At least one of Dorothy's companions has a big ole thing about finding some courage, but in truth, everybody in the party could use a little. The Scarecrow and Tin Man get quakey at the knees fairly often, and Dorothy is just scared to pieces as children tend to be when pursued by green witches. This reflects the way we feel about the world as children: everything's a little scary when you're five. But it also shows us how to be brave despite our fears. Courage in The Wizard of Oz isn't having no fear. It's being scared and doing what you have to do anyway.
We're glad that Dorothy and the gang figure that all out at the end. Especially the Lion. He really seems to need it.
Questions about Courage
- At what points along the route do the companions' courage fail them? What tends to happen when they do?
- What specific events lead the group to finding their courage? Are there any common points linking them?
- What does bravery mean to each of the four heroes? How is it different for each one? How is it the same?
- Does Dorothy need more than courage to confront all of her fears?
Chew on This
The companions need to find their courage before they can defeat the Wicked Witch.
The companions always had courage and simply need to realize it to defeat the Witch.