The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: American Fable or Political Allegory?
This project is weighed at 10 points for students of HS 202. It examines an American classic, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" written by L. Frank Baum shortly after the turn of the 20th century. Best known today as a delightful Hollywood film that brought stardom to Judy Garland, it was originally written as a child's story. Surprisingly, its appeal has stretched further than the shores of America and has received widespread popularity throughout the world.
Your assignment is to (1) briefly trace the story line of the work, (2) interpret the political symbols and (3) account for its enduring popularity. In order to accomplish this you will quite possibily have to exceed the usual 500 word target which is recommended for most papers in this course.
To assist you, the following links are recommended
Various links to the text of the work are available on line. See, e.g., The Gutenberg Project Web Site, or simply type the title into a search engine.