The Wizard of Oz (Puffin Classics) - L. Frank Baum [54]
Glinda, the Good Witch of the South – The opposite of ‘witchy’, Glinda personifies all that is good. When Dorothy goes to see her to find a way back to Kansas, Glinda not only reveals the secret of the silver shoes but helps the friends return to the respective lands that they have been asked to rule.
Wicked Witch of the East – The second evil witch in the Land of Oz, she is killed by Dorothy’s house when it falls out of the sky, which in turn frees the Munchkins who were slaves under her spell. She was the original owner of the charmed silver shoes which Dorothy inherits.
Good Witch of the North – A friend of the Munchkins, Dorothy meets her when she first arrives in Oz. She explains the layout of the country and advises her to seek out the Great Wizard by following the yellow brick road. She also kisses Dorothy on the forehead and tells her that all who see the mark of the Good Witch of the North will know she is protected by magic.
Queen of the Mice – Dorothy first makes her acquaintance when the Tin Woodman chops off the head of a wildcat that is pursuing her. She is very grateful and promises that in return the field mice will always be at the Tin Woodman’s bidding. When the Lion falls asleep in the field of poppies, the friends call on the Queen of the Mice and her subjects to carry him away from the sleep-inducing flowers.
Winged Monkeys – A group of intelligent, flying monkeys that are ruled by a golden cap. Whoever possesses it is entitled to make three wishes that the monkeys have to fulfil.
Aunt Em – Originally a pretty, fresh-faced, young woman who has been turned grey by life on the prairie. She is Dorothy’s adoptive mother.
Uncle Henry – A serious man of few words and Dorothy’s adoptive father. He works tirelessly on their Kansas farm.
WHAT’S WHERE IN THE WIZARD OR OZ
Munchkin Country – A farming country full of crops, where the houses are round with domed roofs and blue is the favoured colour. It lies to the east of the Land of Oz and is connected to the Emerald City by a road of yellow brick.
Winkie Country – It lies to the west of the Land of Oz; the main colour is yellow. The Winkies are kind people who restore the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman (destroyed by the Winged Monkeys) and ask the Tin Woodman to be their ruler.
Quadling Country – This lies to the south of the Land of Oz and is ruled by Glinda the Good Witch of the South. All the inhabitants wear red and most things are painted red. Its dwellers include the china people, the armless and aggressive Hammer-Heads and the forest of Fighting Trees. There is also a giant spider that frightens the inhabitants of another forest — the Lion kills this monstrous creature and becomes the King of the Forest.
Yellow Brick Road – It is on this road (on her way to the Emerald City) that Dorothy meets and makes friends with the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman and the Lion (as well as the Queen of the Mice). It takes them through a soporific poppy field and a dark forest where they come across the Kalidah (ferocious creatures with the head of a tiger and the body of a bear). Along the way, the road is often lined with fruit or nut trees and the Tin Woodman’s cottage lies close to it.
Emerald City – The capital of the Land of Oz, it lies at the end of the yellow brick road. It is a magnificent structure that appears to be entirely green — made up of green glass and jewels; its inhabitants are also green. However, this is one of the Wizard of Oz’s tricks: he commands everyone entering the city to wear spectacles to protect their eyes from its brilliant light, but later reveals to Dorothy that the spectacles have tinted glass and in fact the city is white! When Oz departs, the Scarecrow is made the ruler.
Desert – Surrounding the Land of Oz, it cuts off the inhabitants from the rest of the world — even the Winged