Use this as a Sample Book Report
The Wizard of Oz
By L. Frank Baum
Protagonist (The main character)
Dorothy Gale is the protagonist of the novel. Dorothy is a 12-year-old Kansas farm girl. She is knocked
unconscious during a tornado. She, her dog Toto, and the farmhouse are transported to the magical Land
of Oz, where she sets out on the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City to ask the Wizard of Oz to return
her to Kansas.
Antagonist (The character which causes problems for the main character)
The Wicked Witch is the antagonist. The Wicked Witch wants to get back the glass slippers from
Dorothy, and wants to prevent Dorothy from following the Yellow Brick Road.
Conflict (The problem, or problems the main character faces)
This is a person vs. person conflict. Dorothy just wants to get back to Kansas, and the Wicked Witch
doesn’t want Dorothy to have her way.
Setting (Where and when the story takes place)
The story begins in a small farming town of Kansas. Soon the protagonist finds herself in the Land of Oz,
where she needs to follow a Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City. The setting is very important to the
story because even though the Land of Oz is not where Dorothy wants to be, it does represent her life in
Kansas. As she encounters many frightening situations in the Land of Oz, they represent her fears in
Kansas.
Plot (The what happens, or events that take place)
Dorothy awakens to discover her Kansas farm house has been carried away by a tornado, with her and
Toto inside. It eventually drops back down on the ground intact. Opening the door and stepping out
Dorothy finds herself in a strange village. The Good Witch of the North arrives and informs Dorothy that
she (or rather her falling house) has killed the Wicked Witch of the East.
The Wicked Witch of the West appears and tries to claim her sister's powerful ruby slippers. However,
Glinda uses her powers to transfer the slippers from the dead witch onto Dorothy's feet and reminds the
Witch of the West that her power is ineffectual in Munchkinland. The Witch vows revenge on Dorothy
before leaving the same way she arrived. Glinda advises Dorothy to seek the help of the mysterious
Wizard of Oz in the Emerald City, which she can reach by following the yellow brick road. She warns
Dorothy never to remove the slippers or she will be at the mercy of the Wicked Witch.
On her way to the city, Dorothy meets a Scarecrow with no brain, a Tin Man with no heart, and a
Cowardly Lion, with no courage. The three decide to accompany Dorothy in the hope that the Wizard
will also give them their desires. Along the way, they behave in ways which demonstrate that they already
have the qualities they believe they lack: the Scarecrow has several good ideas, the Tin Man is kind and
sympathetic, and the Lion is ready to face danger, even though he is terrified.
After Dorothy and the Cowardly Lion nearly succumb to one of the Witch's traps, they enter the Emerald
City. They are given an audience with the Wizard of Oz, who appears as a disembodied and imposing
head. In a booming voice, he states that he will consider granting their wishes if they bring him the
Wicked Witch's broomstick.
They set out for the Witch's castle, but she detects them and dispatches her army of flying monkeys; they
carry Dorothy and Toto back to her. When the Witch threatens to drown Toto, Dorothy agrees to give up
the slippers, but a shower of sparks prevents their removal. While the Witch is distracted, Toto escapes.
The Witch says that the shoes cannot be removed unless Dorothy dies; she leaves to ponder how to
accomplish this without damaging the shoes.
Toto finds Dorothy's friends and leads them to the castle. After ambushing the guards, they disguise
themselves in the guards' uniforms, enter, and free Dorothy. The Witch and her soldiers pursue and corner
the group. Dorothy accidentally splashes the horrified Witch with water and to everyone's surprise, the
Witch melts away. The soldiers are delighted. Their captain gives Dorothy the broomstick.
Upon arrival back at Emerald City, Dorothy finds out for herself that she doesn't need to run away to find
her heart's desire. Dorothy says a tearful goodbye to her friends and then follows Glinda's instructions,
closing her eyes, tapping her heels together three times, and chanting "There's no place like home."
Dorothy awakens in her bedroom in Kansas, surrounded by family and friends. She tells them of her
journey. Aunt Em tells Dorothy that it was all a dream, but she pleads otherwise. In any case, Dorothy
promises everyone that she will never leave home ever again, for she loves them all, and there's no place
like home.
Climax (The most exciting moment for the main character)
The climax of the book is when the Wicked Witch gets hits by water and melts. Dorothy will no longer
have to worry about losing the ruby slippers.
Resolution (How is the main character’s problem solved)
The resolution comes when all of Dorothy’s friends get what they wanted, and when Dorothy returns to
Kansas.
Theme (What lesson can the story teach?)
The theme is this story is simple. “There is no place like home”.