|
New York, South Dakota, Illinois 1871 -1898 |
Hollywood 1938 - 1939 |
|
Matilda Gage Henry Gage Julia T.C. Maud Josie Baum –
Maud’s roommate at Cornell L. Frank Baum
– cousin Society of
the Broom – with friends in dorm Maud and
Frank’s children: Frank Joslynn Robert Harry Neal Kenneth Julia –
married, in South Dakota James
Carpenter – husband Magdalena –
daughter Jamie – son,
died Infant -
aborted |
Maud Baum Judy Garland Ethel Gumm –
mother Louis B.
Mayer Ida Koverman
- secretary Mervyn LeRoy
– producer Fleming –
director Yip Harburg –
lyricist Langley –
script writer Mary Smith –
publicist Arthur Freed
– acted inappropriately toward Judy |
For Discussion:
NOTE: Page numbers are from paperback edition.
1.
Mathilda thought the most important thing was
for Maud to get her diploma, but Frank asked her, “Does it delight your heart”
(page 106). Could Maud have both?
2.
Shortly after Julia and James left for the
Dakota Territory, Maud received a letter from her recounting mosquitoes, winds,
hail, and cramped living spaces. Maud
was worried, but Frank told her to “Believe in Julia. She’s having an adventure. Don’t you think that’s what she wanted” (page
143). He also said “It’s all in the
telling” (page 143). Can we change our
minds about how we think about things if we look at them as an adventure
instead of a hardship?
3.
When Frank opened Baum’s Bazaar in 1889 in the
Dakota Territory, he approached selling differently than most. He told Maud, “people don’t know what they
want. You have to show them…you create
the desire and once people want something, they’ll stop at nothing to get it”
(page 234). Can you think of any current
advertising examples that follow this idea?
4.
When Maud visited Julia in South Dakota after
Jamie died, she asked Julia why she didn’t leave James and come home with
Maud. Julia answered twice, “you don’t
understand” (page 222). Why wouldn’t
Julia leave?
5.
Mathilda felt guilty for Jamie’s death because
she did not send money for Julia to come home for the birth but instead used it
to pay for a trip for herself to Washington D. C. the for National Woman
Suffrage conference. Maud felt guilty
about Julia’s abortion because she would not take in Magdalena when she herself
was ill. Should they have felt guilty?
6.
Were the sacrifices Mathilda asked her family to
make so that she could be active in the women’s suffrage movement
justified? Is the greater good more
important than individuals?
7.
Judy Garland longed for a sign from her father. Frank believed in serendipity. What did you think when Mary Smith showed
them the coat that appeared to have been Frank’s? On page 335 this was confirmed when Judy
showed Maud the note in the lining in Frank’s handwriting. In the “Afterword” the author wrote that the
ownership had been confirmed by both Maud and the Chicago tailor. Does this
seem too good to be true?
8.
What did you think about Judy Garland as the
character in the story as well as a real person? Do you think she was depicted accurately?
9.
When Judy was doubting herself, Maud told her,
“Some people are just born like that, glowing so bright. My Frank was” and
Judy’s father told Ethel, “Judy’s not going to be a star. She already is” (page 96). Do you think there is some inner quality that
is important if someone wants to be a “star” in whatever field they choose?
10.
Did you like the last page of the story when
Maud saw the credit to Frank Baum on the movie screen?
11.
In the “Afterword” the author shared information
about what was true and what she had invented.
Did that add to the story? Would
you have liked to known this before reading?
12.
The author wrote in the “Afterword” that there
is no consensus about the inspiration for the character of Dorothy. After reading the book, do you have any idea?
13.
While it was a moderate box off success, over
time “The Wizard of Oz” has become one of the most-viewed movies of all
time. Why is it so popular?
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