Wizard of Oz, and Glinda of course! Ozma remains the ruler of Oz for the entire series.
The Wicked Witches in Oz
The Wicked Witches played an important role in the history of Oz. Let’s quickly learn about them!
- Wicked Witch of the East: She ruled the Munchkins in the East and the Wizard of Oz was unable to defeat her. This witch had a maid called Nimmie Amee, who was in love with Nick Chopper. Afraid that she would leave her, the Wicked Witch enchanted Nick’s Axe, and he was turned into the Tin Woodman. The Wicked Witch of the East was killed when Dorothy’s house fell on her.
- Wicked Witch of the South: She was the ruler of the Quadling Country before the arrival of the Wizard in Oz. She was overthrown by Glinda, the Good, who became the new ruler of the south.
- Wicked Witch of the West: She was the ruler of the Winkies and made them her slaves. She had one eye that could see everything, she always carried an umbrella, and she had an army of Winged Monkeys. The Wizard of Oz tried to defeat her but he was unsuccessful. It was Dorothy who destroys when she throws a bucket of water on her after she was captured by the witch.
- Wicked Witch of the North: This witch is also called Mombi, and she was the ruler of Gillikin Country. She enslaved King Pastoria, King of Oz before the Wizard’s arrival. She was first defeated by the Good Witch of the North. Later, the Wizard of Oz visited her 3 times and handed her baby Princess Ozma, the daughter of King Pastoria and heir to the throne of Oz. Mombi hid her and transformed her into a boy named Tip. Mombi also aid Jinjur and help her to rule Oz for a little while. When Jinjur was overthrown and Glinda started searching for Ozma, she found out what Mombi had done and forced her to turn Tip back into Ozma. Princess Ozma was made ruler again, and Glinda made Mombi drink a draught that eliminated all of her magical powers.
Places to Visit
The fairyland of Oz is divided into four countries and a central city. Each country has very interesting places to visit, and below we will describe some of them:
- Munchkin Country: Located in the Eastern part of Oz, this is the place where the Munchkins live. It is connected to the Emerald City through the Yellow Brick Road. Its characteristic color is blue. This country was ruled by The Wicked Witch of the East until Dorothy accidentally defeated her.
- Quadling Country: Located in the Southern part of Oz, this is the place where the Quadlings live. This country has a king, but everyone is so wild, that most inhabitants live without knowing that they have a ruler. Its characteristic color is red. I here you will find the Palace of Glinda, and also lots of fantastic places with very curious inhabitants, including animals that see Cowardly Lion as their King.
- Winkie Country: Located in the Western part of Oz, this is the place where the Winkies live. The Deadly Desert separates this country from the Dominions of the Nome King. Winkies are tinsmiths and its characteristic color is yellow.
- Gillikin Country: Located in the Northern part of Oz, this is the place where the Gilikins live. They are ruled by a Sovereign and its characteristic color is purple.
- Emerald City: This is the capital city of the Land of Oz. It is at the end of the Yellow Brick Road. It is made of green marble and emeralds and it has four gates that face the four countries of Oz. This is a very luxurious city, where people dress in fine clothes made of silk, satin and velvet. Citizens here know how balance work and leisure time.
- Deadly Desert: This desert completely surrounds the Land of Oz. The Eastern part of this desert is called Deadly Desert while the other 3 parts are called the Shifting Sands, the Impassible Desert, and the Great Sandy Waste. If you ever touch these sands you will disintegrate.
- Yellow Brick Road: This famous road will connect various sections of Oz to the Emerald City
- Deadly Poppy Field: Careful in here please! Poppies are really beautiful flowers, but in Oz they will make you sleep! The odor is so strong and spicy that you will be snoring in just a few seconds! So we won’t get too close! This Poppy Field is located in Munchkin Country.
- College of Art and Athletic Perfection: Located in Munchkin Country, learning is so easy in here! Just take some pills and you will learn everything without attending lessons, giving you time to work on your Arts and Athletics.
- Dicksy Land: Located in Munchkin Country, this place is crazy! Roses are daisies and vice versa; houses have windows where their doors should be, and so on!
- Ozure Isles: Located in Lake Orizon (where the big hippocampus live!), they are five small islands. They are very rich in gems! Their capital city is Sapphire City, which, as you have already guessed, is made of sapphires, giving it its distinctive blue light.
- Rigmarole Town: In here, people tend to worry about everything and explain things in a roundabout way, so it is difficult to understand them.
- Scarecrow’s Mansion: Located in Winkie Country, this is the home of the Scarecrow. It resembles a corn, where the roads of kernels are made of gold and the green leaf that forms the base is made of emeralds. On the top it has a figure of the Scarecrow with crows carved out of ebony and ruby eyes.
- Truth Pond: This magical pond will free you from any enchantment, but in exchange you will have (you guessed it right!) to tell the truth.
- Oogaboo: Located in Winkie Country, in here, items of great value will grow on trees.
- Bear Center: Located in Winkie Country, this is a forest inhabited by stuffed bears that are ruled by the Lavender Bear and guided by the Little Pink Bear. Aren’t they cute?
- Magic Isle: Located in Gilikin Country, this isle will root you to the groud! Living flesh and animal tissue will be rooted like a plant, however, wood is immune to this magic. Near the Magic Isle we will find the Diamond Palace of the Lonesome Duck, the only duck in all of Oz! Let´s take a picture!
- Forest of Gugu: Located in Gilikin Country, this forest is governed by Gugu the leopard. In here you will find all kind of animals and wildlife. Pretty much like a muggle zoo!!
- Pumperdink: Located in Gilikin Country, in this place all citizens that displease the king will be punished and will be dipped in ink.
Inhabitants in Oz
Of course we have visited many places while in Oz, and below is a description of some of the creatures we encountered.
- Munchkins: The Munchkins are as tall as well-grown child, and they like to wear round pointed hats, silk stockings, low shoes with jeweled buckles, shirts, and vests embroidered with silk. Their favorite color is blue.
- Quadlings: They have a reddish skin, and they are less civilized than other citizens of Oz. They have a ruddy complexion and are ruled by Glinda, the Good.
- Winkies: They are skilled tinsmiths and they have an affinity for the yellow color. They were ruled by the Wicked Witch of the West, until Dorothy defeated her. After that, the Tin Woodman became their governor and they were happy about it!
- Gilikins: Not much is known of them, just that they are from Gilikin Country and that purple is their main color. They were used to be ruled by the witch Mombi.
- Hammerheads: From Quadling Country, they don’t have arms but have extensible necks and hard heads.
- China People: From China Country in Quadling Country, these citizens are very fragile because they are made of china.
- Cuttenclips: From Quadling Country, these are living paper dolls.
- Fuddles: From Fuddlecumjig in Quadling Country, these inhabitants are made of puzzle pieces that have to be reassembled very often.
- Utensians: From Utensia in Quadling Country, these are living cooking utensils.
- Bun People: From Bunbury in Quadling Country, this people are made of baked goods.
- Bunnies of Bunybury: Civilized rabbits that walk on their hind legs and also wear clothes!
- Hoppers: From Quaddling Country, they travel by hoping because they only have one leg.
- Horners: From Quadling Country, they are miners with horns.
- Tottenhots: Small and mischievous people from Winkie Country. They sleep during the day and play at night.
- Thists: From Thi in Winkie Country, these citizens have diamond-shaped heads and heart-shaped bodies.
- Winged Monkeys: From Gilikin Country, these monkeys will obey whoever wears a magical Golden Cap.
- Loons: From Loonville in Gilikin Country, these are living balloon people that warn strangers to stay away from their clearing.
- Dragons: They are the toughest creatures in Oz and live underground in Gilikin Country. They are only allowed to come out every 100 years to search for food.
- Mist Maidens: From Gilikin Country, these are sea fairies who take the form of beautiful young women. They are kind and helpful.
- Flatheads: From Gilikin Country, these creatures have flat heads and thus carry their brains in cans. They live in the top of the mountains.
- Skeezers: From Gilikin Country, they are constantly in conflict with the Flatheads. They look like normal humans and live in submersible city in the middle of a lake.
- Equinots: This is a race of centaurs that live in Gilikin Country.
- Hoopers: From Gilikin Country, they are 10 feet tall and can roll into hoops when they grab their toes with their hands!
- Scooters: From the Gilikin River, they have boat-like feet and also sails that grow from their wrists to their ribs.
This was a fun world to visit right? It was a long one, but hopefully you enjoyed it! Please continue with your assignment!