The Wizard of Oz - Topics: Cinema; Drama ... - Criterion Pictures
The Wizard of Oz - Topics: Cinema; Drama ... - Criterion Pictures
The Wizard of Oz - Topics: Cinema; Drama ... - Criterion Pictures
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Visual Education Centre presents aTeachWithMovies.com Learning Guide to thefeature film....LEARNING GUIDE TO:THE WIZARD OF OZSUBJECTS --- <strong>Cinema</strong>; <strong>Drama</strong>/Musicals; U.S./1865-1913;SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING --- Self-esteem; Friendship; Taking Care <strong>of</strong> Yourself;Breaking Out;MORAL-ETHICAL EMPHASIS --- Trustworthiness, Respect, Caring.Description: A Kansas farm girl is caught in a tornado and knocked unconscious. She awakensfar from home in a magical land with witches, wizards, little people, flying monkeys, and otherfantastic characters. <strong>The</strong> movie describes her efforts to get back home. <strong>The</strong> film is adapted from thepopular children's book by L. Frank Baum.Benefits <strong>of</strong> the Movie: "<strong>The</strong> <strong>Wizard</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Oz</strong>" is a classic musical, beloved by children and theirparents for generations. <strong>The</strong> film is perennially popular because it explores many <strong>of</strong> the issues andfears that children ages 5 - 12 must confront as they mature. In addition, the film can be used inlanguage arts classes. It is an example <strong>of</strong> the archetypal journey <strong>of</strong> the hero and displays severalliterary devices including the frame story, irony, foreshadowing and symbolism. Finally, anargument can be made that the story told by the book is an allegory to the history <strong>of</strong> populism in theU.S. in the late 1800s. High school history teachers can ask their classes to prove or refute thetheory as an alternative to the usual methods <strong>of</strong> teaching this period <strong>of</strong> U.S. history.LEARNING GUIDE MENUBenefits <strong>of</strong> the MoviePossible ProblemsParenting PointsSelected Awards & CastHelpful BackgroundDevelopmental Issues Raised<strong>The</strong> Movie as a Work <strong>of</strong>LiteratureAllegory to History <strong>of</strong> PopulismDiscussion Questions:Understanding the StoryHopes and FearsSocial-Emotional LearningMoral-Ethical Emphasis(Character Counts)Bridges to ReadingLinks To <strong>The</strong> InternetProjects And ActivitiesBibliographyFeatured songs include: "Over the Rainbow," "Munchkin Land," "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead,""Follow the Yellow Brick Road," "If I Only Had a Brain/a Heart/the Nerve," "If I Were King <strong>of</strong> theForest," "<strong>The</strong> Merry Ole Land <strong>of</strong> <strong>Oz</strong>."Possible Problems:their minions.MINOR. Younger children may be frightened by the Wicked Witches andParenting Points: Parents can maximize the benefits <strong>of</strong> the film by asking and helping childrento answer the discussion questions. See Understanding the Story; Hopes and Fears and QuickDiscussion Questions. <strong>The</strong> remaining discussion questions are also helpful. See Social-EmotionalLearning and Morality and Ethics Discussion Questions. Select the questions that are appropriatefor your child's developmental level. Many children will want to see the film on several occasions.This will allow parents to ask different questions over a period <strong>of</strong> time. Even after children havestopped watching the film, parents can start discussions based on questions that had not beenpreviously asked. Don't be surprised if, after these discussions, children want to see the movieagain.Children will also like parents to retell the story at bedtime or to make up new stories about Dorothyand the other characters in the movie. <strong>The</strong>se tales should repeat and reframe the issues raised bythe film. <strong>The</strong> first two parts <strong>of</strong> the Helpful Background section will help parents identify the themes tobe covered.Selected Awards, Cast and Director:Selected Awards: 1939 Academy Awards: Best Song ("Over the Rainbow"), Best Original Score;1939 Academy Award Nominations: Best Picture, Best Color-<strong>Cinema</strong>tography, Best InteriorDecoration, Best Special Effects. Judy Garland received a special Academy Award for her performance."<strong>The</strong> <strong>Wizard</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Oz</strong>" has been placed in the National Film Registry <strong>of</strong> the Library <strong>of</strong> Congress.Featured Actors: Judy Garland, Margaret Hamilton, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Burt Lahr, FrankMorgan, Charley Grapewin, Clara Blandick, Mitchell Lewis, Billy Burke.Director:Victor Fleming.QUICK DISCUSSION QUESTION FORCHILDREN AGES 5 - 9: Remember that theLion needed a medal from the <strong>Wizard</strong> beforehe felt that he was courageous. <strong>The</strong> Tin Manneeded a heart from the <strong>Wizard</strong> before hethought that he could be kind. And theScarecrow needed a piece <strong>of</strong> paper saying hewas smart. But the Lion was courageous, theTin Man kind and the Scarecrow smart whenthey were walking with Dorothy on the YellowBrick Road. This was long before they ever metthe <strong>Wizard</strong>. What does this tell you?Suggested Response: That you are who youare regardless <strong>of</strong> whether people recognizethat fact. Being given awards for your courage,compassion or knowledge is great but it doesn'tchange who you are. In this story, the personwho gave awards to the Lion, the Scarecrowand the Tin Man was himself a charlatan, afalse wizard, whose power came merely fromappearances.QUICK DISCUSSION QUESTION FORCHILDREN AGES 9 - 11: Where did the power<strong>of</strong> the <strong>Wizard</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Oz</strong> come from? Was it real?Suggested Response: It came fromappearances and the willingness <strong>of</strong> others toobey him. If a child responds that it is not real,remind them that the inhabitants <strong>of</strong> <strong>Oz</strong> obeyedthe <strong>Wizard</strong> and that throughout most <strong>of</strong> themovie Dorothy did as well. Talk about thepower to persuade, e.g., George Washingtoninspiring men to fight for the revolution; FranklinRoosevelt persuading Americans that we couldget through the Great Depression: "the onlything we have to fear is fear itself."; Gandhistopping the fighting between Hindus andMoslems by merely fasting; and Martin LutherKing inspiring civil rights activists to usenonviolence to gain equal rights. This type <strong>of</strong>power is not tangible but it is very real.QUICK DISCUSSION QUESTION FORCHILDREN AGES 12 and up: Compare theoutlines <strong>of</strong> the plot <strong>of</strong> "<strong>The</strong> <strong>Wizard</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Oz</strong>" and
Helpful Background:THE FILM AS FAIRY TALE -- DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUES RAISED BY "THE WIZARD OF OZ"Children love this film because it touches on important questions, fears, and desires. <strong>The</strong>y include:Home is the center <strong>of</strong> a child's life. But children know that somewhere beyond the safety <strong>of</strong> homethere is a world that is exciting and colorful, yet sometimes dangerous. What will happen if thechild must leave home before he or she has grown up? Will the child be able to meet thechallenges? Will he or she ever be able to find the way back home?<strong>The</strong> Odyssey. How are they alike? See alsoDiscussion Question #2 for this question inrelation to the movie "Star Wars".Suggested Response: Each story is that <strong>of</strong> thereturn home <strong>of</strong> the hero. <strong>The</strong> hero did notvoluntarily seek the quest. <strong>The</strong> hero is takeninto an imaginary world. He/she has a protector(Athena for Odysseus and Glinda for Dorothy)who doesn't help him/her all the time, but onlysome <strong>of</strong> the time, particularly at the end. <strong>The</strong>hero slays several opponents and undergoesseveral ordeals. <strong>The</strong> hero is steadfast in his/herdevotion to the desire to return home. <strong>The</strong>reare probably more similarities.What about relationships with grownups? Adults are all-powerful to a young child but a childsoon learns that this power has limits, as when Auntie Em and Uncle Henry couldn't prevent MissGulch from taking Toto.What do children do when adults ignore or cannot respond to their pleas for help?How does a child learn what he or she needs to know to get through tough situations?Can children ever triumph over evil adults?What about appearances? How do you tell appearance from reality?What is the nature <strong>of</strong> power? How do people get power over other people?How does a child meet the challenges <strong>of</strong> becoming an adult? Specifically, how do you actintelligently (the challenge faced by the Scarecrow); how do you act courageously when you arevery scared (the goal for the Cowardly Lion); and how can you be a caring individual (the desire<strong>of</strong> the Tin Man).BUILDING VOCABULARY: allegory,amazement, anxious, aroused, astonished,aver, awkward, beneficent, bondage, bovine,caliginous, careworn, cataclysm, civilized,clumsy, companions, confidential, cruelty,curious, danger, dangerous, destroy,discouraged, dismal, earnest, enable,enchanted, fragrance, genuflect, hesitate, hobnob,inconvenient, industrious, journey,kowtow, luscious, misfortune, monstrous,motionless, munchkin, muddle, oblige, prairie,pusillanimous, reflection, reproach, scarecrow,sorceress, spectacles, tedious, vernacular,weapons, whopper, witch, whippersnapper,whirlwind, wizard. See also Vocabulary List forthe Wonderful <strong>Wizard</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Oz</strong> and EnglishLearner Movie Guide to "<strong>The</strong> <strong>Wizard</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Oz</strong>"from ESLnotes.com.<strong>The</strong>se are core developmental issues that children must work out for themselves. <strong>The</strong>y intrigueyoung people and resonate with the child inside us all."<strong>The</strong> <strong>Wizard</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Oz</strong>" also contains some important lessons in social-emotional development andethics. Dorothy treats everyone with respect and courageously meets whatever challenges comeher way. <strong>The</strong> film teaches that groups <strong>of</strong> diverse beings can respect one another, work together,and achieve a common goal. It tells us that <strong>of</strong>ten evil, in the form <strong>of</strong> powerful and malevolent beings,has power over us only to the extent that we permit, due to our own weakness, fear, and error.Supposedly powerful people may turn out to be masters <strong>of</strong> deception who are not formidable whenunmasked.Through this story we also see that if we want to go looking for greater purpose in our lives, we maywant to avoid traveling "somewhere over the rainbow," and look instead in our own homecommunity. For some <strong>of</strong> us "there's no place like home," no matter what wonders and adventuresmight await us in the big colorful world. "<strong>The</strong> <strong>Wizard</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Oz</strong>" and "It's a Wonderful Life" are themajor cinematic proponents <strong>of</strong> this view. <strong>The</strong>re are many other movies that glorify the effort <strong>of</strong> youngpeople to break out <strong>of</strong> the restrictions <strong>of</strong> their home environments and live in that brightly colored,exciting and somewhat dangerous world beyond their home. <strong>The</strong>se are collected in the BreakingOut section <strong>of</strong> the Social-Emotional Learning Index.THE MOVIE AS A WORK OF LITERATUREDorothy's story has the essential features <strong>of</strong> the classic hero's journey<strong>of</strong> separation, descent and return: Dorothy is carried away to thethreshold <strong>of</strong> adventure (the cyclone takes her to <strong>Oz</strong>); she meets ahelpful or protective figure (the good witch Glinda); she is providedwith talismans to aid and protect her on the journey (the ruby slippersand the mark on her forehead from Glinda's kiss); she meets helpers(the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion); she goes through aseries <strong>of</strong> tests; she endures a supreme ordeal and triumphs (theepisode with the Wicked Witch <strong>of</strong> the West); and she gains herreward (the trip back to Kansas). See Quick Discussion Question for Children 12and Up, which compares Dorothy's journey to the "<strong>The</strong> Odyssey" and Discussion Question#2 which relates it to Luke Skywalker's journey in "Star Wars". For more on the journey <strong>of</strong>the hero see <strong>The</strong> Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell. This application <strong>of</strong>Campbell's analysis to "<strong>The</strong> <strong>Wizard</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Oz</strong>" derived from <strong>The</strong> Annotated <strong>Wizard</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Oz</strong>,Centennial Edition, page 59.Dorothy gazed thoughtfully<strong>The</strong> movie employs the device <strong>of</strong> a frame story. Events in Kansas,at the Scarecrowshown in black and white, come at the beginning and at the end <strong>of</strong>the film. <strong>The</strong>y bracket and give meaning to the colorful, adventurous journey through <strong>Oz</strong>. <strong>The</strong>characters and occurrences in Kansas parallel and foreshadow the characters and occurrences inthe main story. Dorothy's dream transformed the three farmhands into the Scarecrow, the CowardlyLion and the Tin Man. It made Miss Gulch into the Wicked Witch <strong>of</strong> the West and Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Marvelinto the <strong>Wizard</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Oz</strong>. When Toto bites Miss Gulch, the advice given by the farmhands foreshadowsthe personality <strong>of</strong> their parallel characters in <strong>Oz</strong>. <strong>The</strong> conflict with Miss Gulch foreshadows and isconverted into the conflict with the Wicked Witch <strong>of</strong> the West. <strong>The</strong> powerlessness <strong>of</strong> Auntie Em andUncle Henry foreshadows the powerlessness <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Wizard</strong> to defeat the Wicked Witch <strong>of</strong> the West.Irony plays an important role in the story. It is Dorothy, the innocent child who vanquishes thepowerful Wicked Witches who terrorize <strong>Oz</strong>. It is Toto, the meekest creature <strong>of</strong> them all who exposes<strong>Oz</strong> "the great and powerful." It is the charlatan <strong>Wizard</strong> who gives legitimacy to the Scarecrow'sintelligence, the Tin Man's caring, and the Lion's courage.<strong>The</strong>re are a number <strong>of</strong> symbols in the movie. <strong>The</strong> ruby slippers stand for the self-knowledgerequired to find happiness. <strong>The</strong> tornado is a symbol for the strong emotions felt by Dorothy whenAuntie Em and Uncle Henry could not stop Miss Gulch from taking Toto. <strong>The</strong> storm abates with thedeath <strong>of</strong> one <strong>of</strong> the Witches."I feel wise, indeed," said the Scarecrow.(Plate from the original book.)"Exactly So! I am a humbug."(Plate from the original book.)
PosterAdvertisingOriginalBook<strong>The</strong>re are significant differences between thebook and the movie and they should be treatedas separate works <strong>of</strong> art. <strong>The</strong> book is anexcellent fairy tale that was very popular whenit was published in 1900. <strong>The</strong> script for the filmadds to and actually improves upon the storytold in the book. For a description <strong>of</strong> differencesbetween the book and the movie see Wikipediaarticle on "<strong>The</strong> <strong>Wizard</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Oz</strong>".Original Book CoverALLEGORY TO THE HISTORY OF POPULISM IN THE U.S. -- LATE 1800SEducators can use the book, <strong>The</strong> Wonderful <strong>Wizard</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Oz</strong>, as an allegory for the history <strong>of</strong> thepopulist movement in U.S. politics in the late 1800s. <strong>The</strong> validity <strong>of</strong> the theory is disputed. See theLinks to the Internet for sites reflecting the conflicting interpretations and <strong>The</strong> Annotated <strong>Wizard</strong> <strong>of</strong><strong>Oz</strong>, Centennial Edition, Introduction, pages lxxxix and xc. Whether the theory is correct or not, it isan excellent way to teach: (1) the literary device <strong>of</strong> allegory and (2) the history <strong>of</strong> populism in theU.S. during the late 1800s.A simplified analysis is that the populists championed a bimetal standard for the U.S. currency, i.e.,one based on both gold and silver. With a gold standard, there was too little paper money incirculation. <strong>The</strong> bankers and industrialists <strong>of</strong> the day controlled gold and wanted a gold basedcurrency. This restricted the availability <strong>of</strong> money and hence, so the theory went, kept inflation andprices low. <strong>The</strong> populists believed that if a bimetal standard was adopted there would be morepaper money and an increase in commerce, salaries, and prices benefitting farmers and workers.<strong>The</strong> Quantity <strong>The</strong>ory <strong>of</strong> Money can be expressed as: MV = PQ where:M = the quantity <strong>of</strong> money in circulation (M1).<strong>The</strong> <strong>Wizard</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Oz</strong> can be used as anintroduction to the interpretation <strong>of</strong> dreams. <strong>The</strong>movie provides an oversimplified introductionto the interpretation <strong>of</strong> dreams. Going to <strong>Oz</strong> ispart <strong>of</strong> Dorothy's fulfillment <strong>of</strong> her wish to go"over the rainbow" but the events there and herstrong desire to go home are the result <strong>of</strong> herfears <strong>of</strong> what will occur. <strong>The</strong> Cowardly Lion, theTin Man, and the Scarecrow are Dorothy'stransmutation <strong>of</strong> characters from real life intothe dream. <strong>The</strong> same is true <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Wizard</strong>.Dorothy knows that Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Marvel is acharlatan when she meets him, but she isgrasping at straws at that point. He is the falsepath, as the <strong>Wizard</strong> was the false path to gethome. Miss Gulch, is <strong>of</strong> course personified inthe Wicked Witches. Glinda is probably AuntieEm, or rather the Auntie Em that Dorothywishes she were. <strong>The</strong> death <strong>of</strong> the WickedWitches is from Dorothy's wish that they woulddie.V = the velocity with which money circulates in the economy. (This can be assumed to be aconstant. It does go up slowly over time as the technology for clearing transactions through thebanking system is improved.)P = the average price level.Q = real national output (GNP or GDP).<strong>The</strong> Quantity <strong>of</strong> Money <strong>The</strong>ory <strong>of</strong> Price is a corollary to the Quantity <strong>The</strong>ory <strong>of</strong> Money and assertsthat: P = MV/Q. This theory means that when the amount <strong>of</strong> money in circulation (M) rises, theaverage price level (P) will also rise.<strong>The</strong> U.S. had been on the gold standard (i.e., all dollars issued had to be backed by gold and couldbe redeemed for gold) until the Civil War. After the Civil War, the issuance <strong>of</strong> currency wasrestricted and, in 1879, the gold standard was resumed. <strong>The</strong> U.S. economy throughout most <strong>of</strong> thelate 1800s was expanding rapidly and there was a need for more currency. <strong>The</strong> 1890 ShermanSilver Purchase Act provided for increased purchase and coinage <strong>of</strong> silver. <strong>The</strong>re were fears thatthe U.S. would switch from a gold to a silver standard and people began to hoard gold, depletingthe Treasury's supply. <strong>The</strong> populists believed that more money (M) would result in an increasedaverage price level. This was to be accomplished through "bimetalism," adding silver as a secondmetal on which the dollar was based.<strong>The</strong> populists never came to power in the U.S. <strong>The</strong> most influential populist/bimetallist candidate forpresident was William Jennings Bryan. Nominated for President by the Democratic party on threeoccasions, Bryan never achieved the presidency despite the fact that on one occasion he won thepopular vote.An allegory is "the representation <strong>of</strong> spiritual, moral, or other abstract meanings through the actions<strong>of</strong> fictional characters that serve as symbols." Random House Webster's College Dictionary, 1999.<strong>The</strong> analogies on which this allegorical interpretation is based (there are some variations amongeducators) are as follows:Dorothy = the American people: plucky, good-natured, naive.Toto = the Prohibition (Temperance) party. Prohibitionists favored the bimetallic standard but likeany fringe group <strong>of</strong>ten pulled in the wrong direction. So they got to be a dog. (Toto is a play on"teetotalers.")<strong>Oz</strong> = the almighty ounce (oz) <strong>of</strong> gold.<strong>The</strong> yellow brick road = a path paved with gold bricks that leads nowhere.Dorothy's silver slippers = originally the property <strong>of</strong> the Wicked Witch <strong>of</strong> the East, until Dorothydrops the house on the Witch. Walking on the yellow brick road with the silver slippers representedthe bimetallic standard. (MGM changed the silver slippers to the ruby slippers to exploit thetechnology <strong>of</strong> Technicolor.)<strong>The</strong> Good Witch <strong>of</strong> the North = New England, a aopulist stronghold.<strong>The</strong> Good Witch <strong>of</strong> the South = the South, another populist stronghold.<strong>The</strong> Wicked Witch <strong>of</strong> the East = Eastern banking and industrial interests. She is killed by Dorothy's
falling house because the populists expected that the eastern industrial workers would votepopulist, but this never really happened.<strong>The</strong> Wicked Witch <strong>of</strong> the West = the West was where the populists were strongest. <strong>The</strong> only reasonthe West gets a wicked witch is: a) you need two bad guys to balance the two good guys, andespecially, b) William McKinley was from Ohio, then thought <strong>of</strong> as a western state. <strong>The</strong> WickedWitch is sometimes identified directly with President McKinley.<strong>The</strong> Munchkins = slaves <strong>of</strong> the eastern banking and industrial interests, i.e., eastern workers whodidn't vote for Bryan.<strong>The</strong> Scarecrow = western farmers. <strong>The</strong>y were populists.<strong>The</strong> Tin Man = eastern workers. Populist mythology always looked to this group for support, butnever found it in reality. Baum realized this (most populists didn't) and shows the Tin Man as avictim <strong>of</strong> mechanization. He's so dehumanized he doesn't have a heart.<strong>The</strong> Cowardly Lion = William Jennings Bryan.<strong>The</strong> Emerald City = Washington, D.C. <strong>The</strong> color is suggestive <strong>of</strong> paper greenbacks.<strong>The</strong> <strong>Wizard</strong> = President McKinley, but sometimes his advisor, Marcus Alonzo Hanna. McKinley andHanna deceived the people. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Wizard</strong> promises Dorothy that he will be able to bring her back toKansas with a balloon filled with a lot <strong>of</strong> "hot air." Instead, it is the slippers, which Dorothy had allthe time, that took her home. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Wizard</strong>'s gifts <strong>of</strong> courage, brains and a heart are deceptions,although beneficial ones. Much <strong>of</strong> this section is quoted or derived from <strong>The</strong> <strong>Wizard</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Oz</strong> as a Monetary Allegoryby Robert F. Mulligan, Ph.D., Western Carolina University College <strong>of</strong> Business.<strong>The</strong> state <strong>of</strong> Kansas is part <strong>of</strong> the Great Plains, which is a large plateau in the center <strong>of</strong> North America.<strong>The</strong> Great Plains extend for over 1500 miles from the Saskatchewan River in Canada, south to the RioGrande and the Gulf <strong>of</strong> Mexico. <strong>The</strong> East-West measure is about 400 miles beginning at the RockyMountains and extending east. <strong>The</strong> natural vegetation is buffalo grass. <strong>The</strong> climate is hot in summer andcold in winter. <strong>The</strong> average annual rainfall is only 20 inches. <strong>The</strong> landscape is famous for its undisturbedmonotony.Tornados are one <strong>of</strong> the most violent storms in nature. <strong>The</strong>y can occur anywhere in the world but most<strong>of</strong>ten strike in the United States east <strong>of</strong> the Rocky Mountains. <strong>The</strong> speeds <strong>of</strong> the wind in a tornado rangefrom 200 to 500 miles per hour. Since tornados generally destroy any instruments which record windvelocities, we have no direct data on the speeds <strong>of</strong> winds inside a tornado. Tornados take the form <strong>of</strong> afunnel made up <strong>of</strong> water, dust, and debris sucked up into the storm. Where they touch the ground,tornados can be only a few meters wide or they can be up to a kilometer wide. Damage to propertyresults from the wind and from the extremely reduced pressure in the center. Structures explode if the aircan't get out <strong>of</strong> them fast enough. People are instructed to open windows and take cover if a tornadoapproaches.Discussion QuestionsUNDERSTANDING THE STORYAlmost all children will need help in answering these questions. Ask these questions after childrenwatch the movie and then let them watch the movie again.1. Did you recognize someone in <strong>Oz</strong> who reminded you <strong>of</strong> Miss Gulch? Who was she? Was theresomeone in <strong>Oz</strong> who was like Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Marvel, the man who told Dorothy's fortune with the crystalball? Who was he? Were there people in <strong>Oz</strong> who were like the farmhands? Who were they?Suggested Responses: <strong>The</strong> dream transformed Miss Gulch to the Wicked Witch <strong>of</strong> the West; thethree farmhands to the Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion and the Tin Man, and Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Marvel intothe <strong>Wizard</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Oz</strong>.2. Despite the courage <strong>of</strong> the Cowardly Lion, the intelligence <strong>of</strong> the Scarecrow, the compassion <strong>of</strong>the Tin Man and the wisdom <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Wizard</strong>, Dorothy is the real hero <strong>of</strong> this story. Compare Dorothy'sstory to the story <strong>of</strong> another hero that you know and tell us some <strong>of</strong> the ways in which their storiesare alike. Suggested Response: You can pick any story. What about Luke Skywalker <strong>of</strong> the firstStar Wars movie? Both Dorothy and Luke are separated from their home and must undertake ajourney. Her journey is to return home and Luke's journey is to find his father (although he doesn'tknow it at the time). <strong>The</strong>y both find helpful and protective figures. Skywalker meets Obi-won Kenobi.Dorothy meets Glinda, her three friends, and later the <strong>Wizard</strong>. <strong>The</strong>y both go through many ordealsand eventually gain their reward. Both Dorothy and Luke triumph because <strong>of</strong> the inner force <strong>of</strong> theircharacters which they carried with them from the beginning. Luke had "the Force" which ran strongand deep within him. Dorothy had her strength <strong>of</strong> character (symbolized by the ruby slippers).However, before either <strong>of</strong> them could complete their journey these inner strengths had to bedeveloped and tested.3. How does Dorothy change through the course <strong>of</strong> the story told by this movie? SuggestedResponse: <strong>The</strong>re is no one right answer. A good answer would include that she came to know herown strength and resourcefulness or that she grew in self-confidence.For a comparison <strong>of</strong> Dorothy's quest with that <strong>of</strong>Odysseus, see Quick Discussion Question ForChildren 12 and up4. Did <strong>Oz</strong> really happen or was it just Dorothy's dream? Suggested Response: Most people saythat in the movie, <strong>Oz</strong> was just Dorothy's dream populated by characters from Dorothy's life changedby her imagination. But then, at the end <strong>of</strong> the film Uncle Henry says that they do believe her. Washe just humoring her or was he being serious? In short, there are two sides to this argument.5. In our dreams our minds work out our wishes and our fears, especially in relation to whathappened during the day before. Name two fears and one wish that Dorothy was working out in herdream about <strong>Oz</strong>. When thinking about Dorothy's wishes, remember that people's wishes <strong>of</strong>ten
conflict so it is possible that Dorothy could want two different and opposite things. SuggestedResponse: See Helpful Background Section for a list <strong>of</strong> fears. Some <strong>of</strong> Dorothy's wishes were: toget rid <strong>of</strong> Miss Gulch (the Wicked Witch) so that she couldn't hurt Toto any more; to experience theexciting life beyond the grayness <strong>of</strong> Kansas; to stay home with her aunt and uncle; to save Toto; forAuntie Em to be more like Glinda.6. Why is the land <strong>of</strong> <strong>Oz</strong> green? Suggested Response: It is the land <strong>of</strong> hope. <strong>The</strong> color green is<strong>of</strong>ten associated with hope. (If the film is being used to study history, there is an additional analogy.<strong>Oz</strong> is the city <strong>of</strong> Washington, D.C., where money <strong>of</strong>ten holds sway according to the populist analogytheory.)7. A symbol is something in a story that stands for something else. What does the tornado standfor? Suggested Response: <strong>The</strong>re are at least two possibilities. <strong>The</strong> tornado is a symbol <strong>of</strong> thestrong emotions felt by Dorothy when Auntie Em and Uncle Henry could not stop Miss Gulch fromtaking Toto. <strong>The</strong> tornado can also be interpreted as a symbol <strong>of</strong> the chance events that can happenin life that change our lives forever. It is really more an example <strong>of</strong> that than a symbol.QUESTIONS RELATING TO THE HOPES AND FEARS OF CHILDREN AGES 5 - 12Often the issues raised by this film are too disturbing to be discussed directly which, <strong>of</strong> course, iswhy we have fairy tales. <strong>The</strong>refore, TWM suggests that teachers and parents ask questions whichdo not directly refer to how children feel about the issues described below. Have the children putthemselves "in the ruby slippers", i.e., how would they feel if they were in Dorothy's shoes or howdo they think Dorothy felt. Questions can also focus on how Dorothy successfully resolved theseissues. Parents or teachers who are good storytellers can make up a story with some <strong>of</strong> the samethematic elements. Young children delight in stories about the characters they saw in a movie.Make sure that each <strong>of</strong> the questions below is appropriate for the developmental level <strong>of</strong> your childor class.CONCEPT: Home is the center <strong>of</strong> a child's life. But children know that somewhere beyond thesafety <strong>of</strong> home there is a world that is exciting and colorful, yet uncertain and in some waysdangerous. This both attracts and frightens them. What if home is destroyed or the child is suddenlytaken away from home before he or she has had a chance to grow up? Will the child survive? Willhe or she ever be able to find the way back?8. At the beginning <strong>of</strong> the movie Dorothy was singing about wanting to be "Somewhere Over theRainbow". By the end <strong>of</strong> the movie she realized that "<strong>The</strong>re's no place like home". What happenedto change her mind? Suggested Response: Before the tornado Dorothy didn't realize that goingaway from home meant leaving the people she loved. When she landed in <strong>Oz</strong> Dorothy realized thatshe was alone and suddenly Kansas didn't seem so bad. In fact, all she wanted to do while shewas in <strong>Oz</strong> was to get back home. A parent or teacher can also comment that this <strong>of</strong>ten happens topeople; that they want something very badly but they don't think about the consequences <strong>of</strong> gettingwhat they want.9. How do you think Dorothy felt when she woke up from the tornado and found that the farm andAunt Em and Uncle Henry were gone and that everything was different? Suggested Response: Ifthe child is reluctant to answer the adult can volunteer "Well, I would have been terrified andexcited at the same time. Where was my home? Where were my relatives? But <strong>Oz</strong> was so beautifuland exciting." This is the indirect approach. You can follow it up with -- "How would you have felt ifyou had been there instead <strong>of</strong> Dorothy?" or the reassuring question: "How do you think Dorothy feltwhen she got home?"10. Do you know any children who have had to leave their homes in real life? What happened tothem? Comment: If a child knows <strong>of</strong> a situation like this, the question will permit them to expresstheir feelings about it. Whatever the child's answer the adult should stress the fact that this situationis very unusual and provide reassurance that it is not something the child needs to worry about.CONCEPT: What about relationships with grownups? Mothers and fathers are all-powerful to ayoung child but a child soon learns that this power has limits, as when Auntie Em and Uncle Henrycouldn't prevent Miss Gulch from taking Toto.11. Just before the storm, why didn't Auntie Em and Uncle Henry stop Miss Gulch from takingToto? What do you think Dorothy felt about this? Comment: <strong>The</strong> answer to the first question is thatthere was an order from the sheriff. An answer to the second question allows a child to talk abouthis or her fears triggered by this incident. <strong>The</strong>se are very strong emotions. <strong>The</strong> tornado is a symbol<strong>of</strong> the strength <strong>of</strong> Dorothy's emotions. <strong>The</strong>re are a number <strong>of</strong> words to describe what Dorothy'sfeelings could have been. <strong>The</strong>y include frustration, betrayal, and hurt. Dorothy may have felt thather world was changing in ways she didn't like since before this she had thought Uncle Henry andAuntie Em to be all-powerful. But it does happen sometimes that parents cannot protect theirchildren.CONCEPT: How does a child learn what he or she needs to know to get through tough situations?<strong>The</strong> following three questions should be asked in a group.12. How did Dorothy make it through all those dangerous situations in <strong>Oz</strong>? Suggested Response:<strong>The</strong>re is no one correct answer. Good answers will contain some <strong>of</strong> the following concepts: Shetook things one at a time. She was respectful and kind to people and tried to help them. She choseher friends well. She met each challenge with courage and determination. She never lost sight <strong>of</strong>her goal.13. What does this movie tell us about the solutions to some <strong>of</strong> our own problems? SuggestedResponse: This movie tells us that many times solutions to our problems lie within ourselves. Allthe time that Dorothy was in <strong>Oz</strong> searching for a way home, the solution (the ruby slippers) were rightthere on her feet. She just didn't know how to make them work. <strong>The</strong> movie makers were trying to tellus that the key to our heart's desire is <strong>of</strong>ten within ourselves, we just have to discover how to unlockour own potential.14. Did Dorothy change as a result <strong>of</strong> her experiences in <strong>Oz</strong>? Suggested Response: Yes. <strong>The</strong>experiences in <strong>Oz</strong> forced Dorothy to call upon her own strengths. She learned that she could fightfor herself and overcome obstacles and evil forces.15. Why couldn't Dorothy use the ruby slippers to get home at the beginning <strong>of</strong> the film, right afterthey appeared on her feet? Suggested Response: Dorothy needed to be ready. She needed thegrowth and the knowledge <strong>of</strong> her own strength and power that came from the experiences that she
growth and the knowledge <strong>of</strong> her own strength and power that came from the experiences that shehad in <strong>Oz</strong>.CONCEPT: Can children ever triumph over evil adults?16. What would you have done to the Wicked Witches that Dorothy met in <strong>Oz</strong>? SuggestedResponse: It is possible for children to triumph over evil adults but sometimes it is hard. Adultsshould point out that Dorothy is a very strong and resourceful girl. She meets every challenge withdetermination and intelligence. Eventually, she triumphs.17. Is there anyone that you know who seems be like Miss Gulch? Comment: <strong>The</strong> purpose <strong>of</strong> thisquestion is to allow children to talk about their own fears. If a child says that he or she doesn't knowanyone like that, then the child should be reassured. If the child does name someone, an adultasking this question must decide what to do about it. Either to reassure the child, to take someaction to reconcile the child with the person, or to take some action to protect the child from theperson.CONCEPT: What about misleading appearances? How do you tell appearance from reality?18. Are things always what they seem? Suggested Response: <strong>The</strong> obvious answer is that theyaren't. Children should be reassured that as they get older it will get easier to tell what is real andwhat is not. However, it should be acknowledged that everyone, no matter what their age, must dealwith this question. As people get older and wiser, it gets easier to separate appearance from reality,but adults still have to work at it. Sometimes its hard to tell and you have to look very carefully.Sometimes most everyone is fooled, like in the Emerald City.19. How do you determine which appearances to trust and which not to trust? SuggestedResponse: You use common sense and all <strong>of</strong> the information that is available. You keep your eyesand ears open. That's why being older helps because you've had more experiences and morechances to see how the world really works.20. What appearances in this movie are misleading? Suggested Response: <strong>The</strong>re are many: thepower <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Wizard</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Oz</strong>; the ability <strong>of</strong> Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Marvel to see into the future; the idea that Dorothyis a powerless little girl; the Scarecrow's stupidity; the Tin Man's lack <strong>of</strong> heart; and the Lion'scowardice.CONCEPT: What is the nature <strong>of</strong> power? How do people get other people to do what they want?(This is a very complex question but it isn't bad for kids to start to think about it.)21. How did the <strong>Wizard</strong> come to power in the city <strong>of</strong> <strong>Oz</strong> and become renowned as a great andpowerful wizard? Suggested Response: <strong>The</strong> people <strong>of</strong> <strong>Oz</strong> wanted to believe that he was a greatand powerful man. It is people's agreement that allows others to hold power.CONCEPT: How can a child ever meet the challenge <strong>of</strong> learning what a person needs to know tobe an adult (the Scarecrow)?22. How does a child learn what he or she needs to be an adult? Suggested Response: <strong>The</strong>re isno one right answer. A good response will include going to school, learning a trade, becomingmature, listening to their parents, and watching how others behave. <strong>The</strong> adult asking this questionshould assure the child that there are many ways to get this knowledge and that he or she willsucceed.CONCEPT: How can a child ever learn to have courage even when he or she is very scared?23. Do courageous people feel fear? Suggested Response: Yes, absolutely.24. How does a person who is afraid act with courage? Suggested Response: Courageous peopleknow what they must do and they do it, even though they may be very much afraid. If a child isinterested in this question, it might be a good idea to read to them or have them read <strong>The</strong> RedBadge <strong>of</strong> Courage. See Learning Guide to "<strong>The</strong> Red Badge <strong>of</strong> Courage".OTHER DISCUSSION QUESTIONS25. See Standard Questions Suitable for Any Film26. Why was Dorothy so happy to return home to a drab existence in Kansas when the land <strong>of</strong> <strong>Oz</strong>was so beautiful and colorful? Suggested Response: Kansas was home and the people that sheloved were there.27. Some people contend that the story is driven by the inadequacy <strong>of</strong> adults and shows thatDorothy must make her own way. Analyze the story from this perspective and give some examples<strong>of</strong> the inadequacy <strong>of</strong> adults that had to be overcome by Dorothy. Suggested Response: WhenDorothy runs away the first time, she is trying to protect Toto from Miss Gultch. Auntie Em and UncleHenry had been powerless to stop Miss Gulch from taking Toto. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Wizard</strong> could not stop theWicked Witch <strong>of</strong> the West nor could he control the balloon.Social-Emotional Learning Discussion Questions:SELF-ESTEEM1. Was the Scarecrow any smarter after he got his diploma [or did he just think he was]? SuggestedResponse: No. He thought he was wiser and his belief in himself allowed him to give expression tohis wisdom.2. Was the Lion any more courageous after he received his medal [or did he just think he was]?Suggested Response: No. But since he thought he was courageous he would act courageously.3. Was the Tin Man any more compassionate after he got his heart [or did he just think he was]?Suggested Response: No. But since he thought he was kind he would act in a kindly manner.FRIENDSHIP4. Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion were all very different. Did that stopthem from being friends? Does this lesson apply to real life? Why would people want to be friends
with others who were different from themselves? Suggested Response: Each <strong>of</strong> Dorothy's friends,and Dorothy herself, brought skills and talents that were necessary for the group to survive andreach the Land <strong>of</strong> <strong>Oz</strong>. If they had all been the same, they would not have managed to meet all <strong>of</strong> thechallenges that confronted them.5. Can you see a benefit to yourself in having friends who are very different than you? SuggestedResponse: It would be really boring if everyone was the same. We have something to learn fromeveryone, especially people who are different than we are.TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF6. If Dorothy had not had the ability to face all <strong>of</strong> the challenges presented to her in the land <strong>of</strong> <strong>Oz</strong>,what would have happened to her? Suggested Response: She wouldn't have been able to returnhome.See Discussion questions 8 - 9 above.BREAKING OUT7. At the beginning <strong>of</strong> the movie, Dorothy lived in Kansas. She yearned to leave home and go"somewhere over the rainbow." What did she learn about lands over the rainbow when she gotthere? Is this a realistic lesson or should children, at least when they are grown, seek their destinyaway from home? Suggested Response: <strong>The</strong>re are several good responses to this question. One isthat she finds that she is not happy because it is not her home and the people that she loves are notthere. Another is that she finds that there are problems in the world over the rainbow that are just asbad or worse than what she faced at home. When children are grown, sometimes it is their destinyto move away from home. But that is a decision made only when they are adults and young childrendon't have to think about that question for many, many years.8. Is this movie telling us that children should never leave home? Suggested Response: No. Thisonly refers to a child as young as Dorothy was. Whether a child who is mature, who has gonethrough school, and who is an adult should leave home is another question. Fortunately, it doesn'tneed to be answered now.Discussion Questions on Morality and Ethics Using <strong>The</strong> Six Pillars <strong>of</strong> CharacterDiscussion Questions Relating to Ethical Issues will facilitate the use <strong>of</strong> this film to teach ethicalprinciples and critical viewing. Additional questions are set out below.TRUSTWORTHINESS(Be honest; Don't deceive, cheat or steal; Be reliable -- do what you say you'll do; Have the courageto do the right thing; Build a good reputation; Be loyal -- stand by your family, friends and country)Character Counts and the Six Pillars <strong>of</strong>Character are marks <strong>of</strong> the CHARACTERCOUNTS! Coalition, a project <strong>of</strong> the JosephsonInstitute <strong>of</strong> Ethics.1. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Wizard</strong>, as Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Marvel in Kansas, and in <strong>Oz</strong>, makes things appear different than they really are.He lies to Dorothy in both places. In the movie these lies are either harmless or for Dorothy's benefit (as whenhe sends her home after looking into the crystal ball). Is this true <strong>of</strong> most lies people tell in real life? SuggestedResponse: No. Most lies are to get something the liar wants or to avoid something unpleasant. <strong>The</strong> lie hurts theliar, even if it goes undetected, because it separates the liar from other people (<strong>of</strong>ten from people that he or sheloves) and makes the liar feel alone. It also lowers his or her sense <strong>of</strong> self-esteem. It puts the liar in theemotionally draining position <strong>of</strong> having to be vigilant about guarding the lie in future speech and action. Notonly does a lie separate us from other people, the lie undermines our sense <strong>of</strong> unity with the Universe. All goodmoral or ethical codes have a spiritual component. This does not have to be religious in the sense <strong>of</strong> belief in aSupreme Being, but it must contain a sense <strong>of</strong> a relationship to others and to the Universal good. Acting in animmoral manner separates us from the Universal good and denies us the strength that comes from being inharmony with our sense <strong>of</strong> the Universe.RESPECT(Treat others with respect; follow the Golden Rule; Be tolerant <strong>of</strong> differences; Use goodmanners, not bad language; Be considerate <strong>of</strong> the feelings <strong>of</strong> others; Don't threaten, hit orhurt anyone; Deal peacefully with anger, insults and disagreements)2. Dorothy met many different kinds <strong>of</strong> beings when she was in <strong>The</strong> Land <strong>of</strong> <strong>Oz</strong>. Other than the WickedWitches, how did she treat them? We'll give you a hint. It's one <strong>of</strong> the Six Pillars. Suggested Response:Dorothy treated everyone with respect: the Munchkins, the witches' minions, the Scarecrow, the Lion and theTin Man. Even after Dorothy knew the <strong>Wizard</strong> was a fraud, she treated him with respect. Even when Dorothykilled the Wicked Witches, it was by accident.3. If Dorothy had not treated others with respect would she have ever made it home? Suggested Response: Sheneeded the help <strong>of</strong> strangers in <strong>Oz</strong> (and in Kansas, too). Dorothy would have had a much more difficult timegetting home without their help. She might have never made it.(Additional questions are set out in the "Friendship" section above.)CARING(Be kind; Be compassionate and show you care; Express gratitude; Forgive others; Help people inneed)4. Why is home so important to Dorothy? Suggested Response: Home is where the people who love her live.(Additional questions are set out in the "Friendship" section above.)Bridges to Reading: <strong>The</strong> Wonderful <strong>Wizard</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Oz</strong> is a great book to read to a younger child or forchildren 8 - 12 to read on their own. L. Frank Baum wrote a total <strong>of</strong> 14 books with <strong>Oz</strong> characters.<strong>The</strong>ir complete texts can all be found on the web at various places, including <strong>The</strong> Wonderful Website <strong>of</strong> <strong>Oz</strong>! Purchase these books at Amazon.com.MOVIES ON RELATED TOPICS: None.
Links To <strong>The</strong> Internet:Web sites and articles claiming that the story is an allegory about the history <strong>of</strong> populism:●<strong>The</strong> <strong>Wizard</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Oz</strong>: Parable on Populism This is the article published by Henry M. Littlefield inthe American Quarterly 16 (1964): 47-58 that started this theory;●<strong>The</strong> Crime <strong>of</strong> 1873;●●OVER THE RAINBOW -- Once upon a time, the <strong>Wizard</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Oz</strong> was a populist fable;<strong>The</strong> Wonderful <strong>Wizard</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Oz</strong>: A Money Reform Parable.Web sites and articles disputing the idea that Baum intended the story as a parable <strong>of</strong> the history <strong>of</strong>populism:●●●<strong>The</strong> Rise and Fall <strong>of</strong> <strong>The</strong> Wonderful <strong>Wizard</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Oz</strong> as a "Parable on Populism"; this is thearticle published in the JOURNAL OF THE GEORGIA ASSOCIATION OF HISTORIANS, vol.15 (1994), pp. 49-63 that some take as the definitive response to the populism allegory theory;<strong>The</strong> Fable <strong>of</strong> the Allegory: <strong>The</strong> <strong>Wizard</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Oz</strong> in Economics;Dorothy's Progress: <strong>The</strong> <strong>Wizard</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Oz</strong> as Spiritual Allegory (Criticizes the historical allegoryand discusses others concluding that "<strong>The</strong> moral seems indeed to be that 'there's no placelike home.' A deprived existence in a miserable shack is preferable to the Garden <strong>of</strong> Edenbecause it's home. <strong>The</strong> truth concealed behind this platitude is that the ultimate spiritualreality lies within each individual person-in their 'own backyard'-and not <strong>of</strong>f somewhere overthe rainbow. '<strong>The</strong> kingdom <strong>of</strong> <strong>Oz</strong> is within you.'")Links relating to the story as a classic hero adventure:●●●<strong>The</strong> Female Hero: Dorothy in <strong>The</strong> <strong>Wizard</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Oz</strong> Compared to Luke in Star Wars;Chart <strong>of</strong> the Female Hero's Journey;Chart <strong>of</strong> the Traditional Male Hero's Journey.OTHER LESSON PLANS:Search for a lesson plan throughthe Gateway to EducationalMaterials;<strong>The</strong> man who first realized thatthe story <strong>of</strong> <strong>The</strong> Wonderful<strong>Wizard</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Oz</strong> could be anallegory for the history <strong>of</strong>populism in the U.S. was namedHenry M. Littlefield. He was ahigh school history teacher whowas struggling to keep theattention <strong>of</strong> an American Historyclass during the day and readingthe book to his own youngchildren in the evenings. For hisexplanation, see <strong>The</strong> <strong>Wizard</strong> <strong>of</strong>Allegory;<strong>Wizard</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Oz</strong> Lesson PlanSuggestions ;"the wonder behind <strong>Oz</strong>";L. Frank Baum TeachersResource Page;Nancy Pollette's Children'sLiterature Guides.●●●●●●Other links:●●●●Criticisms on <strong>Oz</strong>;Jim's <strong>Wizard</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Oz</strong> Web Site;Time Line <strong>of</strong> the Life <strong>of</strong> L. Frank Baum; Script for the film;Roger Ebert has an excellent review <strong>of</strong> this film.PHOTOGRAPHS, DIAGRAMS AND OTHERVISUALS:●●Embracing the Child;<strong>The</strong> <strong>Wizard</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Oz</strong> - An AmericanFairy Tale.Projects And Activities: Projects Suitable for Any Film. For U.S. history students ask them towrite an essay agreeing or disagreeing with the theory that the book <strong>The</strong> <strong>Wizard</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Oz</strong> is anallegory for the history <strong>of</strong> populism and bimetalism in the U.S. in the late 1800s.Bibliography: In addition to web sites which may be linked in the Guide and selected film reviewslisted on the Movie Review Query Engine, the following resources were consulted in thepreparation <strong>of</strong> this Learning Guide:●<strong>The</strong> Annotated <strong>Wizard</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Oz</strong> by L. Frank Baum, annotated with an introduction by Michael PatrickHearn, W. Norton & Company, New York, 2000;● <strong>The</strong> Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell (Cleveland; World, 1956);●"<strong>Oz</strong> is Us", by John Updike, New Yorker, Sept. 25, 2000 pp. 84 et seq.Copyright © 2004, 2006 & 2007 byTeachWithMovies.com, Inc. All rights reserved.Note that unless otherwise indicated anyquotations attributed to a source, photographs,illustrations, maps, diagrams or paintings werecopied from public domain sources or areincluded based upon the "fair use" doctrine. Noclaim to copyright is made as to those items.DVD or VHS covers are shown by permission<strong>of</strong> Amazon.com and may be subject tocopyrights shown thereon. <strong>The</strong> television setlogo and the pencil and filmstrip logo aretrademarks <strong>of</strong> TeachWithMovies.com, Inc.This particular Learning Guide published November 8, 2004 and revised on November 28, 2004, March 24, 2006 (BuildingVocabulary), August 18, 2006, and July 21, 2007.