Story arc in The Oz Series

Dorothy's Journey to the Wizard and Back to Kansas

ch. 1–24

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This encyclopedia covers chapters 1 to 100 of the story and shows the world as it stands at chapter 100, so it contains spoilers up to that point. To read it spoiler free, one chapter at a time, open the interactive codex.

What happens

A Kansas cyclone carries the orphan Dorothy and her dog Toto to the Land of Oz, where her house kills the Wicked Witch of the East. To return home she follows the yellow brick road to the Emerald City to petition the Great Oz, gathering the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion, then destroys the Wicked Witch of the West and, after Oz is exposed as a humbug, seeks Glinda's aid to reach Kansas.

Turning points

Dorothy's house lands in Oz and crushes the Wicked Witch of the East, giving Dorothy the silver shoes (ch.2)
Dorothy sets out on the yellow brick road and recruits the Scarecrow (ch.3)
The Tin Woodman and Cowardly Lion join the party (ch.5-6)
The party reaches and enters the Emerald City to see Oz (ch.11)
Dorothy melts the Wicked Witch of the West with a bucket of water (ch.12-13)
Oz is exposed as a humbug but grants brains, heart, and courage (ch.15-16)
Oz departs in his balloon, stranding Dorothy (ch.17-18)
Glinda tells Dorothy the silver shoes can carry her home (ch.23)
Dorothy is reunited with Aunt Em in Kansas (ch.24)

Who it belongs to

Chapter by chapter

Chapter 1
Dorothy, an orphan, lives on the great Kansas prairies with Uncle Henry, a farmer, and Aunt Em, the farmer's wife, in a small one-room house built from lumber hauled by wagon. The house…
Chapter 2
Dorothy is awakened by a sudden severe shock that would have hurt her had she not been on the soft bed; Toto whines and puts his cold nose in her face. The house is no longer moving and…
Chapter 3
Left alone and hungry, Dorothy cuts bread and butter from the cupboard, shares it with Toto, fills a pail with clear water from the brook, and gathers delicious fruit from the trees for her…
Chapter 4
After a few hours the yellow brick road grows rough, broken, and uneven, so the Scarecrow, having no brains, walks straight into holes and falls full length on the bricks; it never hurts…
Chapter 5
Dorothy awakes to sunshine with Toto already out chasing birds and squirrels, and finds the Scarecrow still standing patiently in his corner. She proposes searching for water to wash and…
Chapter 6
Dorothy and her companions continue walking through the thick woods along the yellow brick road, now covered by dried branches and dead leaves that make the walking poor. Few birds live in…
Chapter 7
The travelers camp under a large tree since no houses are near; the Tin Woodman chops wood, Dorothy builds a fire, and she and Toto eat the last of their bread, leaving nothing for…
Chapter 8
The travelers awake refreshed and full of hope, and Dorothy breakfasts on peaches and plums from the riverside trees. With the raft nearly done, the Tin Woodman cuts a few more logs and…
Chapter 9
The Scarecrow judges they are near the yellow brick road, having come nearly as far as the river carried them. As the Tin Woodman is about to reply, he hears a low growl and sees a great…
Chapter 10
It is some time before the Cowardly Lion awakens from the poppies' deadly fragrance, but he is glad to find himself alive. Told how the field mice generously saved him from death, the Lion…
Chapter 11
Even with green spectacles, Dorothy and her friends are dazzled by the Emerald City, whose streets are lined with green marble houses studded with sparkling emeralds; the pavement is green…
Chapter 12
The soldier with the green whiskers leads Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion through the Emerald City to the Guardian of the Gates, who unlocks their green…
Chapter 13
The Cowardly Lion is pleased to learn the Wicked Witch was melted by a bucket of water, and Dorothy unlocks his prison gate to free him. Together they enter the castle, where Dorothy calls…
Chapter 14
The four travelers set out from the castle of the Wicked Witch toward the Emerald City, but there is no road or pathway between them, since the Witch had sent the Winged Monkeys to bring…
Chapter 15
The four travelers reach the great gate of the Emerald City and ring the bell, and the same Guardian of the Gates opens it, surprised at their return. When the Scarecrow explains they…
Chapter 16
The next morning the Scarecrow goes to the Throne Room to receive his brains, telling his friends he will return as good as other men, and Dorothy assures him she has always liked him as he…
Chapter 17
For three days Dorothy hears nothing from Oz, which are sad days for her though her friends are happy and content. The Scarecrow claims wonderful thoughts fill his head that no one but…
Chapter 18
Dorothy weeps bitterly at losing her hope of returning to Kansas, but on reflection is glad she did not go up in the balloon; she and her companions also feel sorry at losing Oz. The Tin…
Chapter 19
The next morning Dorothy kisses the green girl good-bye, and the travelers shake hands with the green-whiskered soldier who walks with them to the gate. The Guardian of the Gate, wondering…
Chapter 20
While the Tin Woodman makes a ladder from wood found in the forest, Dorothy sleeps from the long walk, the Lion curls up to sleep, and Toto lies beside him. The Scarecrow watches and…
Chapter 21
After climbing down from the second china wall, the travelers find themselves in a disagreeable country full of bogs and marshes covered with tall, rank grass so thick it hides the muddy…
Chapter 22
The four travelers pass safely through the rest of the forest and, emerging from its gloom, see a steep hill covered from top to bottom with great pieces of rock. The Scarecrow leads the…
Chapter 23
Before seeing Glinda, the travelers are taken to a room where they make themselves presentable: Dorothy washes her face and combs her hair, the Lion shakes the dust from his mane, the…
Chapter 24
Aunt Em, having just come out of the house to water the cabbages, looks up and sees Dorothy running toward her. She cries out, folds the little girl in her arms, covers her face with…

All arcs in The Oz Series