The Wizard of Oz Exploration

Just your basic Call to Adventure right here, suggesting that Dorothy may be chomping at the bit to get out there and see what there is to see, even if she needs a tornado to do it.

And now the reason why exploration is so important: it shakes up your sensibilities, shows you things you've never seen before and maybe helps you discard some of your old prejudices. Think witches don't wear ballroom gowns and cruise around in rainbow spheres? Think again!

Everyone loves the Yellow Brick Road—it's a darn catchy song after all—which serves as the map for Dorothy's exploration. But just like maps don't tell you everything, the Yellow Brick Road can't prepare her for all of the surprises waiting for her. All it can do is point in the general direction.

The road splits and Dorothy has to decide which direction to follow. From an exploration perspective, it's all good of course, but it might put a crimp in her plans if she chose the wrong path. It's a highly metaphorical statement about choices and responsibility and all their attendant risks.

Even a simple question of food becomes an opportunity to learn something new about this world. Oz has a way of making the mundane seem extraordinary, which Dorothy's never going to see unless she goes plucking some apples from talking trees every now and then.

It is, in fact, a long road, and Dorothy has a lot more to explore before she gets back home. But does the Witch have to be such a… well, witch about it?

Nice of the Scarecrow to give us some perspective here. Exploration is full of surprises, and not all of them are good ones. Still, you gotta take the good with the bad and if you're going to experience cool color-changing horses, you're going to have to deal with a few fireballs too.

Well no, but we can't blame Dorothy for getting a little ahead of herself here. This is a good example of expectations vs. reality; you won't know which is which until you actually get in that throne room and take a look at the Wizard himself. From Dorothy's optimistic sense of awe at seeing the Emerald City, you can tell that she doesn't get out much.

The Horse of a Different Color is the perfect example of a seemingly throwaway detail about this world hiding something magical. It's worth an occasional Wicked Witch to see that, don't you think?

When exploring, it's always good to have a plan. Even if it doesn't work, it can probably get you farther along than you'd get without it.