In The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, hard work is well rewarded. It's a good thing, too, because Dorothy and her friends work very, very hard—often against odds that seem insurmountable.
Most of the time, their can-do attitude steers them right; it keeps them on that yellow brick road even when there are some nasty things growling at them from behind the brush. And a few times the gang encounters more serious obstacles, including death (for the Scarecrow and the tin man) and enslavement (for Dorothy and the Lion).
Luckily, those setbacks are temporary, and all ends well. The message? If you work at something long enough and hard enough, it will pay off.
Questions About Perseverance
- Think about a time when the gang felt like giving up. What kept them going?
- Who is the most persistent character in Oz? Explain your answer.
- The gang encounters many obstacles. Not including their encounter with the Wicked Witch of the West, which one seemed the most dire? How did they get out of it?
Chew on This
After a lot of struggle, the gang ultimately achieves their goal—and that's because of skill and strength.
After a lot of struggle, the gang ultimately achieves their goal—and that's because of luck and hope.