The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum first hit bookshelves in 1900, and more than 125 years later, it’s still delighting readers of all ages. The timeless tale has inspired countless sequels, musicals, and films, each reimagining the story through the lens of its own time.

English teacher Sean Murphy recognized the perfect opportunity to bring this timeless story into the classroom. His English elective, Adaptation & Revisionism: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, invites students to explore Baum’s original novel alongside the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, the 1978 movie The Wiz, and Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. The course challenges students to analyze how each adaptation reflects the culture and history of its era.

“The multiple plot lines in each adaptation can be a lot for students to juggle,” Murphy says. “But they’re doing a fantastic job identifying the cultural relevance and historical context in every version.”

The course begins with Baum’s original story, where students uncover the rich allegories hidden in the text. They examine the cowardly lion as a symbol of politicians, the tin man as a representation of the industrial revolution, and the yellow brick road as a nod to the gold standard.

As the term progresses, students shift their focus to the films and Maguire’s novel. By comparing scenes side by side, they identify subtle historical references unique to each production. In the 1939 film, for example, they note allusions to the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression, while the movie's special effects were groundbreaking for Hollywood’s Golden Age. In The Wiz, students observe how post–Civil Rights Movement culture and the urban landscape of New York City influence the story, reflecting the social and cultural shifts of the 1970s.

“I found the flying monkeys that looked like the German bombers to be an interesting historical aspect of the movie The Wizard of Oz,” said Elwyn Gladstone ’27.

During their analysis, another student pointed out that the 2012 animated film Wreck-It Ralph recreated the Winkie Guards scene from The Wizard of Oz. This observation highlighted how students are exploring adaptation and revisionism, demonstrating how a familiar story can be reimagined in entirely new contexts.

By studying Baum, Maguire, and the films, students go beyond simply watching stories unfold; they explore how tales evolve, reflect their eras, and are continually reinterpreted by creative minds.

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