The Wizard of Oz

I chose to write my research paper on the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz. I chose this movie because it is something that everyone has watched at least once, and most are very familiar with the characters and sayings from it. However, what most don’t know is that The Wizard of Oz actually parallels to U.S history. The movie is based on a children’s fantasy book, which satirizes and stereotypes modern society. The movie compares the wicked witch to the American government, Dorothy to the naïve American people, the Scarecrow to the American farmer, and the Tin man to industrialization. In my paper I plan to show how these characters relate to individuals during the early 1900’s as well as today, and why these images and the story continues to be a part of American Culture. In America today I find it fascinating that we still have the stereotypes of this movie’s characters. Like Dorothy, Americans are always wishing for a better life. Farmers are still classified as ill-mannered and foolish like the scarecrow. While the modern man, or Tin man, is still battered by industrialists trying to make their fortune. I think the cultural issue I am addressing is how and why the American image and lifestyle has repeated itself over the last hundred years.

Assessing My Writing

In my close Analysis paper of Into the wild, I chose to make an analysis on three epigraphs that Chris highlighted in novels he brought on his journey. My purpose for choosing these epigraphs was to show the reader the literature Chris admired, and provide an explanation to why Chris decided to isolate himself and go into the wild. I think that my paper would be accessed as a middle. In my paper I first quoted the epigraph, then went on to explain what happened in the chapter, and how Krakauer set up his goal using the epigraph. I don't think I really addressed the meaning of the actual epigraph itself. In my paper I used several sources to explain the background of the authors of the epigraphs, and their connection to Chris. I think this is a strong quality in my paper. However, I think my paper could be stronger if I make sure to use the specific words from the epigraph and make a deeper analysis of their meaning. I also think I could make my paper stronger by making sure my points are clear, and I am not forcing the reader to read between the lines.

Krakauer and Chris

Here is the prompt for 101.35 - "In light of Krakauer's self-expression, do you find his recount of Chris' story more or less credible? Explain your answer."

I think that Krakauer's self expression in chapters Fourteen and Fifteen makes his recount of Chris's story more credible. Krakauer did not have to tell the reader his background as a young teen. He did not have to talk about his relationship with his father, or his unexplainable passion to climb and risk his live; yet he did. In these short chapters Krakauer managed not only to connect to the reader, but he made the reader connect to Chris. Through his own story, Krakauer gives the reader an explanation of why Chris went into the wild, putting to rest some of the readers many questions and doubts. I think this explains to the reader why Krakauer felt so deeply rooted in this story, and why he continued to find more answers. I think that when someone finds a perspective of passion to incorporate into what they are saying, or a way to relate to the topic at hand, it will give them credibility with the reader. However, on the other hand it should be noted that Krakauer is clearly biased. He shared a connection with Chris which he obviously uses to make his argument.