Chapter 2 - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Masterwork Analysis

Hello and welcome to the StoryGrid Masterwork Podcast. We're part of a growing StoryGrid community that includes thousands of writers and editors from all over the world. We're dedicated to helping writers improve their craft through books, podcasts, courses and online forums. In this StoryGrid Masterwork podcast, we'll be reading and analyzing great books to learn what makes them work so well. I'm your host, Bib Bailey. This season, we're reading the Wonderful wizard of Oz, L. Frank Baum's classic novel about a young girl's heroic journey. In each episode, I'll read you one of the book's 24 scenes and then we'll analyze the scene using storygrid tools and methods in order to understand how and why this story endures and still captivates readers more than a century after it was written. Editor and publisher Sean Coyne developed StoryGrid during 30 years in the storytelling business. He's applied his knowledge to dozens of best selling fiction and nonfiction stories and now shares what he's learned in the StoryGrid community. You'll find a full introduction to StoryGrid's method of analyzing scenes in the first episode of this series. Now let's review how we'll analyze today's scene. If you're already familiar with StoryGrid, you can skip ahead 1 minute 40 seconds to start listening to the scene. We use five first principles to analyze any story. First, we look at a story both as a whole and in smaller parts. In this podcast, we'll dissect the Wonderful wizard of Oz in parts, scene by scene. Second, we look for a change inside the world of the story, because all stories are about change. Third, we figure out how the change is linked to a universal human value such as safety, love, or justice. Fourth, we sum up the change in that human value in a single sentence called a story event. To find the story event, we ask four Socratic questions. These questions help us see what's actually happening in the scene, what the character's essential tactics are, and how they connect to the universal human value at stake. Fifth, when we know our story event, we look at how the scene is constructed by using what we call the five commandments of storytelling. The five commandments we'll find in each scene of the Wonderful wizard of Oz are the inciting incident, which kicks off the action the turning point, progressive complication, an unexpected event that turns the human value at stake in the scene and gives rise to the crisis, which is a dilemma about how to confront the unexpected event. The climax, which is the decision and action a character takes in response to the crisis, the resolution which is the outcome of the action of the climax. Now let's step onto the Yellow brick road with Dorothy and listen to this week's scene and analysis.

The Wonderful wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum Scene 2 the council with the Munchkins.

She was awakened by a shock so sudden and severe that if Dorothy had not been lying on the soft bed, she might have been hurt. As it was, the jar made her catch her breath and wonder what had happened, and Toto put his cold little nose into her face and whined dismally. Dorothy sat up and noticed that the house was not moving, nor was it dark, for the bright sunshine came in at the window, flooding the little room. She sprang from her bed and with Toto at her heels, ran and opened the door. The little girl gave a cry of amazement and looked about her, her eyes growing bigger and bigger at the wonderful sights she saw. The cyclone had set the house down very gently for a cyclone in the midst of a country of marvelous beauty. There were lovely patches of greensward all about, with stately trees bearing rich and luscious fruits. Banks of gorgeous flowers were on every hand, and birds with rare and brilliant plumage sang and fluttered in the trees and bushes. A little way off was a small brook, rushing and sparkling along between green banks and murmuring in a voice very grateful to a little girl who had lived so long on the dry gray prairies. While she stood looking eagerly at the strange and beautiful sights, she noticed coming toward her a group of the queerest people she had ever seen. They were not as big as the grown folks she had always been used to, but neither were they very small. In fact they seemed about as tall as Dorothy, who was a well grown child for her age, although they were, so far as looks go, many years older. Three were men and one a woman, and all were oddly dressed. They wore round hats that rose to a small point a foot above their heads, with little bells around the brims that tinkled sweetly as they moved. The hats of the men were blue, the little woman's hat was white, and she wore a white gown that hung in pleats from her shoulders. Over it were sprinkled little stars that glistened in the sun like diamonds. The men were dressed in blue of the same shade as their hats, and wore well polished boots with a deep roll of blue at the tops. These men, Dorothy thought, were about as old as Uncle Henry, for two of them had beards. But the little woman was doubtless much older. Her face was covered with wrinkles, her hair was nearly white, and she walked rather stiffly. When these people drew near the house where Dorothy was standing in the doorway, they paused and whispered among themselves, as if afraid to come farther. But the little old woman walked up to Dorothy, made a low bow, and and said in a sweet voice, you are welcome, most noble sorceress, to the land of the Munchkins. We are so grateful to you for having killed the Wicked Witch of the east and for setting our people free from bondage. Dorothy listened to this speech with wonder. What could the little woman possibly mean by calling her a sorceress and saying she had killed the Wicked Witch of the East? Dorothy was an innocent, harmless little girl who had been carried by a cyclone many miles from home, and she had never killed anything in all her life. But the little woman evidently expected her to answer so. Dorothy said with hesitation, you are very kind, but there must be some mistake. I have not killed anything. Your house did anyway, replied the little old woman with a laugh. And that is the same thing. See? She continued, pointing to the corner of the house, and there are her two feet still sticking out from under a block of wood. Dorothy looked and gave a little cry of fright. There indeed, just under the corner of the great beam the house rested on. Two feet were sticking out, shod in silver shoes with pointed toes. Oh dear, oh dear. Cried Dorothy, clasping her hands together in dismay. The house must have fallen on her. Whatever shall we do? There is nothing to be done, said the little woman calmly. But who was she? Asked Dorothy.

She was the Wicked Witch of the east, as I said, answered the little woman. She has held all the Munchkins in bondage for many years, making them slave for her night and day. Now they are all set free, and we are grateful to you for the favor. Who are the Munchkins? Inquired Dorothy. They are the people who live in this Land of the east where the Wicked Witch ruled. Are you a Munchkin? Asked Dorothy. No, but I am their friend, although I live in the Land of the North. When they saw the Witch of the east was dead, the Munchkin sent a swift messenger to me, and I came at once. I am the Witch of the North.

Oh, gracious. Cried Dorothy. Are you a real witch? Yes, indeed, answered the little woman. But I am a good witch, and the people love me. I am not as powerful as the Wicked Witch was who ruled here, or I should have set the people free myself. But I thought all witches were wicked, said the girl who was Half frightened at facing a real witch. Oh, no, that is a great mistake. There were only four witches in all the land of Oz, and two of them, those who live in the north and the south, are good witches. I know this is true, for I am one of them myself and cannot be mistaken. Those who dwelt in the east and the west were indeed wicked witches. But now that you have killed one of them, there is but one wicked witch in all the land of Oz. The one who lives in the West.

But, said Dorothy, after a moment's thought, aunt Em has told me that the witches were all dead years and years ago. Who is Aunt Em? Inquired the little old woman. She is my aunt who lives in Kansas, where I came from. The Witch of the north seemed to think for a time with her head bowed and her eyes upon the ground. Then she looked up and said, I do not know where Kansas is, for I have never heard that country mentioned before. But tell me, is it a civilized country? Oh, yes, replied Dorothy. Then that accounts for it. In the civilized countries, I believe there are no witches left, nor wizards, nor sorceresses, nor magicians. But you see, the land of Oz has never been civilized, for we are cut off from all the rest of the world. Therefore we still have witches and wizards amongst us. Who are the wizards? Asked Dorothy. Oz himself is the Great wizard, answered the Witch, sinking her voice to a whisper. He is more powerful than all the rest of us put together. He lives in the city of Emeralds. Dorothy was going to ask another question, but just then the Munchkins, who had been standing silently by, gave a loud shout and pointed to the corner of the house where the Wicked Witch had been lying. What is it? Asked the little old woman, and looked and began to laugh. The feet of the dead Witch had disappeared entirely, and and nothing was left but the silver shoes.

She was so old, explained the Witch of the north, that she dried up quickly in the sun. That is the end of her. But the silver shoes are yours, and you shall have them to wear. She reached down and picked up the shoes, and after shaking the dust out of them, handed them to Dorothy.

The Witch of the east was proud of those silver shoes, said one of the Munchkins, and there is some charm connected with them, but what it is we never knew.

Dorothy carried the shoes into the house and placed them on the table. Then she came out again to the Munchkins and said, I am anxious to get back to my aunt and uncle, for I am sure they will worry about me. Can you help me find the Way. The Munchkins and the Witch first looked at one another and then at Dorothy, and then shook their heads at the east.

Not far from here, said one, there is a great desert, and none could live to cross it. It is the same at the south, said another, for I have been there and seen it. The south is the country of the Quadlings. I am told, said the third man, that it is the same at the west. And that country where the Winkies live is ruled by the Wicked Witch of.

The west, who would make you her.

Slave if you passed her way.

The north is my home, said the old lady, and at its edge is the same great desert that surrounds this land of Oz. I am afraid, my dear, you will have to live with us.

Dorothy began to sob at this, for she felt lonely among all these strange people. Her tears seemed to grieve the kind hearted Munchkins, for they immediately took out their handkerchiefs and began to weep also. As for the little old woman, she took off her cap and balanced the point on the end of her nose while she counted 1, 2, 3 in a solemn voice. At once the cap changed to a slate, on which was written in big white chalk marks, let Dorothy go to the City of Emeralds. The little old woman took the slate from her nose and having read the words on it, asked, is your name Dorothy, my dear? Yes, answered the child, looking up and drying her tears. Then you must go to the City of Emeralds. Perhaps Oz will help you. Where is this city? Asked Dorothy. It is exactly in the center of the country and is ruled by Oz, the great wizard I told you of. Is he a good man? Inquired the girl anxiously. He is a good wizard. Whether he is a man or not, I cannot tell, for I have never seen him. How can I get there? Asked Dorothy. You must walk. It is a long journey through a country that is sometimes pleasant and sometimes dark and terrible. However, I will use all the magic arts I know of to keep you from harm.

Won't you go with me? Pleaded the girl, who had begun to look upon the little old woman as her only friend. No, I cannot do that, she replied, but I will give you my kiss, and no one will dare injure a person who has been kissed by the Witch of the North.

She came close to Dorothy and kissed her gently on the forehead. Where her lips touched the girl, they left a round shining mark, as Dorothy found out soon after. The road to the City of Emeralds is paved with yellow brick, said the witch, so you cannot miss it when you get to Oz. Do not Be afraid of him, but tell your story and ask him to help you. Goodbye, my dear. The three Munchkins bowed low to her and wished her a pleasant journey, after which they walked away through the trees. The witch gave Dorothy a friendly little nod, whirled around on her left heel three times, and straight away disappeared, much to the surprise of little Toto, who barked after her loudly enough when she had gone because he had been afraid to even growl while she stood by. But Dorothy, knowing her to be a witch, had expected her to disappear in just that way and was not surprised in the least.

Now let's use storygrid first principles to analyze the scene. A story event is an active change of a universal human value for one or more characters. As a result of conflict, one character's desires clash with another's, or an environmental shift changes the value positively or negatively. A working scene contains at least one story event. To determine a scene's story event, answer these four Socratic questions.

What are the characters literally doing? That is what are their micro on the ground actions?

Dorothy and Toto's house falls atop the Wicked Witch of the east in the land of the Munchkins. They are then greeted by a woman and three small men who inform them of where they are.

Question number two what is the essential tactic of the characters? That is what macro behaviors are they employing that are linked to a universal human value?

Darlie asks for advice about getting home to Kansas.

What universal human values have changed for one or more characters in the scene? Which one of those value changes is most important and should be included in the storygrid spreadsheet?

Dorothy has survived the cyclone but is far from home with no clue about how to get back to Kansas. Then the Good Witch of the north advises her to follow the yellow brick road to the City of Emeralds and meet with the wizard of Oz. Her universal human values shift from safed to lost to directed. The Munchkins and the Good Witch of the north are overjoyed by the death of the Wicked Witch of the East. They greet Dorothy, who they believe is a sorceress responsible for the Munchkin liberation, but at a loss about how to repay her. Until the Good Witch seeks supernatural counsel, their universal human values shift from overjoyed to frustrated to relieved. When in doubt, the story grid rule of thumb is to highlight the value that best aligns with the progress of the human value at stake in the story. The Wonderful wizard of Oz is an action story which has a global value at stake of life death. Throughout the story grid spreadsheet we'll track the ways life is threatened or enhanced scene by scene, as Dorothy is the protagonist and her life is enhanced by her shift of universal human value. In this scene, we'll track safe to lost to directed. Question number 4 what story event sums up the scenes on the ground? Actions, essential tactics and value change? We will enter that event in the story grid spreadsheet.

Dorothy drops into the Land of the Munchkins and asks and receives advice about how to begin navigating back home.

Now let's examine how the scene abides the five Commandments of storytelling. What's the inciting incident?

Dorothy's house lands on the Wicked Witch of the east, safeguarding the lives of those living in the Land of the Munchkins. What's the turning point? Progressive complication.

The Land of the Munchkins is far, far away from Kansas. The Good Witch of the north asks the universe about what Dorothy should do and receives the message that Dorothy should go to the Emerald City. What's the crisis?

It's a best bad choice. If Dorothy stays in the Land of the Munchkins, she'll never see her uncle or aunt again. If she sets off to go home, she could lose herself forever as the country she must traverse is often dark and terrible. What's the climax? Dorothy resolves to take the advice of the Good Witch of the north, follow the yellow brick road to the City of Emeralds, and ask the wizard of Oz for help getting home. What's the resolution?

The Good Witch of the north gives Dorothy a kiss to protect her on her journey. Thanks for listening and please join Dorothy, Toto and me on the next leg of our fantastic journey. If you're writing or thinking about writing a story about a heroic journey, you'll be interested in Sean Coyne's upcoming online seminar devoted to helping writers understand and use the heroic journey in their own work. It's a macro and micro examination of why these stories speak to us so compellingly and how to use the heroic journey to level up Your writing using StoryGrid specific tools. It includes a trip to the Shire to do a macro analysis of J.R.R. tolkien's the Hobbit, with a few detours to Oz and Emerald City along the way. Go to www.storygrid.comhero to find out more. We'd love to see you there. This has been Bib Bailey for the Storygrid Masterwork podcast. I'll see you next time. My pre.