Summary
Summary of The Scarecrow of Oz
Key ideas
Key idea 1
A quiet outing becomes an escape
Trot and her closest friend, Cap'n Bill, set out from the California coast toward the sea caves. She is bold; he is an old sailor with a wooden leg and a careful eye. Their ordinary afternoon changes when a whirlpool catches their boat, an oar snaps, and the sea pulls them under.
Unseen arms seem to support Trot in the deep. The friends reach a sandy beach inside a glowing cavern, but there is no door. Staying together now matters more than knowing where they are.
Key idea 2
The Ork becomes a loyal friend
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Key idea 3
Magic works best with foresight
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Key idea 4
Strange discoveries open another route
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Key idea 5
Jinxland hides fear beneath its beauty
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Key idea 6
Witchcraft tests the friends' loyalty
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Key idea 7
A good heart matters beyond rank
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The rest of the summary, written and spoken, and the whole book: free to start.
Read the rest freeWho it’s for
Readers who enjoy fairy tales with a sense of humor, brave children, odd creatures, clever magic and rescues that reward kindness. It suits families reading aloud and anyone who loves a visit to Oz.
What this book is
A whirlpool, a talking Ork, a mountain of popcorn snow and a cruel king wait in this Oz adventure by L. Frank Baum. It begins far from fairyland, on a quiet California shore, where a girl named Trot and her one-legged sailor friend, Cap'n Bill, row out on a hot afternoon. The sea is strangely still. Then it starts to pull. If you like clever rescues, funny talk and kind friends, you have come to the right place. Let us begin where the trouble starts.
In this summary
- 1A whirlpool pulls two friends underFree
- 2An Ork joins the underground escape
- 3Pessim and the berries of size
- 4The Bumpy Man and the lost boy
- 5Jinxland and its cruel King Krewl
- 6A grasshopper, a frozen heart and a rescuer
- 7What the story is about
Key point 1 of 7
A whirlpool pulls two friends under
Trot is a small, solemn girl on the California coast. Cap'n Bill is her closest friend, an old sailor with a wooden leg. One hot, still afternoon they row toward the sea caves, though he does not like the look of the sky.
Halfway across the bay they spot a whirlpool. They are being drawn toward it like iron to a magnet. An oar snaps, and the boat spins down into the great black hole.
Both are thrown into the deep, yet Trot feels unseen arms holding her up. They land on a sandy beach in a glowing cavern with no door. Trot is bold, and Cap'n Bill is careful and clever with what is in his pockets.
That’s 1 of 7 key points.
The rest of the summary, written and spoken, and the whole book: free to start.
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Check yourself
What does the Ork prove through helping Trot and Cap'n Bill escape?
Right. “For all his boasting, the Ork proves a loyal friend.”Not quite. “For all his boasting, the Ork proves a loyal friend.”
What does Blinkie's spell do to Princess Gloria?
Right. “Meanwhile Blinkie freezes Princess Gloria's heart with a kettle spell, and Gloria no longer loves anyone.”Not quite. “Meanwhile Blinkie freezes Princess Gloria's heart with a kettle spell, and Gloria no longer loves anyone.”
How does the book connect magic with the heroes' success?
Right. “Berries, powders and spells need wit, and the heroes win by thinking.”Not quite. “Berries, powders and spells need wit, and the heroes win by thinking.”
Who’s who
- Trot
- Trot is a curious California girl whose seaside outing with her friend Cap’n Bill becomes an unexpected journey.
- Cap’n Bill
- Cap’n Bill is a sailor with a wooden leg who cares deeply for Trot and travels alongside her.
- The Ork
- The Ork is a flying creature with a propeller-like tail who helps Trot and Cap’n Bill while seeking home.
- Button-Bright
- Button-Bright is a wandering boy who joins the travellers and calmly accepts the strange situations surrounding them.
- The Scarecrow
- The Scarecrow is a thoughtful straw man whose kindness and practical intelligence help the travellers facing trouble in Jinxland.
- Princess Gloria
- Princess Gloria loves Pon, a gardener, but faces pressure from King Krewl to marry for wealth.
- Pon
- Pon is a gardener loved by Princess Gloria, whose affection conflicts with King Krewl’s plans for her marriage.
- King Krewl
- King Krewl rules Jinxland cruelly and pressures Princess Gloria to accept a wealthy husband rather than Pon.
About this edition
Every format is free to start, and print and large print are at cost.
- LengthAbout 48,000 words
- Reading timeAbout 3 h 10 min
- FormatseBook, large-print eBook, audiobook, 15-minute summary
- LanguagesEnglish and 10 other languages
Questions about The Scarecrow of Oz
What is The Scarecrow of Oz about?
It follows Trot and Cap'n Bill from a California whirlpool to Jinxland, a cut-off corner of Oz ruled by a cruel king. Button-Bright joins them along the way.
Do I need to read the other Oz books first?
No. The story is complete on its own, and each Oz character is introduced clearly when he or she appears. Readers who know the earlier books will enjoy meeting old friends in the Emerald City.
What is an Ork in this book?
An Ork is a flying creature from Orkland with four legs, wings like upside-down bowls, a parrot-like head and a tail shaped like a propeller. The Ork in this tale is vain but loyal.
Who is Button-Bright?
Button-Bright is a calm little boy from Philadelphia who has visited Oz before. He is always getting lost and is never worried, and he joins Trot and Cap'n Bill in Mo and Jinxland.
Is The Scarecrow of Oz good for reading aloud?
It is a lively choice for reading aloud. The chapters are short, the humor is playful and the story is full of strange creatures and places, so listeners of many ages can follow along.
